I've been held hostage!

I'VE BEEN HELD HOSTAGE AND SOMEONE DRESSED MY SON UP AS A UT FOOTBALL PLAYER FOR HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTE: He's SO CLOSE to crawling!

Ali said it best "Ann, he's so cute, he makes even that UT Jersey cute!" AMEN SISTA!

Only 1 eye black for us.  We couldn't get the second perfect, so we just went with one.

We didn't trick or treat, but we handed out candy.

Next year we'll have a better 'costume'.

I've already laid the ground rules- nothing spooky, satanic, evil, etc.

I'm not all about the 'evil' part of Halloween but I do think its fun for the kiddo's to dress up and get candy.

The view from here...

We're now getting to big to lay down and take a bath. 

Easton wants to be sitting up playing with his bath toys. 

He's growing up too fast! 

I love this view!

Look at that little head and neck and ears and back and booty.

And...look at those little pigs peaking out...

OH.MY.GOODNESS.

I could just kiss every crevice and crease!

I LOVE THIS BOY!

Mmmmm!

This baby melts my heart!

Embrace the Camera- October 28th

 I've been reading Emily's blog for some time now.  She hosts an event called Embrace The Camera.  She encourages us to get out from behind the camera and get some pictures with your kids, spouses, friends, etc.  I love this idea!  The majority of our pictures are of Easton, Easton and Daddy, Easton and Kirby...but where's mom???...yeah, she's taking the pic... 

So, every Thursday I'm gonna turn my camera around and get some with me in it! Your kids will thank you for all the pix of you and them! Come on, join the fun!!!Head on over to her blog and check it out! 

Can I brag a minute???

Lovie made the local Parent magazine!

I mean, look at him, how could he NOT make the magazine???

Ok, I'm a little bias...but hey, what momma's not???

Save your money!

Last week I bought this lovely at Target...

What for you ask???

To make baby food, OF COURSE!

My BFF Brooke has made both her girls baby food and said it was super easy.  I liked the idea of knowing exactly what was in each serving as well as knowing it was fresh and healthy.  Obviously, I also like to make sure that I have a FULL plate and plenty to do!

With that being said, I didn't want to invest in one of those pricey food processors just in case I didn't like making my own baby food.

I made a few batches using my blender and my mixer but that wasn't so easy.  The peas were a mess.  Once I pushed all the skins through the sieve I only had 4 ounces of 'pea juice' to make into food.

ENTER THE OSTER HAND BLENDER!

For a whopping $19.99 I got just what I need to make Easton's food.

This bad boy is ALL YOU NEED!

We've tried butternut squash, peaches, green peas, green beans and sweet potatoes.  And, I might add- the boy loves some orange food- you can keep the green to yourself, but he'll 'lap' that orange right up!

Save your money on those high priced fancy schmancy food processors and buy this hand blender!

And buy these cups (not crazy about how they snap) OR these cups (lids screw on)

then buy these labels to stick on all your cups and you're ready to go.

OH---then go here for all your recipes and a stage by stage guide of what to feed your little one.

Making your own baby food is so easy! 

Take a little time each week to make and freeze your baby food.

I freeze mine in ice cube trays first then pop them out and put them in a freezer bag and label it.

I put the cubes in the cups the night before they're needed for school or I'll just pull them out and heat them when I need them at home. 

Easy peasy!

There you go, your one stop shop for your homemade baby food needs!

There's a method to my madness

Every day I pack Easton's bag, it looks a little like this:

And- because there are those of you out there who think I'm anal and way too detailed...

(I prefer to think of myself as organized)

I thought I'd let you know WHY I do what I do...

Bottles #1 & #2 contain 5 ounces total of fresh and frozen breast milk.

Frozen, then thawed, breast milk is only good for 24 hours.

Bottle #3 is 6 ounces fresh breast milk.

I do this because, in the event I pick Easton up early, bottle #3 is all fresh and I don't have to waste any, I can save it for the next day. 

Throwing out breast milk gives me the shivers!

I absolutely HATE wasting milk- free or not!

Small containers have:

1 ounce fruit for breakfast

today's frut was peaches- and he wasn't a big fan.

I don't think they were ripe enough- maybe a tad tart.

1 ounce cereal for breakfast

1 ounce fresh milk to make cereal

1 ounce veggie for lunch

today's veggie was sweet potatoes.

We're gonna have to get some greens in the diet or he's gonna be orange!

There is also a method to the timing.

At school mainly, it's important for him to be fed at these times so he's fed and ready to go by the time I pick him up at 3:45.  This way he has a full tummy and can get a little cat nap in on the way home.  If he sleeps till 4:30 or 4:45 he's good to go till bedtime!

Now, see there, there is a reason I do what I do!  

Sweet 'Taters

First bite of sweet potatoes

(aw, he's eating from the same silver spoon me and ali ate from when we were lil ones)

So far, he doesn't like butternut squash or peas but

this boy loves some sweet 'taters!

Next on the menu---pears and carrots.  I think we'll try pears tonight!

Where did 7 months go?

Easton Garrett

You are the apple of our eye,

the cream of the crop,

the jelly with my peanut butter,

the...

well you get the picture.

This baby is EVERYTHING to us!  

I'll speak for Lance too, because I know he feels the same way, but I don't know what we did without him.  "They" always said 'you won't know what you did before him...' and well, 'they' are right!

He's

sitting up, 

rolling over, 

laughing,

babbling,

eating from a spoon,

paying attention when you come & go,

chewing on everything,

playing with Kirby,

pulling up,

scooting, almost crawling,

and most importantly...

being sweet, happy and fun!

I can't believe he's 7 months old!  It won't be long till we're planning his 1st Birthday!

Better get the kleenex out for that one, cause this momma's gonna be a mess!

6 Month Pictures

Somehow I completely forgot to post Easton's 6 Month Pictures!

So, without further delay...here they are.

ENJOY! 

http://www.kvpslideshows.info/Easton6mo/

Mmmm...isn't he delicious!?!?!?!  My favorites are the ones in the blue onesie of him looking up at the camera.  Oh, those eyes!

Pink- Orange- Blue

This post was alternately titled ta ta's, pumpkins and pucks...but I thought it might be a little much!  Catchy though, right???

Seems as if everything we did yesterday had a color theme...

First, we started the day off with pink.  Boy, did we see pink- light pink,  hot pink, pink pink, girls in pink, boys in pink, dogs in pink!  We saw it all!  We walked the 5K Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  Easton's school had a 'team' and we signed up.  Both of Easton's teachers are Breast Cancer Survivors so we wanted to support them. 

I happened to be at the right place at the right time and had a front row spot when they welcomed all the survivors in to the 'common area'.  They had sections for 1, 5, 10, 20 year survivors.  There was a young mother, bald with a pink bandana on her head holding hands with her 2 little girls walking into the survivor area.  It was a beautiful sight.  It was amazing to see all the survivors.  It was bittersweet though- there were also those that weren't so fortunate, they were walking in memory of their loved one.  Two had shirts that said 'we're walking for momma' and they were weeping.  My heart broke for those girls.  I can't imagine not having my mom.

 It caught me off guard getting so emotional for these women but it was a beautiful sight to see so many coming together for a great cause!

There were so many signs that were hillarious!

In case you can't read this one it says:
BOOBS, BIG or small, we love them all!

SO FUNNY!

Easton was a trooper!  He even wore pink too!

Next, we have orange!  We went to our first Pumpkin Patch & Hay Ride.  It was a smidge warm for pumpkin pickin' and hay rides, but we still had fun and managed a few cute pix along the way.

Lastly- Blue...and Gold.  We took Easton to his first Predators game.  He was a huge fan of the horn that blew every time the Pred's scored a goal! I hope you can sense the sarcasm...  The first and second time, limbs went flying, but the third goal, he was asleep and it didn't even wake him up- he slept like a log! The Pred's won!

A fun filled Saturday led to a lovely lazy Sunday!

Hope you all found time to worship the Lord today and spend time with those you love!

Until next time,

Annie

Get It Before You Get It

I'm the rule follower in the family, however when it comes to someone telling me to rush out and get the flu shot, I don't jump.  I make my own choices. I didn't get the flu shot, nor the flu while I was pregnant but now that Easton is here, and in day care, I went against my 'we don't get the flu shot' mantra and bit the bullet...or shall I say Easton did.  He got his shot today and will go back in 30 days for the 2nd shot.  I will get mine at the time of his second shot.  I'll have to say, I almost backed out when I had to sign a waiver stating that there are dangers/possible side effects with the flu shot (as with any other vaccines) and that it was my choice to vaccinate my child. 

But, he got it. 

I thought we better 'get it before we get it'...right???

He was a tough lil cookie. 

Didn't even cry.

I told him if he was really good we could go to Target when we got finished...

and he was...

so we did...

:) 

So far, so good...hopefully we won't have any of the side effects that lovely waiver warned of!

Until Next Time,

Annie



Weekend Wrap Up (a few days late)

Ok, so I've been lacking in the blog posts lately.  Life gets in the way of blogging...or should I say, blogging gets in the way of life.  I'll definitely chose living life over blogging any day but I still enjoy blogging- just finding time is hard to do.

This weekend we went to the big Mile Long Yard Sale in Watertown, TN.  This time, we didn't loose a stroller wheel!  We had the BEST bologna sandwich in the world!  It was thick smoked bologna, made by one of Lance's customers.  Seriously... the.best.bologna.sandwich.ever! I left my camera in the truck but let me tell you folks, we saw it all- man riding his tractor in to town, camels, rednecks-oh, the rednecks...  I love it though.  I love Watertown; the small town feel, the town square, the country-ness... I love it.  I'm not sure I'd want to live that far out, but I do love a small town.  We didn't buy anything other than the bologna sandwich and some fried oreos.  Yes, you heard me right- fried oreo's.  Lance  had to try them.  They weren't bad---but I prefer my oreos with a tall glass of milk!  Oh yes, and some Ezekial bread... I do love a good yard sale, but I can't seem to decide what to buy---or rather, what I'm going to do with it after I buy it.  Next time, I need to go with a 'mission'. 

Sunday we went to the Titans game.  Easton stayed with Honey.  They had a big time.  She got him a new swing for the swingset at her house.  He loves it.  The child LOVES being outside!  I missed him like crazy, but we had a great time. 

Jamey (Tyler's GF) & me at the tailgate before the game

Tyler, Jamey, me, Lance

What...your husband doesn't carry your breast pump to sporting events?!?!?!?!
Husband of the Year!

Hope y'all had a great weekend!

Until Next Time,

Annie