Wonder what God's return policy is for messy boys? Hehe....

Last night, as I was feeding Easton his bedtime bottle, Ryan sat on the couch and looked around the room.

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"There was a day when our house used to be clean" Ryan mistakenly remarked.

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I glared daggers into his eyes, "Are you saying I am a bad housekeeper?"

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Realizing he is in trouble, Ryan rebounds, "No, no, no, the house is CLEAN, it just used to be like a museum - pristine. Then we got Ritzy and we would have Ritzy toys around. But that wasn't bad, we'd pick them up every couple of days and put them in his basket. Then THIS guy came (pointing to Easton) and now our house looks like Toys 'R Us, toys everywhere."

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I reminded him,"If I pick them up during the day Ryan, they come right back out. So after he goes to bed, the toys get put away."

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"I realize that, but toys are, well, they're everywhere!"

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"What do you intend for us to do about this problem?"

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Ryan ponders this question and with a wink suggests, "Well, we could send the mess makers back."

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"True", I say, "But I don't think I kept the receipts Ry, plus, God has a really strict return policy, He's not so nuts about you returning His blessings...."

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We got a good chuckle out of this exchange.

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I used to be absolutely neurotic about the cleanliness of my home and I still am. I get it from my mom. My house and my parent's house - those are the only two places that I know where the floors are so clean, you could eat off of them! :-) I'm a little OCD and she's a little ADD, makes us crazy cleaners! But my mom told me after I had Easton that your kids won't remember the house being spick-n-span when they're older, they'll remember the fun you had with them. I have heeded all of the advice she's given me, especially that little nugget.

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So when you come into the Loucks home, you will notice that there is no dust, there is no dirt, there is no grime - but there are a lot of cardboard books, plastic balls, stuffed animals and trucks laying around - that is because our house is a house of fun. :-)

A "Toe" Update!

I sent an email out to people last week and forgot to update the blog with the updated information:

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Easton is doing awesome! He turned a year old on January 9, 2009. We had a big party for him on Saturday, January 10 and he had a blast. God has blessed us with not only a handsome little dude, but a smart one too! He has been walking since 10 months and now he runs, he runs everywhere! He also waves, gives high-fives, blows kisses, claps, gives BIG hugs and kisses, dances and he says "Mama", "Dada", "Bubba", "Hi", "Bye" and "Yes" and the other night he said "Duck" but we haven't gotten him to say it since, stinker. :-)

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Easton loves music. He loves dancing and clapping and he loves watching his Grandpa and Uncle play the guitar and he gets really excited when Grandpa puts him on his lap and lets him play the drums! He also loves to sing. Hey, he may look just like Daddy, but he's got Mama's musical talents! Yippee!!

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He had his 1 year check-up today and he currently weighs 24 lbs. and is 31 1/2" long. He is in the 90-95% for height and 50-75% for weight. Dr. Jarve said he is going to be a tall boy just like his dad!

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Thank you for letting me "gush" about our little lover boy! :-)

A couple more....

1 year photo shoot!

Easton had his 1 year photo shoot the week after his big birthday! I finally have just 1 picture to post because I happened to "steal" it off my dad's website! :-) He has been so busy with Portranet and the studio (and I am known to be quite demanding) so I have been trying to be laid back and not bug him about the pictures. But since I found this one on his site, I have to post it!!!! I hope to have more to come!

Is he not the most beautiful little boy that you've ever seen!? :-)

I'm gonna get you!

This is Easton's favorite game. Sorry the video is so dark, it was late, so we were gearing down for the night. Well, except for our little Toe, he wanted to party all night long. He LOVES being chased. :-)

It's my party!

Last week Saturday we had a big celebration for Easton's 1st birthday! The party went well after all of my stressing and hardwork! I am glad I had some help during the party and afterwards because I was truly pooped! But Easton had a blast!

Thank you to everyone who came and helped make the day so special for Easton! It is so wonderful to see how loved and cherished he is by family and friends! He deserved an awesome day and I am so glad he got one!!!! :-)

The birthday boy waiting for guests to arrive!

Mommy and Easton

Grammy, Mommy and E-man!

Walking around with his beloved ballon!

And off he goes!

The girls and their little man!

Watching his ballon....

Handsome boy!

He looks like a toddler, doesn't he? Oh my goodness, he's lost that "baby" look

I thought this face was hilarious, he got had gotten his ballon on and he was all excited!

In his birthday hat. He HATED this hat! We were all eating and he looked so sad sitting in his highchair, it was breaking my heart. I tried everything to cheer him up and still, he was sad. I took of his hat and he started to smile! Aw! :-(

(It could also be he was pouting because he wanted pizza which he ended up LOVING!)

Not liking Uncle Kolby making fun of his hat! :-)

Checking out the ball pit craziness from Mommy and Daddy!

Intently reading his card! So cute!

Easton got tired of opening presents, so he chilled with Grammy and abandoned me while I opened them, what the heck!? (I must have been opening clothes!) :-P


Ah, xylophone! E didn't want to miss out on that action so he came back to help me with presents (Plus, I think he thought cousin Ava was making a move for his animal crackers!!)
His racer car from Grammy and Grampy. Now, G & G, don't forget that the 16th birthday deserves a car ALSO! :-)

Checking out the ball pit again....

The big cake

Easton's special "smash" cake that my friend Rochelle made (isn't it darling!?)

Watching everyone sing "Happy Birthday" !!!!

Thinking all of this attention is pretty sweet!
I had to make sure we got a quick family shot! Easton was only thinking about his cake though!

Easton did not hesitate to start digging in. He did a choke hold around the bears neck and went to town!

Look at the bear's eyes bugging out! Ha~

Ritzy decked out in his matching party collar. :-)

Some of the decorations. The signs on the mantel have Easton's stats written on them from each of his doctor's visits.

There was matting for a frame that everyone was to sign for Easton. :-)

Easton and Great Grammy sharing a laugh

It was a bittersweet day. We are sad that time has passed by so fast. But we have enjoyed and savoured every second we have had with Easton. He is truly, our best little buddy. And we are so looking forward to what the future brings with Easton - we know he is going to continue to delight and surprise us. Love you buddy.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday sweet Easton....

I apologize to anyone who reads this post, for the length and the sappiness, but this post isn't for you, it is meant for just one special little man.

To our sweet boy on the day of his birth:

It's funny because I sat down to write this letter thinking I could write it without crying. I was so wrong. But Easton, the tears I cry are tears of joy. This past year has been the best year of our lives Easton. There is nothing your dad and I would not do for you. You have brought us so much love and so much joy. You made us a family. Wealth, success, things - they pale, absolutely PALE in comparision to you. You are the most precious gift that God could have ever given us. Your dad and I have said over and over again that when we wake up each morning, we feel like little kids on Christmas day because we are so excited to spend time with you - you truly are our little present.

I loved you the moment I found out I was pregnant. But the moment when I first laid my eyes on you, I fell head over heels in love with you and my heart has been yours ever since.

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After your birth, I also watched your dad transform from my calm and collected, man of steel husband turn into a puddle of heart melting goo. You were placed into his arms and in his eyes I knew, he too, had given his heart to you.

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We basked in the "glow" of parenthood and soaked up every delicious moment. You were so peaceful, so calm, quiet and beautiful - gosh, you were so beautiful (and you still are!)

Then, all of a sudden you transformed into this sweet, bright eyed baby. You slept through the night at 5 weeks, you took to both nursing and bottle feeding, you rarely cried, you were perfect. We still couldn't believe you were ours.

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Those bright eyes turned into big grins and giggles Easton. You began to grow and light up our lives with your personality and your spunk. Grammy has always said that you just love life and "Easton is just happy to be alive!" and it's so true. You find the humor and fun in everything. Your little personality really started to shine through.

Life really started getting interesting once your little personality started developing. You loved playing games with us and being kissed from head to toe. You were our little buddy. We took you everywhere and anywhere and you just went with the flow. Our sweet and calm little sidekick.

How quickly you had grown from helpless newborn to bright eyed infant and then giggly buddy to eager learner. You were so excited to explore and experience new things. Whether it be new foods, new places (the zoo, the nature center, the library) - you enjoyed it all. And so quickly you learned to become independent. Crawling and playing - it all came too soon....

And now you are our beautiful, cheerful toddler. That word is so hard to write. Toddler. You are walking and talking and all boy! But just yesterday you were my helpless little baby, where did that time go? It feels like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms and rocking you back and forth as I sang you the sweetest lullabies. Tonight, when I put you to sleep, I read you a book, put you down in your crib and you sang yourself to sleep. You do it because, well, you're a big boy.

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It is so wonderful to watch you grow, so exciting you see you blossom, but please Easton, slow down - there is no rush - you have your whole life ahead of you to be a "big boy". Please, for now, let me hold you tight, rock you to sleep, and still sing you lullabies. I know you can do it yourself and your dad and I are so proud of you - but let yourself be little, time is going by much too fast already....

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Looking back at this past year, I can't help but feel a little guilty. I know you aren't perfect, but Easton, I don't care what anyone thinks, it is honest when I say - you are so close to perfect. Your dad and I don't deserve you. You truly are a gift. You have continued to be calm, patient, sweet and easy going. You have never given us a hard time and have given our hearts and lives nothing but pure joy.

You are a gem and completely one of a kind. I wish you could really understand how much you are loved and adored by all who know you. You touch the lives of everyone you come in contact with! We call you our little "magnet", people are just drawn to you and your effervescence. You are amazing sweet child. God has so many great things in store for you!

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All I can say now, my little E-toe, is I love you. Daddy loves you. Ritzy loves you. We all love you. Thank you for giving us so much this past year. We may have given birth to you, but you have given us so much more. Our life as The Loucks Family is so full with you in it. We look forward to what the future brings and we continue to savour every second of the present.

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Happy Birthday sweet baby boy. Our hearts overfloweth

Love - Mommy & Daddy