One year ago...

July 16, 2010 - I woke up at my Aunt's house in New York and decided that I really wanted to see if our round of clomid had worked. So, I went to the bathroom before anyone was awake and took my pregnancy test. MUCH to my shock it came back positive!!!!! After countless negative pregnancy tests I was finally staring back at a positive. Wow!

I think it's awesome that my one year ago story just so happens to coincide with the "Show us your life" on Kelly's Corner! Here is our story of how I shared the wonderful news!

The first person that I told was of course my husband. All throughout our TTC I would almost always take the pregnancy test and we would read the results together. Sometimes I would take the test by myself, but my husband was always in the near vicinity. We had grand visions of it being a really sweet and romantic time, but after taking so many dang pregnancy tests the "glamour" of it all seemed to slip away. Regardless, after taking this test I couldn't get to my husband fast enough to tell him the news! It was still really early in the morning but I went into our room and woke him up by telling him "Hunny... wake up... LOOK!". He groggily opened his eyes and soon after opening them wide enough to read the pregnancy test that was now shoved in his face, he got really excited and helped share my joy!

The first person that we told was my mom. I had to call her. She knew I was going to be testing and so I called her right away. I forgot the time change between New York and California though.. oops.. so it was a little early in the morning but she was excited none the less! The second person we told was my best friend Cristina. She also knew we were testing and when she texted me and asked I just couldn't keep it from her! Cristina even helped by telling me to take another test right then to really solidify if it was true. Sure enough, test number two came back a quick positive!

We decided that we would share the news with the rest of our family members in a more special way. We bought picture frames that said "A grandchild is a gift from above, one to cherish and to love". We took out the fake picture and wrote on the back "Photo to arrive somewhere around March 27, 2011. Love, Kristen, Darren, and BABY Hillger". We then wrapped up the frames and left one for my dad in San Antonio, then took the other back with us to Garden City (we came home from New York a day before my dad, making that possible). Giving the photo frame was so much fun. When Darren's parents opened it his mom busted out crying. When my dad opened his he called and introduced himself as Gramps on the phone, haha.

Telling our siblings was not as exciting because they all live in different places, and none are near us. We called all of them and told them the news. Of course they were all excited to be uncles/aunts!

We decided that we were ok with telling the facebook world before our first trimester was over, so we waited until after our first doctor's appointment. Once we had the ultrasound and saw that all was healthy, we took the pictures and posted them on facebook. We were overwhelmed with the response from all of our friends!

I still remember July 16, 2010 like it was yesterday. Our lives changed that day and we have been the happiest people in the world ever since! We love our son so much, and he is such a blessing!!!!

A "calling" of sorts

This past month or two my nearly entire family on the Hillger side has passed around and read Heaven is for real. If you haven't read it, I definitely suggest it! I don't know if it was reading the book, trying to prepare myself better for being a CCD teacher, or just a "calling" from God, but... I have decided that I really want to read the entire Bible. All one bazillion pages! ;-) I am experiencing a strong desire to read and understand all of the stories. I feel as if I am a good Christian, but I know there is always more that I can do to strengthen my faith and further increase my relationship with God. I'm excited about this new goal. I've ALWAYS been a goal-driven individual. Now, here's just another thing to add to my plate! (Not like I had sooo much free time or anything! ha! For instance it's 11pm and I just got little boy to bed, and should be sleeping myself!). I've been trying to find the perfect version to read, because I do not think I'd make it through the Catholic bible that I have. It's too hard to read on a daily basis. I've found two options that I like, but I'm still not sure. Any suggestions would be very appreciated! 

Wish me luck on my new journey! I can't wait! =)

On a ROLL!!

13 weeks 6 days old, and Clayton rolled from back to front! I'm so proud of him! He uses all leg and stomach muscles, so it's pretty entertaining! The first day he rolled over, he rolled a total of 13 times! We're not bragging or anything, but we think he's amazing! We were so impressed when at 12 weeks he rolled from front to back, but he since then quit. However, now apparently he has moved on to bigger and better tricks! ;-) hehe...

Now you can't leave him anywhere on his back without him rolling over. To make matters more interesting, he doesn't like being on his tummy that much... so as to why he constantly rolls over, we're not sure! ;-) I was able to get a bit of video today of him rolling! He's so cute! Just flips right over!

Three Months!

Happy Three Month Birthday, Clayton Scott!

You are still changing and growing daily, and amazing everyone around you. This month has been a fun month as you experienced more firsts and you really starting interacting with us. No more sleeping baby! You like to be awake and alert so that you don't miss anything!

One major first was that you rolled over for the first time at exactly 12 weeks old! Nana and Auntie K were babysitting you at the house and Auntie K witnessed you roll over from your belly to your back. They thought you had done it before so didn't make a big deal about it. When they told Mommy and Daddy we couldn't believe it! At 12 weeks and 3 days you rolled over 4 times though so that Mommy and Daddy could watch, and of course, video tape it! You try to roll over from your back to your front, which is a really big development, but you just aren't quite there yet! With assistance, such as holding on to our finger, you can flip yourself over! You are so strong!

You love to sit up and look around at the world. You no longer want to be held "like a baby" in the cradle hold because you'd rather be able to see what's going on! This makes Mommy sad because you're growing up tooooo fast! You sit up really well when we're holding you and can sit in your bumbo seat. For some reason though you don't like the bumbo too much... we'll see how it goes as you get bigger and stronger. Sometimes you even try to sit up while in your bouncer, silly boy!

You still come to work with us, and you spend all day playing on your activity mat, playing in your bouncer, or being passed around between Pop and Gia. Everyone loves having you at the office every day, even if you distract us a little bit. You're so easy though! Since you never cry it is like you're hardly there!

This whole month you really became stronger and you hold your head up so high when you're having tummy time. You hardly ever lay it down now. You prop yourself up on your elbows and arch your back. You also recently started to really understand the concept of eye-hand coordination. You will look at an object and then move your hands towards it and try to grab it. So far you only hit the object, unless it's small enough for you to grasp. Most toys are still too big, but your links and any pull chains on toys are the perfect size for your tiny fingers to wrap around! You LOVE holding on to things! Right now you are sleeping in your bouncer and you still have a firm grasp on your links! ;-)

This past weekend, right around 12 weeks, we noticed that you were showing signs of teething. You were drooling a lot more and you had your hands in your mouth constantly!!! You weren't fussy though, because, seriously, you are never fussy. Nana stuck her finger in your mouth one day and - what do you know - you had a tooth coming in already! It is one of your bottom incisors, which is a strange tooth to be poking out so soon.. haha. Gia thinks it will go back down some and let the normal first teeth start to come in. This whole week you've still had your hands in your mouth non-stop, but luckily you're still not sucking your thumb. Mommy is pretty lenient with the paci though!

Getting so big!

We are finally getting you into a sort-of routine. You surprised us and slept through the night at 12 weeks, but this past week you gave up on us. Darn!! ;-) You are however sleeping from about 11 until 5am, so that gives Mommy a little bit of a break! We were hoping that you'd continue to sleep through the night so that we could finally move you to your nursery. Oh well! It will happen soon!

Last development is that you are starting to really, almost, giggle!!! Today was the closest that we have heard! You were "giggling" at Pop, of course! ;-) You think he's sooo silly! We are still waiting for you to just bust out laughing or giggling. You are getting so close! We might could count today as your first giggles... but Mommy didn't get it on video, haha, so we'll see!

Now for some "firsts" that aren't classified in the books as any major development, but we were excited about them! You had your first out of state trip! We traveled to Ruidoso, New Mexico for Colby & Cameron's wedding and the Frerich family reunion. It was so much fun and you were SUCH a good baby! You were passed around from person to person and you thought nothing of it! You even were so good in the carseat - the whole 6 hour drive! You definitely impressed everyone and were the cutest baby there!

Mr. Model, hehe...

We also had your first St. Lawrence shin-dig, which was the Halfmann's wedding anniversary, and you took your first trip to Opa's Olive Garden! Haha! Us Farrington's are Olive Garden lovers! Opa loved getting to show you off to everyone at his work! Lastly, you helped celebrate your Daddy's first Father's Day! It was such a wonderful day! You spoiled him (ok, Mommy may have helped!) and he really loved hanging out with you all day! You make us so happy!

You are definitely a water baby! You love swimming! Well, you love being dipped in the water! We took you swimming in Ruidoso and have been to Nancy & Mike's house to swim. Speaking of water.... you were baptized this month! You were the BEST baby during a baptism I think the church has ever seen! You didn't cry at all! Mommy and Daddy were so impressed by you! We were so happy to see you begin your life in the church and can't wait to teach you all about God and how wonderful He is!

Some random fun facts are that you now will always turn your head and look at us when we're talking to you. If someone new comes up and starts talking then you will turn your head to look at them! Also, Nana told you "Where's Daddy" and I promise you... you turned your head and looked at Daddy! We were so impressed! It may have been a fluke, but we know you're a genius! ;-)

Size facts! You're still wearing size 0-3 clothing, but are starting to outgrow some of them. Most onesies still fit but some shorts are getting tight! Your PJ's are almost too short, but not quite yet! You're eating 5-6 ounces every feeding, so you are definitely a growing boy! You are still wearing a size 1 diaper, but they are also almost too small. Mommy needs to buy you the next size up and try them out! You're just the perfect baby size-wise, aren't you?! =) Mommy weighed you today at home and you were about 13 pounds, but the scale isn't quite accurate when we weigh you by weighing Mommy and you, and then just Mommy! hehe..

We still cannot believe that you are here, and that you are our son. We are so incredibly blessed to have you in our lives. You are the perfect baby! Too perfect! I know there must be pay-back eventually! ;-) Maybe when you get a sibling they will be tough to handle! We love you so much. You are our whole world!

Love,
Mommy