the week ethan became a toddler

We just spent almost two weeks in Minnesota enjoying our summer vacation (hence the lack of blog posts recently). Our first stop was a long weekend in the Twin Cities staying at the Haglund Inn (Uncle Rob, Auntie Gail and Cousins Jack, Josh and Grace were amazing hosts!) while Pete worked to get autographs at the NHL Draft that was hosted in St. Paul.

We got to spend a lot of time with the cousins just hanging out.



Cousin Janelle even stopped by and got to spend quality time with the little man.
After a fun weekend in the Cities we headed up north to Grandpa Todd and Grandma Bonnie's house for a relaxing week at the lake! We spent our days outside, by the lake and hanging out around the house!
Ethan also got to see what it was like to go swimming in the lake for the first time! Ethan LOVED it!!!
We celebrated Grandpa Todd's 50th birthday too.
He was pretty excited about the new leather jacket he got from all of us (to complement his motorcycle that he rides to work).
Lindsay and I took a ride to the mine where my brother Corey operates a huge crane. He was pretty excited to show us his domain and let us sit in the driver seat even though we were both pretty freaked out (especially after he turned the crane ON!)
The best part about our vacation is that Ethan experienced a major growth spurt in all sorts of areas. I've tried hard to remember all the new things that he learned over vacation:

He started pulling himself in his pack and play, and subsequently pulling himself up on everything!
He has learned how to "roar" like a lion.
He says Grandpa (da-da) and Grandma (na-na).
He learned how to cluck his tongue.
He kind of says dog or duck (da).
Now that he is pulling himself up all the time he has started to seat himself instead of falling backward in timber fashion. (Much to mama's relief!)
He learned how to climb the stairs.
He is so curious about the world around him! Here he is with some treasures he discovered in Grandma's cupboard.
He also got his first haircut, sort of. I trimmed some long hairs that were growing over his ears.
He also got to go for his first boat ride!
So basically we came back home to St. Louis with a full blown toddler! It is so fun to see Ethan growing and discovering all sorts of new things. Our last day in Minnesota was the 4th of July. We got a chance to just hang out by the lake, relax and enjoy our last day of vacation!