Saturday Fun

So, really, who takes their newly repaired D3100 to the Zoo but forgets to charge the battery???

Yeah, me.  Dang.  SO, all of our lovely 1st trip to the Zoo pictures are from my phone.  It's a shame I don't have some swanky iphone that takes marvy pictures...so these will have to do.

We had a great time at the Zoo.  I didn't know if Easton would be to young to enjoy it but he really had a great time.  The smaller animals, like the birds and some of the monkeys that were hiding in the trees were hard for him to find, but the giraffes, elephants, pink flamingo's, cows- those he could spot. And, he could even make a moooooo sound and do the sign for monkey along with the noise.  Seriously, this kid is amazing.  He's like a little sponge, soaking up anything you put in front of him. 

But....never fear!  I wasn't missing this next event.  Camera's charged!

This was pretty much Easton's face the entire time.

He had a blast!  LOVED IT!  Loved the water, loved the splashing, loved watching all the hoopla.

He does like some hoopla.  Not sure where he gets that from?!?!?!  ;)

Happy Saturday y'all!

Baby Boy got a lil trim

Loveys hair was getting a little wild!  With our upcoming wedding, we knew we had to look our best.  So, today Easton got his FIRST PROFESSIONAL HAIRCUT!  He was quite the champ.  We did have a few tears but for the most part, PERFECT!

I didn't think he {Easton}could get any cuter...but this hair cut has about done me in.

It's a good thing he can't talk cause I'm sure I'd give him anything he asked for!

Soon enough!

Might I add, that little noggin has rounded out quite nicely!

We're WELL again

Good heavens. One downside in daycare are the germs that come along with it.  And, let me tell you, once you get rid of something, you have a few weeks reprieve {if you're lucky} and then you get something else.  This time, it was a fever.

It started Saturday afternoon. It may have started before then because he was a little flushed all day but acting fine.  We took his temperature on Saturday afternoon and it was 102.7.  Sunday I pretty much alternated Tylenol and Motrin around the clock.  Sunday afternoon it got as high as 103.5.  I stayed home from work on Monday and we went to see Dr. S to confirm that it wasn't his ears or from the 1 year shots (MMR & Chicken Pox can cause delayed fever up to 2 weeks later- JOY).  He said he thought it was a virus with a sore throat and fever.  Monday afternoon his fever was back up to 102.  Tuesday, me and daddy split the day since he still had a fever.  His temp Tuesday afternoon did go up to 100.2 but went right back down on its own in less than an hour.  So, it was safe to go to school today. 

We did a lot of napping, a lot of sitting on the deck when it was shady or on the front porch when the sun was out back.  It was fun to be at home with my snuggly boy.  I will have to say though, it was exhausting!  It's a lot of work to be a stay at home mom!  CHEERS TO YOU GIRLS! 

But hey, it wasn't all bad.  Just the afternoons were sad (as pictured above)

This was lunch time on Monday!  Happy as a lark! 

That's my boy!!!

Time at home was nice but it was good to get back to work and school and ROUTINE today!  We THRIVE on routine here in the Farrar household! 

Here's to NO SICKNESS for a while!  We've got a BIG weekend coming up. Uncle Tyler is getting married to Jamey and we've ALL got to be healthy!  Please Lord, help us be healthy!

Happy 21st Re-Birthday!

Today is a very special day.  Today my papa celebrates 21 years of sobriety.  Twenty-one years ago today he took his last drink.  This day twenty-one years ago he decided that he was no longer slave to the alcohol that had held him captive for so many years.  What started as a fun first drink with the guys as a young boy, ended in the halls of a rehab facility all by himself.  He didn't wake up 40 something years ago and say "I want to be an alcoholic" but with that first drink, the desire to have just one more set in.  It set in and it took up residence in our home just as much as the family dog. 

He tells the story of getting off work and stopping at the gas station by work and getting a can of beer to get him home.  But he made 2, sometimes 3 more stops before he even made it home.  He'd drink himself to sleep most nights and wake up the next morning in a pool of sweat.  Each morning, he'd look in the mirror and say that was the last time he'd wake up feeling like that.  But each afternoon, he ended up at the same gas station, getting the same beer, waking up with the same results. 

If my memory serves me correct, my mom was the one to give him the information of a treatment facility where he could begin his journey to sobriety.  My dad embarked on his journey to sobriety that day. 

He was checked in to Cumberland Heights for 6 weeks, I think.  It seemed more like 6 months for me, but I was just a little girl so time was a hard concept.  I remember going to visit him on the weekends.  It was a peaceful place. It was quiet.  It was set in the Tennessee Hills, quite a distance from home.  We'd fly a kite.  We'd have lunch.  We'd do 'family things'.  Mom would attend Alanon and I'd attend alateen.  It was nice. 

Twenty-one years ago, I would have never believed that he'd be where he is now.  I would have never believed that WE would be where we are today.  Today, he is my hero.  Today, I'm a daddy's girl.  Today, my dad has been sober 21 years.  What a true miracle.  God is so good.

So, today, Papa, today and tomorrow and the rest of my life, I will be proud of you.  Proud of where you came from, and proud of where you are.  Proud of the father you are.  Proud of the man you are.  Today I'm also thankful that mom took the steps to get you the treatment that saved your life.  I wouldn't change our past if given the opportunity because I have learned so much from you and from your recovery.

I love you Papa, and I'm so proud of you.

Papa's text reads "21 years no drink.  God is so good to me"

TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!

Chicago, Mother's Day & Birthday Trip

A few months back Lance suggested we go to Chicago for my Birthday.  Awww, hubs....thanks for thinking of me.  But, because I'm so smart, I knew there had to be an underlying reason.  I quickly jumped on the Reds website and sure enough, the Reds were playing the Cubs at Wrigley.  Ahhh, busted.  But we can kill 2 birds with 1 stone, so off we went. 

We left on Saturday morning EARLY and arrived in Chicago about 9.  After gathering enough bags to appear as if we were moving to Chicago, we headed to the train, Easton in the stroller, me pushing, Lance looking like a camel loaded down with all our bags. 

We made it to the train station and took enough elevators to get to the core of the earth and boarded the Orange line.  After boarding the train and making our way downtown we transfered to the Red Line to our final destination.  The Red Line station has no elevators.  I can realisticly say we scaled at least 100-150 stairs, with stroller, bags and baby.

Once out of trains, tunnels and dark nasty places, we made it to the big city! 

And let me tell you, Springtime in Chicago does not disappoint!

We grabbed a little snack in the mall and let Easton stretch his legs and headed for Destination #1...H&M!!!

I've seen H&M clothing on lots of blogs and in lots of mag's but never been in an H&M store.

H&M, where have you been all my life???

3 floors of very affordable, trendy clothing!

Ahhh!  Heavenly!

We shopped till we dropped!

Literally.

 

We shopped a few more stores, had some lunch at Gino's East, went to the Hershey's store where I indulged

in the BEST Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie I've ever had. 

Somehow I managed to skip the picture on that. 

I think I was too busy devouring it. 

About the time it started to sprinkle it was time to check into our hotel.

So, we made the trek back to our hotel and took a nap fit for a King.

I don't think I've had a nap like this in a long time.

I seriously considered hunkering down and faking sick to just stay in this bed!

BUT----more shopping awaited!

We went BACK to H&M, the SAME H&M where we had spent hours earlier, filled an even bigger bag than the first time, went to a few other shops before ending up at The Cheesecake Factory for dinner.  I know, REAL Chicago right?  Not so much...but we'd had our feel for Chi-Town food at lunch so we were good with non-touristy food.

We set up 2 chairs, front to front and Lance made Easton a pallet to sleep in.

The boys slept like babies.

I saw every hour on the clock.  I was hot and had a stomach ache.

Easton got a bath in the hotel tub! AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE!

We had a YUMMY Mother's Day Breakfast at Eggsperience Breakfast & Cafe.

My French Toast was DELISH!

After breakfast we walked down to the Navy Pier, against my will. 

My stomach was still nagging me but I'm glad we did.

It was beautiful morning and we got some great pictures.  Double Whammy.

Why we didn't take his helmet off, I have no idea...but we didn't. 

Easton took his first cab ride too!

It was heavenly to not have to walk and push a stroller.

It went a little something like this! 

As did most of our public transportation adventures.

Oh, the adventures of traveling WITH child.

We made it to Wrigley in time to buy, sell, then upgrade to better tickets. 

Daddy likes to haggle with the ticket sellers!

We had pretty good seats on the third base line.

We were in the shade about half the time, but it ended up being a lovely day in the sun.

It felt good to have the sun on my back. 

Chicago was a success.  Traveling with child is much more challenging, especially in a big city.  But totally do-able.  You have to find every elevator, every cross walk, every open dressing room, every open space where baby can move around freely.  But, it was worth every minute. 

The plane ride home was a little more challenging.  Daddy got the Panda Flu (don't ask) and we were delayed with a flat tire on the runway.  Let's just say we ate all our snacks before we even took off making the actual flight quite a challenge.  But, we made it.

We returned home with our suicases packed a little heaver than when we left and our hearts filled full of precious memories made on this Mother's Day Weekend.  I couldn't ask for anything more. 

OUCH!

This morning when I dropped Easton off at school, a mom in Easton's class stopped me in the hallway.  She asked if Easton had been bit yet?  My heart sunk.  Well, no, he hasn't.  She proceeded to tell me that Eli had been bit 10-12 times in the past few weeks.  What?  What the?  Biting?  12-18 month olds??? Seriously?  I thought about poor little Eli all day.  I thought about how he must have felt when "the biter" bit him.  We narrowed down who we thought the biter was and we decided we'd step on their feet on Monday morning.  Just kidding...  Sorta...  No, really, I am.  Anywho, I thought about Eli all day long.  His sweet smiling self being bit.  It just hurt my heart to think about it.  And hurt my heart for his momma as she ached for him.  You never want your child to be hurt.  Much less bit.  What do their little minds think while being bit?  Are they sad?  Do they bite back?  Will my child become a biter if they get bit? An array of thoughts ran through my head.

When I went in to pick up my little angel bucket today, there was an Incident Report on his clip board. My baby boy had been bit! I had to fight back tears as Ms. K told me that during transition from play to snack time 'a friend' had bitten Easton on the arm. Some friend!




 :(  Look at that little bite mark!
Don't think I haven't already analyzed the teeth prints.
Looks to me like 4 tops and 2 bottoms...I'm gonna do a good scan on Monday of mouths!
Ok, sorry...



Ms. K said he 'handled it very well.'  What does that mean?  Really? I mean, did he cry?  Did he want to be held?  Did he do something to 'the biter' to make them bite him?  I wanna know details.  And, how freaking hard do you have to bit in order to leave a teeth print bite???  Anyways, I held back the tears, gathered our things and headed out. 

We made a stop by the front desk to have little chitty chat with the Directors about the 'Incident' and they were aware of 2 certain children that are biting and have addressed the problem with the parents and with the teachers.  They were very understanding and I felt like my concern was valid.  Again, another reason why I LOVE our school!  So, with 2 kisses on his little arm, we were off. 

As we played outside I just couldn't help thinking about this incident.  So much of me really wanted to know what child bit him, cause you know, I'm the momma, I need to know these things.  But, really, would it have made any difference?  What was I going to do if I knew?  Would I corner their parents? Would I give the child a mean look?  Absolutely not!  My heart began to soften toward that child and their parents because there must be a reason that they are biting- maybe they'd been bit at some point, maybe they were hurting, who knows.  I'm sure the parents feel terrible enough without  me making it worse.  So, my anger very soon turned to compassion.  Isn't that what Jesus calls us to do anyways?  I would never want Easton to be that child that bites and I don't want to be that parent of the child that bites.  I just gave my little buddy some extra loving and tenderness, because really, that's all he needed anyways.  So, we move forward, heart hurting, but we move forward. 

1 Year Check Up...

...2 Months Late...oops.

I'm a stickler for rules and doing things on the EXACT date, but with all the sickness and funk going around, we were going to way too many sick visits to worry with a well visit.

But we finally made it to our 1 year check up. 

It's funny, the first time we walked in there, I was TOTALLY overwhelmed.  Easton had a little jaundice, had some eczema, a blocked tear duct, I had tons of breastfeeding questions, I wondered if we were doing things right, and then 1 short year later, I walk in with all the confidence in the world.  There is no book, no website, no nothing that can prepare you for motherhood\parenthood.  The books are great, and Lord knows I've read my fair share of websites, blogs, forums, but really---the best advice I ever received was to 'trust yourself'.  Man, if I could have heeded that advice early on, I would have been a lot less overwhelmed.  My worries of 'is he getting enough to eat, is he napping right, can you hold them too much, etc etc etc' could have all been avoided if I'd only trusted my God given motherly instincts.  Who knew??? 

Anyways,

Here's how Easton measured up at his 1 year (+2 months) Check Up

Height: 30 inches

Weight: 24.6 lbs

Head: 18.5 inches

He's a big boy!

We did get a FULL ROUND of shots.

I do have mixed emotions about vaccines but for now, we vaccinate.

These shots did a number on him.  The past shots  have not bothered him.

We got 4th dose of Pneumococcal
First MMR

First Varicella (Chicken Pox)

First HepA

He was Fussy McFuss for about 24 hours but after that he seemed to be better.

Here's to another healthy year!

Photo Book

I've had this little book done for a while now, but I was waiting for a coupon...and I got one today (Thanks Diane!!!) so I snagged it while the prices were el'cheap'o. 

Without further delay, I present Easton's 1st Birthday Book!!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Easy Peasy!  Get on Shutterfly and purchase your special occasion book today!  These are wonderful keepsakes.  I made on for my BFF when she had her first baby...and need to make one for little Zoe's BirthDay too...but they are wonderful.  They come in all sizes and lots of different choices for covers, pages, fonts, etc.  Seriously, what are you waiting on???

I really need to do a BIRTH book, and even a Baby's First Year book for Easton....but I haven't gotten around to that yet.  That'll be next on my TO DO list!  Maybe I'll get it done before he's 16!  Doubt it. 

I did not get paid for this little ole endorsement.

Shutterfly does not know who I am.  Though they should!  I'm a big spender on Shutterfly. 

  This is ust my opinion.  Take it or leave it!

Happy Mother's Day

Today being Mother's Day (actually I'm writing this Friday night before Mother's Day.  We'll be in Chicago over Mother's Day and I don't want this day to go unnoticed) I thought I'd write a lil some'in, some'in for my mom, my best friend.

So...here goes...

Mom,

I've been thinking a lot about your hands.  When I look down at my own hands, I see your hands.  Though my hands are unmanicured and have a little less bling on them than yours, under it all, I still see your hands.



Mom's hands 5-6-11



Your hands have done so much for me.  When I was a baby your hands changed my diaper, fed me, bathed me, much of the same activites my hands do these days.  Then as I got older, your hands led me in to school, made turkey sandwiches, sponge rolled my hair (even though it never turned out quite right), wiped my tears.  Your hands have done a lot over my 29 years.  Your hands drove the car that took me to gymnastics and to the pasture or saddle club to ride horses and those same hands held the handle bar of the bike that rode with me night after night on countless bike rides.  Those hands played restaraunt for hours on end in the bathtub simply because a smaller set of hands needed a friend.  Your hands rolled down a tiny brown paper bag filled with Sixlets and brought them more times than I can count after daycare.  Your hands were a source of comfort when I needed stitches near my eye, when I broke my arm, when things didn't go my way, when my heart was hurting.  Your hands, they've always been there.  

Though our home was not always perfect, you did your part to make me feel like I was the most special little girl in the world.  You were my hero.  You ARE my hero.  You always said you loved me, you always had a hug to give or a kiss or a squeeze of the hand and better than that a smile.  Oh, your smile.  It can lighten up a room.  You never let me see the tension and stress you might have felt when I was younger.  As far as I knew you were the happiest woman in the world.  We had each other.  That's all that mattered.  Me and you.  Peas and carrots. 

Now, your hands are even more special.  They not only have raised 2 girls, they care for a little boy now too.  When I see your hands taking care of Easton, loving on him, playing with him, making him laugh, it melts my heart even more. 

Your hands also care for many others.  They care for Ali and Ronnie and even good ole Ganny.   I know those hands get tired, but they just keep on giving.  They give without wanting a thing in return.  One day I'm sure my hands will be taking care of you just as yours are taking care of Ganny's.  And, it'll be my pleasure to return the favor.  It's the least I can do after all you've done for me.  I promise to be there for you as you've been there for everyone else.

Those hands.  They've done so much.  Seen so much.  Been through so much. 

So, when I look down and see my little stubby hands, and see your hands, I'm honored and proud to have those hands.  I hope to be as good to Easton as you were to me.  I pray that I will always have a hand to offer him when he falls, when he's happy, when he's sad, any time he needs it.  There's never been a moment when I needed your hand that they weren't there.  Not once. 

Today, Mother's Day, please know how much I love you and just how much you've meant and still mean to me.  I love you mom. 

XOXOXO,

Ann

29

Well, who knew...I never dreamed I'd be 29.  I still feel like I"m 19 at times. 

29 was yet another great Birthday.

My work friends took me for a yummy birthday lunch at Pei Wei. 

Hubs took me out for a LOVELY night out for dinner and dessert.

Little family photo sesh before we left.

We at dinner at a neat restaraunt in The Gulch.  Sambuca. 

Such a nice night to have dinner just the 2 of us again. 

Not wrestling a 1 year old and picking up food the whole dinner.

And eating a warm dinner. 

A big ole steak dinner at that!

We had yummy frozen yogurt after dinner!

Our first of MANY FUTURE Sweet Cici's experiences!

Hers:

Vanilla Yogurt

Brownie

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Oreo

Caramel Syrup

His:

Chocolate/Vanilla Swirl Yogurt

Marshmellow

Brownie

Strawberries

Chocolate Syrup

For the record, mine weighed more...and I ate every bite!

While me and Lance enjoyed a nice dinner, mom and Ali kept Easton and had a WILD night!

Here's to many more Birthdays! 

Walking

I can hardly contain my excitement!!!!

We're on the move now.

Lance has been practicing with Easton for a while but today he really took off!
When I got to school to pick him up Ms. Brittany was in the hall waiting for me.

She had something she wanted to show me.

I went to the door to look in and he was standing, on his own, in the middle of the floor.

Once he saw me, he TOOK OFF!

They said they put his shoes on to go outside and stood him up, where he normally plops down,

 he just took off!!!! 

Ms Kayla said he'd been walking in circles, hands out, for about 20 minutes!

They couldn't wait for me to get there!

He was SOOOO proud of himself once he got to me!

And I was so proud of him once I got to him too!

When we got home I sat him on the front step while I tended to Kirby and he stood up and walked down the sidewalk!

Little lovey's walking!

I can hardly believe it as I type!  My baby is walking!!!

We've got to master this walking deal by June 4-

he's gotta carry the ring down for Uncle Tyler and Aunt Jamey.

And...just like that...he's walking.

Easton, please slow down.  You're growing up way too fast!

I'll bet you Kirby, that's the cutest kid you've ever seen!

We like to brush, brush, brush our teeth

No better time than now to start brushing our little teeth!

Right?!?!?!

Our first tooth brushing!!!!

It went pretty well.