Today I......

Today was my day off, so I......

-Slept in until 8 with Eric and Everett

-Fed Everett a yummy breakfast of oatmeal and many blueberries

-Scrounged for my own breakfast, only to come up with toast and veggie bacon

-Had Everett watch Baby Einstein, while I showered and got dressed

-Played hard with Everett

-Fixed Everett a lunch of cheesy potatoes, chicken, and mandarin oranges (a new favorite fruit)

-Put Everett down for a nap around 12

-Left Eric and Everett to dash off and get my eyebrows waxed and pick-up a few things at the grocery store

-Came back, ate lunch with Eric. He had leftovers. I had chips and salsa and a vanilla Coke

-Fixed a yummy treat of microwave smores for Eric and I

-Played Mario Kart with Eric

-Went in to get Everett up from his nap only to discover he had a massive blowout in his crib. Blueberries + poop= disgusting mess

-Gave Everett an emergency bath while leaving Eric to clean-up the mess in his crib

-Looked out the window at the overcast weather and decided going swimming wasn't going to be an option for an afternoon activity

-Played inside with Everett instead

-Listened to Eric play his new banjo

-Let Everett watch another half hour of Baby Einstein again so Eric and I could prepare dinner

-Ate gorditas for dinner

-Kissed Eric goodbye as he headed off for work

-Played hard again with Everett....read books, listened to music, built tower after tower for him to knock down. Disciplined Everett for touching Daddy's guitar, again.

-Put Everett down for bed

-Did my new Esther Bible Study

-Did Wii Fit

-Wrote this blog post

-I will now proceed back to our bedroom to watch mindless television until I drift off to sleep!

12 Month Check-Up

As I was walking into the doctor's office for Everett's 12 month well-child appointment, I just couldn't believe that we were there for this visit. The year has really flown by. I can remember a year ago walking in that same office with his carrier, just 2 days after he was born, and being in awe of the whole experience. I couldn't believe I was a mommy. I couldn't believe he was finally here. At that appointment he weighed just 5 pounds and was so tiny! Needless to say...he has definitely caught up. So here is a recap of his health and development. He weighs 27 pounds and is in the 90th percentile for his weight, and is in the 75th percentile for his height (I can't remember how tall he was). I thought it was so funny how the doctor kept referring to him as a "big guy." Developmentally everything seems to be right on target as well. I must brag on him a little bit though. The doctor asked about how many words he has said....we have counted about 6-7 other than "mama" and "dada." The doctor said that was, and I quote, "tremendous" and I was thrilled! Verbally, he is doing so well. We try and think of at least one new word a week to teach him, and he is catching on so well. That was such a proud moment for me. I am so proud of him and how he is developing so wonderfully. As we were driving home from the appointment I told Eric that I felt so rich. To have a healthy and thriving child is such a humongous blessing, that I do not take lightly....especially considering the population that I work with on a daily basis. Everett Grey is the BEST blessing Eric and I have ever received. Thank you Lord!

Pals

Look who came for a visit today! Everett's pal, Silas. Here are some pictures of their playdate. Oh, and why are boys so rough!?!

A Tale of Two Birthdays

It was the best of times . . . and well, the BEST of times! Everett got to celebrate his birthday twice. The first party was a couple of weeks ago when my mom and Aunt Jenny came to visit. They wanted to share in his first birthday experience, so we had a pre-birthday party. I made the caterpillar cake featured below. For his second birthday party (on his actual birthday), Gigi came to visit. For this party we had cupcakes as well. We also had Everett's friends Jonah and Silas over for a morning playdate, which I could not get a good enough picture to post. After Everett's nap, we decided to head to the zoo. This was Everett's first real trip to the zoo and I was surprised how he really took notice of the animals. Of course, he was even more fascinated by the people. It was at the zoo that we got to test drive his new wagon (thanks Gigi!) which he seemed to enjoy. He thought he was in some sort of parade I think. I can't believe my baby boy is one. All day long on his birthday I was reporting what we were doing exactly one year ago. For example, "Eric, it's 6 am. We just got checked into the hospital!" "Eric, it's 1:40. Time to start pushing!" I guess those details are burned into my memory. It has been such a fun, crazy, exhausting, exciting, wonderful year. I look forward to many more with our sweet boy!

Mommy Is Taking A Day Off

Well last weekend my mom and aunt Jenny came for a visit. We had such a great time. I always get very excited for my family to see Everett because he changes so much. I love for him to show them his new "tricks." We celebrated his birthday with them since they won't be here next week for his actual birthday. Pictures to come....I wanted to post all his birthday pictures at once.

In other news, I must say I am really looking forward to my first Mother's Day. When Eric asked me how I wanted to celebrate, I told him I wanted to take a day off....Let me explain. About a month ago I had minor surgery. My surgery was scheduled for 2 and I arrived at the hospital around 1. After I had gotten all checked in and had my vitals taken, the nurse apologetically explained that my doctor wasn't there yet, and there was a surgery scheduled before me. It was about 2 at this time and she said I would have to wait for quite awhile. "Okay," I said. "So what should I do then?" I was already in my hospital gown and in the pre-op hospital room. "Just lay down and relax," was her reply. I just stared at her dumbfounded. The nurse then handed me an Ipod, Sprite, warm blanket and a snack. I also had a book I had brought with me. I couldn't believe it. It almost brought tears to my eyes. I was so excited! I was able to just relax for a couple hours and not feel any guilt.....glorious. It was then that I realized that every now and then everyone truly needs to take a break. It is so important and necessary. Eric and I have had such a crazy schedule this past year and we are hoping that it will be changing in the near future, Lord willing. So that is what I decided that I needed for Mother's Day. To lay around and do nothing. Watch Lifetime movies, eat, sleep, read.....whatever my heart desires. I will truly be a better mommy for it. So thank you Norton Hospital for being my personal spa that afternoon, and teaching me an important life lesson. Every now and then slow down and relax, sans guilt. So when I asked Eric what he wanted for Father's Day it did not surprise me at all that he wants the same exact thing.

One final note, it was exactly this time last year that I graduated from my graduate school program. Little did I know that the week after I had walked the stage, I would be delivering our Everett. As our "Everett Turns One" countdown begins, I wanted to share one of his first pictures.