July 4th

We had a great time this Fourth of July (with a few minor mishaps included). We started of the weekend on July third watching some fireworks the Eagle Golf Course put off for the subdivision. Kenan was really into them this year and couldn't wait to go buy some of his own. Even though it was raining, we went to the Helm grandparents for a picnic on Saturday. By the time we got there it had stopped raining, but we still ate dinner inside. After dinner we did some sparklers and a few little fireworks before going downtown to watch the display by the river. As we were leaving, Gretchen (the boys aunt) did not see that we had stopped at the end of the driveway and backed into the van. Although I knew there was damage, we were running late so I decided to look at it later. When we got downtown and out of the car, I realized the door was definitely going to need to be fixed. This was turning into an expensive fireworks display for Gretchen. Since we were still running late, we hurriedly walked to the Four Freedoms monument where we like to sit. As we were just reaching the museum, the show started and in my haste to cross the street, I stubbed my toe reinjuring it from San Diego. At least the Firework display turned out to good. After downtown, everyone came back to our house to set off some more of our own. Easton had to go to bed, but Kenan got to stay up. He really enjoyed the whole holiday. We ended up having left over fireworks and set them off again the next weekend.

Easton 6mnths

Although the date is almost at 7mnths, I am just getting around to journaling about his 6 mnth changes. On June 29th Easton turned 6 mnths and definitely hit some milestones as well. Almost to the day he started rolling over from front to back. He was already rolling from back to front, he just hadn't gone in the other direction. Within a few days he also started sitting up by himself. At first he needed a pillow behind him, but after a week or two he was able to stay for long periods of time without anything. I think it makes him feel a part of the group because he can see more of what Kenan and daddy are doing. He loves it. We also started rice cereal in the evening. He likes to eat, so he caught on fast. The first day we did it he got mad because I didn't give him enough. I hadn't nursed him yet so he was really hungry. Now he nurses first and then eats shortly after. The last milestone that has occured is cutting teeth. The bottom two teeth started popping through at the beginning of July. They still have a ways to go to be fully through, but they are getting there. He has done great with teething so far.

San Diego (1st week of June)

For our family vacation this year we went to San Diego, CA to meet up with my sister Heidi, her husband Allen, and their daughter Nara. My parents, jame, Luke, Michele, and Gretchen went on the trip as well. We decided to rent a house on the beach in Southern California because we thought the beaches would be warmer there than the San Francisco area(they were not). It is not that it didn't feel good, we never sweated, you just never really got hot enough to want to be in the water at the beach.

We started out our trip by flying out of Louisville late afternoon on Saturday first to Phoenix, AZ and then on to San Diego. The boys did great on the plane, and Kenan can't wait to fly again. He loved it. When we arrived it was late, cool, and rainy. Not a good sign. The first day it was overcast, so we decided to get the grocery shopping for the week out of the way by going to a farmer's market and then to the grocery store. The kids couldn't wait to go to the beach until it got sunny so we went out anyway. Kenan ran stright out into the sand very excited. Even though the adults thought it was cold, the kids went in the water.

Monday we went to an area of the city called Old Town to sightsee and then to the beach. It started out cloudy once again, but by the afternoon the sun was finally coming out. Thank Goodness! Tuesday was just a relaxing day at the beach. I decided to get a surf board and had a great time trying to surf. I did get up for a little bit which was a great feeling. Tuesday night Gretchen flew in so we went to pick her up at the airport. Wednesday was our one big attraction, Seaworld. Kenan really enjoyed getting to see sea animals since that is something that he not exposed to. I think Shamu was his favorite. After that we went to out to dinner at World Famous which was down the boardwalk right on the beach. It was a beautiful evening.

Thursday some of us went to Coranado Island which was a tourist destination you could reach by bridge. In the afternoon we did the beach and surfing thing again. Gretchen and Heidi attempted surfing this time, while I hurt myself surfing. I feel like my toe will never be the same. The kids once again played in the water and the sand. Finally on Friday we visited a beach in La Jolla that ad an area where sea lions come up and sun temselves on the beach. It was neat to see so many that close. That evening we ended the week with a bonfire and dinner on the beach watching the sunset. It was a wonderful way to end the week. I loved being so close to the acean even though we probably could have used a little bit more space in the house. It was nice to walk up and down the boardwalk in the mornings and evenings watching the waves come in and then hearing them lull me to sleep at night. I could live on the ocean. Can't wait to see my sister and her family again.

5 mnths old

Can I just say these 5mnths with Easton here have flown by so much faster than 5 mnths with Easton in the womb. Pretty soon he will be sitting up, eating solid food, crawling, etc. So far he hasn't done any of those things. He has started babbling more and more. Rolling from back to stomach is still the only direction that he does consistantly, but he will roll all the way if he is really craning to see something. He has started playing a lot in his exersaucer and we took him for his first walk in the backpack carrier. Sleeping wise he is pretty consistantly a 10 hour sleeper at night with at least one 2 hr nap and then maybe two shorter ones. It just depends on our day. I am still exclusively breastfeeding although we will probably start cereal soon. Still no teeth, but I expect to feel them soon at the rate his chewing and drooling. He will take one of his toys and I swear he is trying to devour it. We have started swimming in the bay pool we have in ousr backyard and he seems to like it. I have taken him swimming in a bigger pol with a friend, but we haven't gotten down to my mom's yet because they opened the pool later this year. I'm a little bummed because he is still a little unsteady for the float so I will have to hold him(at least for the first part of the summer). Can't wait to see what fun the summer will hold.

Kenan's Birthday May 22, 2009

I can't believe Kenan is three years old. The time has gone by so fast and he has gotten so big. It is really cool to see your infant change into a toddler and eventually a little boy. I look forward to what the future holds for him. This year I contemplated doing a friends birthday, but we opted to wait at least one more year. I did however go for more of a theme that he wanted. He picked Curious George. I didn't go all out with the theme, but did a few decorations to go along with Curious George and decorated a cake with that style. Since we were trying to get some grass to grow in our backyard we decided to have it elsewhere and Jonathan and Rebecca volunteered to host it at their new house. The night was a bit rainy so we had to move it inside, but everything still turned out great and Kenan had a lot of fun.

The boys and their Friends

These pictures are some I have taken with friends of ours that we try to spend time with. Josh and Jessica Rabuck came down a couple weeks ago and had dinner with us. Their children Isaac and Grace are abour Kenan and easton's ages. Josh has been friends with Nick since Middle school and they still try and stay in touch as much as possible.

The twins are Eli and Ethan Shepherd, sons of Alison and Quinn. They are a couple in our small group that have been friends with us for about three years. Ali and I were due two days apart, but her boys were born three weeks before Easton. They are moving back to Indy, so we will miss them, but hopefully we stay connected.

Finally, the cute little girl is Kenan's best friend Isabelle. I have babysat her since she was three months old and they just love each other.

4 1/2 mnths

I can't believe that it is already the middle of May. Time has gone by fast this spring and the boys are getting big. Easton has started really reaching for his toys and playing with them (mostly chewing them, but it is a start). He has started to sit in his exersaucer and seems to like that. He still leans forward some, but if I put blankets around him he can't reach the toys. Since he doesn't seem to mind I just leave it that way. We have been going to the park multiple days out of the week. I think Kenan could live there. Especially the ones with sand. Easton is still a bit little for the swings, but he has gone done a slide on my lap. My parents are getting ready to open their pool, so I'm sure that will be the other thing that will be occupying most of our time. I just have to watch being out in the sun too much.

Easton still has a pretty good schedule. This past weekend has been a little different because he has been waking up multiple times each night( and he didn't even really do that much as a baby), but I think he may be teething. The doctor said it could be soon, and I remember Kenan waking up at night a week or two before I actually felt a tooth.

Last weekend was mother's day and we had Easton dedicated at church. We went up during the service with the other parents, but we also had a private ceremony afterward that was a bit more intimate. We did that with Kenan and I really enjoyed it. It gives your family a chance to be there to support the child and to lift them up in prayer with you.

The next couple of weeks will be a whirlwind, but I am looking forward to them. Kenan's birthday is on Friday and we are having a party for him on Sunday. Nick finishes up school this week, so he will be home next week to help get ready for our trip to California. We leave on the 30th of may to go to San Diego to have a joint vacation with my sister and her husband and daughter. I am getting really excited.