Happy Birthday Garrett!

Today is my nephew's 15th birthday! Time sure flies by fast, I can remember vividly when he was born. I hope it's a great birthday Garrett. Hopefully we'll see you soon (and let me know what you got on your paper). FYI this is not too recent a picture, it was just the only picture my parents had on their computer.

Dishwasher Anyone?

We bought another gate a few weeks ago. So now we can block off the computer room and the entry way and this way Clay and Lizzi have more space to explore and play. Clay loves to be in the kitchen too. One night when Mom and I were cleaning up after dinner we both had our back turned and found this when we looked back.

Yeah he climbed onto the dishwasher. He always found the dishwasher fascinating, and now he's using it as a chair too. He loves to climb on everything, so I don't know why I didn't expect this. It was still very cute. Maybe he just thought he was dirty and we could wash him with the dishes.

Pretty Princess

One morning when James was up with the kids Lizzi was playing dress up. She got all decked out as you can see. The only thing missing is the purse.

Happy Birthday David!

Happy Birthday to my favorite father-in-law! Yes I know I only have one, but that doesn't mean he can't be my favorite. Originally at the beginning of the year I meant to try and include birthdays on our blog to incorporate our families more. Well so far I've failed miserable (sorry if your birthday was one of the ones I didn't post). Hope you have a fun birthday David, wish we could be there to help celebrate!

Clayton Update

Clayton turned 15 months old on the 5th and yesterday he had his 15 month check up.

Weight: 20 pounds
Height: 29 1/2 inches

Clay grew an inch in the last 3 months and gained a pound! He's still only in about the 3% for his growth, but that's fine. Like I've said before I'm getting my money's worth in the cloths department for him. He's actually still healthy! I think this is the first 2 weeks we've all not been sick (knock on wood). Clayton is walking on his own now. It's so funny to watch. He's starting to talk more now and keeps picking up new words everyday. He's getting more teeth too. Poor little guy had to get 2 shots though, so on top of the 2 teeth he's getting he's not in the greatest of moods today and wants to cuddle (I don't mind that).

And I thought I would just throw in an update on James. The CPAP machine seems to really be helping him. He's in a better mood and seems more energized. The mask he wears looks pretty funny and I'm surprised Elizabeth doesn't get scared when she sees James wearing it.

My Crafty Side & St. Patrick's

A while ago my friend Laura posted a bow holder she made for her daughter on her blog. It was adorable, so I figured I'd make Lizzi one so I'd have a place to put all the bows I make her. Well I ended up having to wait until our Salt Lake trip to get the stuff because our only craft store here is Walmart, so my selection was very limited. And I couldn't order a wooden letter online for some reason! I found a letter, pain, ribbon and stickers in Salt Lake though. It took half the day because I painted the E rather than leave it white, but I was happy with the result and Elizabeth was excited about her "E". Now I have to get to work to make some more bows.

Our St. Patty's Day was just another day for us. I didn't even put on green (I know I'm no fun). I did get the kids in green though. I'm going to work hard on making holidays more fun (now that Lizzi is actually enjoying them more). I got some funny pictures of Lizzi and James. Lizzi made this shamrock hat in nursery on Sunday, and was nice enough to model it for the camera. James was nice enough to be a model too.

Funny Things My Kids Do

No one can say my kids don't have personality. Elizabeth and Clayton are two of the funniest (and cutest) kids I know. I got a couple of pics of them just being themselves. Elizabeth found one of her many pairs of sunglasses. Well she went around the house wearing them, and then decided she needed to wear them while she ate her lunch.

And Clayton is in this phase where he likes to sit on different things like he's riding them. Well he somehow got the top part of Grandma's vacuum down (because he's not allowed near mine) and he climbed right up onto it. Now his favorite thing to do is climb on this vacuum.

Our Salt Lake Trip

This pass Monday and Tuesday we had the chance to go to Salt Lake. I hate that it was such a short trip and we didn't get a chance to see any family while we were there. But unfortunately with all the errands and appointments we had it was very unrealistic to try (especially with all that crappy snow on Monday!). The main point of our visit was for a yearly hearing test for Clayton. He was not very happy when we finally got to his appointment, so he didn't get much of a hearing test. But the audiologist did a different test (similar to the one they did when he was a baby). He has improved (I know I couldn't believe it either). He can hear speech levels normal. He passed on the right ear completely, not too sure on the left ear though because he wouldn't hold still. But this is great because I know he can hear when someone is talking normally. So right now it looks like it might just be the lower tones he can't hear (mostly whispering then). Can you tell I'm excited? I always just hoped it will get better and even if it doesn't improve anymore I'm happy he can at least hear normal levels. So we'll be going up in a month or 2 for another check up for him (hopefully for a little longer trip than normal too).

So Elizabeth and Clayton were extremely well behaved for the entire trip. Even with being in and out of the car dozens of times Elizabeth never once threw a fit or was difficult. So as a reward for her we went to Build A Bear workshop so that she could make an animal. She was so funny in that store. She picked out her animal (she got a Hello Kitty doll) all by herself, and then helped stuff it and give it a "bath". It was hilarious. We made Clay a monkey too. Since we got home she has been carrying that cat around everywhere! So I got a few pictures to share.

I think she's enjoyed the boxes they came with as much as the kitty.

Easter Decor

On Saturday, Mom put away all her winter decorations so we could put up Easter stuff. Elizabeth is Grandma's helper with anything she does. Elizabeth had a lot of fun "helping" and Mom was a good sport (as always) and let Lizzi help.

Elizabeth mostly played with anything Grandma pulled out of the box.

Showing me what she found in the box

She's looking for something at the bottom of the box.

She loved playing with the eggs.

This is one of her newest things. It's her "thinking" pose. I think she picked it up from Blue's Clues. It's so funny to see her do it though, and she always uses it in the correct context.

Popcorn Party

Sometime last week James decided to have some popcorn for a snack. Well anyone that has kids knows that anything you have is theirs too. So when James brought his snack down where the kids where they pounced. First it was just Clay. He's at that age where he wants anything we have. Then Liz decided that she would like a snack as well. She started slipping Clay whole pieces of popcorn (James was giving him the soft parts we knew he could chew). Well Clay did good with the whole pieces so they all started chowing down.

Some Cute Pics and an Update

So it's been a while. It's been a horrible week. I've been to the ER twice for an infection in my leg (I couldn't walk it was so bad). It feels so much better after our visit last night (and I can walk again without much pain), but I'm not going into detail because it's gross. Luckily I have the most wonderful husband in the world who has been helping with the kids whenever he is around, so I could pretty much sleep, and lay around because i was in so much pain. I am SO lucky to have James around. And Mom and Dad have been helping too when James is at work. I'm very lucky to have so many people who have been able to help!

Clayton is walking! He's still in the early stages, but every day he gets more and more adventurous. My parents have enjoyed watching him hit this milestone too. And of course anytime he takes any steps I clap and praise him. So he smiles and does it again.

There is not much new with Elizabeth. Her vocabulary grows all the time, and she talks in full sentences (that are understandable even by my parents and friends). She's a smart little cookie. She can say her own prayers now at bedtime. It's very cute because every night she says, "bless Clay will feel better." Clay of course was sick still when we started doing prayers so now she thinks Clay is always sick.

Elizabeth and Clayton are still best buddies and hardly don't get along (I know I'm very lucky!). Clay is a climber and the recliner is his newest climbing toy. As soon as he's in it, Lizzi climbs in and sits with him. He loves it. Here they are cuddling while they were watching a show one night.

This one is classic. I caught her while she was thinking about taking his pacifier.

This was after about 5 minutes of cuddling with Lizzi, and he wanted down.

One of those moment you wished you had the video recorder instead of your camera. She hugged him and said, "I love you Clay!"

I got a good pic of Clay mid climb, then Lizzi walked into the shot.

Lizzi thought Clay needed help. Oh that made him mad. Lizzi was a good girl and left him alone when I told her he didn't want help though.

Clayton was happy about getting on the chair! He was just still a little upset that Lizzi had tried to help him.