1st Christmas

Yes, this year is Easton's first Christmas and James and I were so excited. It started on Christmas Eve. We went to James' parents house and celebrated with that side. Easton received so many clothes, books, and cans of formula. When we got home we got a plate ready for Santa. On the plate was yummy cookies.


All the yummy cookies




Santa couldn't finish all the cookies

 Then Easton went to bed early, because the rule is that Santa won't come while you are awake. So he went straight to his crib that night. After he was sound asleep, mommy and daddy went to bed. The next morning when we all awoke, there were so many presents by the tree. But we couldn't open them just yet, we had to go to church. So we got dressed in a really cute outfit but then decided to spit up all over it. So we ended up in just a normal every day sleeper. After church mommy wanted to take pictures of the church. So she did...they were just different.

The church manger

Nope it's not baby Jesus, it's baby Easton



Wait, so tell me again. You traveled how far and for how many days?


After church we went back home and opened up presents. There were so many. There were clothes, toys, books, bath toys, and so much more.



All the presents from Santa



After opening up presents are home we traveled to Grandma and Grandpa's house. This year great grandma and Aunt Chris were there. So we opened up more presents. Easton got a Blackhawks sleeper with his name on it, clothes, savings bond, toys, and a bill box. Mommy and Daddy got a lot of presents too. Grandma and Grandpa must of been ahead this week to give everyone such fun gifts.

Grandma opening up her gift from Easton

We then got to relax a little before everyone else came. After dinner we all heard bells and a deep laugh. When we looked up Santa was standing in front of us. He came and brought us more gifts. Easton even got to take pictures up close with Santa.

A sleeper from Santa

A truthful shirt from Santa

Santa said he had to go back to the North Pole and get some rest since he was up all night. Easton was so tired from this eventful day that he got changed into his pjs and went to sleep. I think Easton had a great 1st Christmas and he will have many more fun filled Christmas'.





Before I was a Mom

Another poem I found nonline that is so true!

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Please, no photos

I know famous people. I'm not kidding, I really do. I talk to at least one of them daily.They are all so nice,if you ask them about them being on TV they don't brag about it. When I tell people that I know others that are on TV they don't believe me, so I watched TV last night and took a picture to prove that I really did know people that were on TV.

Yes, it's my Mom, Aunt Nancy, Jenna, and Jill.
The year after my grandma passed away my mom and aunt wanted to start a new tradition to keep the family close(especially around the holiday). My mom, Aunt Nancy, Jamie, Jill, and Jenna go every year downtown around Christmas and just spend time together. They go shopping, travel to Water Tower, Navy Pier, and many other places. Now you might be wondering about me, and if I go. The answer to that is, yes, I go but not every year. There are many reasons, but the main reason why I do not go every year is because I am one of those people that like to go to a store for a specific reason and then leave. My cousins and Aunt can spend 1 hour at one rack. FYI, if you ever want to spend hours in just one store go to New York and Company with my cousins. (Oh and my Aunt has coupons on top of coupons for that store. So don't ever stand in line behind my aunt, she will take forever!!)They can literally spend 2 hours in the store. And I bet longer, if anyone else let them. I just can not do that every year. But the times that I do go, it is so much fun. But back to the story of my mom being famous.
Channel 7 news have a window that you can watch the newscasters broadcast live. At the end of the news the camera scans the window and the people by it. Every year when my family goes downtown they head over to the Channel 7 news at 10. This year they made a sign.

So yes, my family is on TV every year. Next time you see them ask for their autograph!!

Hi ho, Hi ho, it's off to school I go

Easton had a big day today. He went to his first day at school. Well it's actually daycare but we call it school. Miss Stephanie is his teacher. She is so friendly and loving. I am not worried one bit about Easton being with her. Easton is starting to go to KinderCare before I start work so we can get into a routine. I didn't want to start work and have him start school on the same day. I thought it might be to hard(more so for me). We attempted to do a practice run. I tried so hard to follow through with it but couldn't do it. I got up at 6:00am to start the day. I had all intentions on getting ready then getting Easton ready, but Easton had other plans. He let me get ready but he did not want to get up for anything. So I tried to change his diaper and then feed him but this just mad him very angry. He went back to sleep. I still had to give him a bath since he smelled really bad. I couldn't have him going on his first and be the smelly kid. but eventually I got the courage to get him mad again and put him in his carseat and drive off to school. It was only 9:30...so 1 1/2 hours later than what I should of left.
When we arrived there was a welcome sign on Easton's classroom door. Miss Stephanie welcomed both of us. She took Easton right out of my arms and started kissing him. I gave Stephanie a list of things that I felt were important to know. And Steph was probably thinking to herself, "Danielle, I know what I'm doing. I've been working for KinderCare for 11 years. And I have three daughters of my own." But she politely listened and assured me that everything was going to be ok and that Easton was going to have fun. So I left and for the first time in almost 7 weeks I did not know what to do. I had no baby and was bored.
I decided to go to the bank, run a couple of errands, and then pick up the house. Like how I did not say clean the house, just pick up. But once I got home I did every piece of laundry possible, cleaned the bathrooms, etc. It was weird that once I was done cleaning(which went by much faster that I didn't have a child to look after) I was once again bored. I wanted to go get Easton right then and there but I knew that Easton has to get adjusted to his new schedule and people. So I watched TV attempted to take a nap. I kept looking at the clock to see if it was almost 4:30. That is the time I decided to pick him up. Finally, it was 4:30. I got in my car and drove to pick him up. I missed him soooo much.

Sleeping in his crib

I'm not sure about being here. This isn't like my play mat.

Hmmm, this isn't to bad. This play at has way more things to look at

I'm liking this

Easton is probably thinking "Miss Steph, did my mom put you up to this.
She really likes taking pictures. Well I guess I give you one good picture"

1st Snow Fall of 2010

Easton and I are watching the news and the weather person is saying that it's going to be 25-30 degrees outside, stay in if at all possible, the first snowfall of the season started and there could be up to 5 inches of snow, etc. So what do I tell Easton? "C'mon buddy, we are going to get you dress so I can take you out for your first snowfall. I know what you thinking really Danielle, he shouldn't be going outside in the cold. But once again I'm a first time mom and have to have Easton experience a first for everything. So I call my upstairs neighbor(Kristee aka Auntie Neighbor)and asked her if she would take pictures to document his first snowfall.  

Auntie Neighbor and Easton

Meanwhile James is looking at me like I'm crazy that I'm taking 1 1/2 month old out to take pictures. And of course I tell James that he has to come with so we can take a family photo of our first time out in the snow as a family.James said ok, but shook his head in disbelief.

So Easton is all ready to go out, Auntie neighbor comes down, we go out to take the pictures, and I realize that it's pretty darn cold. But as a great mother I am the first thing I do is lay Easton down on a blanket in the snow and attempt to take a decent picture.

Not a good picture that mommy took.

 He didn't mind it so much. Now for those of you who don't know, Easton HATES being wet or cold. So this is not the best photo opportunity.  But to my surprise he wasn't screaming or hating the snow on his face to much. After taking some pictures Auntie Neighbor had a great plan of putting Easton in a basket with a blanket.

He's probably thinking. Again, with this picture thing.
And now they put me in a basket. This has got to stop.

I'm telling you she is awesome at coming up with cute ideas. So while we wait outside Auntie Neighbor gets the basket and we then take more pictures. After all pictures are taken we all go inside to warm up and continue on with our day. So we thought. I was looking at the pictures and realized that Kristee takes awesome pictures. So within minutes I call her back up and ask if she can take a couple of pictures of Easton by our Christmas tree. And with her happy self she said yes. Auntie Neighbor came down once again and started shooting pictures. I'm telling you it was so much better than going to JcPenney for a photo shoot. Kristee didn't just lay him on the floor and take pictures like I would of , nope, she took ornaments off the tree layed them next to Easton, put him on the bobby pillow, stood over, under, around, him to get the best picture she could. After some time we were again done with pictures.

Maybe if I sleep through this they will stop putting props by me and stop taking pictures

The best present under the tree

I reviewed them and fell in love with them. I was so pleased with them that some of them went on our yearly Christmas card. So thank you Kristee for all your hard work. We will all remember our first snowfall of 2010

For my son

I was looking on the Internet and found this poem and I fell in love with it.

 

Oh how the years go by,
Oh how time can certainly fly.
From once just a thought in far away dreams,
now into my arms and in my eyes gleam
the presence of you.
Your laughter and smiles
which go on for miles,
warms my heart and soul.
You're growing up so fast,
as I wish each moment with you to last forever.
My little boy will someday be a man
and right by your side I will forever stand.
I will pick up the pieces when you fall,
I will hold your hand and help you stand tall.
And when the day comes when you are on your own,
never feel that you are alone.
No matter how near or far apart
I am always right there in your heart.
Always remember whatever you go through
that no matter what, I will always love you.

 

A friendly cat

Our household consists of James, Easton, myself, and our two cats(Hendrix and Zoa). Now I loved them before we had Easton. They could really do no wrong, but now that Easton is here, the cats act like their world is turned upside down. Now for those of you who are animal lovers...I know that it's a change for the cats and blah blah blah, but these cats seem to just do things just to get attention. And it's not so much Zoa(who we thought would be the problem) it's Hendrix. He is always in jumping in the crib, by my side while feeding Easton, under my feet at ALL times. So I took pictures to prove that no matter what Hendrix is just a friendly cat that I'm assuming loves Easton so much that he can't stand to be away from him.

It started from the very beginning

Easton doesn't even notice the cat is right next to him