Tuesday, January 14, 2014

First Birthday!

Micah is one!  It's hard to believe that it was a year ago that this precious boy was born into our family.  He is buch a blessing!  Micah is an adventurous eater; he tries anything that is set before him.  There doesn't seem to be anything he truly dislikes eating.  He still is not quite ready to set out and walk on his own.  He can do it, of course, but he still prefers to hold a hand or the furniture.  He is still a cuddly boy, too, and he likes to be held.  I don't mind holding him!
 At his 12-month appointment, we found that Micah is 29 inches tall (25th percentile), 20 lbs 9.5 ounces (20th percentile), and has a head circumference of 45.5 inches.  He is borderline anemic, so we're going to plus up his iron intake a little bit.  Both he and Levi were very well behaved at the doctor's office.  Lucky for them the weather was nice enough that we could stop at the park and go on the swings before heading home.
 
 We had a snowflake party for Micah's birthday.
 
 I saw this marshmallow idea in a magazine.  It seemed like a good idea, but threading the marshmallow onto the wires was ridiculously sticky and surprisingly messy.  After I hung them up, it was a matter of minutes before some of them began sliding down.  By the morning, there were half a dozen on the floor.  Just before the party, I squished some more onto the wires, but we still lost five more.  Silly!
 
 Party guests Maddie and Vivienne entertained Levi during dinner!
 
 Amy and Avery and Garret
 
 Marcus, Carmen, Stephanie, and Grandma
 
 Nathan, Bob, Steve, Jill, and Randy
 
 Bob, Steve, Ethan, Jill, Grannie, Dad, and Mother
 
 Nathan and the birthday boy
 
 A quick craft for the kiddos: cotton ball snowmen
 
 And a game, too: snowball toss!
 
 Here's the cake.
 
 "Can I really touch this?"
 
 First bite of cake.  I had to peel it off the cupcake and give it to him. 
 I guess the baseball-sized cupcake was a bit intimidating.
 
 Just about polished it all off.  There are a few more bites in his hands.  Happy boy!
 
 "I like cake!"
 
 
 He can walk a few steps, but he just needs to hold one finger to feel comfortable.
 
 Grannie with her darling grandson.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Micah's First Hair Cut

Aunt Stephanie is our fabulous hairstylist.  On January 2nd she gave Micah his very first haircut.  Just like Levi, Micah's hair is fine on top but was getting bushy in the back.  Now he looks even more grown up!
Before

Micah was remarkably well behaved during the cut.  He
was curious about what Stephanie was doing, so he kept
turning his head, but he wasn't upset about a thing.

After

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Zoo fun

Hooray for an extra day with my nieces!  Andrew and Mary Robert had one of their flights canceled, so they had to stay in Washington for an extra 24 hours.  I know that wreaked havoc on their schedules, but I was so happy to spend the morning and early afternoon at the zoo with Andrew and these precious girls!


Ready to bite just like a shark

Cute and cozy cousins

Holiday Festivities

On December 27th we opened gifts with my parents, Andrew, Mary Robert, Claire, and Paige.  Nathan had to work, but the rest of us had a great time.
Paige opening her stocking

Micah got some jingle bells

Levi's talking toddler clock
 In the evening we went over to Bob's house for the annual Gorham-Hayden music night.  Unfortunately most of the Haydens were sick, so we had a small but enthusiastic crowd.
Nathan on French horn, Stephen on tuba, my dad on trombone

Levi on bugle and Ethan on recorder

Stephanie on flute, Marie on vocals, and Bob on baritone
 On Saturday the 28th, we had the Easterbrooks clan over at my parents' house.  We opened British crackers and wore the paper crowns that were inside.


Claire, Maddie, and Levi

Maddie, Claire, and Paige

Paige sat down and quietly read Levi's new Thomas book.

Cousin photo!  From left: Great Grannie, Claire, Paige, Avery, Maddie, Levi, Micah

Yankee Swap!  From left: John, Randy, Mary Robert, Kevin, Paige, Claire


Grannie and Grandpa with their four grandchildren.  (We parents have matching scarves, too.)
 This year's theme for our family stocking gifts was "wearable."  I decided to get everyone an animal mask craft kit.  However, since the masks didn't arrive before Christmas, I had to come up with a plan B, and I made the fleece scarves for everyone.  But when the masks finally arrived, we made them anyway.  My grandmother came up for dinner on Sunday, so she got in on the fun, too.
Giraffe, Great Grandma Ruth

Zebra, Mary Robert

Lion, Grandpa

Monkey riding a car, Paige

Zebra, Claire
 
Elephant, Andrew