Leaves are Changing and so am I!

Unfortunately, the flu bug had recently moved into our home, and just decided it wants to leave! It started about a month ago with mommy. Shortly after, Easton began some extreme whining. When Easton whines, the only explanation is that something is terribly wrong. He had a severe double ear infection. A week into the medication, I took him back into the doctors office, because he still wasn't himself (as you will see from the Wisconsin apple picking pictures). The medication did nothing, and my poor little guy had suffered through our weekend getaway (Such a trooper)! Easton was given a shot and was put on three medications to combat his coughing, wheezing and ear infection. The flu ended with daddy, and we all hope that's the end of it.
Over the Columbus Day weekend, we headed to Wisconsin to visit Uncle Randall, Aunt Michelle and Cousins Matt and Mali. On Saturday, we tailgated before watching the Wisconsin football game, and on Sunday we headed to the apple orchard for some apple picking. The weather was perfect. Easton loved picking apples and raspberries and feeding them to the horse.
We took advantage of the weather the following weekend and headed to Dollinger's Pumpkin patch with grandma, grandpa and Uncle Chris and Aunt Rossi. Easton road on the steam engine climbed aboard a pirate ship and spent the most time playing in wooden play houses that lined the farm. The whole way home he kept telling Shawn to buy wood and build a playhouse.
Halloween was such a blast this year. The pictures aren't the best, because our typical (almost) two- year old would not wear the costume mommy had hyped up for the past week. I didn't think I would, but after seeing how much fun he was having trick or treating, I got over the fact that "I" wasn't going to have the perfect pirate picture! Easton's cousins came into town for Halloween and an evening bonfire. Easton couldn't get enough of running around with all of his cousins. It was a change not having to worry about him as much. We could actually relax and have fun (....although not for long)!
That Sunday, following the bonfire, Easton had a "boys" playdate at our home. The weather was such a blessing, and we enjoyed playing outside with our friends. It was so cute watching the boy’s chit-chat with each other. He spent the remainder of the day talking about all the fun he had.
Easton loves books and reading. Most recently he has given mommy and daddy the boot with favorite books, and will choose to read them on his own. Some of the words he has memorized, and others he just makes up to go along with the pictures.
He likes putting together puzzles (especially construction puzzles) with mommy and daddy.
He enjoys playing certain games on the computer, and gets a kick out of pushing the buttons.
Easton is developing in so many different ways. It is hard keeping up with him! He is our monkey, climbing on whatever he can, and showing no fear. With all of this "boy" exuding from him, he still remains ever so sensitive and loving. Easton is wonderful at sharing (sometimes we have to tell him to share, but he does). He has learned from his daddy to tell mommy she is pretty, which just melts my heart. He continues to notice my bump, and we joke about the fact that it will be getting bigger and bigger. Pushing the cart in the grocery store is a chore, because my son has one hand planted under my shirt to "keep the baby warm" as he says. I say I have a compassionate little guy!
Mommy and baby are doing well! As of today, I am 17 weeks. Some days I have a tummy that is as flat as can be, and other days I look pretty much like I did with Easton at 4 months. Once we go for the 5 month ultrasound, I will upload them to the blog.

New Favorite Book!

Easton Has a Surprise!

22 months

It is unbelievable that we have two months to go until our son turns two! It’s something how he went from needing us all the time, to Mr. Independent! Our little guy can now reach onto the countertop and push the open button on the microwave.
Not much has changed with vocabulary. Easton continues to build upon it daily and we continue to be told how well he talks. Conversations are a little more understandable and the topics become more involved. When asked, Easton can tell you that his mommy works at the school with the kids, daddy works at the fire station, and that he lives in Shorewood. When he talks about things that have a blatant color, he will name them as such. “Mommy’s black pants”, “want daddy brown sucker”, and so on. He is more familiar with and understanding of time of day (whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner). Driving in the car the other day, he told me, “Eastie go to park next week”. There are times when Shawn and I look at each other in amazement because Easton will come up with something or talk about something neither of us was aware he knew.
He is very much into the bath lately, and will take one first thing in the morning (so awesome when mommy is getting ready for work) and one just before bedtime. Other interests include the fire truck. He knows a few of the different fire truck names just by looking at the trucks (pumper truck, platform truck, ladder truck). He is very much into his pirate outfit, swords and ship (he tells us every day, “pay money for pirate ship”). Anyone know where to purchase one of those!
If you have watched the video, you now know that we are expecting a new addition to our family!!! We could not be more excited!! We found out August 6th that we were expecting, which makes me a little over 13 weeks. Easton is literally in love with my belly. If I am sitting on the floor, he will come and lay his head on my belly and talk to and kiss the baby. He is always asking if the doctor can cut it out. He likes to go under mine and daddy’s shirt and come out saying, “It’s a boy”. At dinner time he tells us the food goes into his belly and the baby eats it, and will sometimes try and push the food through his belly button. He likes to show off his big belly! There is no doubt he will make a great big brother! Oh yeah! My younger sister is expecting right along with me, and is due 1-2 weeks after me! Once I can figure out how, I will be sure to scan our most recent ultrasound pictures onto the blog. Looks like our title might be changing soon!

Now I know my ABCs.....

20 months: End of a Great Summer

Back to school for mommy! Both mommy and Easton are making a fairly smooth transition. Daddy says he only cries until my car is out of site(Easton cries a little too:)) Mommy is comforted by the fact that Easton and daddy have a wonderful bond. Whenever I come home from work, I like to hide and watch the two of them outside playing together. Easton has a special way of looking at his daddy. It is no wonder though. Shawn is a very hands on and involved dad! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful guy in our lives (plus he cooks dinner during the school year!).
We enjoyed the Dells so much that we decided to go back (as did Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Mandi, Uncle Michael, Aunt Missy and cousins Morgan, Maddie, Zach and Matt) for a second trip. Unfortunately, Easton was battling the flu and wasn’t as into the waterslides and swimming as he was the first time.
We are glad the flu has passed and have our little talker back! Easton definitely takes after mommy when it comes to socializing. We are always getting comments on how well he talks for his age. When you’re doing it as much as he is, it no wonder! We have noticed that during conversations, Easton will relate something we are talking about to something that may have happened as much as two weeks earlier. We like that he is making connections to the things he talks about. He is now at times up to four words in a sentence, and is getting better at letting us know what he needs. For a while, we were dealing with a whiner. For some reason, instead of asking for something, Easton would whine. We began to put him into the time out corner, and the problem was fixed within a day or two!
Easton is also working with numbers. He understands how many two is, and will occasionally ask for a couple (tuple) grapes. Colors are improving as well! He no longer thinks everything is yellow!
We are coming into the “everything is mine” phase. He doesn’t use the term “mine”, but will take a toy from you that he wants, and hand you something he doesn’t.
We bought a potty for Easton last month, and he wanted nothing to do with it. When asked if he wanted to sit down on the potty, the reply was a very determined “NO!” I left it alone, because as I have been told, boys can be stubborn about this. However, just the other day, before bath, I asked if he wanted to sit on the potty. He said, “Mommy sit down potty”. After I did, he sat on his. We both did a little pushing……and Easton had his first pee-pee in the potty! Mommy was so proud! We did a pee-pee dance, and had a pee-pee candy!
Easton’s attitude is awesome. Unless he is sick, he is always in a good mood. He keeps Shawn and me smiling all day long with the things he says and does. He loves to help and be involved in whatever we might be doing.