Easton’s 2nd Birthday in Maryland

This past Saturday we trekked our way up north to Maryland.  When I say “we” I mean, myself and the boys alone.  A trip I have done several times before but it had been a while and every time I question my judgment and am convinced “Why Yes, Emily, you certainly are crazy!” Brad flew out to Tampa for work the day before and I just wanted to go to see family since like I said we did not have school holding us back.  Part of Christmas is about family and no one at all had a plan to see each other.  It was sad to me to ship gifts or be alone so off we went.

We finally arrived there at 4:30 when we left at 9 am.  We added two hours onto the trip because after seeing a large house fire while driving it reminded me I left my space heater on so I opted to be safe no matter what the cost or annoyance it caused and I drove home to unplug it.  Five minutes from the house Liz finally told me she did still have out spare key.  It was a little late since we were already there but I will remember that next time. She ended up using that spare key to sneak cookies into my house for when we got home.  A nice treat when coming home to a food barren house. 

 

Our first night we spent with Andrew, Jen and the girls.

We watched Home Alone and drank hot chocolate.  Bradley is my child who does not like it but Gavin loves it and Easton just drinks it cooler and thinks it is chocolate milk.

We exchanged our Christmas gifts with them.  Of course, Uncle Andrew kept it golf themed for at least one gift ;)

Gavin picked out this bracelet all on his own for Livi.  it has a boys and a girl charm to represent the two of them.  Adoring cousins.

We always draw names with between the kids and are normally together.  Well, I guess I didn't think of it or thought someone else didn't have a gift either.  Well, I was wrong to not think this process out clearly.  Bradley ended up getting his feelings hurt really bad saying “where is my gift?” The answer to that is Jackson has his gift in Charlotte and we are not all together and exchanging at the same time.  It was not a case of him being selfish or anything.  He is going through a phase of being the oldest brother and being unappreciated or thinking life is unfair.  Every child with siblings goes through this and feels this way at times.  We are working on it though to make our big boy know he is so very much loved!

Uncle Andrew did the coolest thing.  he snuck away and wrapped up Bradley a gift. A “Caps Kids” baseball cap.  Bradley cherishes it and he felt better after that! 

He is the most handsome little man with his Daddy’s strong features.

Easton got birthday gifts too. 

The next morning Aunt Jen made the kids and the Birthday Boy, sprinkled pancakes.

Looking unsure about being 2 so early in the morning. He does great at blowing out candles though.

After this we went to church and got some party supplies and headed to Great Grandmas house.

These kids weren’t monkeying around.  It was pizza time!

Time for ice cream cake.

He was so thrilled.  Happy Birthday Easty Bubbas. “Little Easty Bubbas today is your day.  Little Easty Bubbas, it’s your Birthday! Little Easty Bubbas we love you, Little Easty Bubbas today you’re TWO!” I sung him this song all day to the beat of “I’m a little tea pot.”

As soon as he was done with the candles he started sucking his thumb.  Sheesh! That may be a hard habit to break as he is doing it a lot lately.

Love this toddler.  He is a joy!

 

How many kids can you get around GG’s table.  Well, 10 exactly! If only a table could talk.  This one has lots of memories to share.

 

The craziness and aftermath of the ice cream. We played pin the tail on the donkey and the kids each got a balloon.

 

My cousin Natalie and her little boy Nicholas even came later to wish Easton a Happy Birthday.  These two are only 1 week apart.

 

It was a perfect day of celebrating for Easton.  More of our Maryland trip to come….

Easton’s early gift

We had plans to go to Maryland while Brad was out of town for work.  I thought why not since Bradley is out of school starting the 14th.  More on that later.  Liz brought Easton’s gift early since we would be away.  I just had to share the cute pictures. Thank you so much Aunt Wiz, Mr. Mike, Pia and Chasers.  As you can see Easton loves his gifts.

 

Sweet big brother helping him.  Literally taking him by the hand which melts me heart. I did notice that this Christmas will be fun with him but he is not as into opening gifts as I thought he would be.  Next year will definitely be his enthusiastic ripping into presents year!

If I could keep you little (we definitely would).  Easton will always be our baby!

Easton @ 20 months

Our little Easty Bubbas is 20 months old as of August 16th.

I couldn’t even tell you how big he is since his last doctors check up.  He is still in 24 months clothes.  He just moved from size 4 to size 5 shoes.

I do know that his hair is still as curly cued as ever! Just one of the many things that add to his charming self.

 

These days he is loving cartoons more, the outdoors, he loves to climb and I have caught him swinging and doing acrobatics from tables and chairs in the house.  He has no fear when it comes to the edges of pools and playgrounds.  He will walk right up and jump off if I wasn’t there.  He tries at the park all the time and my heart literally sinks in my stomach.  As for the pool we have remedied that by just letting him JUMP.  We try to make family days of it at the indoor pool and Easton loves to jump to us and float and go under.

I can’t believe how big he is getting and maturing into ALL things toddler and boy (not baby anymore) so quickly. 

It would be nice to take a zero off, rewind time and see the little two month old again. Slow Down Please!

 

He is saying “No” a lot and he still throws his food.  He will even swat at you when he’s angry.  He has even been known to stick up for his brothers by telling us “No” when they are getting in trouble or swatting at me when they are getting in trouble.  I swear I am not going to know what to do with all their testosterone together one day.

 

He is still sucking his thumb and more recently he is putting his other hand down his pants.  I told Brad we need to get him to stop sucking his thumb and he said, I quote, “No, we don’t! What’s cuter than Easton with his thumb in his mouth and his hand on his junk.”  I don’t know Brad, let’s think?! hmmmmm.  A lot of things are cuter than that! The things I deal with around here. This phase will pass but for now I am putting him in as many rompers that will still fit him so he has no access.  Even his pajamas are one piece.  I also can no longer lay him down with just a diaper.  He has figured out a few months ago how to take that off.  I have set him on the toilet a few times but he just sits there and nothing happens.

 

Currently he is really into reading books.  Right when he wakes up he gets down and says “book” and hands me one to read.  Then he plops down in my lap. I guess it is a good thing because he really is in a “sponge” phase.  He is saying new words left and right these days.  As much as he learns new words it is still always nice and so sweet to hear that baby babbling he does while talking or playing.  He has a lot to say in his sweet little voice!

 

One of his fears right now is dogs barking.  He likes dogs and is intrigued by them but is also a little scared of them.  So he has been seen walking up to a friends dog and petting them and then immediately crying a running away if they move in the slightest.

He is just so great, easy going, happy go lucky…..…until he’s not! He will let you know when he’s had it.

 

So, that’s it for now.  We’ve had it until 21 months (If Mommy remembers)!

As I am typing this Jacks Big Music Show is on and Easton is stomping his feet to the beat and I can hear him say “Dum diddy Dum de dum de dum day!”

Easton @ 16 months

Well, I have to admit I lost track of how old Easton was for a while.  The reason why I skipped 15 months which I thought I had done.  Just like that he is 16 months old which I have counted and counted on my fingers with his birthday to recheck.  Crazy, right??! I just can’t believe he is becoming quite the little toddler and not a baby anymore (textbook), he will always be ‘our’ family baby! Sorry Easton, this is your privileged life.  So, as of April 16th, he has been sixteen months old.  Here is the news for your current age and stage Easty Bubbas….

Is it possible that your hair became wilder?  I think it has, even despite mommy not combing it daily.

You are still an amazing sleeper.  Two naps both 2-3 hours long and you sleep 12 hours straight at night.  Thank You Lord! You even wake up so happy, playful and are content to chill in your crib while your brothers play in the room with you or hop in the crib with you and bring you toys. See, I told you, privileged! Do you think Bradley or Gavin had toys handed to them the second they woke up? No.

What has not changed is that your smile is the best and you are still so cute, sweet and handsome. 
 
You still have the fattest Fred Flintstone feet too! I just can’t get enough of your piggies! You wear a size 4 shoe and you wear 18 or 24 month clothes.
 
We did part of these pictures on the table because you are such a climber now.  You try and steal the bathroom stool everyday and take it to climb on anything and everything.

At your 15 month doctors appointment you weighed 22 lbs and were 28 3/4 inches tall.

You love to talk now and the words you say are Mommy, Daddy, Thank You, Ball, Kick, Bye- Bye, Cheese.  “Mwah” when you give your sweet slobbery open mouth kisses.  I know that is not technically a word. You also love to say and make the sound “Roar!” You also said “No” already just once.  Yikes. It just keeps happening earlier and earlier with each child. I can’t imagine where you learned that one from (GAVIN) but I’m not name dropping or anything! There may be a few more words, I am not writing them down when they happen like I should be. 
 
You love to point now, suck your thumb (still)  and even like to hit your brothers sometimes just to show them you don’t mess around and have taken notice to the fact that they like to wrestle you and crush you at times.  You will be so tough, you already are.  We have witnessed you make Bradley annoyed and hurt Gavin. 

You love the water and you love to be outside and explore.
 
You kick and scream when you have to come inside. You do that also with diaper changes and getting dressed. You just are in that phase of not wanting to be held back from your own free will.  The quicker you learn Mommy & Daddy know best the better we all will be.  That’s what I tell your brothers at least, ha-ha!

You can throw back some food too! I let you do it to because you are my only one that loves veggies and eats them without hesitation.  I would say you like anything except eggs.  You used to eat them but now the texture must throw you off and that is Gavin’s food for the liking now.
 
You like to be read to and you love to dance.  You dance anytime you hear a beat that makes you want to move your feet.  You move your feet a little but your signature move is waving your hands in the air and you make a clicking noise with your mouth to sing along.

 

You do this new eye thing when you are being mischievous and you know it.  Like here for example.  I really don’t like you climbing on this alone and you were like “Watch me Mom, I’m going to do it.  Don’t stop me!”  We have trouble getting upset with this face.  Daddy and I are going to have to toughen up on you soon.  You are a quick and smart learner.
Happy 16 months to the best Easty Bubbas ever!