Lent

This year I am making my Lenten penance/fasting/almsgiving public. Why? Because I want accountability! Not only with the Lord, but with my friends and family. A few weeks ago I started a morning workout class entitled "Amazing Life" by Body & Soul Fitness. We begin each session (at 5:30am) with a scripture reading, a lesson, and then a prayer. All of our workout is done to contemporary Christian music. I LOVE IT. It has really brought me to see life in a new perspective. I do have an Amazing Life.

This leads me to Lent.... this year I am going to pray every day, and try my absolute hardest, to not complain. Yes.... me. No complaining. I'm serious! I really feel as if this will be a challenge for me, but I am ready to take it on with help from prayer. When I get up at 5am to go to my workout class I think "man, this is early!", but hey... I got up this morning! God decided to continue my lease on life! I have two beautiful children and an amazing husband. I have a roof over my head and food on my table. We have clean clothes and running water. Little things like that may not seem important - but to those that do not have those luxuries.... wow.

So, please remind me if you hear me slipping.... no complaining! Be thankful in all things!

For another perspective: http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/11/patti-armstrong-be-thankful-in-all-things/

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Clayton at 22 Months!

Oh my goodness, we are getting so close to my baby boy being 2 years old! Cue Mommy cry-fest! =( He is growing up so fast and getting smarter and cuter by the day - if that is possible! Here are some highlights (or lowlights, ha!) from the past month!

- Knows these shapes: Triangle, Heart, Square, Circle (little harder on the circle)
- Knows these colors: Purple, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Black, Pink (So, pretty much all of them!)
- Speaks in full sentences all of the time and for the most part we understand everything, or most of what he says!
- Loves to wrestle with Sister, but tends to bite when he gets really excited.
- Already got one of the 2 year molars in! Has all the rest of his teeth besides the remaining 3!
- Knows his name is Clayton "Kaykon" and Sister's name is "Reagan E!" haha, it's too cute!
- Sings these songs in addition to the others: Jesus Loves Me, Mary Had a Little Lamb, the Go-Go song
- Now obsessed with his Reveille pillow, Angry Birds blanket, and Go-Go (Cat in the hat) stuffed animal and must have them with him to sleep at night or get ready for bed. Sometimes wants to drag them downstairs when he wakes up. But, he will sleep without them - such as at daycare!
- Will tell you whether he'd rather sit in a big boy chair or the highchair for meals
- Wants to read the Goodnight Aggieland book every night before bed, THEN the Pooh bear book. He even "reads" the Pooh bear book himself!
- Doesn't want to take a bath without Reagan in there too!
- New phrase: "Oh my gosh!" haha!
- Favorite word, still: "Nooooo"
- Went to Nana's house in California and was scared of the animals, haha. But did feed Laddie, her stallion, carrots on the last day and Leroy, the goat, some bread!
- Loves to color!!!
- Can do matching games where he matches a picture on the screen to a picture on a card!
- Still wearing all of the same clothes and shoes! Woo hoo - cheaper bills! ;-)

Love my sweet boy. Even if he is a little toot sometimes! He definitely knows how to express himself and is not lacking in the personality department! We just love him to pieces!

Nine Months!

(Pictures to come!)

Happy Nine Month Birthday, Reagan E!

Mommy gets a big F this month for not posting your birthday report until now. Next month I promise to get an A! ;-) We've just been so busy trying to get you and your brother healthy lately that time has just seriously flown by! We are ready for warmer weather and are hoping that will bring some healthier kiddos!

This month you really took off in your developments! You started cruising along the furniture and hardly ever just stay in one place, whether that is walking along something, or crawling! You follow your brother wherever he goes and can almost keep up with how quickly he changes from toy to toy! ;-) You also started walking behind a push toy this month! You don't like it too much because your arms get ahead of your legs, but you do alright! I'm sure this next month you'll really get the hang of it!

Verbally you started repeating bye-bye and waving!!!! We were so proud of you! You say "bu-bu" but wave at the same time, so we know what you mean! You also started giving us open mouth kisses this month! They are so sweet, but so slobbery! haha!

You still hate your carseat. This makes Mommy & Daddy very sad! We even changed you to a different one thinking that the new one we bought you was uncomfortable. Nope... no change! You do fine as long as it is not long distances, or if you can just take a nap. You also hate when we get your PJ's on after a bath. I guess we are just not quick enough and you are too cold! Once we are done you quit crying instantly! Too funny!

You and your brother have so much fun together and we love watching you day to day. His new favorite thing is to wrestle with you. We've had to get on to him a few times for being too rough, and one day he even bit you! Your first bite! =( He felt really bad afterwards though. We know it was just play but we still had to scold him!

Gia nicknamed you her Mona Lisa because you always have this little smirk on your face. You're a happy girl and we love your big smiles too, but your little grin is just adorable! When you and brother are playing you make this cackling laugh that is too funny!!! You have a pretty deep voice so Pop calls you Kathleen Turner.... you'll learn all about these two references later in life! hehe!

Pretty much since the day you were born you've been teething, haha, and your two top teeth have still not come in. Some days are worse than others where the drool just pours out of your mouth. Lovely, huh? We keep bibs on you if we want to make sure your outfit stays nice and dry! Hopefully they'll come in soon and you can be relieved of the pain for a while!

You still only get to eat the Stage 2 Gerber baby foods since you can't tolerate any real solid foods. You eat nearly a whole jar or cup each time! Your favorite is pears. You take a bottle of 6 ounces every 4 hours during the day as well. Sometimes you go a little longer if you had a lot of food, but we need to fatten you up anyway so we don't mind feeding you!

Speaking of - at your 9 month appointment your stats had dropped off significantly. Your doctor said it could be from the throwing up, or it could be the way you grow. You only weighed 17lbs 3oz and were 26" long. You went from the 42% in weight to the 22%, and the 43% in height to the 13%. Your head went from 25% to 12%! You just shrank right up! We are hoping everything will work itself out but we don't know yet - you're still puking! More to come on that in your next monthly letter!

You still wear 6-9mo clothes and are now a size 3 diaper. Shoes - ha - not sure! ;-) We don't ever put you in shoes. Those are just pointless for babies! You still get up once a night at least, sometimes more... but other times you sleep all night. It's random! We feed you though when you wake since you are still so tiny. Need to fatten you up!

You are so precious and we love you so much. It kills us to see you struggle with your tummy, or whatever the issue may be. We are working on it, I promise! We love you, sister girl! Happy Birthday!!!!

Love,
Mommy