Happy New Year and Whats Happening In Our Corner :)

            Well the holiday's are behind us and life is settling down quite a bit! I love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and getting to spend some quality time with family but by the new year I am pretty much worn out! Hahaha! We had a wonderful Christmas holiday it wasn't exactly the way we wanted to spend it but we made it work. Ayden and Clayton had a wonderful Christmas and got some really cool and amazing toys from Santa it was so fun to see there faces on Christmas morning to see the new toys Santa had left underneath the tree! They loved there new toys and they are still enjoying them to this day so I guess Santa did a great job! We still have 2 more Christmases to do at the end of January in Indiana and Chicago we were slated to go for a week over Christmas and come back after the New year but there was a huge change in plans with Barents project that he is on and we had to reschedule. Our schedules are CRAZY busy lately during the weekend with Brent either having to work or me coaching volleyball at a tournament. I started my volleyball season this year a whole month earlier than when we usually start since the team I am assistant  coaching is a national team. I am super excited to see what this season will bring but with coaching a national team I am traveling a little bit more as well during the weekend. We thankfully aren't traveling too far away and its only 2 tournaments that are in Austin and in Houston. Brent and I sat down tonight and looked at our schedule coming up and we were both shocked when we realized that EVERY weekend is booked for us after this weekend until MARCH.... you read it right MARCH! So I am going to take full advantage this weekend and relax cause this will be the last weekend for a while where I can just sit down and relax. I just wish Brent would be able to sit and relax with me and the kids as well but he is working all weekend long since the project he is on has to be completed on Monday for the Stock show. As you can tell we have lots and lots going on but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way cause no matter what I am still getting to spend quality time with the boys and also do the one thing that I love to do which is coach a sport I absolutely love playing as a teenager and getting to share my passion with teenagers that have the same passion that I had for the game. I look at it as a win win cause with my love for coaching I also love staying home with the boys and getting to witness on watching them grow I truly am blessed that I have the opportunity to do that. We are also going to be adding baseball to our busy schedule.... Ayden is fixing to be turning 3 on the 27th of February and he is old enough to play baseball this season at RYA I am super excited to be able to watch him play the game! My dad is super excited to be able to come watch him play as well cause baseball is his all time favorite sport! This makes me super excited but it also makes me kinda sad I can remember like it was yesterday that I was ginormous pregnant with my first child and was so excited to become a mom and also a little scared since I am going to be a parent and provider for a small child. That small child that I was so anxiously awaiting for almost 3 years ago has been the biggest blessing and light in my life. He is the sweetest little boy and has so much love and joy that just radiates off of him. I am so proud to be his mommy and there isn't a day that goes by where I thank god for blessing me with him and also Clayton. Speaking of Clayton he is still growing like a weed. We have hit the 14 month mark I don't have any stats since we don't go back to the doctor for a checkup and shots til he is 15 months old but he is growing by leaps and bounds! He has found his personality and it is just too cute. He is very laid back and goes with the flow, but when he has had it he has HAD IT and watch out! He has mastered the art of throwing him self down and screaming yes it does get quite loud at times in my house especially if both boys are throwing a fit.... So around meal times you can guarantee that someone is ready to eat right then and there and isn't having it by having to wait. BOYS and FOOD! He is still an amazing eater and has found a love for grilled cheese sandwiches and bananas he starts grinning and getting very excited if he sees any of these items. He is also still mastering by the day the art of climbing I have two monkeys and I am ALWAYS on my toes. Like I have said before there is NEVER  a dull moment in our house.

Well I am going to leave you with some pictures to look at in closing this little book out. So until next time!
Elizabeth

Santa came MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The boys playing with Daddy's new toy!

my little cheeser!



getting ready for Grampy's house!



It's my favorite time of year!

This is by far my most favorite time of the year! Family has always been extremely important to me and I always love getting to spend time with as many family members as possible during this time of year and through out the year. And now the holidays have even more meaning to me cause I have an amazing husband, and 2 handsome boys to make many new memories and traditions with! We have started one tradition of always going up to Chicago to see Brent's aunts, Uncles and Grandma the day before Christmas and Christmas Eve. Then we hop into the car Christmas Day, and then drive to Ferdinand Indiana to see the rest of Brent's family. Then spend the remaining time with his mom, dad, sister, and the boys get to play with there cousins!!! I cherish this time with family cause this is the time that Brent gets to take off an extended amount of time off of work, and the boys and I get quality time with him and get to see family that we don't get to see on a regular basis! Another tradition that we enjoy doing is going to Ice at the Gaylord it's is so much fun! We tried to go last year, but it just didn't work out. We are going to try again this year. I have to say I am pretty excited to see Ayden's face since one of his favorite movies is Shrek! The other thing that I enjoy doing is reflecting on the past year. There have been some amazing moments this past year, with Clayton learning how to roll over, crawl, walk, run, climb, and say his first words. Ayden has learned how to talk better, use better self control, show empathy towards others, jump, and being able to start understanding cause and effect, and using the potty! Brent and I have grown more and more closer together, we enjoy our time alone and date nights! We have had some ups and downs with loss of family members and having to say goodbye. We have also gained some new Members of our family as well! Looking at everything that we have been through this past year makes me so grateful and blessed with what the lord has provided us this year! We are happy, healthy, and we have two very happy children who bring us so much joy into our lives. Our lives right now seem complete and just right and it's a really good feeling! Not to say that within the next year or two we will possibly start trying again to add to our family but right now Brent and I are exactly where we want our family to be! I can't wait to see what the next year brings will Ayden be 100% potty trained? Will Clayton be potty trained? Will Ayden be in school for speech therapy? Will Clayton be talking? How big will both boys be? Will Brent and I decide we want to start trying for baby #3? I can't wait to see what the next year brings and where our 2012 chapter will take us but I know that with my husband by my side and Ayden and Clayton long for the ride the chapter will be amazing!

Elizabeth

My little monkeys!

Well the saying boys will be boys is starting to definitely stand true in this house! We are always wrestling, eating, making messes, getting dirty, and climbing on anything and everything that can be climbed on! Ayden was a late climber and just recently has really gotten good at the art of climbing he can pretty much climb to get anything that he wants and yes that means things on top of the refrigerator and cabinets in the kitchen! He will grab a bar stool and push it to where he wants to go climb up that the climb onto the counter and he then feels like the king of the world literally! He is literally another curious george! It's cute and all but it's also very exhausting due to we are having to re baby proof the kitchen cause our wonderful gate that is up you guessed right he can climb and jump over that as well! Ayden has also been a VERY good teacher to Clayton and showing him the art of climbing! Clayton can climb up on to any of the couches and he can climb up on the coffee table and then he will "jump" down which means jump on mommy! This stage is making me real nervous I know kids will climb and to things and it's all part of growing up but Clayton wants to be like his older brother sooo bad I just know he is going to hurt himself one day! Like he did on thursday night but technically it wasn't his fault it was his brothers but regardless he still ended up in the emergency room with a possible head injury! Thankfully everything with Clayton is fine and playing king of the coffee table is no longer permitted in this house but it was never permitted to begin with! I am just in shock in how fast clayton is growing up! I just hope thy I will be able to have a little bit longer before he figures out how to climb out of his crib! :) I am going to get off here but leave you with a few pictures of my monkeys who I love so much!

Clayton is one

Well we have hit the one year mark! Clayton turned one on thursday! We celebrated his birthday by going out to dinner with my dad, brother and sister in law! It was a small intimate outing that was a lot of fun! I love getting to see my brother And his wife and the boys love seeing them as well!
We had his one year check up on Friday and the poor thing got 4 shots! We also had a little hiccup that we came across at the doctor that sent us for some xrays to see what was up. Clayton while getting his legs checked the doctor noticed that his left leg is half a centimeter to a centimeter shorter than his right leg. This drew some concern since we hadn't ever noticed it before during any of his well child exams. The doctor gave me a little bit of explanation on what it could be like a dislocated hip, or developmental hip displasia, and sent us to imaging to see what the X-ray would say. The x ray came out fine so we are going to look and see what he thinks at his 15 month check up and go from there. Here are his 1 year stats:
Weight 24 lbs 69 percentile
Height 31 1/2 in 93 percentile

Saturday we celebrated Clayton's first birthday party and the theme was a Very Hungry Caterpillar! It turned out sooo cute Clayton got lots of neat toys and some pretty cute outfits as well!

All and all we had a very good weekend it was nice to get to celebrate a very special birthday I am so glad that god blessed me with such an amazing son! Til next time!
Elizabeth

11 months and now a working mommy!

I can hardly believe it Clayton is 11 months old and we will be celebrating his first birthday on October 27th! I am in shock how fast this year has flown by! He isn't a baby anymore he is a toddler! We are finally in the process of winging him off formula and this was the last week of three bottles a day! We are now dropping down to two bottles a day this week and next week to one bottle at night then after that we are done!! I can't wait either hahaha formula is sooo expensive! He is already taking a sippy cup great as well he loves throwing it down! Haha We had a dr's apptointment this past week cause I thought Clayton was getting sick I dont know his length but he weighed in at a whopping 26 pounds! Yes you read that right 26 pounds! We are wearing 18-24 month clothes and still in a size 6 shoe! We are walking and running now! It's crazy to think that this time last year I was so ready to meet this little guy and begin our adventures as a family of four! I was excited for Ayden becoming a big brother and ready for the challenges of becoming a mommy of two! A year later my heart is full of love and laughter and amazed what amazing boys god has blessed me with! I cannot wait Til we can expand our family more but right now I am content with the two I have! One day we will be a family of five maybe six we shall See!

Ayden has been showing a lot of interest of going potty and being a big boy I am so excited for this stage I cannot wait Til he is potty trained! We are slowly getting there but definitely not forcing it by no means! His speech is coming along great he is really starting to talk and say things that we can actually understand! And also starting to Use 3-4 word sentences this makes me a very proud mommy!I was very worried about him for a while there but he is now progressing and doing very well!

Now for the news.... I am now a full time mommy and a full time employee! Yes you read that right I have started working again! I am a lead two year old teacher at a preschool in Saginaw I have been there 2 weeks and fixing to start my 3rd week this coming week! I am enjoying so far but I have to admit I miss staying home with my babies especially Clayton! Ayden joins me every day at work and is enrolled in there 3 year old program and he is doing fabulous! W our first day was full of tears but after that he hasn't shed one tear since I can see him and he comes and goes says love you mommy blows kisses and leaves it's really cute when he does that! Clayton is at a in home child care with a friend of mine I went to school with and absolutely loves it there she is truly doing an amazing job with him and I know she cares for him and loves on him all the time! I am so glad that she is able to watch him for me! She will also take on ayden once she gets an opening!! I am still learning my kiddos In my class and it's still really hard since I am still learning about them and they are learning me still but everyday is gettin easier!
Well this post has turned into a novel and ayden has finally fallen asleep I have been laying with him since he hates lightning and thunder and we are habit a few storms blow through nothin major but so thankful for the rain!
Elizabeth

Long time and so much is happening!

Well it has been forever ago since I have updated this thing its been really hard to do so lately since our computer crashed and our other lap top insists that blogging isnt for it! Haha! Well lots and lots has been going on lately! Ayeden and Clayton are growing by leaps and bounds everyday and have really taken a liking to wrestling with each other! It's really quite funny Clayton will run full force and just land on Ayden and not move a muscle then ayden will flip over and sit on Clayton. They will roll around for a few minutes then be done cause someone will start crying and get upset... Oh boys will be boys! We have also found a new fascination with bugs yes gross bugs! Ayden found a water bug the other day and was carrying it around by it's antenna and came up and tried to throw it on me I jumped up and started screaming and he thought that was hilarious and chased me around the house with it laughing up a storm! I just wanted to have a heart attack! We have also moved up from a toddler bed to a big boy bed we were going to wait but ayden broke his toddler bed by jumping on it and yeah it broke thankfully we had my old full size bed in storage so he is now the proud owner of it! It was pretty bitter sweet cause I remember like if was yesterday putting his crib together and awaiting his arrival and yesterday we took it apart and converted it into a full size bed :( I have to admit a few tears were dropped over this it's just amazing to me how this baby of mine is going to be three in 5 short months! Well lots have been going on with Clayton as well he is growing and thriving more and more everyday! He has also started to run! Yes you read that right run guess that's what happens when u start walking at 8 months old.... Clayton has also found his voice he loves to scream and laugh and say mama and dada all the time! My favorite thing is him squealing in excitement and clapping his hands!! We r busy planning his 1st birthday party at the end of next month!! I am still in shock how fast this year has flown by it makes me happy but it also makes me sad! Brent is doing well we r finishing up his latest project at the will Rogers memorial center I am not going to lie though I am ready for this project to be over with I miss our weekends spent together as a family but I am just thankful that he has a job and does well at his job! Well the kiddos have decided to fight so it's back to mommy duty! Til next time.
Elizabeth

It's been a while......

Wow it has been forever since I have updated but life has been extremely busy and go go go to say the least! I am now a mommy to 2 walking kiddos and i thought ayden was the handful when it came to being busy and mobile I was wrong Clayton has taken his new found freedom and ran with it! An 8 month old walking is an adventure all within it's self and ayden trying to protect his toys from his little brother the fights are starting already! Clayton just wants to be just like his big brother and do everything that he does!! It's so cute but poor Ayden just gets sooo frustrated with him! We are still ironing out jealousy issues with ayden which they are getting better but he still isn't quite okay with the concept that Clayton is here to stay and not going anywhere else! Here are some of Clayton's stats since I haven't done one yet on him since my last post:
Wears 12-18 month clothes
Size 5 diapers
Weighs 24lbs
Walking all the time
Standing by himself with out having anything to pull up on
Has 5 teeth
Loves giggling all the time
He is my baby Goliath lol that's what I have been calling him lately and I really think the name fits him!
Ayden has been doing well in school we are finally getting lots of words out and starting to understand him more and more each passing day! That makes me feel sooo good cause I have been super worried about that! He also knows how to count to 3 and also say some of his abc's I am one proud mama Only now if he can master listening and minding we would be set! Hahaha we just recently got back from vacation from Branson Missouri and we spent quite a bit of time at silver dollar city I will admit I was pretty skeptical on how the boys would do since I didn't think they would be able to ride rides there and with the heat and by my surprise they did really well! Clayton of course couldn't ride anything but ayden was able to ride quite a bit and he had a blast he got to go on his first roller coaster and got to ride the swings, fly with dumbo, ride the rocking ship, log ride, the river rapids and he loved alll of it! I was so proud how brave he was he is Turing out to be a pretty amazing little boy!
Well I am going to get off here I will post again sometime soon since Clayton will be 9 months on the 27th so until next time!
Elizabeth