Boys Night In!

Last week I was so caught up in all that was going on with Halloween that I forgot to mention that I had Easton in for his 9 month check up. So here's how he checked out. He weighed in at 20 pounds (50%) is 29 inches long (75%) and his head is in the 50%. He's still about 2 pounds lighter then Spencer was at this age but the exact same in length. We talked about all the things he was doing and what to expect between now and his next check up. All in all the appointment went ok. We had two not so good things. When she was looking in Easton's ears she noticed one was red and inflamed. She said he might have an ear infection. That was a surprise to me since he didn't have a fever and wasn't really anymore cranky than usual. She told me I could wait on treating it but to come back in two weeks to have it re-checked. We go in this Wednesday and it can't come soon enough because he really hasn't been himself for the last week. He actually threw up one night in his crib. Now that was fun to clean up at 1:00 am. He's also had some blow out diapers. So maybe he has a touch of some bug going around as well.

The other not so good thing is she thinks he has some form of an allergy. Since he was a baby he's had some eczema. It was on his wrists and ankles and sometimes on his forearms. Over the last few months though it can be really bad on his checks and sometimes covering his back. We thought maybe it was more flared because he was cutting teeth  but she talked this time that maybe we should try switching him to soy formula. I wasn't thrilled at this idea and thought I would first try making sure I used everything scent free and use the lotions and soaps that are better for kids with eczema. In the end though I did switch his formula. I haven't really noticed one way or another if it seems to be the same or gotten any better. It's only been a week though so I need to give it more time.

Here is what our little 9 month old is up to these days.
*He's started going through that stranger anxiety. He cries now when other people take him or he is left  alone in a room.
*He sleeps about 12 hours at night going down around 7:00 pm and getting up around 7:30 am. He takes 1 to 2 naps a day.
*He went from just learning to crawl to crawling all over the place and even trying to go up the stairs. My favorite is when he crawls over to me and starts pulling up on my leg wanting me to pick him up. The down side to us not being ready for him to crawl as fast as he does is he fell down 3 stairs. Well, he actually slid down on his knees. So the baby gates are back up!
*He's a great clapper and so cute when he does it. He even helps cheer on his brother during potty time.
*I now find him sitting up or crawling all over his crib. We lowered his mattress a week ago.
*He's getting more table foods. So far he's had waffles, pancakes, peas, pasta pick ups, crackers, meat sticks, carrots, puffs, yogurt melts, cheerios, bananas, and other Gerber treats. He does ok with table foods, he tends to pocket the food in his mouth just like Spencer does and you will find him chewing on it an hour later.
*He's still working on the sippy cup. He can take sips from it but it's a good thing he doesn't have to drink from it all the time or he would be very thirsty!
*He loves playing with his older brother and laughing at him. It's been fun to watch the two of them form a friendship/bond. Spencer is such a good big brother and loves to do the things Easton is doing and help take care of him.

You can find Easton doing this kind of crawl now also.

So a little bit about Spencer now. He is 99.9% potty trained! He made a big accomplishment this week. He went from having 1-2 poop accidents a day to going on the potty sometimes 4 times a day! He will tell us now when he has to go and can even go in and do it by himself. He still needs some help though in the wiping department even though he tells his teachers he doesn't. He still wears a pull up at nap time and bedtime. He wakes up from naps 75% of the time dry but only 25% of the time at bedtime. We are so excited and proud of him! We celebrate each night after dinner by having a treat (left over Halloween candy) and call it a "pooping party."

This is what happens when you leave him by himself!

Ryan and the boys got to spend some quality time together on Saturday. They spent the morning visiting Grandma Nancy, Aunt Roz and Aunt Renee at their hotel. They were up in the cities doing some shopping at the Mall of America. They spent the rest of the day keeping busy around here. From Ryan's report the boys were pretty good but Easton didn't nap very long and was on the cranky side. It's hard as a mom to let go of the control while you are gone. I try not to worry about how things are getting done but instead just hope that they are having fun. When I got home this morning they were finishing up eating home made waffles that Ryan made for them and they were taking apart the rubbermade cupboard. It's kind of like when they visit Grandma, anything goes when mom's not home.

While the boys stayed home I joined my mom, dad and sister at the Luther Hospital snowflake ball. It was my first time going and the room was beautiful. It was nice to spend time with my family without being rushed or trying to entertain the kids. Grandma even bid and won a nice ring. We later found out she was bidding against a good friend of the family. Thanks for the nice night out mom and dad.

We joined the YMCA this month. I wanted a place for us to be able to go as the weather gets cooler to burn off the boy's energy. This week I met Jill, Gavin and Maddie at the YMCA. While the kids went to the kid's room to play Jill and I walked. I also took Spencer to open swim on Thursday and now today (Sunday) while Easton and I walked the track Spencer and Ryan played basketball. Hopefully Spencer will start adjusting better to the kids room, every time I've picked him up I can tell he's been crying!

I will leave you with a few words from Spencer:

"Goodness snakes"

"Don't lose me momma" as I was going up the stairs in front of him while he was still in the basement.

I asked Spencer who all he saw this weekend and he told me "Miss Roz" instead of Aunt Roz. That's how they refer to their teachers.

"I don't like Jelly Buttons" when he meant to say he doesn't like Jelly Belly's.

Look Momma I'm having a sister........

I should make it very clear, I'm not pregnant. He's been in a phase though he wants to take care of his baby (actually his Elmo doll) Like I do with Easton.



Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving and Painting!

*Warning: Ryan's pumpkin is not for kids!*

Grandma always comes through with the best pumpkins!

On Monday the boys and I went to the Giggle Factory with my friend Jill and her kids. It was the first time I got to meet Jill's little girl Abigail. Abigail was born about a month ago and I can't get over what a little peanut she is. She made Easton look HUGE! While the older boys crawled around in the tunnels and went down the slide I got to sit in the toddler area with Easton while he explored the soft toys. Afterwards Ben came back to our house for lunch. It's nice when Spencer has friends over to play because they keep themselves entertained.

The biggest news we have his week is Easton started CRAWLING! Watch out world, Easton is on the move. It's still a slow crawl but I'm sure it won't be long and he will be all over the place. I told daycare not to tell me if he started crawling at school as I like to pretend that I get to see all of his firsts. Finally on Tuesday night Ryan I both thought we saw him try and move his knee forward. It was getting close to bedtime for him and I put his bottle on the floor to see if we would crawl to it and sure enough he took off! I guess he was hungry.

The hardest part about Easton getting bigger and on the move is he can go after the toys he wants. Spencer is having a hard time adjusting to the idea that the toys that were once all his are now the toys he has to share with Easton. Easton will get a toy and of course Spencer thinks he needs to play with that toy. Spencer will take it from Easton causing him to cry. I will either make Spencer give him the toy back or give him a new toy to play with. I know this is going to be a life long thing but I'm so not ready.

This week was theme week at school for the boys. Spencer LOVED dressing up and it made our mornings easier. Easton wore Halloween/ pumpkin shirts all week.

Tuesday was blast from the past. Spencer wore his jeans rolled and we slicked his hair.

Thursday was orange and black day. Spencer had slept in an orange shirt and insisted on wearing it under his other shirt.

Friday was inside out day. It was also their Halloween party. Ryan, Grandma and I all went to school to help get the boys dressed for their parade. Spencer was so excited and it was fun to see the other kids dressed up and meet the parents of Spencer's friends.

The boys went to Grandma and Grandpa's Saturday. Ryan and I had a Halloween party in the neighborhood to go to. While we had fun and enjoyed our kid free night they had fun with Grandma and Grandpa.

During half time of the Packer game Ryan checked on Spencer and this is how he was sleeping!

Spencer is having so much fun this Halloween. I think he is having more fun with kids coming to our house then he did going to a few houses trick or treating. Every time a group of kids leave he says "are more kids coming?!" We hope everyone had a great Halloween!