29, No Wait, 28!

The day started out as a screamfest. Our little monster woke up at 12:38am, he is going through a growth spurt so I thought maybe he needed a midnight snack. Something else was bothering him so he screamed his sweet little face off until 3:45am. Matt was the one that finally got him back to sleep.

After a 2 hour morning nap to catch up on some lost sleep we packed up and headed to the zoo. We picked up Matt and some Jimmy Johns on the way then enjoyed our lunch in beautiful 72 degree weather.

 

About 2 months ago Matt and I got into a heated argument about my age. He said I was 27 and I got very upset with him for not even knowing how old I am, something about him not knowing me at all and how I bet he doesn't even know when my birthday is. Turns out I don't even know me, I thought I was 28 this whole year, but I was indeed 27. 

Today was the best 29th, NO WAIT, 28th Birthday ever!

 

 The day was sunny and the company was happy. Matt even baked me a cake. And cooked dinner. And did bedtime. And did dishes. And cleaned up baby toys. And let me weedwack!--I'm never allowed to weedwack because I break every weedwacker I touch. It was a great day.

Colie!

 

9 Months

Our Sweet Faced Love Muffin of Destruction turned 9 months old a few days ago. I, being the horribly exhausted mother of a never stopping tornado of smiles and messes, forgot to take a monthly picture.

Weight: 21 pounds 2 ounces
Height: Hasn't grown since he was 4 months old. Hummm.... I think someone is measuring wrong, because I don't think he looks like an umpaloompa.

He is still fascinated with food, only now he prefers to prepare his own meals.

Leave room in my coffee for cream, please

Quick side note: The other day 3 girls showed up at my front door begging me to take this stray cat that they found in the neighborhood otherwise their daddy was going to take her to the pound. They named the dang thing and then it ran inside and made its self at home on the sofa. I have a sign on my front door that says SUCKER and now we have a cat.

Poor cat never saw him coming.

Clark calls her Woof, the neighbor girls call her Ginger, but her official name is BucketSeats. Clark chases her all over the house, pulls her by her hair and she purrs the whole time. She is great, Frazier is sure she would taste great and is always trying to find out.

At 9 months old he still wants to be swaddled when he sleeps.

Its the only way he can relax long enough to fall asleep. Otherwise he thinks he needs to move, climb, explore and destruct.

I now must find a new location for our China 

Words and Milestones this month: He has learned to wave and say ByeBye or Hiiiiii at the same time. He also has associated all dogs to the word Woof. Well, really anything with fur and 4 legs, he chases the cat around saying woofwoofwoof the whole time. He says Moo Cow and Roar. He can also pick out the cow or lion on command. He knows where my nose and mouth are and can point to each one. He thinks he can walk without help and falls about 100 times a day. I think he is starting to look a little more like Matt....

Happy Weekend,
Colie

It was a Sad Day for the Peanut Butter Cup

This is the newest face of the peanut allergy club.

I suspected a peanut allergy the moment we brought this rolly polly boy home from the hospital. PB & J sandwiches are fast and easy. There isn't a whole lot of thought that goes into meal preparation when you have a new baby so we were eating a lot of them. I would notice a rash every time he was around that sweet, salty and oh so delicious goodness. We stopped eating peanut butter and the rashes stopped. Then anytime someone would touch him after eating a peanut based delight he would hive out. Doctor said to wait until he was 9 months before we tested him, so today we went to see a sweet allergist and spent 2 hours in a 5x5 room.

Clark didn't even flinch when they did the little pokes--3 of them-- on his back. He did however absolutely lose it when they used the alcohol 30 minutes later to wipe off the extra serum. Weirdo.

Look at those sweet little love handles. I just eat them up. This was right after they poked him and the nurse left the room to go tell the doctor she was done. Then he came in and hung out the whole time so I couldn't get another picture, he would have thought I was crazy. He didn't have a horrible, throat closing reaction, but he had a rash and welts so we came home with Epi.

It is a sad day in the Williams household. Goodbye Reese's Cups, goodbye peanut butter cookies, farewell buckeyes, adios Snickers and bon voyage peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

But we do have Cheerios!

A Day in the Life of an 8 Month Old

7am-First things first, we vacuum. Clark tries to choke and die at least 3 times a day so I do my best to suck up any potential airway clogging hazards that might be lurking in the carpet--not always possible, as evidence by the legitimate back blows I had to do the other day.

8am-Next up on the to do list is Pet the Dog

Followed by climbing into the book cabinet and trying to eat the shelf.

After the morning nap-Frazier gets a belly rub.

Afternoon activities include organizing the Tupperware cabinet.

On the list for evening festivities is crawling around and touching/grabbing/eating/pulling on everything that he is not allowed to.

7pm-The day concludes with a kiss and using his monster as a pillow.

Everyone is exhausted by 7pm



Then Matt and I clean up and get ready to do it all over again the next day. I'm in love.

Colie



Snail Mail Surprise

This weekend Matt went to check the mail and said I had a package. I wasn't expecting anything. When I looked at the return address I started to cry. It was instant and I couldn't control it. I said "its from Lynnie's Mom!"

Now, let me back up here. In June 2009 I took care of the sweetest baby in the whole wide world, she was so happy and had baby chicken fuzz for hair. I fell completely in love with this baby, I almost put her in my bag to bring home with me many many times. I was her primary nurse and I would wrestle anyone who tried to take care of her while I was there. I also fell in love with her family. The relationship I had with baby Alynna and her parents is very rare and I have yet to have it again with another family (close, but not the same). On July 30, 2009 Alynna went to heaven. She had a sick heart, but she was doing well and it was very unexpected. I got a phone call in the middle of the night from work and I instantly knew what was happening when I saw the number on my caller ID. I cried. A lot.

Matt and I have moved 3 times since 2009 and I lost contact with Lynnie's mom, but the baby's picture is still on our refrigerator. I'm telling you, I loved this baby! So I was completely caught off guard when a package came from her mom. She sent Clark a blanket and a bib that her mother had made.

He rubbed it on his face, it was pretty sweet.

 I'm so thankful that there are patients like Alynna and her family, it makes me love what I do.

Colie

It's a '62 VW

STOP in the name of love!

Clark's Exorcism

Clark had a big day this past Saturday. He got a real good bath, dressed in an all white outfit, went to the church and had an official exorcism preformed--that was the joke the Father told.

Matt and I are so happy that Clark has been baptized and we are proud to be raising him in the Catholic church. It's a big responsibility and a big promise to God that we are making, but we are grateful to have Josh and Liz by our side to help.

Josh and Matt have been friends for years--and have more inside jokes then high school girls. Liz introduced Matt and I, Clark wouldn't even be possible if it weren't for her. She has become a wonderful friend!

As soon as we got home Clark let the evil out. All over his white outfit.

Clark was also able to spend some QT with his cousins, Maggie and Edwin. Every time I see them they get bigger and smarter, I can't keep up with these kids. I don't think I have mentioned how much Clark like eyeballs. Point in case--sorry Edwin.

No look eyeball grab

Josh and Shilpa came down from Chicago to stay the weekend with us. They have an 8 month old who blows Clark out of the water when it comes to motor skills. She is all over the place and pretty much walking with little assistance. She is amazing. She is also in love with Clark, but Clark doesn't care. All he cares about is that his next meal is on time.

Always missing the left sock. always.

In all fairness she is really small for her age so it makes The Potamus look even bigger. My prediction is that Clark is going to be a bookworm and Leena is going to be excellent at every sport she attempts--that girl can move--and they are going to get married. But first Clark has to learn how to pay attention to her, otherwise he is going to lose her forever.

Colie