This Christmas...

This Christmas was very special because it was Easton's first Christmas and our First Christmas as a little family of 3.  December is always a crazy month and I feel like it snuck up on us and went as quickly as it came.  It was full of shopping, parties, and family.

Our Christmas Card

The first exciting thing to happen in December was the arrival of our new nephew, Ryan Marshall Kirk.  He finally made his debut on December 15th.  He is precious and is going to make a great buddy for Easton.  I have a feeling they are going to be TROUBLE together ;)

So Cute!

We attended the 3rd Annual Tacky Christmas Party at our Cousin Whitney's house.  Now I say "Tacky Christmas" because anything goes at this party.  It's not just sweaters, it's anything that is tacky about Christmas.  Justin chose to wear the tackiest thing ever.  The picture below doesn't show his outfit, but it was really good and TACKY.  I went 80's themed and Easton was just cute as always ;)

Tacky Family ;)

We celebrated my 31st Birthday too this month.  We went to Lava Grill (a day before my birthday) with all of Justin's family and had a great time.  It's one of my favorite places to eat.  On my actual birthday, I spent the day lounging around with E and wasting the day playing with him.  Later that night, we went out to eat and decided to finally go see Santa.  The line was extremely short and Easton smiled for the camera. 

E and Santa

We went to my parents for Christmas and had a great time.  It was nice being out in the country and spending time with them and my brother's family.  Easton had fun and was spoiled the whole time we were there.  It was fun watching him get excited with new toys.  He had the most fun with the Christmas ribbon, of course ;)

Christmas Morning

Easton is our most precious gift we received this year.  God has blessed us with a happy and healthy baby and we couldn't be more thankful.  We love being his parents and are blessed that God chose us to take care of him for the rest of his life.

We can't wait for next year. . .when little hands will be taking things off the tree and trying to rip off wrapping paper :)

Half a year...

I can't believe our baby boy is 6 Months Old.  I have been very emotional these last few days.  I feel like the days are passing by so fast and before I know it. . .months have passed by.  These last 6 months have felt like a blur.  I'm trying so hard to remember all of the little details of Easton's life so far and I feel like I'm trying to take mental snapshots so I don't forget how he was when he was this little.  Today, he and I cuddled on the couch and I just wanted it to last forever.  Never again will his little hand be so tiny and soft.  These are the moments that I just want to freeze and stay in forever. 

Sweet Baby

I took him for his 6 month wellness check up and it was an overload of information. . .The kinds of foods he should be eating, milestones he should be doing, start giving him water in a sippy cup, how he should be sleeping, etc. . .
I left there with tears in my eyes, because I can't stand watching him get his shots, and feeling like he is no longer our little baby. . .he's now becoming a little boy :(  I know, I know. . .he is still a baby, but that's just how I was feeling.  I knew this day would come when he would have to start switching to real food and drinking things other than formula, I just didn't realize it would come so soon. 

At the Doctor's office, waiting for his shots.

I want him to progress, grow, learn new things, and get bigger.  It's exciting watching him discover new things and learn how to do something for the first time.  Justin and I talk about how we can't wait until he can say words and reach out for us (Justin mostly), I just wish it wasn't right around the corner. Our next big step is CRAWLING. . . Eeeeekkk

Easton at 6 Months 

18.3 lbs

28.5 in.

Favorite Things He Does:

Rolls over

Laughs like crazy at silly things

Jumps in his Jumperoo

Grabs our faces

Pulls on his ears or hair sometimes when he takes his bottle

Kicks his legs like a Wildman when he gets excited

Grabs everything in his sight and puts it to his mouth

Lays in bed with us on the weekends
Jabbers and squeals at 5:00 in the morning ;)

Starting to sit up

LOVE that he is such a sweet and happy Baby



Happy 6 Months Baby E
Couldn't imagine our lives without you



5 Months...

Easton turned 5 months on Halloween.  I just want time to sloooooow down.  It's going by way too fast.  He had a big two days. . . He turned 5 months, had his first Halloween, and rolled over for the first time.  I'm so glad that I was able to see him do it.  Justin put him in his crib on his tummy and we sat there and watched him for a little bit and he never did anything.  Justin left the room and I turned around to hang up some clothes and turned back around and he was on his back :)  I thought Justin had turned him over before he left, but he didn't.  So we put him back on his tummy and we sat there and watched him do nothing again.  Just like the old saying. . . a watched pot doesn't boil.  So Justin left again and I started back with hanging up clothes, and then sure enough, he is on his back :)  I missed it TWICE.  He finally did it when we put him on our bed later that night. . .Yay



5 Months Old

So our first Halloween as a family was pretty uneventful.  I couldn't find a costume that I liked that would fit him.  Then I saw this cute little PJ set at Target that I thought would be perfect.  He was absolutely adorable in it and he was ready for bed too.  We took pictures of him, paraded him around until he spit up on his outfit, and then went home.  We were all in bed by 7:30 (I think).  We are so not the night owls we used to be ;)

Our Little Monster

Favorite Things He Does:

Turns his head and looks behind him

Holds onto me when I carry him

Touches my face with both of his hands

Loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Takes his pacifier out and puts it back in

Gets so excited that he can't control his body and kicks his legs like crazy

Recognizes me when I pick him up from Lolly's house

Stares into my eyes when he is going to sleep and then slowly drifts off

Talks and squeals and bangs his hands on his legs, head, stomach,

and just about anything that is around him

Drools constantly and blows bubbles

Halloween 2011

We are having a blast being parents and just enjoying doing life as a family of three :0)

Pumpkin Patch...

It has been extremely hot here and we have been patiently waiting for the cooler weather to get here.  So. . .It finally hit (yay) and we were able to get out to visit the Pumpkin Patch for the first time.  I was so excited to go.  I ordered Easton's outfit online about a month ago and couldn't wait for him to wear it.  We went with Easton's cousins Karsyn and Landrie. 

I have to say that it was a little chaotic with all the other kids running around like they have had way too much candy.  WHERE are these kids parents at these things?!?!?!  I couldn't believe that there were 3 year olds walking around unattended.  Don't these parents realize what kind of world we live in these days??  I was shocked and just have to say. . .WATCH YOUR KIDS people.  That might be the teacher in me, but I can't stand it when adults have zero parenting skills when they are out in public.  I should teach a parenting class. . .but that's a whole other subject ;)

Besides the chaos. . . we had a such a great time there and it was fun putting Easton in different places and taking his picture.  He was so excited and interested in all the people walking around.  Here are some of our favorite pics from the day (thanks to my SIL for taking them) :

This is my favorite family picture of us so far.  I
love Justin's smile in this one.  I'm a lucky girl with
these two handsome men in my life.

I love when he sticks his tongue out.

Sweet Cousins

He was eating his shirt and not wanting to look up.

He melts my heart with his smile.

Happy Fall :)

4 Month Checkup...

Baby Boy is 4 months old today. I can't believe how fast time is flying by and how fast he is growing and learning.  We had our checkup today too :)

He has had a little trouble with reflux lately and we have had a lot of sleepless nights and crying like he is hurting.  We are on our 2nd medication to help with this.  It seems to be working but he is still waking up at night at random hours and sucking on his pacifier like its a lollipop.  His doctor said that is because he needs more calories...so guess what that means??...yep...solid foods HERE WE COME :) 

I can't wait to start him on it...so Momma can get some sleep...haha :)

He got shots today...this time they had the cute band-aids

Easton at 4 Months

15 lbs

26 inches

Favorite Things He Does:

Laughs

Follows us with his eyes and head when we walk around the house

Grabs and hold our fingers

Touches my face when I play with him

Splashes in his tub

Sucks on his hands and anything that he can get his hands on

Lays his head on my shoulder and looks around

Stands on my legs when I hold him up

Squeals at the TV (especially football games)

Smiles at everyone he meets

Happy 4 Months

Bath Time...

I absolutely LOVE bath time with Easton :)  He is so much fun.  His favorite thing to do is kick his little legs and splash.  I usually sing to him while he is in the bath and he just smiles and talks back.  It's probably the most adorable time we have together right now.  I am loving that he is learning to interact with us and he starts to get excited when we play together.  He is just such a happy baby and we are so blessed to have this sweet boy in our lives.  I just want to squeeze him because he is so CUTE :) 

Back to Work...

Another day I have been dreading since I had Easton . . . my first day back to work.  This past Monday was THE day, and it actually went better than I thought.  I for sure cried the night before just thinking about not being with him all day and all the things I would miss him doing throughout the day.  My biggest fear is missing him doing something new for the first time like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, his first word, etc. 

I have some amazing friends in my life who have been through it before and have great advice.  I got a sweet email from one of my best friends, Jennifer, who said "If you didn't see it, then it didn't happen".  I love that advice :)  It will break my heart if it happens and I wasn't there, but I will just keep repeating that phrase in my head. . .haha.  I know it's inevitable and I can't not let him progress just because I'm not there.  I just wish I had a little video camera on him at all times that gives me live coverage at work :)  of course then I wouldn't get my job done. . .haha

The amazing thing about me going back to work is that he will be with his Lolly, my mother-in-law, all day.  If I'm not able to be at home with him, then the next best thing is family.  I know that she will love him like no day care person ever could.  I can be at work and do my job to the best of my ability because I know he is being well taken care of.  I don't have to worry (too much) about him and if someone is playing with him, talking and singing to him, and taking care of his every need.  We are so blessed to have her and appreciate her wanting to watch him while we are at work. 

Going back to work makes me appreciate every second that I get to spend with him.  It's that much sweeter when I see him at the end of the day and our weekends together will not be taken for granted.  I will miss playing in bed in the mornings, our afternoon naps, cuddling on the couch, kisses throughout the day, and just wasting the day watching his precious face. 

I'm already counting down the days until Thanksgiving Break. . .

I love you Easton J