3 months old

He's getting SO big! His favorite things continue to be laying out and kicking his legs, being talked to, and bath time.  He's getting really vocal with baby talk and smiles everytime you talk to him.  He will sit up with your assistance, and he is starting to hold onto his toys.  He loves to play patty cake, usually will give a big smile when you "roll 'em"! 
His sleep routine is awesome!  He goes to bed anywhere between 7-9 PM and will sleep till 5-7 AM!! Of course he's all smiles when he wakes up :)
We have his 3 months pictures scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Sioux Falls with a new photographer, can't wait!
Update on my wrist- it's better :) The shot helped and I'm pain free! 

Christmas Day

After waking up and enjoying all that Santa brought, we got all packed up and went home.  Showered up had a little Christmas exchange of our own and headed out again!

 We decided we would have Christmast dinner at James & Cori's house because we knew the boys would want to play with their new toys.  We all contributed to the meal, but Mom & Dad treated us all to Prime Rib.  The meal was wonderful.  Here are a couple pictures from the afternoon.  Sad to see the holiday go, but it's common in my family to leave the Christmas cheer up for another month.  Or as Mark would say "nothing comes down till after the Stock Show"! Sounds like a good idea to me :)

Self-Timmed, Annual Christmas Picture :)

Can't forget to include Nelli in the Christmas fun.  She was showered with many gifts as well! Literally, she went to the groomer this week, got a new Christmas scarf, doggie ice cream and got to go hunting!  We love you Nells :)

Christmas Morning

Easton didn't sleep very well, but I think that was because he was so excited to see what Santa had brought ;) Everyone got up around 6:45 am, and even though Easton was sleeping in my arms in our bed, we got up anyways to go enjoy the spirit of Santa! The boys were super excited and Cam couldn't fill me in fast enough!  Preston on the other hand was still unwrapping presents, he has to play with each thing he unwraps before moving on.  Easton was kind of sleepy, but got smiley real fast. 

Easton got John Deere camo boots, we had to try them out :) 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I was so excited for Christmas (as usual), but this year it was extra special because Easton got to experience it.  Of course he had no idea, other than the fact that I had been telling him about Santa all month.  I had to work in the moring, but Mark & Easton got to spend time together at home! (Monday is Mark's day off so it worked perfectly!)  In the afternoon I was busy wrapping presents while Easton was sleeping and Mark and Nelli went pheasant hunting.  It was Nelli's Christmas present, she couldn't have enjoyed it more ;) Don't worry Santa remembered her too! We went to mass at 5 PM and it was a full house!  Beautiful music and great to be there with the whole family- BLESSED! Afterwards we went to Mom & Dad's for dinner and presents and new this year we all spent the night! It was fun and I can't wait till Easton is a little older and can enjoy waking up with his cousins to check out their gifts from Santa! Another first was "Santa" this year.  It was kind of fun getting everything together and stuffed in the stocking. 

He's starting to drool, ALOT!

James, Cori, Cam & Preston



When we started opening gifts he was sleeping, but not for long!  He couldn't miss out on the most exciting part of the night ;)

Opening his stocking from Gma & Gpa

Look at his cheeks, I LOVE them!!

And just like that, Santa had arrived!!

de Quervain's tenosynovitis

Wondering what that is? Well let me tell you it's very painful! I've had wrist pain forever, during pregnancy and after.  I tried wearing a splint, icing, etc.  We thought it would go away after Easton was born, because the swelling would be gone, but it's progressively gotten worse.  Early one morning, I picked up Easton and felt intense pain in my wrist area almost bringing me to tears. The pain didn't last long and I realized it was only when I had my hand or wrist in a certain position.  But the pain kept getting worse and more frequent.  So yesterday I decided to go in.  I thought there has to be a reason and a cure!! Sure enough, I was diagnosed with "de Quervain's tenosynovitis" which the medical definition is:  a condition in which the tendons from the thumb to the wrist become inflamed and rub against the "tunnel" that encloses them, causing sensations from mild discomfort to severe pain on the thumb side of the wrist.Though anyone can develop de Quervain's, it's most common in new mothers and usually stems from stress on the wrist resulting from lifting a baby frequently. 
The doctor gave me a cortisone shot (steroid) in my wrist.  I was worried because yesterday afternoon and last night I was in a lot of pain.  But this morning is better.  It's still not gone, but better than yesterday!  He said it could take 48 hours, but if it wasn't better by Christmas to call him, and I'd have to go see an orthopedic specialist in Sioux Falls.  Praying for relief and recovery! 

Happy Birthday Preston!

Preston turned 3 on December 18th!  We got together to celebrate and what would a party be without cake & ice cream? 
First time I'm uploading a video to the blog, hope this works :)

We love you buddy, can't wait to see what this year brings!  Hopefully a FULLY potty trained Preston ;)

It was a Toy Story Birthday for Preston.  The first thing he said when Preston pulled his string "Boy am I glad to see you"! Put a big smile on his face :)

Holiday Fun!

I've been enjoying my time off with Easton this month, and as all good things come to an end so is my maternity leave, tear. ;(  I've been working 1/2 days since December 12th, and will go back full-time on January 2nd.  It will be hard, but at least I've had these couple weeks to ease back into the work schedule.  It will be hard not to see him all afternoon, but will make it that much better at night :)

 

 The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nick would be there!!

During my time off this month, I've found some time to enjoy holiday baking!  You wouldn't know it if you visited me though, because I've nearly eaten everything I made!! I did share the goodies with my family of course, but if it's in the house I'll eat it :) I made an assortment of goodies ranging from pretzels dipped in almond bark, marshmellows dipped in carmel rolled in krispies, frosted sugar cookies, mint fudge, and peanut butter blossoms!  I wasn't planning on making these cookies, but it was the one thing Mark requested when I told him I was done baking!  So here they are, his Birthday cookies! Who needs a cake?!?

Speaking of Birthdays, Mark turned 30 on December 16th!! I had a party for him on Saturday night downtown at Sporty's.  It was a lot of fun and a first night out for Mom & Dad.  Easton also had a 1st- he stayed at Grandma & Grandpa Montag's house! He did great, slept 7 hours straight :) I was so relieved to hear that on Sunday morning.  It must be harder to stay out drinking when you turn 30, because it took Mark awhile to feel good on Sunday! But he was recovered well enough for a family Birthday party on Sunday night.  We ate his Birthday cookies and mint chocolate chip ice cream, his favorite :) Happy Birthday Babe, I have a feeling the next 10 years will be better than the last! Everything gets better with age, right?!?

 



Meeting Santa

Easton got to meet the legendary Rock Rapids Santa on Saturday.  I even have pictures with this Santa, pretty cool that we can share some of the same Christmas memories :) He didn't seem to mind him, we'll see how these pictures turn out next year!

Merry Cousins!

Cameron- 8, Preston- 2 & Easton- 10 weeks

Preston was hesitant to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas.  But when it was time to go, he budged in line and told Santa "I want presents for Christmas"! LOL, I guess he was afraid that if he didn't say something, he'd get nothing! 

2 months old

So I thought I was always on top of things, but here it is December 5 and I just took his "2 months" picture.  I need to update the baby book too!  I just can't believe how fast time goes.  He's growing and changing, I think his cheeks and the rolls in his legs get a little bigger everyday ;)

I welcome December with open arms, except for the fact that I go back to work this month.  But we'll skip talking about that right now, it's a sore subject.  I love Christmas, it's the most wondeful time of the year! We have a tree in Easton's room along with almost every other room in the house!  Christmas music plays all day and even during the night feedings, I think Easton loves it!

We went and cut down our Christmas tree again this year and it was a gorgeous (very odd for December) day.  Easton slept through the tree selecting & cutting down part, but woke up in time to see Santa!

Posing by our tree.  As you can see we had to go over the river and through the woods to find it, up in hill country.  Mark said "Good thing we brought the off road model on this trip"! And he was right, I don't think the umbrella stroller could have hacked the terrain! Easton didn't wake up through all the bumps and hills.

Riverview Christmas Tree Farm

I'm hoping he likes the Mall Santa better ;)

Easton even had a shirt for the event :)

Easton had his 2 month appointment this week and checked out healthy, but not so happy.  He got 3 shots and one oral.  He cried so hard it made Mommy cry.  It broke my heart to see him cry like that, and then to see the blood pooling made it worse!  But he made it through the night with flying colors, and the next day too.  I was ready for a fussy boy, but he did great!

Easton's Stats:

Height: 24.75"- 99%

Weight: 13 lbs. 5 oz.- 67%

Head: 40.1 cm- 73%

Date: 12.3.12