The Ezell Family

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Playdate with the Ladwigs

So, my best friend Erica and I have a tradition of getting together the day after Christmas, and we certainly didn't let having babies this year interrupt it! The Ladwig family headed over to our house late afternoon where Madelyn (9 months) and Carter (almost 8 months) had a blast playing together before we headed out to dinner. The babies were so good, and this is SUCH a fun age to watch them! We had a blast and can't wait to see them again soon!

Carter's First Christmas

We celebrated Carter's first Christmas this year, and it was a blast! We started with our own family Christmas morning on Christmas Eve where we opened his stocking and the gifts Blake and I bought each other. (Pardon my PJ's!)

We then went on to Uncle Chase and Aunt Sarah's for Christmas Eve lunch and gift exchange there. (I forgot my camera...) Carter got a basketball hoop from them, and some books, toys, and a t-shirt from the rest of the Ezell side of the family. From there, we went on to church where Cartman sported some seriously sweet duds. We got a few cute pics in front of our tree at home before we left.

After that, we headed on down to my parents' house where we ate a wonderful meal and spent Christmas Eve night. Carter LOVED hanging out with his cousin Pearson and sitting in front of the fire with his Doc.

He was even happy enough to take a good family pic! These NEVER happen!

After a good night's sleep, we were ready for Christmas morning. Carter (and his cousin Pearson) HIT THE JACKPOT! He mostly just wanted to chew on ribbon and wrapping paper, but he had a BLAST opening presents and playing with all his new toys!

Checking out Gammy's goofy reindeer ears.

Happy boy after his breakfast!

Working on pulling up...he is SO close!

We wrapped up this ridiculous day with a trip to Blake's parents' house in Lakewood for Christmas lunch. Carter was not on his best behavior here (overstimulation, I'm guessing) so no cute pictures from that. We finally headed home about 4pm and by 6:30, Carter was doneski and sawing logs in bed where he caught a GLORIOUS 13 hours of sleep. What a wonderful weekend it was! We are so blessed!

Monday, December 5, 2011

7 Months (a few days late!)

How is it possible that I already have a SEVEN MONTH OLD?!?! Time is flying! Well, baby boy, this month was pretty good for us! We battled a nasty virus earlier this month that left you covered from head to toe in an ugly little rash, but you have thankfully been healthy and happy ever since.

You were dedicated to the Lord on November 12, and it was a wonderful evening here with all of your family. You did GREAT up on stage and sported a very handsome Polo shirt and little shoes. The crowd let out a unanimous "Awwww" as soon as they camera got to you up there. (Proud Mama moment!)

You also celebrated your very first Thanksgiving! We spent the day with all of your family down at Dede and Poppy's house and you ate pumpkin for the very first time. You loved it!

Speaking of eating, you are still taking three solid meals of food a day - cereal (oatmeal or rice) with half a jar of fruit for breakfast, a vegetable for lunch, and a meat/veggie combo at dinner. Your favorites are apples, pears, bananas, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, and chicken, although you don't really reject anything. We tried a few pieces of "finger food" this month, but with your acid reflux most likely delaying the development of your esophagus, you aren't quite ready for Cheerios or Puffs yet. We'll try again in a few weeks.

You are a new baby thanks to Prevacid, and no longer fight your bottles. (YAY!) You drink four 7-8 ounce bottles a day, typically at 7, 11, 3, and bedtime. I don't think you've gained much weight this month despite all the food you've eaten. The last time we weighed you, you were about 19.5 pounds, up only about a half pound since the six-month mark.

You sleep somewhere between 10.5 and 12.5 hours a night, and it is a rarity that you wake up during the night anymore. (Praise Jesus!) You typically go down between 7 and 8 and wake up between 6:30 and 7:30, although on weekends we sometimes stretch both bedtime and wake time a little later. You have become a side sleeper this month and like your back to be pushed up against the bumper. Fine by me - whatever makes you happy and sleepy! :) Napwise, you are not nearly as consistent. At school, you typically nap for about an hour in the morning and 45 minutes or so in the afternoon. On weekends, we can usually get a good 2-hour nap on Saturdays which is nice. You've become so active and playful that getting to sleep can sometimes be a struggle, but you usually don't cry longer than 20 minutes or so before going to sleep.

You are becoming more and more active every day! You are ALMOST a crawler...right now you have a little army crawl/scoot that is just precious to watch. If I put an exciting toy like your octopus or the TV remote a foot or two away, you will scoot over to it, no problem. We discovered this weekend that on the hard kitchen floors you can really get around...you were spinning in circles and had a mad dash going at your friend Will Beddoe's house. It kind of scared me...I'm not sure I'm ready for a mobile baby just yet!

You still only have the two bottom teeth, but I am just convinced that you are about to pop some more any day now. It is getting easier and easier to get you to laugh at your dorky parents, and we try our darndest all the time! You LOVE to ride on our shoulders and being tickled on your tummy or under your arms. You also have to CONSTANTLY have something in your hands and mouth. If you don't have something to hold, you put your hands out in front of you very awkwardly like there's something wrong. You love rides in the car or stroller, "flirting" with people from your spot in the shopping cart, playing in your exersaucer, ripping apart your playmat, and anything that talks to you or plays music. All in all, baby boy, you are just FUN!

We are SO looking forward to spoiling you rotten as you celebrate your first Christmas in a few weeks! We love you little one!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

A Tribute to Grampy

My wonderful, loving, patient, loyal, smart, compassionate Grampy and me.

This morning, I awoke to the news that my Grampy had passed away at 91 years of age. It was exactly four months ago today that his wife and my Grammy passed away at 90. I am heartbroken and will miss him dearly, and watching him the past five weeks struggle after suffering a stroke were some of the hardest times in my life. But, life is too short to dwell on the trials, so for a moment, I want to reflect on my times with him and sing the praises of the best example of a servant that I have ever come across.

Grampy served in the military for many years which is where he met one tough cookie - my grandmother, Ann/Grammy. To read about what a character she was, click here. He was the most loyal and patient husband to her, and quite honestly, she didn't make that an easy task. As she aged and suffered with hearing loss, dementia, and macular degeneration, Grampy never wavered. He simply spoke louder, reminded her of the important things, and brought her a magnifying glass. He loved her for who she was - even when it became a challenge.

Grampy had an incredible sense of humor. My earliest memories of Grampy are of our bantering, which was a pretty common occurrence when he visited. For whatever reason, his nose was always a shade redder than the rest of his face, and I used to love calling him Rudolph, just to rile him up. I often liked to be sassy and playful with him and he would always reply with, "To the moon, Alice! To the moon!" from the Honeymooners, all with a big smile on his face. I'll never forget the phone conversation we had when I got engaged. He told me, first of all, that he hadn't had a great morning because the nursery had been out of his caladium bulbs, and he "really needed some good news today." A little while later, he asked what my new last name would be, and I told him - Ezell. He asked for the spelling, and when I got to the Z he said, "Z as in zebra?!?" as if that was just an appalling letter. I still smile every time I spell my last name for somebody...especially when I get to the Z.

Growing up, they made two annual trips to Dallas - one during the spring or summer and always a long (10-days or so) trip at Christmas. This included a meticulously planned three-day journey in their light blue Lincoln Towncar from their home in Granger, Indiana, to our home in Dallas. (Grammy was a heavy smoker, and she refused to fly because she wouldn't be able to indulge in her habit. Grampy obliged her by driving for three solid days instead...patience and understanding at its finest.)

Grampy was a creature of habit. On a typical day during his visits, he came out of his room in my parents' house wearing his oversized bifocals, long flannel pajamas, and a bath robe with his hair quite disheveled and always offered a robust, "Good morning!" as he poured his cereal and cut his banana. He would sit at the kitchen table and eat first, not quite ready for the morning newspaper. After his cereal, he would microwave himself a cup of decaf coffee and read the newspaper before getting dressed. Lunch was always the same - a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat, chips, and a caffeine free Diet Coke. He had a huge sweet tooth (must be genetic) and usually ended his day with a big bowl of ice cream...Rocky Road, if he was doing the choosing. He always had his weekly "honey-do's" that he did for Grammy - the grocery store, the bank, taking her to her hairdresser. When he was visiting us, he loved to go anywhere we were going...the mall to Christmas shop, the pet store to pick out dog toys, or even just joining us on a trip to the grocery store. He just wanted to spend time with us when he was in town, and he made every second count.

Grampy, I will always remember your sweet laugh and smile, the way you crossed your arms over your strong chest when you sat, and your big bear hugs. I will always remember the excitement in your voice when we called and the sadness I felt when your trips to Dallas were over. I will always remember the way you drove away, waving out the window of your Towncar, watching us in the rear view mirror until you could see us no longer. But most of all, Grampy, I will always remember the way you so fiercely loved your country, your family, and me. I will never forget you, and I am comforted to know that I will one day see you again. There is no doubt in my mind that today, an angel got his wings.