Country at Heart...

One of my favorite things about my husband is that he is a country boy at heart.  When I first met him, I was surprised by the fact that he loves being out in the middle of nowhere and loves every minute of it.  That was one of my family's wishes when I was single. . .that I would find someone who appreciates "the land" and everything that comes with it.  When I first saw Justin, in his Polo shirt and flip flops, I never thought he would love the country like I love the country.  He is everything that my family wanted for me and that I thought I would never find.

First Time on the 4 Wheeler (I was nervous)

Being raised in a small town, you appreciate the little things in life and it's the small moments that mean the most.  It's watching the sunset in the evening, feeling the breeze against your face on a warm spring day, watching the cows graze in the pasture, and just wasting time with the ones who mean the most doing things that make the best memories.  I'm so thankful that God brought me my country boy husband who loves my family and the simple things in life.  I know that Easton will one day be just like his Daddy and love everything about the country.  



My Sweet Boys Together

Swinging in the Country

Taking it all in with Grandad

The Land we Love

Small Moments...

I just had to say that we are loving every moment in our lives.  Every day with Easton is such a blessing and we love hearing him giggle, talk, and scream.  He is starting to copy cat noises and sounds.  He is also starting to crawl and he is into EVERYTHING.  My favorite part of the day is when we are all at home together just spending time with each other as a family.  Easton is so funny and we could just watch him all day.  Justin said to me last night "I love our life together". . .I LOVE our life together too.  We are so incredibly blessed and not a day goes by that I don't thank God for everything he has given us.  It's the small moments that happen every day that brings us JOY.

First Haircut...

Our baby now looks like a little boy.  I can't believe he has already had his first haircut.  He was such a trooper throughout the whole thing.  I, on the other hand, cried...haha :)  Justin was a trooper too ;)

He's excited (doesn't know what's about to happen)

Lovin' the Cartoons

Think he is realizing what's going on

All Done

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 :)