Cuddle bunny

I don't have a ton of new news to report.

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Last week Saturday we had the birthday party for our friend's little girl, Alana. She turned 1 and is one of Easton's many girlfriends. Yes, he has many. When he sees Alana, he gets VERY excited and runs over to her, pulls her in for a hug and gives her a big open mouth SMOOCH! He is very affectionate towards her. It is precious. We try to get pictures, but we always seem to snap them too late. One of these days we'll need to try to get a video of it, it is so tootin' cute!

Easton is really affectionate, he has always been a hugger and kisser and a total cuddle bunny! It is just so precious to see him being affectionate with his friends too. He loves giving hugs and kisses to his buddies!

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Another thing Easton loves to do is lay down and get "Aws". He has been doing this for about 2 months now. He will lay down on the floor (or something soft like a blanket, pillow, stuffed animal - or Ritzy!!!!) and will tuck his arms in and smile at us while we all go "Awwwwwwwwww", he giggles and then will lift his head up and do it again! It is hilarious! I should take video of it, it is too funny! Our little snuggle boy!

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I, hopefully, will be updating with pictures sometime this week. Last week nothing eventful happened so I didn't take any! Boo for boring updates!!!!

Spring, we are so happy to see you!!!!

We've been busy lately! Between all of our regular daily activities, Easton and I have also been enjoying some of the fun places in Grand Rapids that we can finally go visit since the weather has warmed up (a little!)

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This week Tuesday, Easton and I joined our friends Annie, Katie, Amanda and Addie for an early afternoon at the Frederick Meijer Gardens! The kids had a blast! Although the butterflies really didn't capture their attention (except when it came to almost "squishing" a few beautiful winged creatures!), the outdoor "tree house" and garden maze sure did! It was such a fantastic day to enjoy the sunshine and warmth!

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Katie ringing the garden bell, she is the only one who dared to!

A bad shot, but a rare one of two of the kids together. I did not get one of the three together but I think one of the other girls did, it is a rarity, let me tell you!

Easton was not happy a few exhibits were temporarily closed! ;-)


But he still had fun anyway! :-)


Smiles from my sweet boy!

Easton and Katie.

Playing in the "tree house"

Blurry, but such a cute expression!


"Mom? I think I mighta stepped on a butterfly, is that bad?"


Pretty butterflies

Also, this last week Thursday Easton and I joined up with Erin and Brody for some fun at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, my pictures aren't great, but I am posting anyway. Getting a good shot of Easton right now is a lot of work, especially when he is having fun - he is always on the go!

Easton working on one of the Blue Man Group exhibits.

Easton and Brody, of course Easton isn't looking at the camera!

Playing on some more Blue Man Group stuff with Erin

A very excited little boy!

E and B meeting up in the "house of mirrors"

Easton really "dug" this little scooter in the toddler area!

This kid was made for walking, and that is all he'll do, one of these days this kid will walk over to you....

Man alive! Easton is wearing me out these days! I love my boy, but I must say, nap time has become a SACRED time in this home! He is so busy!

I try to keep Easton busy by participating in classes and playdates, etc. Today, in fact, we are going to a Gymboree class and I am so excited to see how Easton likes it!

Last Saturday we met up with some gals and their kids from my "mommy board". I have known most of these girls for 6 or 7 years - when I began planning my wedding. We all met on a local wedding planning board and then once we got married we all moved over to a newlywed board and now we have created our own baby board. I am thankful for the board and the friends I have made on it.

A few of us met up in Holland to a home so graciously opened up to us and Easton had a blast! I am posting some pics from the playdate. Easton looks quite serious in the pictures because he has started going through his "stranger" phase and I don't think he liked being starred at by a "stranger" - but I thought these were too cute not to post, my little buddy playing - Er, my little buddy walking around? Yup, the kid loves to walk. He walks and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks. You sit down with him and he'll play and read books and then he gets up and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks and picks up a random object - gets excited, laughs - and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks and walks....see now why naptime is so sacred? :-)

What, is he playing!? *Gasp!*

No, silly, he is walking around....

*Gasp!* I think he might be playing! (Or hiding so he could go poop his pants, yup, that is indeed what he is doing here, caught in the act buddy!!)

Now it's time to walk some more! Walking is fun for E-toe!

*Thinking to himself*, "I wonder if I can pick this up and walk around with it!?"

Happy Birthday to me!

Today, Sunday, March 1st, I turned 25. Egads. 24, to me, sounds young. 25 for some reason, to me, sounds really old! (I know most of you will kick me for that!) I'm on my way to the big 3-0! YUCK!

I drowned my sorrows in lobster this weekend. Hehe! Actually, turning 25 doesn't bug me at all. I was blessed with an awesome birthday thanks to awesome family and friends!

Hottie hubs and I at Gill's Blue Crab Lounge on Saturday night....

Wonderful friends, Ryan and Michelle, who joined us!

My friend, the lobster! I told him I was going to devour him. He got sad. So we kissed and made up. :-)

My little toots and I at Bluewater Grill on my actual birthday for dinner with the family! (Look at his beautiful blue eyes! Be still my heart!!)

Lastly, a picture from a couple of weeks ago when we had that two day February "warm up". Easton and I played outside a little in his cozy coupe. I came across this picture from that afternoon today and he looks so stinkin' precious!

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....