Ee-aye-Ee-aye-Oh.

Random Facts:

Easton loves to sing. He sings all the time.

Easton loves to show you where your body parts are, especially your eyes. It's quite lovely, really, it is. You'll be, say, reading a book with him and he will turn around and allofasudden poke you in the eye while repeating, "Eyes, eyes". He also enjoys sticking his finger UP your nose while pointing out your nose, we're trying to nip that in the bud very quickly. He used to just poke your nose, now he picks it. How kind of him. :-)

Easton's new favorite word (well, one of them) is Ritzy. Ritzy is a hard name to say for a little guy but Easton loves it. Poor Ritzy, Easton calls for him all.the.time. If Easton cannot see Ritzy he goes around the house lifting up blankets and looking behind furniture calling for Ritzy. It really is so sweet, they are best buddies.


Pictures from the park a couple of weeks ago (I am behind, I know)

He didn't have fun at all as you can see.

His big and cheesy smile

My sweet little furbaren critter on his birthday.

"What is that you say? Presents, for me!?!?"

My sweet baby boys on Ritzy's birthday

Easton yesterday. He is posing, hence the "sheepish" grin on his face, he so did this on purpose.

Who knew an empty diaper box could be such fun!?

Happy 5th Birthday Ritzy!

People might laugh, but we don't care, we have taken you everywhere. More like a child to us you are, your looks and personality have taken you so far. You've won contests and hearts and we'll never kick you out of our bed, even with your puppy farts. We'd do anything for you, because we know you would do anything for us too. You are loyal and sweet and your mommy just adores the smell of your "popcorn" feet. You have been with us through so many milestones in life, when we got you at the beginning of our union as husband and wife. You were so peaceful and mild when we brought into our home our first (human) child. Your friendship with Easton makes our hearts soar, you are truly a special gift from God that we adore. You're not just a dog, you are our companion and friend and we will love you until the very end.

Ritzy, just writing that poem for you, and thinking about you makes me cry. People probably do think I am crazy, that your dad and I are crazy and we are - crazy about you. You are special, you contain a kind of magic that I have never ever seen or experienced in another animal and I know a heck of a lot of people who don't even measure up to how amazing you are. You lick away tears, you smile when you hear giggles and laughter and you feel bad when you know you've done something wrong. You care about us and we care so much about you. This past summer was hard, wasn't it buddy? But we did everything we could for you, and God has blessed us you with a second chance at life and we're so grateful. We cherish every day with you and we don't take you for granted. We love you buddy, we truly do, with all of our heart. Happy Birthday and we can't wait to celebrate many, many more with you.

Whack a Goat

This past Saturday we attended an open house for my dear friend Angela (Hi Angela!!!!). Angela got married to her husband John in Alabama, so her parents threw an open house for Angela's Michigan friends and family to congratulate the new couple. It was laid back and sweet. Angela's mother was thoughtful enough to think of the kids invited and she planned some fun games for them. One included a pinata.

Easton shook and giggled with excitement as Ryan held him and he watched all of the kids take giant whacks at the bright, pink goat. He had to have a turn.

And that he did. Easton tried to bash that goat with all his might (which isn't much mind you) but he had the biggest grin on his face and giggled with such sheer pleasure and delight. Silly little boy, I guess I know what we will be doing for Easton's 2nd birthday!

Thanks to my friend Lisa (Hi Lisa!!!!) for taking pictures since my camera was out of batteries!

Look at that little boy, he took the bat and tapped the goat....that obviously wasn't going to work....

So mama stepped in to help him wallop that nasty looking goat....

Look at that grin, fun was had by all :-)

Finally, an update!

We have been so busy and our computer had to be completely wiped clean because I got a virus on Facebook, hence the lack of updates!

Some new stuff that Easton has been doing - he can count to 10! It is really awesome! He has been doing it for about a month now and it doesn't fail to amuse us! He's such a hambone! He can rattle off all sorts of animal noises and he loves pointing to everyone's behind and saying, "Butt!", I honestly don't know where he learned that!?!? I always say "tushie" I rarely ever say "Butt" and have never pointed out to him his own butt or anyone else's butt? Anyway, it is the latest word to throw E-man into a fit of giggles.

This video was taken last Saturday....Easton enjoying his first bowl of Cocoa Krispies with Daddy, he liked it. Of course he did, who wouldn't!?

This video was taken last night. My mom and I went shopping and, of course, came home with bags full of stuff for Easton and only a pair of shoes for my mom and nothing for me. Nothing thrills me except for Easton clothes - what a "you know you're a mom when...." moment! Ha! One of the new purchases was a pair of really soft jammies. Easton fell in love with them in the store and when we got home he went digging through the Children's Place bag for them all the while stroking them against his cheek and saying, "Wow". When my parent's came over for dinner Easton has to show everyone his jammies and kept touching them saying, "Wow", I had to get it on video! The video is a little long but the beginning is what I was after. When we put him in his jammies he just kept repeating, "Wow" and feeling his jammies. So funny!

Last but not least, this is the same night - Easton has a bit of a sweet tooth (go figure!) and everytime we have my parent's over for dinner we always end it with some sort of sweet (so tasty but so bad for the waistlines of everyone involved! Ha!) and whenever I bring over the sweets, Easton will get all excited and march on over saying, "Wow" and last night was no exception - the plate of cookies got a whole lot of excitement and "wows" from the E-man! (And you will notice our precious little Ritzy in the background at the end of this video - we are ECSTATIC to report that he has had 3 urine tests since his surgery and they have all come back CRYSTAL AND STONE FREE!!!! This last urine test last Tuesday his urine pH levels were starting to go down and all of his numbers were great, so we are praising God for healing our little guy and pray for a continued clean bill of health for him! He acts like a completely different dog than he acted pre-surgery, the stones really had caused a lot of pain and depression in him and he is like a new pup now full of renewed life and vigor! We love it and him!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

Happy 34th Birthday to the most incredible man I know. He is the most loving and caring father, the most attentive and passionate husband, a man of integrity who is hardworking, fun loving and God following. I love you baby!!!!

Frederick Meijer Gardens

We went to Frederick Meijer Gardens today to go play in the Lena Meijer Children's Garden and what a gorgeous morning was it to be outside!

We met up with a huge group from a parenting website I am apart of and Easton got to see his new friend Ellie and both of their curly little heads bounded around the gardens all morning.

What a lovely day....

Easton and Ellie playing in the "nest' on some robin eggs :-)

Two little curly cues playing "tea party"

Easton being a gracious host. lol


In the sandbox

At the "Great Lakes" pools playing with sailboats

So fun!

I can never get him to look at the camera, he's too busy!

I love just sitting back and watching him play :-)

Easton loved putting his hands in the waterfall

Telling me he's had fun, but he's ready to go home :-)

Summer is here, finally!

Finally we seem to be enjoying some time outside this summer! It has certainly taken summer a long enough time to get here, hasn't it!?

Playing outside at our house isn't the easiest because of the street and not a lot of toys in the backyard (I can't wait for a swingset next year, or better yet, our nice, private, quiet yard on the lake where our property is, can we build yet? PLEASE!?) so I try to take Easton places where he is more free to run around. We go to parks and playgrounds and my parent's house (that is a great place for E to run around even though it is a minor "death trap" with the fountain and brick patio and walk ways, not to mention the dock out to the lake, but I digress).

Lately we've been taking Easton to Millennium Park! He loves it! So I have some pictures from there, we went yesterday with my parents and brother. Ryan pouted because he couldn't go, he had to work - hey dude, someone has to work to support my lifestyle of staying home and playing with the babe! *wink wink* Much love to you honey buns!

Before pics from Millennium Park, I have to share a shot from Monday night. My husband and his "mini-me". I prayed every night while I was pregnant that our baby boy would be gorgeous just like his daddy and he most certainly is. Look, they even the same smile! But I SWEAR that Easton's eye color, nose and curly hair are ALL.MINE!!!! I swear....

Millennium Park - it was such a gorgeous day and the water was perfect!

Easton and his mommy aka "the incredible chin" - seriously, look at that thing....

"Boppy" showing Easton some rocks he found in the water which E-man then wanted to eat. Nice.

With Grammy and evidentally not happy about it. I think he wanted back in the water. Look at how hot this woman is - SERIOUSLY. I hope and pray I look as amazing as her when I am her age. In all honesty, she looked better than most of the girls MY AGE on the beach.

With mama. Aw, I love my baby boy. Look at my killer deal - Ralph Lauren swimsuit, was $97 at Macy's and I got it for $15 at Marshall's! WOOT WOOT!

Uncle Kole and his buddy.

Trying on Grammy's shoes. What boy wouldn't want to wear such sparkly shoes? Hmmm?

He loves trying on everyone's shoes. He had Ryan's flip flops on this morning and my slippers last night. He even was walking the beach and trying to steal people's sandals, had to keep on eye on my little klepto!

Fun and Games at the Beach....

Oh and in other news, Easton can count to 3 all by himself! I had to share that because (of course) I think that is so advanced! Ha! :-) And he is just chatting up a storm. He knows up and down and hot. He knows what animals say. He knows "all done" and "nite nite" and "love you" as well as the normal, "Uh oh", "No", "Hi!", "Bye!", "Mom", "Dad", "Grammy", "Boppy", "Uncle" and he just started saying "Ritzy" as well. He says so much it is hard to remember it all, but he definitely has the gift of gab!