Wordless Wednesday - Spring

Brush, Brush, Brush

Brushing her teeth is almost like a treat for Abbi - ever since she got to start using toothpaste!  Seriously, before, when it was time to brush her teeth, she would cry and fight going to the bathroom.  Now, when I tell her it's time to brush her teeth, she is the first one into the bathroom!

It's amazing what a Dora toothbrush and some My Little Pony toothpaste will do!!  The only problem we have is with the spitting.  If any of you have any advice, I could use it - because Abbi doesn't know how to spit.  And I don't know how to teach her.  When I tell her it's time to spit, she swallows the toothpaste and then spits with her lips and with her mouth almost closed.  We tried practicing with water, but that didn't work either.  Any words of advice?

Easton Month 1

Taking a picture a day of Abbi was such a fun and great experience, I thought I'd do the same thing for Easton, but in the first year of his life.  What I didn't think of was the fact that babies don't really do a lot, so there aren't any fun stories or quirky things that he does in each of the pictures!  So, instead of doing a weekly recap, I decided just to do a collage of all the pictures at the end of each month of his life.  And yes, I already started out badly by missing a few days, but oh well!!

Easton - 1 Month

Look who's already a month old!!  I can't believe how fast time flies!

I loved having Abbi's monthly pictures with the onesie, so of course, I had to do them with Easton as well!!

At one month, Easton:

*Is such a good baby.  Where Abbi needed to be held constantly, Easton is usually content to lay in the bouncer, swing, or even on the ground.
*Is a big eater!  He was 8 lbs. 6 oz. at birth, 9 pounds at his 2 week appointment, and around 11 pounds at a month (according to our at home scale)!!

*Is on a great 3 hour schedule.
*Is a great sleeper!  In fact, he sleeps more than any other baby I have known!
*Sleeps 4 to 5 hours the first stretch at night.  Mommy loves that!

*Has the cutest little half smile.  He'll do it often when he is sleeping - I think he has good dreams. :)
*Is a grunter.  He is seriously a noisy baby.  He'll grunt when he's asleep, he'll grunt when he's awake, he'll grunt when he's eating.

*Is a very even tempered baby.  The only times he gets upset is when he is naked, when he is hungry, or for about an hour around 7pm at night.  But besides that, he rarely cries!
*Loves to sit upright.  He's much happier siting upright than laying down when he is awake.
*Already is super strong.  He's already got great neck control and strength, and loves to stand on his little legs.

*Can sleep through anything. In fact, the noisier it is, the better he sleeps - I think!  Turn on the vacuum, the mixer, the dishwasher - he'll sleep through it all!
*Makes the funniest shapes with his mouth.  My favorite is when he forms a little 'o'.  I'm guessing it has something to do with wanting to eat, but he does it a lot and I think it's super cute!

*Has eyes that are turning bluer and bluer every day.  I really think he's going to take after his daddy!
*Will only put his head to the side when he is laying down (as you can tell by the pictures).  I don't know why, but he does not like to look straight up!

We sure do love this little guy and are so grateful that he is here with us!!  I'm looking forward to what the next days and months bring!

Book #20 - Keeping the Moon

Keeping the Moon
Sarah Dessen


Blurb: Colie expects the worst when she's sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast -- first for being fat and then for being "easy" -- Colie has no friends at home and doesn't expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along. (From Goodreads)

Opening Sentence: "My name is Nicole Sparks."

Length: Short - 228 pages

Notes:  While cleaning out the baby's room, I found a piece of paper that I had written a bunch of author's names on from forever ago.  I don't know where I got them or if they were recommended somewhere, but I copied the names over to my "to read" list.  This was one of the authors.  This book is definitely written for a teen audience, but I did actually like it.  I thought it had a good message - especially for teen girls.  There are a few minor swear words.  I don't know if I'd go and immediately read everything by this author, but I'd definitely pick up another one of her books if I'm looking for a quick, easy read!

Random quote: "I don't believe in failure, because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted. And anyone who attempts is not a failure. Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all. The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them."

Recommend: yes

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Book #19 - The Lost Saint

The Lost Saint
Bree Despain

Blurb: A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to the The Dark Divine. (From Goodreads)

Opening Sentence: " 'Do what he wants and you might survive,' a harsh voice said into the boy's ear before he felt a sharp blow to the kidneys."

Length: Medium - 404 pages

Notes:Yet more proof that I enjoy cheesy teenage books more than an adult book with substance!!  I am really liking this series.  Yes, it has some issues, but once again, it is a teen book, and it's pretty much to be accepted.  I thought this one was a little bit more predictable than the first book, but I'll definitely continue reading the series!

Random quote: "If you let anger into your heart, it will push out your ability to love."

Recommend: yes

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

It's Park Time!!

We were so happy for a couple of days of warm weather!  Abbi has been asking begging to go to the park lately, so we headed out for some park time!  I can tell there are going to be many, many park days ahead of us!  (And probably lots of park pictures to go along!)