Happy Mother's Day 08!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. We have a tradition in my family where we eat breakfast at my grandmother's house every Sunday morning before church. So, on Mother's Day - it was no exception. We went and had a wonderful breakfast with the whole family. My brother's family and ours decided to take a picture of the grandkids for my mom and grandmas. They loved it! My mom even got all teary eyed looking at her precious grandkids who love her soo much. I have the best mom in the whole world and her grandchildren are learning everyday why she is so special. Mat gave me a wrist corsage that was so beautiful to wear to church that morning. He is so thoughtful. He said he got me wrist one so the baby wouldn't tear it off my dress. : ) That afternoon, we went and ate lunch with the family and then came home. Mat sent me off while he and Easton set up a surprise for me. He told me to change into my jammies and relax. So while I was changing and getting the baby to sleep, he and Easton set up the living room for a relaxing afternoon for me. They had towels and lotion for rubbing my feet, fuzzy sleepers, Dr. Pepper (of course), chocolate, candles, a rose, and a chick flick. : ) When I walked in, I saw Easton standing there on a stool in his jammies holding a towel. It was the most precious thing. Sometimes I forget how small he is because we have Lawson now, but he is still so tiny. On the chair were 3 cards - one from each of them. Inside each of the boys cards was an outline of their handprint. It was so sweet. Mat also gave me a gift certificate for a massage and facial. He knows how much I need a break, I guess. Easton and Mat took the lotion and rubbed my feet. I think Easton enjoyed that as much as I did. : ) Then Mat took the boys and let me have a few hours to myself watching a movie that I had been wanting to see.  It was very nice and relaxing. Thank you honey for making my mother's day so special. I love you and I love being Easton and Lawson's momma. Thank you Lord for giving me these wonderful gifts!!

Cousins!!!

Abby-1 yr, Isaiah-5 yrs, Lawson-6 mos, Easton-almost 3, Grant-almost 4

Me and my precious boys at church Sunday morning.

Look at that precious little boy. He was so excited to yell "surprise!"

Trip to the Zoo

I have been saying for about a year that I wanted to take Easton to the zoo in Memphis.  I have heard great things about it and knew he would LOVE it. He loves animals of all kinds and I knew this would be right up his alley. As part of a mother's day surprise, Mat bought tickets to the zoo. We drove to Memphis last Friday night and went to the zoo on Sat. morning. It was soo much fun! Easton was so excited about the whole thing. We counted down the days until it was time to go - so the anticipation was enormous.  He woke up that morning, looked around to see where we were, then said, "can I go to the zoo now?" It was so fun to watch him while he saw in person all these animals that he has been looking at in books and on tv for about 3 years now. The animals he wanted to see the most were elephants, giraffes, turtles, and bears. He was so funny though when we saw an animal, he would look at it, talk about it for minute and then run off and say "okay let's go see more animals!" I said he is just like any other man - no lingering - see what you want to see and move on. : ) We saw pretty much all the animals at the Memphis zoo, saw a sea loin show, played on the playground, rode the train, tried to ride the carousel, but Easton decided he didn't like it once we got on and had a wonderful time. Lawson was a trooper the whole time. Although he is too little to care about the animals, he seemed to enjoy being outside and even took a pretty good nap in the stroller that morning. Both kids were fast asleep by the time we strolled them back to the car that afternoon. It was a trip that I hope Easton remembers for a long time. I know I will. 

Our Evening Entertainment

Here is a video we took a few nights ago of Easton making Lawson laugh. I think his little laugh is so cute and wanted to share it with you. Notice Easton is sitting in Lawson's bumbo on top of the kitchen table. Easton loves to sit in that thing! ha ha! Enjoy!

You may need to pause the music on my blog before watching the video in order to hear it. Just scroll down and push pause in the big red music box. This is my first attempt at uploading a video. Hope it works right! : )

Random Easton Things

I have been thinking for a while that I need to write down how Easton is talking now. He says some of the cutest things and I don't want to forget them. I have always found it difficult to sit down and document what is going on with Easton and now that I have 2 children, it is even more difficult for me. I think I am doing okay with Lawson by having the month to month milestone post, but I feel bad because Easton is changing all the time too. I love that little boy soo much. He keeps me and his daddy laughing all the time. Sometimes Mat will say, "Who is this little guy?" because he is always coming up with something new to say and do. He soaks up everything we say and repeats it at the funniest times, but usually in the right context. A few nights ago, he started walking kinda funny across the kitchen and I asked what he was doing. He said, "I am walking like a cowboy." He had he legs spread way apart and was bouncing with each slow step he took. It was too cute! Anyway, here a few of the words, sounds that he still gets confused that makes his speech so precious to listen to....

- He still makes an "f" sound for "th" ("free" instead of three)

- He makes a "wa" sound for all his l's. ("Wahson" instead of "Lawson")

- He sometimes uses the words "how and why" interchangeably. (Ex. "How are you doing that momma?")

- He also uses the words "fun and funny" interchangebly. (Ex. "Let's go swide (slide) momma. That will be really funny.")

- Speaking of the word "really". He always says "reeey" for really. I love that!!! 

- He says "do's" for "does". (Ex. Momma, he always do's that.)

- He recently started saying the wrong pronoun for she and he, using "her" and "him" - I am trying to correct this one, but it is kinda cute.

We were eating at Chili's the other night and he picked up the pepper and was going to pepper the chips. Mat said, "Oh no, Easton, that will make them hot." So then, Easton picked up the salt and said, "Will this make them cold?" Too cute.

Give-a-ways

My sweet cousin, Leigh, has some great give-a-ways on her blog. All you have to do is post to her blog to enter. Check it out! 

www.taylormadegrace.blogspot.com

This is a really cool idea. Have fun!

Lawson 5 months old

Lawson is 5 months old. Actually, he is now 5 months 1 week and 5 days. We were a little late on taking his picture which has pushed this post back as well.

My Milestones at 5 months:

I am not sure how much I weigh exactly but I imagine I am getting close to 18 pounds. I am a big boy!!

I have finally learned how to eat from a spoon and I am loving it! So far, I have tried cereal, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and sweet peas. I am a great little eater. My momma is praying that I stay this way.

My naps haven't changed much. I usually take a nap around 11:00 am, sometime around 3:00 pm, then again around 7:00 pm, then to actual bed anywhere from 10:30 to midnight. It all depends on the last time I ate. Since my parents are night owls, it doesn't really bother them at all. 

Once I actually go to sleep, I like to keep momma guessing about how long I will sleep. Sometimes it is 4 hours and sometimes it is 6 or 7 hours. The good thing is that when I wake up I just drink my bottle and go right back to sleep. I try to be a good baby. : )

I am  laughing really big now. My big brother is soo funny. I laugh at him the most. I love to watch him talk and play and laugh and dance around. I love him so much!

I rolled over for the first time on April 9th. I rolled from my back to my left side on my tummy and then quickly learned how to roll back onto my back. I have been rolling everywhere since. I don't stay in the same position very long anymore. I like being somewhat mobile. 

I still haven't mastered sitting up by myself. I am close but not quite there.

The passy is still one of my best friends. I mainly like it to go to sleep or when I am fussy. I can pick it up and put it in my mouth now all by myself. I even will move myself around on the floor to get close enough to put it in my mouth. Passys are wonderful!

I still do not have a tooth to my momma's great surprise. I chew on my fingers and fists all the time and slobber constantly. Surely it can't be much longer.

I love to play with toys. My favorite is a Whinnie the Pooh crackle book that was my brother's when he was a baby. I love the way it sounds when I squeeze it. My favorite game is peekaboo. 

Everyone always comments on how big I am. I am very chunky and long. I have almost outgrown my car seat. My momma says she loves my chunky legs. She almost bought me a shirt that said "I make chunky thighs look good" but it was for a girl. :)

I am a really happy baby. I smile almost every time I am talked to. I also love to hear myself talk. I squeal and "ahh" really loud. 

I love to be sung to. My favorite song is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus".  It was to this song that I finally learned how to eat cereal without gagging. Momma might share that story later on.

I also love to give big slobbery kisses and hugs. I wrap my little arms around my momma's neck and hold on tight. She says it is the sweetest thing in the world!!

Second Generation Friends

Last Friday night, 3 of my closest friends from High School came over with their children for a very large sleep over. Altogether, there were 4 adults and 6 children. Me and my 2 boys, 4 months and 2 1/2 years. Amy and her two, 6 months and 3 years. Robbye and her little girl, 2 years. And Laura brought her youngest daughter who is 17 months. She figured her older 3 boys wouldn't be as interested in the "baby party." We had soo much fun! The children who could walk played and had the best time and we took turns holding each other's babies and oohing and awing over who they look like and all those girly fun things to do. The kiddos were so excited to have playmates, it took us a while to get them to bed so we could have our usual "quiet talk time". We may have slept around 3 hours the whole night, but it was so worth it. I love these girls. This year will be our 10 year reunion from High School. We have stayed in touch and made an effort to get together every year, sometimes more than once a year. We have gone to Dallas, Branson, Memphis, Little Rock, and countless gatherings in Searcy. When we were in High School, we talked about staying friends so that our children would be friends and grow up knowing one another and we have done it. I don't think there are many people who are as blessed to have friends like these who have stood with you through the good and bad times and helped you come out on the other side of both. I praise the Lord for these girls and for giving me these priceless relationships. We are already starting the planning for our next big "ho-rah" and I can't wait!!! 

Left to right: Ryleigh, 2, Hannah, 17 months, Macy, 6 months, 

Canaan, 3, Easton, 2 1/2, Lawson, 4 months 

Canaan and Easton became great friends this weekend.