16 months old!

When children are babies (think 0-12 months) we meticulously document their development. We write down the milestones and take a zillion photos so that we can remember it all. Maybe we even do special monthly photo shoots with them. But then they become toddlers and everything speeds up superfast and all of a sudden you realize, “Wow! My kid knows how to do that!? When did that happen?” Fortunately I still take a zillion pictures of everything he does. Easton turned sixteen months old today! I cannot believe he is growing up so fast! And our lives are definitely in hyper-speed this little man keeps up on our toes and is always on the go!

Easton is officially not a baby anymore… although he will always be my baby! He is becoming a toddler in every sense of the word each and every way. Easton is his own little independent self… he wants what he wants when he wants it end of story. His little tantrums come too often but are short lived and he always comes back for hugs and kisses! Easton is all boy thats for sure! He loves to make messes, play in the dirt, and tackle mommy and daddy. His favorite game to play is tackle and tickle mommy…. daddy taught him that and he laughs so much when he does it. Easton has to be the star of every show. If he isn't getting all the attention he will find a way to get it. When mommy and daddy are having a conversation and laugh he laughs too! When a baby is crying at play group he has to mimic them and fake cry too. He has so much personality and makes us laugh every day!

Easton is our little jabber box! He is so cute when he plays because he talks to himself and makes sounds for his toys and cars. His favorite toys are his tractors and cars. We got him a little bike this last week and he loves to ride on it. He zooms around our little apartment making vroom noises and ringing the little bell. Whenever he wakes up from nap or we come in the door he runs to his little bike.

Easton has started to get picky with food. He used to eat everything and now he picks around the variety to the things he loves. He will eat macaroni and cheese on any given day now and he started eating pasta sides too and loves them. He loves mashed potatoes and yogurt and cheese.

Easton is trying to talk more and more. Mostly he still jabbers but he keeps surprising us with the words he will let slip every now and then. He will say please and thank you ("dank do"), milk ("mal"), tractor, and he has said "i go" and "i did" and he has said what sounds like grandma. He is very selective with what and when he says it but the other morning I said "milk please" and he said "map pease" while signing please… needless to say mom was very pleased ;) He is FINALLY catching onto sing and signs please, more, eat, and thank you; although to him he is just blowing kisses ;) He growls at every animal in sight especially dogs and he tries to do an elk call by squeaking and squealing. Daddy is so proud!

Easton still loves books and pulls out all of his books at one time to read each and every one. He loves to read books at bedtime and his favorites are books with cars and trucks or animals. He loves to play outside… I am really not sure what we will do once winter comes- I guess mommy and him will just have to bundle up head to toe and continue to go to the park ;) I am sure he will insist!

Easton loves to give hugs, kisses, and high fives! He actually says "dive" for high five! He loves to blow kisses too! All the time and says ba ba ba when he blows anyone kisses. He is the cutest little guy when we say prayers each night. We get almost to the end of the prayer and pause and he says "amen!" very loud and abrupt! He has started to fold his arms while praying with us too- cutest thing ever! Easton has become a fan of flopping on the floor lately and thinks it is pretty entertaining although I do not think it looks fun at all! He basically body slams the carpet and laughs! Again cutest thing ever but its rather uncomfortable if you ask me. He has started letting us know he is awake by either hitting the wall with his hands or banging his head against it.. another not so smart decision from an adult's standpoint but whatever floats a toddler's boat!

Easton is quiet the little character and makes us laugh all day long and everyday! He is just such a little ham and definitely enjoys all the attention. He is a sweetheart and melts my heart. I fall in love with him all over again every single day. We can't imagine our life with out him… he completes our little family and we are so happy he decided to join us 16 months ago. What a fun adventure it has been to watch him grow up from a teeny tiny little baby into a little man with enough energy and pizazz to go around!

Mother Goose Time

Easton started a co-op preschool group this week. Yes I know what you are thinking… he is 15 months. But let me tell you this is an amazing thing… you have probably heard of Joy School before … this is similar- it is Mother Goose Time and Each month there is a unit subject and then you teach them little lessons under each unit. This month they are learning all about their bodies. On monday we learned about each body part- this is perfect for East because he is so stubborn and he will not point to any of his body parts (lil stink)… Yesterday when we got home from the store he covered his eyes and his ears and bopped his nose with his finger… he still won't do it when I say "where is Easton's eyes" but we are making progress (I think)… Anyway today we learned more about body parts and shapes in our bodies- circles (eyes) etc. Everyday there are games and art activities for the children and they get to interact with their peers and eat snack… What kid wouldn't love it! I know I am starting him a little young but hey when he turns two he will be the smartest little two year old around! He is really loving playing with older kids too- he learns so much from observing them and chasing them around and it is fun to see him learning.

Third Hair Cut… First Haircut From Mommy!

My friend Shelbi did Easton's first and second haircuts. The second time she decided to teach me and made me do some of it. It still terrified my to cut a wiggly toddler's hair… what if it didn't end up even, what if I cut his ear, what if I totally botch it? Well now I have been given no other choice as my friend has moved to North Carolina for a year. Easton was beginning to look very scraggly when it comes to his locks and needed a trim up really badly! I was so nervous but decided how hard can it be… Shelbi made it look so easy and I will just do what she did. So "dum dum" sucker in hand Easton sat in his high chair awaiting his First (third) haircut from his mommy. I buzzed it to the length of 3 inches up to the curved part of the head and then proceeded to trim the neck line and around the ears. Let me tell you this was the hardest part… not only does Easton hate that buzzing next to his ears but he will try to grab the clippers and definitely gets his wiggle on. After that I used scissors to trim his mohawk to an appropriate length (he was bringing to look like a punk rocker!) I trimmed the back and then made each side down to the front the same length. When I finished I got to looking at the back and it was horrible uneven so I had to redo that but other than that it actually turned out better than I had hoped for. Of course I had a hairy sticky little guy at that point as the sucker had dribbled down his chest and belly and the stray hair stick to it but this was definitely a success for this momma! And he looks so so handsome with short hair!!! If you ever have doubt in yourself just go for it…. it may turn out better than you think! Before:

After:

It's Begining to Look Like Fall Time

It's that time again in Laramie… it's beginning to get colder and colder and the leaves are changing and blowing around. We are trying to get the last couple of chances in to play at the park. Easton is really going to miss the park when it snows. We might just have to bundle him head to two and brave the cold snow that is coming Thursday. It's beginning to look a lot like fall! We love fall!! Here are a few pictures of Easton playing at the park this past week.

Tough Mudder 2014

This weekend I successfully completed my very first 11 mile, 26 obstacle, muddy, cold, challenging Tough Mudder in Snowmass Village, Colorado! It was one of the most incredible, challenging, physically demanding things I have done right up there next to child birth! Yes I will compare it to that- aside from the fact that giving birth to my baby boy was much more incredible and breath taking. Although the cold water took my breath away too ;) The bottom line is… as far as athletic events go- this was the daddy of em all in my book of accomplishments thus far. I would say running a full marathon was much easier than half the race with 26 obstacles. I feel like I had running in the bag… it was the obstacles that made it hard, that made it challenging. I could go on and on about the toughness of the mudder but all in all I think I would have to agree that it is such a fun and exciting thing to compete in this event with a team and to accomplish these challenging feats. I walked away completing all 26 obstacles with flying colors, bruises all over my body and a miserable sunburn. I was pretty sore the next two days but other than that I am faring good and thinking I will have to do the tough mudder again! Before:

After:

Easton loved my protein bar from the finish line…. goofy little guy! Not that he needs all that bulk!