H1N1 Swine Flu, Standing, and Giggling with Brother

10/12/09
My Grace, you sure are giving Mama a scare. You have the H1N1 Swine Flu and they have put you on Tamiflu, an anti-viral medication. You are finished with your medicine tomorrow morning, and still have a slight fever and a terrible chesty cough. You are much better than you were though, as you wouldn’t babble or crawl for an entire day. You only cried and wanted to be held. You poor baby girl! I am going to take you back to the doctor tomorrow morning so they can be sure your lungs are clear.

You are hitting some developmental milestones! You are standing on your own now. Just two days ago you patty-caked your hands for the first time. I have been trying to teach you patty cake for a long time, and it is so exciting to see you clapping your little hands together grinning from ear to ear with pride. You are so adorable, the way you are so proud of your accomplishment! So happy and full of joy, like always. You are also starting to walk around holding onto one finger on each of my hands.

And you are into everything! Into all of mommy’s drawers, racing through the baby gate and up the stairs whenever it is left open, and just today you got into the garbage can - pulled out a piece of pizza - and started eating it. You are so fast!

Mommy is worn out by the end of the day from chasing after cute little you! You and your brother are really enjoying each other. You love to crawl as fast as you can and chase him around the room. The two of you have staring contests, and then you both just start hysterically giggling! Those moments melt Mama’s heart!

Preschool/Daycare Tues and Thursdays

10/12/09
Clayton, Hi buddy! You just started preschool last week. Tomorrow will be your third day. You are going on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am so proud of you, you are getting to be such a big boy! You are so much fun and so smart!

You love reading books, playing trains, playing on the computer with Mommy, and driving your trucks and riding your motorcycle around the house. You are an excellent big brother to your little sister. Always kissing her on the head and saying “Love you Gracie.” I am so proud of you! You are starting to be able to put your arms in your shirt and help me get you dressed.
You are also working on learning to brush your own teeth and you help me transfer the laundry from the washer to the dryer. You are still a very picky eater and that has Mommy concerned, I want to be sure you get all the nutrients your growing body needs!


I love you so much buddy! Each night we read 3 - 6 books in the rocking chair, then you get in your bed and we sing a made-up song about Thomas the Train characters. “Thomas is going down the track, down the track, down the track, Thomas is going down the track, where is ______. (You fill in the blank with another train character. - Percy for example. Then we sing about that train character. Finally we end with - ) Clayton is snuggled in his bed, in his bed, in his bed, Clayton is snuggled in his bed, Night Night Clayton.

You also like to say your prayers “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Guide me all through the night and wake me with the morning light. Amen.” You pray at meal time also. We all hold hands, close our eyes, and you say “God is Great, God is Good, and we thank Him for our food. Amen.” You make us laugh because if someone at the table doesn’t have their eyes closed you say “You wanna close your eyes. . . “ and then you start the prayer over.

We are working on potty training, but you seem a little frightened to eliminate in the potty. You are very stubborn about using the potty, sometimes screaming that you do not want to use it! When you do sit on the potty, you enjoy Mommy reading you books - but don’t seem interested in actually putting any potty in the potty chair. We’ll keep working on it buddy - I know we’ll get it. I love you very much!

GPS gets into trouble with Clayton

9/15/09
Clayton, Hey Bud! You helped Daddy and I cook in the kitchen tonight. You pulled up a chair from the table and said, “I wanna help cook.” Together we made a casserole encased in crescent rolls and a lemon meringue pie. You love to stir and pour in ingredients. So much fun for Daddy and I! You really are a little joy!

You have been addicted to Thomas the Train videos lately. I do not want you to watch TV, as I feel it is so important for you to spend time in imaginative play to develop your brain, however you protest and protest that you want to watch Thomas. You ask us to read Thomas the Train books over and over to you. And then you try to memorize them and read them back to us. You are so smart, and not even three years old yet!

You have a very strong personality and are very persistent about what you do and don’t want. Common phrases heard from you include: “I don’t wanna go night night”, “I don’t wanna take a nap”, “Gracie doesn’t wanna go night night”, “I don’t wanna sit the potty”.

You made Daddy and I laugh the other day so hard in the car on our way to the Apple Orchard. The GPS was giving us directions and said “Turn LEFT” . . . you screamed from the back seat “I Don’t Wanna Turn Left!!!” Daddy and I couldn’t help but laugh. Your argumentative phase is not just towards Daddy and I, but any directions given! So funny buddy!

We can't get "baby proof" enough!

7/28/09
Gracie,

Ah, sweet baby girl. I feel like you have grown 5 inches overnight! You are so tall. And you have such an adorable bottom tooth peeking out of your smile now. You are into everything! Up the stairs faster than I can shut the baby gate. Into the china cabinet over and over. . . I need to buy a baby proof lock for it!

I am so proud of you and how you have just emerged into this wonderful little person with SO MUCH personality! You only cuddle when you are sleepy now, and I am saddened by that. Oh, I love to cuddle you! We went to the County Fair today and there was a group of about 15 kids playing different instruments. You were the youngest (and by far the cutest in my opinion - equal to your brother of course) and you were just shaking the maracas like crazy! You definitely added your sweet melodies to the music of my life today little one. Oh my, and I have to tell you that I was stopped multiple times today by people ogling over how cute you were in your little flower bonnet! You are a star babe!

County Fair

7/28/09
Dear Clayton,
Today we went to the County Fair. We looked at rabbits, sheep, and donkeys. . . But you were most interested in the popcorn and coloring your very own tile with marker! You played musical instruments with about 15 other kiddos, and your sister. Your favorite thing was climbing in and out of the yellow skid loader, up and down on the tractors, and in and out of the lawn mowers. It was an ordeal to get you to leave . . . A time out was involved.


Gosh, I was so happy to see you in your element with all of those tractors. You were just blissful babe! I love you much! On the way home you told me, “Oh, Mommy, I sooo tired Mommy.” It was a good day buddy!

Crawling & First Tooth

7/9/09 Gracie, you are such a little honey to mommy! I completely adore you! You are everywhere with your crawling, and now pulling up onto furniture. Just yesterday7/8/09 you showed Daddy and I that you can now crawl up the stairs - which put us in panic mode “We have to baby proof - gates, cabinet locks, cleaning supplies up high.”

You got your first tooth 6/26/09 the day Daddy arrived to our new home.

You have been adored by many since we’ve been here - your Grandparents and Great Aunts and Uncles have loved on you.

You are beginning to enjoy having me read you books. Your hair is getting thicker and blonder, although it is still a light reddish brown with blonde highlights.

You are still nursing in the morning when you wake up, but seem to have weaned yourself from nursing at other times of the day - as you prefer the bottle at those times. You love to be on the ground crawling around, rather than strapped down.

You’re such a terrific little eater for mommy! You refuse all baby food, and love strawberries, bread, cereal, bananas, crackers and pretty much anything that we offer you. Love you baby girl! I can’t believe tomorrow you are going to be 10 months old - the time has just flown by!!!

Our new home

7/9/09
Clay Clay the Wonder Boy,

Well buddy, we have moved into our new home. The first two weeks were just you, Gracie, and I. We sure missed Daddy until he finishes work and gets to our new home. It is about a 5 hour drive.


You love your new Geotrax train we have set up in the sunroom and have played hours and hours out there. Your little sister is like baby Tarzan on the train tracks, but you let her play beside you anyway. I think you like her company. The two of you sit and scream at one another back and forth - happy loud squeals. You are so sweet with Gracie.

The other day she was crying and you went up to her and asked “What’s wrong Gracie?” in a very concerned voice. Another time she had wedged herself between the wall and a chair and you asked, “What’s wrong Gracie? Are you stuck? I’ll help you.”

The day we moved in you slept in your big boy bed for the first time. You asked me many times “I snuggle you mommy,” and I crammed my large adult self into your little toddler bed and cuddled you until you fell fast asleep. You love to have your Thomas the Train nightlight and Fish turning light on while you go to sleep. Often, in the mornings, I hear you playing for an hour or so before you ask to come out of your room. You are getting to be such an independent little guy!

We are working on Potty Training, but have not had much success yet. You are sometimes willing to sit on the potty and have earned about 8 stickers on your chart since we moved in for sitting on the potty - but no pee pee in the potty yet. We’ll keep working on it.


You are so adorable the way you are starting to memorize our meal time prayer and bed time prayer - hearing you pray in your tiny innocent little voice is so beautiful. I love you bud! Good night little super hero.

A mobile Gracie

Grace,

Poppycame into town this weekend to help us pack up for our big move. You have started crawling!!!

Lil' Miss Hollywood

5/8/09

Gracie,

You are 8 months old today beautiful baby girl! You were adorned in a watermelon dress today of green and pink gingham. We went to a Mininite/Amish community for lunch to celebrate Mother’s Day for Nahna and Great Grandma. Everyone fussed over how precious you were - even strangers! You had a bonnet on that matched your dress and the cutest little round pink and blue pok-a-dot sunglasses. You looked like Lil Miss Hollywood Baby!

You were so sweet and cuddly, as always. . . But a little more fussy than usual - which makes me wonder if your ear infection is still bothering you. Or maybe you are trying to get your first teeth to push through your gums and it hurts? Either way, I hate that you are uncomfortable.

You cried for a few minutes when I put you in your crib to sleep tonight - so I got you up a few times and nursed you a little more and rocked you, but each time I put you back in your crib you cried your “I’m tired” cry. I rubbed your back a little and then left. Your cries finally subsided after about 3 minutes and you fell fast asleep. Love you sleeping angel!

Amish Community Trip

5/8/09
Clayton, today we went to a little Mininite/Amish community for a Mother’s Day lunch with Grandma G. The Amish rode their horse and buggy to town and I had fun pointing out to you “look Clayton, a horse” and you would repeat back to me “ A Hose!” excitedly. We went into a little general store and you latched on to a John Deer tractor, combine, and farmyard set and had to have it. Your Papa R. bought it for you. You carried it out of the store proudly and across the street to our car. Once we were in the car you started requesting “Open It Open It”, after I directed you to say “Open It Please Mommy” then I opened it out of the packaging. You were delighted. After we were in the car for a little while, you fell asleep soundly, with a little tractor tucked in your palm.
Tonight while I was reading you books you kept kissing me and saying “love you Mommy” - - - melted my heart! It is for moments like those, that I feel so very blessed to be your mother.

Shots and Late Nights - do not mix!

4/17/09

My little Grace,

We went to your six month doctor check up today (even though you are now seven months). You continue to be our perfect little angel. You are healthy and happy. You have ingrown toenails on your big toe, but the doctor said not to worry about them. You received 2 shots today, one in each leg. And one oral vaccine. You were in such distress when the pain of the shots hit you that your entire face was red and you were holding your breath, and a few seconds later a giant wail followed. It was the saddest, most helpless cry Mommy has ever heard from you. It broke my heart.

You have been a little fussy since your shots, so we gave you some Tylenol. I don’t think it has helped matters that we have gone on a weekend trip to see Mommy’s friend from high school. We are staying in a hotel. We didn’t get you to bed properly until about midnight. Poor baby, please forgive Mama. I love you darling.

Mommy's Strollerfit Class

4/17/09
Dearest Clayton,
You were such a good little man today. You woke up smiling and happy for the second day in a row. We dressed you and diapered you, and you ate your breakfast nicely. Then, we went to Strollerfit, where you loved running on the tennis court outside with me - yes it was finally a nice enough day to have Stroller fit (Mommy’s exercise class) outside.You told me during Strollerfit that you had to go potty. This is the first time you have ever told me this! I was so excited and proud of you. You held my hand and we walked into the Community Center and you sat on the potty.Wow Buddy! I’m so proud. You did not actually go potty on the toilet, you had already pooped in your diaper, but you flushed the toilet and washed your hands. You asked to go one more time before stroller fit was over, and several more times throughout the day. What a big day - and maybe the start to a potty trained Clayton!

Easter Sunday Bonnet

4/12/09

Sweet Grace,

You were such a little princess on Easter Sunday. We dressed you up and took you to church. You were all dolled up in your pink Easter bonnet with white ribbons. Your dress was pink silk at the top with a G embroidered on it, for your name, Grace. The bottom was layers of puffy tulle with pink flower petals inside. You wore pink tights and black patent leather shoes. You were such a beautiful baby, sweetheart.

The Easter bunny found you on your first Easter. You got a little talking stuffed froggy and a spinning toy that you push the top down on and all the ladybugs inside twirl around. You also got a pink dolly, and you are so sweet when you look at her and touch her. You fell asleep cuddled up with her today in the grocery store. . . You were a sight to see, so darling.

You gave me a little scare last night as you woke up coughing and laboring to breathe. I gave you a nebulizer treatment and rocked you back to sleep - this morning you had a slight fever, but by this evening you seemed to have shaken it.

Easter

4/12/09
Clayton - you were dressed up and looking very dapper this Easter in your Sear sucker suit, the same one you wore last Easter. You enjoyed the backyard Easter egg hunt. Your eyes lit up when you discovered four large eggs with Thomas the Train characters James and Spencer, and Jay Jay and the Jet Plane characters Big Jake, Tracy, Herky and Jay Jay. On Easter Sunday we went to church, and you got a basket from the Easter Bunny. Inside your basket you had Jay Jay books, and some small toys. Then, we went over to Daddy’s friend Dan S.’s house for an Easter Dinner. You have always loved reading bedtime stories, but your favorite story has changed.
You first loved Pat the Bunny, then Goodnight Moon, the Thomas and the Big Big Bridge, and your current favorite is The Little Engine that Could. The Little Engine that Could was Mommy’s favorite book too, along with Green Eggs and Ham. I feel so much warmth and joy when you curl your little body up on my lap to cuddle, and ask me to read to you. It is always sad when you ask for another and I have to say, “No, it is time for bed now.” I love you so much little angel boy!

We want to keep the toe doc, and get rid of the Croup!

4/8/09

Gracie Dear,

You are 7 months old today my love. Gosh you are so sweet! You woke up at about 5:30am and I fed you and put you back in your crib. I wanted to keep you in bed with me and cuddle up with you, but there are so many warnings about SIDS, that I wouldn’t want to put you in any danger . . . So back in your own crib you went. You woke up to Clayton and I peering in your crib at 8am. You were all big eyes and smiles.

You were a real trooper in your car seat as we went to Big brother’s Gym class. I got you out and held you in the baby Bjorn carrier for a while - but you are just getting so heavy, so I had to set you back in your car seat. Everyone, both the little children and the adults thought you were so sweet the way you gave them all a big huge smile when they talked to you.

We came back and you ate your sweet potatoes and granola/blueberry baby food so quickly! You are such a big eater! You have such a tiny nose it is hard to get all the food out of your teeny tiny nostrils. You rolled around on the floor and played with toys as I read books to put Clayton down for a nap. Then, I breast fed you and you fell sweetly to sleep in your pretty little purple Easter Bunny outfit. I bought some new bows to put in your fine little hair today. You are just so cute sweetie!

I was thinking of your little toe injury. Mommy substitute taught one day and you went to the church daycare at the church I was teaching in. When I picked you up at the end of the day one of the daycare provider’s children, Madeline, informed me that she took your sock off to look at your cute baby feet and noticed that your toe looked funny. I took you home, somewhat worried, but thinking it was fine. Well, the indention on your little toe got a lot darker and started to bleed. When Daddy got home we took you to Children’s Clinic, and the doctor had to dig into your toe with a scalpel to remove the white thread that had wrapped itself around your little toe. You screamed so loudly and blood splurted out. It was so hard for me to see you so upset. The doctor said that sometimes babies can lose their toes, so we were so thankful that yours healed up just a few days later. You sure did give us a good scare!

Another scare you gave us was when you had trouble breathing. We took you to the doctor and they thought that you had Croup. We went home and became very alarmed during the night when you were struggling and laboring to breathe. We turned on the shower for the hot steam, but that was not bringing much life back into your limp and exhausted little body. You were fully conscious the entire time, but we were so worried. It was the first and last time I can remember that we couldn’t get you to smile when we tried to. We went to Children’s Hospital Emergency room and they gave you a breathing treatment and sent us home with a nebuelizer which we used every four hours on you for the next several days. The breathing mask was made to look like a little dinosaur, which was cute. Usually you cried and struggled to get out from under the mask, once in a while you finally fell asleep.

Up and Down and Up Again

4/8/09
Clayton - Hi buddy! We woke up at 8am today. You were crying in your bed “mommy, mommy . . . I want out!” I went to get you and you told me that you wanted to watch Thomas the Tan Engine on T.V. I told you that we needed to get dressed and eat breakfast.

You weren’t happy about not getting to watch Thomas, so you kicked and struggled with me as I dressed you. As I changed your diaper you kicked your feet at me. I told you to stop kicking twice, and the third time I told you “Stop kicking Mommy, or I’ll have to spank you”. That bought me just enough time to get your diaper fastened. We finally did get you dressed.

Together we went in and woke up your sister, she looked up at us smiling. You wanted to lay inside her crib with her, so I picked you up and put you in her crib with her. You gave her a great big hug and kiss, and pushed the button that played her mobile. I am so proud of what a sweet big brother you are!

You started demanding Thomas again, and I did not give in. I so want to let you do whatever you want so that you are happy, but I don’t want to let you zone out on TV, I think it is bad for your health. So, instead we came downstairs and made a foam caterpillar craft. You were very mad and became hysterical that the little circles were glued together and wanted them apart again. I did not let you tear up your craft, as you often do. Instead I put it up on the table and gave you a time out to calm down and talk nicely. When I let you out of time out, you went back for the caterpillar to tear it up. I then put you in your room where you finished your tantrum and then started reading your books and playing with your toys.

When I came up to get you so that we could go bye bye to your MY GYM class, you wanted me to read to you a book - The Little Engine that Could. It was my favorite book when I was little too, so I was glad to read it to you. Then, I carried you downstairs. You did not want to put on your shoes or your coat, so I wrestled them onto you. . . As we were out of time for time outs and they don’t seem to be working effectively. As I picked you up to carry you out to the car you screamed for Herkie, your toy helicopter. I gave him to you and buckled you into your carseat. Once I got your sister in the car, we were off to MY GYM - your play class.


We got there and you sat with me for a second in the circle of Moms, Dads, Teachers, and other kids your age. You did not want to sit in my lap, or participate in the activities. You jumped out of my lap and ran away the first chance you had. One of the teachers scooped you up and brought you back to me. I continued to do the actions to the songs, and you started again to struggle to get away. You finally did get away and I got up to go and get you. You sure ran fast bud! You enjoyed the independent play time. When it was time to pick up, you did not want to join in with the other kids in helping pick up. You wanted to run around. When it was time to go, we had to put your shoes and socks back on. You screamed about it, saying you wanted to play with the trucks. I wasn’t sure which trucks you were screaming about. You had two time outs for screaming and then we did get your shoes on you. You walked nicely out to the car and I put you in your car seat. You started arching your back and screaming you didn’t want it, referring to your car seat. I did get you buckled in and we ran a quick errand at Target.


When we got home you ate bread and butter for lunch - you were also served chicken nuggets, peas, and carrots, but didn’t want them. You were so cute in your high chair driving your Car around and making up a story out loud as you slowly picked at your bread. You screamed and demanded a second piece of bread and butter, which I got for you - as it seems you don’t eat much and I’m happy to feed you anything nutritious you will eat. We went upstairs and you started screaming “McQueen” then name of your race car that you were playing with while you ate. We had to come back downstairs to look for him, as you were very upset, but we couldn’t find him anywhere.

I carried you back upstairs and changed your diaper. The kicking pattern returned during your diaper change. I got you diapered and we read two books as I rocked you. Reading books to you and rocking you is my favorite time with you. You are so sweet the way you gather 2 or 3 of your favorite toys and we get your blanket and you snuggle in. After we read your books, we sang Lullabye and Goodnight together, and I put you in your crib and told you night night. I could hear you playing with your toys for a few minutes and then you fell asleep.

Keep The Yuck-tables Mommy!

3/31/09 -
Lil' Grace,
I had to trick you into eating your green beans this morning since you have decided, at 6 months old, that you do not eat green vegetable baby food. I had to lace the green beans with your preferred prunes. As long as I mixed the two together, you ate the green beans. You are too cute sweetie.

I think you have cradle cap, a dry scalp. I tried to exfoliate it by scrubbing your head last night at bath time with my fingers. Then, I put baby oil on your head, so today your hair looks very greasy.

You smiled at Clayton and I this morning when we were dancing around you to music. Right now you are taking a sweet nap on the living room floor.

Toddler TV obsession

3/31/09 Dear Clay Clay the Wonder Boy,
We danced to music today and played soccer in the living room. You have been very persistent about watching your Jay Jay and the Jet Plane on TV. I do not want you to watch too much TV, because I think it is bad for you. You sure try mommy’s patience with your crying and screaming when I don’t let you watch TV or turn it off after you have watched for ½ hour to an hour. We were successful at diverting your attention by playing with car and train toys, dancing to music, and our art project for the day. We made a foam photo album with pictures of your loved family members inside. We put baseball, soccer ball, football, and basketball stickers all over the cover, as well as a sticker of your favorite fish and animal on each page. We tried to do some coloring, but you weren’t very interested. I spun you around as we danced to music, and your eyes lit up and you giggled out loud. You wouldn’t eat your lunch, and became very fussy. I had to put you in your crib for a nap crying. You quickly fell asleep.

A day of Applesauce and Allergy Tests

3/30/09 -
My sweet Grace,
Today you woke up smiling. You’re such a content baby. You had applesauce for breakfast, I held you in my lap as I fed you. You’re nursing right now, and I am noticing that your little scalp is flaky - probably from dry skin. Your hair is a light brownish red.

Mommy had to have allergy testing done - 108 shots in the left upper arm. You cried through the entire procedure, even though it was Mommy getting the shots, and Mommy had to hold you in her right arm.

Blue footie PJ's and Shopping Trip

3/30/09 Dear Clayton,
Today you woke up in your blue footie pj’s. You came down for breakfast and ate your cereal bar and Golden Grahams. Then you asked for a pear. You are simply adorable and I can’t believe what a little boy you have turned into. Your little eyes sparkle when you get excited. At your insistence you watched Jay jay and the Jet Plane on T.V. There are men here working on the basement of the house, putting in a drainage system. You are very excited about their work trucks - just like you were when we got a new roof. “Big Trucks” you say as you stare out the window with wide eyes and excitement in your voice. Later today we went to the park. You buried your tiny plastic plane over and over in the sand. You also love climbing up the bars, and going down the slide.

We went to Hobby Lobby today and you threw a fit because you wanted an overpriced Thomas coloring book and I said no. Then you pooped. . . Which made us the poopey screaming kid and his mommy in the store everyone was staring at. Mommy still loved you even though you caused quite a scene.