Thanksgiving 2010

This year we have so much to be thankful for, I can't even list everything. We went to James' parents house first then went to my Aunt Nancy's house for round 2. Easton enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. Along with meeting new adults(Aunt Jill, Uncle Bill, Uncle John, Cousin Justin) he also meet Cordelia for the first time. Enjoy the pics!


Our 1st Thanksgiving as a family



Mommy and Easton

Daddy and Easton

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello. It's nice to finally meet you. I heard so many things about you.

Cousins

Easton: "Wake up Cordelia. Look at all these people taking our pictures"
Cordelia: "ZZZZZ"



1 month

"They grow up so fast."   "Time flys by."   "Take lots of pictures because they won't be this small forever." Those all some of the most used phrases that people say when you have a child. And now having one, I couldn't agree more with those sayings.

It's hard to believe that just one month ago Easton was born. I can not believe how fast that went. So of course what do I do to celebrate him being one month old? I take TONS of pictures. I won't put all of them up but here are a few(well more than a few).

Mom, can't you at least put clothes on me?

Hmmm I'm not sure about this.



Really?! You are still not done taking pictures.
I'm so serious about this. Take a picture and let me sleep.
Thanks.



Ok, I love you. One last picture and I'll even smile



Cousins

Anyone who knows my family and me know that we are really close. We get together every Sunday to watch Amazing Race and eat dinner. We spend ALL holidays together. We even make us reasons to get together(ok it's really so we can have cake). But not are we close with love we are close with birthdays. My cousin Tim and Robb are about 3 months apart along with my cousin Jamie and myself. Easton will now get to join the "tradition". My cousin Jamie and her husband Matt had a baby girl. Her name is Cordelia Ann. She was born November 18, 2010. That makes Easton and Cordelia almost one month apart.



Cordelia Ann (Easton's 2nd Cousin)
Born November 18, 2010


Easton sound asleep



Technology

In a couple of days my dad will be watching Easton while I go out for a church function. Now I'm really not nervous about my dad watching Easton. My dad has raised two wonderful children! But it's the new technology that scares me.

When he was raising my brother and me bottles were easy to make. You popped it into the microwave and gave it to the baby. Now, when you wanted to warm a bottle you have a bottle warmer. Which you have to program if it is frozen(for breast milk), room temp, or fridge. Plus you have to put how many ounces the bottle is. 

 Then there is the boppy pillow. Which I have to say is one of my most favorite things in the world. What is it you ask...well it's basically a pillow shaped like the letter "u". You can rest the baby on it while you feed, lay him on the boppy to rest, when the baby is old enough to sit up it holds him in place so he does not lean/fall.
I am sure there are many more uses but those are the one I currently use the boppy for. But again, back in the day, my parents used a regular pillow.

Now this one is not a new invention but improved. From what I have heard, swings 28 years ago had to be hand cranked for it to actually swing. Swings today have more contraptions than I know what to do with. Easton's swing has 5 different songs to choose from, 5 nature sounds, 6 speeds, a timer, and toys hanging above it.

Diapers..that's the another thing that is so modern. Do you want newborn, umbilical cord cut out, swaddlers, non swaddlers,etc.  Not to mention all the different brands. There is Pampers, huggies, Parent's Choice, Seven Generations, etc. There are so many to choose from. I know that they did not have this many to choose from when I was little. They even have diapers that have a line on them to tell you when the baby has wet the diaper. I am glad that there are so many choices due to Easton's peeing problem(which I am sure I'll blog about soon). but c'mon a line to tell you when your child is wet?!?!

And one of the last things that technology has come up with is a wipe warmer. Yes, you read it correct a wipe warmer. I think this is the BEST thing since slice bread. How would you like it if you were just waking up and someone put something cold and wet on your bottom. You would cry to. The wipe warmer makes it as pleasant as can be to wipe your bottom. I will tell you that the only down side about this is that you have to make sure that you remember to turn it on because it takes up to 2 hours to completely warm the wipes. But it is completely worth it.

So, back to my original point. Technology has come up with some cool and useful items and some that didn't even need to be thought of. I hope that when Easton goes over to my dad's that it won't be to complicated for my dad!

Star Wars

Every night I try my hardest to read to Easton. While reading James asked why I was showing Easton the pictures in the books since he can't see. I explained one, because that's what you do when you read. You show the people the pictures. But also the book that I was reading was black and white, motion book. For those of you who don't know about newborn eyes sight here is some information I gathered from the internet and reading materials the hospital gave me. The ability to distinguish between different colours is probably not very good until at least three months of age. By age two months babies do notice colors of red. orange. green and yellow. and shortly thereafter are able to see blues. This is why newborns tend to become attracted to contrasts of dark and light rather than brightly colored objects and they prefer patterns with curved lines rather than straight. It is this fascination in light/dark contrasts that have made the black-and-white newborn mobiles, toys, and books so popular.

James then understood and went about his business(which was really listening to the book I was reading). The next day James came home with a "present" for Easton. And to my surprise it was a book....a Star Wars book. Now, normally I would be so ecstatic about getting a book. But when I was reading this book, I realized that there is a lot of fighting and extreme force that they use. Now don't get me wrong, there are no swear words, bad violence, or anything to that existent, but it's such a non-children book that I'm use to. So I was a good wife and let James read that book to Easton.

I know that I will someone day read that book to him but as of right now I will continue to let James read Star Wars to Easton. Plus, when I was looking at the book, I had no idea what it was talking about so I am sure that I was reading it out of context.

Family and Friends

Today my mom and I went shopping without Easton. As much as I liked being able to walk around a store without a stroller or having to worry what time it is to feed him, I missed him. I know he was happy and safe at home  with James, but I wanted to be home with him. When I got home, James decided to take him to Grandma and Grandpa Mangels house. When they left I decided to clean the house( thanks mom for helping me out). Again, it was nice to clean the house with not stopping for anything but I missed him. While I was sitting at home waiting for Easton and James to come home I was thinking about all the people that came to visit us when Easton was born. I never realized how many people care about us and our family. I can't put up all the pictures of everyone who came to visit us at the hosptial or at our home because there are way to many of you. But we are thankful for everyone's help and well wishes.

Uncle Robb

Aunt Erin and Uncle Brian

Grandma D, Grandpa D, Uncle Robb, Auntie Christina

Grandpa D

Great Aunt Gloria

Jill

Matt

Gallop and Waddle

Anyone who knows me knows that I think that every child should be read to at an early age. So today Easton was reading before he went to bed. Okay, to be realistic, I read the books to him, but he stared right at them looking like he was really reading.


1st books that where read to Easton




Laying with his books

 P.S.   I put that Easton read the books before bed but he really fell asleep for 1 hours then was awake for most of the night.

Three weeks

It's hard to believe that Easton is already three weeks old. It seems like just yesterday I was still pregnant waiting for him to come out. Easton has accomplished so much in three weeks. He already is eating more. When we brought him home he was eating 1-2 oz every 2-3 hours. Now he is taking 3-4 oz every 3-4 hours. And even though I complain about how little he sleeps, he is now on a schedule for sleeping. It might be his own schedule but it's a schedule. The first week that he was home he slept in his bouncer and bassinet. Now he is sleeping in his crib(well most of the night). When he keeps his eyes open he is much more alert and looking everywhere. His cries now have meaning to them. He has a hungry, sad, mad, and tired cry.

I think that is a lot to have accomplish in three weeks. I can't wait to see what else he does in the coming weeks, month, and years.

First Time

Being a first time parent you seem to always have the camera attached to your hip. I have taken pictures of Easton's firsts. Yes, almost everytime he does something for the first time, I'm there taking a picture of it. Yo might be asking yourself  "how many firsts can Easton have already? He's only a couple weeks old." Well let me show you some of the first things Easton has done.

First car ride. Coming home grom the hospital

First time going in the house

First time sleeping in his crib

First time sleeping in his bassinet

First doctors(well nurse) visit

First time he peed on James

First Halloween card

First pumpkin

First Halloween comstume. He's a monkey just in case you can't tell. It's hard to find a 10 day old an outfit that fits correctly

First bath

First real outfit...no sleeper outfit

 So yes, I am one of those moms that take a picture of EVERYTHING. He only does his "firsts" one time so I have to capture it. I know there will be many other "firsts" and hopefully I will caputre those moments too.

Changes

Twenty days ago my life changed in a way I could never of imagined, I had our son. As I sit here I think about how things have changed in so many ways. There has already been so many changes for James, Easton, and myself. James and I were two people who never really scheduled anything and now we write down everything from what time Easton ate to what times we have doctors appointments. Being a parent makes you realize how easy things were before you had a child. When I ran out of milk it was so easy for me to just grab my coat and run to the store. Now I have to change a diaper, put on Easton's coat, place him in the car seat, grab the diaper bag, and try to get out the door. By that time I forgot why and where I was going. But at the end of the day I would not change anything.

Before Easton was born.

Now this is my life and I would not have it any other way



Daddy's pride and joy

 Easton has had many changes in his short time here.  Twenty days ago he was swimming around in my stomach having a good time. He woke up when he wanted to, slept whenever, kicked super hard, and told me when he wanted to eat (or not eat). Now he has someone trying to teach him his days and nights, feeding him on certain hours, and having someone decide for him if he wants to be held or not. There are so many changes for him and he is dealing with all of them very well.

After all is said and done all three of us are getting use to each other and the way we do things to and for each other. In the end we all are there for each other no matter what time of day or night it is. I defiantly know that we make a great family.