2012

As 2012 comes to a close, I can't help but reflect on the last 12 months and all that we have been through!

Last year on Christmas I was 5 months pregnant, at this point we did know Easton was a boy, would be born with a cleft and were scared of what other issues he might also be born with...
And we had our first ever White Christmas!

As 2012 began I was at the Doctor's office a LOT, We met with Eastons Cleft surgeon, we had some more intensive tests done and found out Easton would be ok :), I had a baby shower thrown for me by my wonderful friends and family and continued to prepare for Easton's arrival!

In February our Great-Niece was born, and boy has she changed our whole family! What a little doll she is, a ball of fire!

We love her so much and I am so excited for her and Easton to grow up together



On March 19 we celebrated our first anniversary! The plan was to stay in, I made a roast with all of the fixin's and when I got home that afternoon, something happened, the crock pot was turned off and the roast was only 1/2 cooked. So I cried (remember I was 37 weeks pregnant lol) and we decided to go out to eat instead, I think we ended up at Carino's! ha! We had the roast and big dinner at home the next night! Luke brought home roses, a card and a pretty ring, I made him a scrap book of our first year together and we came home to a beautiful floral arrangement and sweet card from my wonderful parents!

On April 4 our lives forever changed when we walked in to L&D and at 12:00 I walked in to the OR for a scheduled C-Section.

At 12:40 PM on Wednesday April 4, 2012 an 8lb 15 oz, 20" long Easton Landry was brought in to our world, screaming, healthy and NOT at all happy to be here lol









Since that day we have had a lot of ups and downs, I struggled to heal from my CSection, Easton struggled to gain weight, figured out he had reflux pretty bad, got that fixed, Easton met all of the important people in our lives, Luke worked two jobs for a while, then started a whole new career, we moved twice, Easton gained weight, we went to have his first sugery and were sent home because he had brochitis, two months and 4 reschedules later he finally had that surgery. We have had Dr's appointments, ear infections, Reactive Airway Disease, Breathing treatments, I struggled a bit with post partum depression, we have been poorer than poor and then recovered from that, we've been sick, we've been healthy, we've visited with family, we have been stressed, we've had a lot of firsts, a lot of long nights, and lot of short days, tears of frustration and tears of joy.

We took Easton to the zoo for the first time, First Easter, First play date, his first Halloween Costume, his first Christmas, his first parade, his first football game...

Its been an incredible year of ups and downs, and most importantly one of incredible blessings. There is a lot of unknown coming in 2013, but after the year we have had, I know we can do it! We are a family and we are strong and we have God at the center of our life, so we can do this!

Bring it on 2013!

What I want my children to learn

I've been thinking a lot about the kind of household I want to raise our children in, what I want them the learn and know. I dont know how many children we will have, right now we have Easton and he is amazing, he is this perfect, pure creature and his life is in our hands to mold. Wow what an important job that is!
These are some of the very basic things I want him to learn from us:

**God is everywhere, but most importantly He is in our Hearts. He feels our pain, He rejoices in our joy, He is there to talk to, to listen, to comfort, to love, to worship, to follow. His faithfulness never waivers, and at any time in our lives, we need anything....HE is there to ask.
**Mom & Dad (Me and Luke) Love each other, unconditionally. We fell in love, we got married, we made a life together, we made babies, out of love and compassion and a yearning to grow as a family. Above all, Mom and Dad Love each other.

**Family is important. They are all we have. Best friends can change (and sometimes they become our family too!), boy friends change, but Family stays. It is important to keep relationships with your family. It is important to let go of petty arguments and disagreements, its important to visit each other, it is important to make an effort to talk to each other and show our love & appreciation for family.

**It is OK to mess up. Learn from mistakes, move forward, become better.
**Racism is not ok. Sexism is not ok. Making fun of the less fortunate is not ok. Teasing someone else because they're different is not ok. We are all God's children.
**Celebrate! Celebrate Birthdays, Holidays, Celebrate an A on an exam, the end of the school year, the first football game....Just Celebrate Life and have fun!
**Stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves. Always.
**Pray, always pray. When Teachers or the government tell you that you CAN'T pray, do it anyway and Ask God to forgive them.
**You can ALWAYS come to Mom and Dad with problems, embarassments, confusion, questions. We will not judge you, we will help you in any way we can.
**Arguments can be resolved without violence.
**Take pictures!! Always take pictures!

**Be kind to everyone.
**Friendships are important. Nurture them, build them, make them strong. (They could become part of your family some day)

**Always wear your seat belt!
**Always say thank you, send thank you cards, let peopl eknow you appreciate the gift, the act of kindness or whatever they have done for you.
**Don't give in to peer pressure when you KNOW its not right. Do not get in a car with a person who has been drinking, I dont care if your friends are doing it. Call us.
**Tomorrow is a new day, today might have sucked, but tomorrow will be better.
**Dating is HARD, but there is someone out there for you, and if you  can't find them, its ok. Dont be in a relationship that sucks just to have a spouse.
**Go to a drive-in Movie theatre, sit in the bed of the truck, eat popcorn till you pop and enjoy being outside at night, watching a movie.
**We do not have to just accept and be tolerant of things that we do not believe in. This does not mean we are mean to people or act in a non-Christian way. But we do not have to just accept it either. Speak up, spread The Word.
**Breakfast for dinner is AMAZING!
**We ALWAYS Stand and put our hands over our heart when the National Anthem is being played or when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
**There is a lot of Evil in this world, but there is also a LOT of good....Be the good, fight against the Evil!
**Smile, a LOT. It makes Mommy happy, it will make you happy!

**Rest, take a nap, go to bed early. Work will be there tomorrow, rest is important
**(On that note) dont work if you dont HAVE to on the weekends, spend time with our family.
**Give to those less fortunate. Money, clothes, toys...whatever you have to give, do it.
**Thank a Soldier, at least once, shake their hand, thank them for serving. You'll feel good, but they will feel amazing.
**Marriage is hard, but it is wonderful. It takes work, but its rewarding. Its a beautiful gift from God, to join a man and a woman together in marriage and to flourish together and grow as a family. Marriage is serious.
**Read classic books, BEFORE you watch the movie.

**Say I love you
**Know that We always love YOU, unconditionally, no matter what you do or dont do, We love and adore you. You were the most perfect gift from God and an answer "yes" to our prayers.