Happy Birthday Clayton!

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Dear Potato,

It seems like daddy and I have lost a whole year. How did time fly by so fast? I have been an emotional wreck today!

After I shot the photos below all three of us sat at the dining room table to have a piece of your cake. We sang Happy Birthday and I swear I saw tears in your eyes. I am not sure why because you had a smile on your face. I told myself it was because you feel so special. Mommy cried while cutting your cake, while daddy looked at me in fear. ;-)! Hell I cry as I write to you.

Each month I list all of your accomplishments and well this month you have definetly grown. I will make note of them all in a later post.

It feels like I am flashing back and remembering the morning we ran to the hospital. Sunday, November 2, 2008 daddy and I were lying in bed being lazy. You were a few days overdue and I was so exhausted. Daddy leaned over and laid his head on my belly. He figured he would have the first man to man talk. It went a little like this:

Daddy: "Son it's time to come out! You need to come and see us today."

Potato: You kicked the freaking crap out of me. We heard a loud pop.

Mommy: I ran to the bathroom because I had to pee. Well after about 6 wardrobe changes because I kept peeing on myself we realized that you had busted the water bag.

The rest doesn't matter until I saw your beautiful face and kissed that nose. You were all daddy and I had ever hoped and wished for in our lives. We thank God each day for adding your to our family.

I hope you had a great birthday baby.

Love Mommy and Daddy!

Happy Belated 23 Month Birthday Potato!

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Dear Potato,

I am such a bad Mommy. It was your 23 month birthday three days ago and I am just now getting this posted. I am sorry! In my defense we were all in Enon, La at your Auntie Peggy's and Uncle Greg's camp for the weekend. You had an incredible 23 month birthday!

You are becoming such a big boy and really taking on the terrible twos like it was your destiny. LOL. I wish I were kidding. I always said that I wouldn't be the parent with the child that threw themselves on the ground when something did not go their way. Wrong.I.Was. You really love to push your limits and it's more with me than with daddy. I guess you I don't make it too hard since I have a much softer approach than daddy. Even though he is more stern you seem to gravitate towards him in every aspect. I love watching the bond form between you and your daddy. He loves you so much and is very proud of you and you accomplishments.

I know now that Mr Pediatrician was not kidding when he said that your vocabulary would grow exponentially when you hit 18 months. I just still can't believe all of the things you have picked up over the past month.

You were not much of a bully at school this month but still have a few issues with keeping your hands to yourself. The teachers say that you are a really laid back child and that you do your own thing all day. When I come to pick you up in the afternoon you start talking when apparently they don't hear you all day. I guess that is a good thing and that is probably one of the reasons they adore you!

I am slowly/reluctantly preparing for your 2nd birthday party. It will be a big deal of course.....you are a big deal....to a TON of people. I can't giveaway all of my surprises just yet so you will have to read your two year post.

I am proud to say you are starting to form short sentences. "Where is Daddy?" is one you ask a lot if daddy is not in view. My favorite has to be when I passed gas and you looked at me in shock and told me "Mommy you Poo Pooed!" I died laughing!

We now have to take our ball play time outside because you have a pitchers arm and almost break Mommy's pretties! Okay so to make a list of the things you have done this month!

Words:

Eldafant - Elephant

Pweeze, Tantou, Wecome- you are a champ with these

Cawtoons- You love to watch cartoons even though I only let you watch the learning cartoons so far. I guess I am just not ready for Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, and well Sponge Bob may never happen lol.

Color Words

We are working on:

Colors ABC's- you were actually trying to sing along this morning

Learning our animals. You think that if it swims in the water its a fish and if it lives on land and its not a dog, cat, or bird then it must bean elephant.

Tantrums--not having much luck here since you don't see me as much of a threat. You have also mastered rolling your eyes and well after I laugh(while not looking at you) I fuss and tell you that's not nice.

I know I am leaving out a lot but there is just way to much to remember.Daddy and I love you dearly and can't wait to celebrate completion of another year with our big boy! Love daddy and Mommy!

Happy 22nd Month Birthday!

Sweet Potato!

Mommy and Daddy want to wish you a Happy 22 Month Birthday baby! We love you so much!

I still remember seeing you for the first time and all I wanted to do was kiss your face and give you a hug. While you were in Mommy's belly you madeit a point to try and break my ribs. I guess there was not enough room in there. I do miss feeling your little kicks and tumbles. I miss having you with me everywhere.

Now you are a big boy doing beautifully at day-care.You have tons of friends that run to see you every morning giving you hugsand kisses (causing sickness but hey!)

This month we think you found your terrible two belt and have strapped iton super tight. I still can't believe it each time I see you roll your eyesor hear you sigh. I am sorry you have a rough life lol! Where did my innocent little boy go? Although you have established a little of your own dominance in the house each day without fail you are cuddling with Mommy on the couch. It's as if a little timer goes off in your head at 6:30 p.m. and all play stops and you are searching for my lap. I LOVE it!

We are going to be starting or at least a little more actively doing some cooking together. I want you to be involved in what we do and you love to help. You are pro at putting clothes in the dryer.

When we ask you what the doggy says you say "ruff ruff", cow- "MOOOO",bird-"feet" "feet." The last one is my favorite! Daddy and I want to say that we love you and thank you for all the joy and laughter you bring to our lives.

Shoe size: 7.5
Shirt: 3T
Shorts: 2T-3T

Words:
Ug - Hug
Peeze - Please
TahTou - Thank you
FOOD - Food (you scream it!)
Teeh - Teeth
Ya Face - "Yah Face!" (while taking your pudgy finger and circling it inthe air!) I have video of this!
Door
Coluur- Color

Actions:

Rolling your eyes
Riding your bike and trying to use the peddles
Swimming like a champ
You throw things in the trash or put dishes in the sink when we ask.
Clean up your toys and do chores around the house. (your version of course)
Brush your teeth.
Potty Training--working on that.
Actively trying to read your books and signs that we see saying "EEEE..OOO"
Getting snacks out of the pantry.

Issues:

Bully at school - that has stopped though....for the moment
Stealing snack at school---(they have to give you extra)
You try and throw tantrums only to find out that it does not fly with us.

Firsts:

Playing in sandSpent the night at Aunt Sammy's and Uncle Chris' (you woke up at 5am and puked.....they still love you!)
Wearing big boy undies

Activities:

Build n Grow - Lowes
Kids Workshop - Home Depot

Happy 21 Months Potato!

Hi Potato!

Happy 21 months baby! I hope you are having a great day at day-care. Mommy enjoys picking you up every afternoon. When I see your big beautiful eyes I feel like my whole body smiles. I can honestly tell you that I feel like all of the stress and pain in my life is gone for just a moment when run across the room and jump in my arms. You are becoming a smooch-a-holic, and I don't want it to stop.

At 6:30 AM you run and get in bed with Mommy and daddy. I LOVE it and daddy does.....as long as you are not kicking him out of bed. I like that you do because it makes my job of getting him out of bed easier. Daddy is not a morning person. I see that you have a little of trait.

One of the biggest milestones you are approaching is potty training. I talked to Maw and she will be getting you big boy potty chair soon. I wanted to start training you sooner but I heard from other mommies that I should wait until you tell me poo-poo and/or pee-pee. Well you have been doing that a lot lately so I guess it is time. I am nervous and excited. I mean NO MORE DIAPERS. I do have a funny little story that I want to write down for memories sake.

This past weekend Mommy and daddy got a new bed. Hoorah! Well you were such a big helper for daddy. You helped daddy hammer and unscrew the bed. Daddy was very proud of you and I say its because of the Build and Grow classes. Anyways...Potato you were walking around the frame and tapping it with the hammer and you decided it pertinent to tap daddy on his shoulder and get his attention. He looked at you and you said "Pooo-Pooo!" (I am laughing as I type.)
After you said that your face turned red and I fell over in a fit of laughter. Daddy, on the other hand, was looking at you like "Thanks son, appreciate that!" I could not compose myself for a while.

Potato you LOVE to say "I wuv wu!" I mean you will scream it all afternoon and you even tell the cats that you love them. I don't think they care for you too much. Who cares!? Last week daddy was not able to take you to school like he normally does so Mommy had too. I don't think you were to happy with that because you walked from room to room calling for your daddy. I thought something was wrong so I ran to see what was up. You were headed up stairs yelling, DADDY, to the top of your lungs. Then you would poke your head in a room and say I wub wu! I have to admit I was pretty jealous.....I thought you were looking for me. Not the case. I knew I had to call daddy and tell him what you were doing so that he could have a beautiful day at work. He was VERY happy and wished he could have been there to hear it for himself.


On a very positive note you are well and staying well. This makes us very happy. We decided to take you off your allergy medicine and only give it to you when we see symptoms. So far, so good! Mr Pediatrician wanted me to tell you that it may be best you break up with the girlfriend you have now and just stick with the twins. Apparently the twins aren't getting you sick. lol!!

We haven't been taking you swimming lately but plan to soon since your ear infection is gone. After each swim session we will have to put a couple drops of swimmers ear solution in your ear and you will be fine.
New Tricks

You can throw a ball far and fast. (maybe a little baseball man in there)
You go down the stairs like a champ.
You ride your tricycle and almost got the peddles down.
You like to spin the ball.
You skype all the time.
Oh I can't leave out the fact that with all the pow-pows your Aunts and Uncles keep getting, you love to shoot everything!
Thumbs up
Counts to 3.

New Words

Cookie
Roll it
Uncle Chris
Buck (lil cousin)
Fish
Bath
Night-Night (can't just say it once!)
Not Nice! (I love it when you tell daddy this!)


I know that I am leaving off so much information. Mommy has a really bad memory so that is why I try and video each second that I can. Daddy and Mommy love you so much sweetie. You are our angel from heaven. We thank God each day that we get to spend our lives together as a family. Hugs!

19 month old Potato

Dear Potato,

For the past 19 months you have made mommy and daddy the happiest we have ever been. We could not have asked for a better baby than you. Clayton you have so many people that adore you it's insane. As you get older your character is becoming more defined as loving, caring, and you all around have a beautiful personality. The happiest part of my day is when I get to leave work and go and pick you up from Butterflies Day-Care. School has molded you into such a big boy. It seems like each day you show us that you have learned something new. The only set back is that you have been constantly sick. Dr Sibley your pediatrician said that you would probably be sick for the first six months. Your immune system is getting stronger and stronger and I really can't wait until all the booger noses stop. We do give you vitamins everyday and try to get you to eat healthy but we can't stop all of the germs. You are starting to be a picky eater but your favorites are lunchables, yoplait yogurts with probiotics, snack packs, cheesy poofs, and of course cheerios. You don't get much junk food but if we are running the roads your favorite is chicken nuggets from Wendy's. You prefer to feed yourself and that really makes more work for me but its suppose to help you learn to do for yourself. You pick up all of your toys and books without anyone telling you and you are pretty much already anal about everything being put away. I really hope this sticks but I am not fooling myself to think you will always be a tidy baby. Your hair grows like a weed and it costs way to much to bring you to the barber so I started cutting your hair. I give daddy a hair cut then its your turn. I am not brave enough to use scissors because you still squirm a little and I would simply die if I cut you. Overall mommies favorite time of day is bath time and reading. Each night after your rediculously long bath you and I snuggle in your bed and read 3 books. Then after I am done you summon daddy for tucking. I apparently don't tuck you in correctly so after I attempt to you start hollaring for daddy to come fix you. He loves it! We love you Potato!

Words:

Shoe: Choo]

Hooray- you usually jump up and down while saying this

A- for the letter a--we are working on the number 1 and getting you to hold up your fat finger

Bad Dog- usually said as one word badog

Doggie-Oggie

Kitty- Kiddie Kiddie

Hi

Bye- Sometimes you say good bye instead of just bye-bye

Bath- You love bath time so its not to far fetched that you learned this word. While take your bathes you like to just lay down and relax in the water. I have never seen a baby just lay there and look like he is pondering life but you do. Sometimes I wonder what you are thinking about.

Daddy, Dada- You are very picky about how you get tucked in so after I read to you daddy is getting summoned by you for tucking. I don't think I have seen him smiling bigger than when he hears you on the monitor for his turn for cuddles and kisses each night.

Hobbies:

Reading

Riding in your coupe

Bubbles-still kinda new but you like it better when daddy does it

Swimming- We have to keep an eye on you because you have no fear and will just dive in the pool. You don't mind going under water and really do try and kick your feet and wiggle your arms. I think you will be a natural swimmer.

Shoot things- I don't care what it is if you can get your hands on it then you point it and say pow-pow. I blame this on your Pap and two Uncles.

Staring at yourself- You still think you are mighty sexy. I don't disagree but I have to clean my mirror almost everyday because you and your Aunt Sammy love to kiss yourselves.

I know that I am leaving out a whole lot but I have Mommy brain and I can't possibly site all of your cuteness. Although I do try. We love you son and can't wait to tell you how much you've grown mentally and physically next month.