I'm back

and almost recovered. Now how about some bullet points?

• The work event went well. I had the help and company of a great friend that was very appreciated.
• I realized that people not cleaning up after themselves when it is very obvious that I will be doing all of the cleaning (and not some invisible wait-staff) may possibly make me more mad than I have been in a while.
• However, having said friend to vent to while we cleaned up dirty paper plates (that could have been thrown in the trash can not even two feet from the table) really helped.
• The older generation loves, and I mean LOVES that I am letting this baby be a surprise.
• Apparently this pregnancy makes me even more opinionated than I normally am (which may lead to some serious issues if I don't check myself).
• Also, the only thing I want to eat? Taco Bell.

I think that's it for now. I'm sure I'll have more interesting stuff to post soon! (like quilt tops).

I wasn't going to share this

Mainly because I feel like you all get sick of me talking about work.

But, nonetheless, it is time for another tri-annual work meeting. Which means that my life gets a little more crazy.

Gotta love it.

This one is in Denver, and unfortunately Ronnie and Easton can't come along this time (bummer!).

The good news is that I'm sure I will have some great stories to share next week, when I am back to the real world.

Peace out.

Easton has a great love for this train hat. He puts it on himself--hence the sideways, one ear in, one ear out look.

Easton also has a real love of golf, which Ronnie would normally love, except that it is FOOTBALL season now and we don't want to watch golf all of the time. Every time we are watching sports Easton asks for "doll, doll" (translation: golf, golf). He also thinks anything is a golf club, as evidenced by this video. That thing he is using? It is a mirror like the dentist has that came from his veterinarian kit. Also, please note that he knows what the camera usually does and just doesn't get it when mama (me) is not making the flash go off like normal.

For all you grandparents, who just can't get enough Easton, I have 4 more videos, which can be accessed on Youtube here, here, here and here.

Because I live in Wyoming

and because I like to make you pity me, I'm showing you what it looks like outside my window right now.
That's right--snow on the ground and snow coming down. Not to mention the 2 inches I scraped off the car this morning and the 10 minute hail storm that pounded our poor little apartment at 2:00am last night.

How much is a ticket to Hawaii?

I do not have a "relax" gene

So, you all know how I am determined to let this baby be a surprise the old fashioned way (Ronnie is still trying to use the "but it's a surprise at 20 weeks or at 40 weeks" excuse).

There are a few things that my "planner self" wanted to have prepared prior to a baby.

Clothes? Not so much.

It is the bedding and quilting. (I know, I am insane).

So, I decided that I would make a boy quilt, a girl quilt and girl bedding and then I would be set. The baby would have a quilt of their own, made by their mama and I wouldn't have to figure out how to find the time to sew with TWO (not just one) kids.

I know the next question is, "But what if I have another boy?"

Well, I was determined that I would find girl fabric that I was in LOVE with. Fabric that I could marry and live happily ever after with, so that if I do have to pack that very fabric away for several years until I have a girl, it won't be a huge deal.

I'm happy to announce that I found it! Here it is in all of its glory.

I'm washing it all today and am ready to get rolling, so you can look forward to some crafting posts in the (not so very near) future.

Cuz, I know you all love those.

At least he remembered

Easton (and I'm sure most boys) has a thing for keys.

Car keys, house keys, filing cabinet keys--you name it, he loves it.

We have 2 locking filing cabinet drawers on the desk that resides in his room. Because they are a great height for him, and I have the extra key tucked away in a safe place, we let him lock and unlock the drawers.

Yesterday, he and I were playing in his room and I decided to try and find "his" filing cabinet key, since I hadn't seen it in several days. I searched his usual hiding places (under the crib, under the dresser, in the fabric scraps, etc), but couldn't find it anywhere.

Finally, I turned to him and asked, "Easton, where is the key to this drawer?"

He looked at me, walked over to the heat vent under the window, pointed down and said, "key!"

I pulled off the cover and sure enough, there it was, right where he had dropped it.

We then had a discussion (which I'm sure he didn't really get) about how we don't drop things down the vents.

And now I have to search all of the other vents in the house to see what treasures I can find.

17 weeks

Here I am, in all my pregnant glory.
Bad news: we already know I am going to get HUGE.
Good news: I've gained significantly less weight in this pregnancy so far.

Accomplishment

You see this incredibly blurry picture of a stamp? Well, it just so happens that this very envelope contained the last payment on our car, mailed this morning.

Hip Hip Hooray!

21 months

Well, it's been two months since the last Easton official "monthly" (using that word very loosely here) update, so here we go!

Easton's words have exploded this month. Here are some that are new: high, noon-ells (noodles), rice, fries, flou-der (flower), dead-ells (Incredibles), turtle, ahhh-men (amen), tick (stick), moon, beeeen-tee (binky), bain-tee (blankie), call (phone), poptar (pop-tart), keyzzz (keys), ahhh-ple (apple), tuck (stuck), and tash (trash).

You know that I am missing some, but you get the general idea. While it is great to be able to understand some of what he wants, the tantrums are far from over. The other day it was so ridiculous that I just started laughing, there was nothing else to do.

For the first time in a long time, Easton got a new tooth this week. His poor bottom two teeth have been so lonely since they came in when he was 9 months old and they finally got a friend. The tooth right next to them on his left side is in, and the one next to that is looking very close. He'll be lopsided for a bit, but maybe it will help him be able to bite some things!

We are still struggling with sleeping since we got back from vacations in August. Easton refuses to go down by himself in his crib. For naps, he will normally let you rock him to sleep (something he has not done since he was 6 months old), but at nighttime he refuses to do even that. We are forced to drive him around town (for about 15-20) minutes, then lug him into the house asleep. I'm really at a loss of how to fix this. Crying it out just isn't the same now that he knows that I am leaving. I guess I need to do some research on what to do (or I'm open to suggestions!).

This picture was taken during the day, but you get the idea of him falling asleep in the car. Luckily he is a kid who loves doing that, or we would be in real trouble.

And now for some bath time pictures (sorry for the darkness). Easton loves baths, except for the washing of the hair part. He is a little quirky though and will not sit on his bottom. ever. He squats for the entire bath and has done this since he was about 12 months old.

He sure is cute though.

Another example of the face you get when you tell him to "cheese."

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a video of Easton getting around the bathtub in the squatting position.

Reasons having a recently returned missionary brother in town is great

1. Due to my dad being maxed out on phones on his "family plan," Adam was forced to join Ronnie and my family. (I kinda like having a son who can drive. :) ) This means that when I am checking my Verizon account daily online, I also get to snoop on how many text messages Adam has sent in one month. (1750 in case you were wondering--and yes, he has unlimited messaging). This brings me a strange amount of joy daily.
2. When past companions call to catch up and I have the pleasure of being in the same room as Adam, I get to watch him get absolutely giddy and do that "shake your hand around so that it sounds like you are snapping, but you are not actually snapping" thing.
3. Endless opportunities to make fun of (ahem, tease) him about English words that don't come out right, etc.
4. I get to be a fashion expert again. (Ronnie doesn't always believe me if I say something is not cool. With Adam, my word is law).
5. I get to re-live/re-tell stories from the past that no one has bothered to bring up in the last two years, but are some of Adam's favorites.
6. We get in arguments about whether changes in town happened before or after Adam left, or if events in the family happened before or after he left. It's awesome.
7. Most of all though, I get to have my favorite 21-year old brother back.

Some of the deets

We couldn't be happier to be expecting another child.


Easton is not a good share-er as of yet, but every oldest has to learn sometime, right?


I have been feeling great. No sickness, no headaches, and minimal tiredness and "super smell" issues.


Easton has no idea what is happening, although he does think my belly button is fun to find at the moment.


As of now, I am resolved to let this baby be a surprise. (You should know that every time I tell someone that, Ronnie laughs and laughs because he doesn't think I can do it--little does he know how much I want to WIN!)

I don't have any feelings on which gender the baby is (with Easton I felt very strongly that he was a boy).

I'm already showing much more than with Easton (are people still interested in belly pictures with second children?).

I think that is it for now, any other questions?

I've waited for a while

To share this happy news,

It looks like mama will be shopping

For some tiny, little shoes.

They say our household will grow

Around February 22nd,

But if this baby takes after me,

He or she won't be hastened.

Mama's belly is getting bigger

(It will soon get in my way),

And I'll have to learn to share

Sometime before the big day.

Love, Easton