We are 7 Months Big!

Wow time truly is flying! I find myself reflecting on where I was at in my pregnancy this time last year all of the time...poor Chloe was a boy a year ago! We would have been thankful for a healthy baby boy, however, we feel so blessed to have one of each. Christmas is by far my favorite time of year, but this year it is even more special for our little family. I am so excited to share our traditions and begin new ones with Clayton and Chloe. I am even more excited to live the magic of Christmas through the eyes of my children. Here are Clayton and Chloe's 7 month highlights...

Clayton's News:

*Clayton overnight has become quite the little mover. He's not quite crawling, but he is scooting and rolling everywhere. I love watching him see a toy and do his varoius forms of movement to get to it. For the first time last night, I had to unplug something because he laid eyes on it and went straight for it.
*He is making lots of new sounds. It catches us off guard sometimes because often his sounds actually sound like words.
*Clayton is standing so well and is so proud of himself when he holds himself up on the edge of the couch. I love his amazed and proud face.
*He sits great, but lately isn't as into sitting because he's working so hard on crawling. Clay gets his arms and one leg in crawling position, but then the other leg always seems to get stuck.
*Clayton is now crazy for his pacifier! He couldn't keep it in his mouth as a newborn because his little tongue got in the way, but now that he has more control, he loves his paci.
*He loves his fruits and veggies (except peas!). Clayton has organic multigrain oatmeal mixed with fruit every morning for breakfast, and then a green/orange veggie combo at lunch and dinner. Consequently, his breastmilk/formula consumption has decreased, so he's eating 5-8 ounces 4 times a day. I am making all of their baby food and really enjoy doing it.
*He is wearing size 6-12 months and 9 months and size 3 diapers. Getting oh so big!
*Clayton gets noticably shy now in unfamiliar environments and has started reaching, which I have to admit I love.
*He graduated from the infant bathtub and now sits in the big boy tub. Clayotn loves splashing Mommy with his big kickers when I lay him down in the tub. He things he is so funny!

Chloe's News:
*Chloe is sitting so well now. She still timbers every now and then, but has gotten really strong.
*She is so sassy...she only sits when she wants to and does tummy time when she wants to. Chloe has perfected her "I'm done, pick me up now" cry and exercises it frequently!
*Chloe is now jumping in the jumper and is so proud of herself when you acknowledge her bouncing. I love her "proud" smile so much!
*She talks so much to anyone who will listen. Chloe loves talking to and smiling at strangers (unlike her brother). She has such an impish little grin.
*Chloe always loved her paci, but now that she's found her thumb, it's definitely the soother of choice for her. Bottle comes out for a burp, thumb goes in, over tummy time, lay head down and put thumb in, go nighty night in crib, thumb goes in and stays in all night.
*She loves her fruits and veggies. Chloe has organic multigrain oatmeal mixed with fruit every morning for breakfast, and then a green/orange veggie combo at she's eating 5-8 ounces 4 times a day. I am making all of their baby food and really enjoy doing it.
*Chloe is wearing size 6-12 months and 9 months and size 3 diapers. She has quite the little belly on her!
*She now takes baths in the big girl bathtub and enjoys splashing Mommy too. She starts laughing right when I lay her down.
*Chloe thinks it's so funny when I take her shirt off of her. I have no idea what she thinks is so funny, but she starts giggling right when I take her first arm out.






Here's some pictures from this past month:

Play Time! Clayton and Chloe love playing with Daddy and their toys. Clayton already takes toys from poor Chloe who immediately screams!


There's is nothing more precious than the budding relationship between Roxi and the babies. She has even started bringing them her toys. Chloe giggles at Roxi whenever Roxi comes near her. Both babies love touching her face.


We took Clayton and Chloe to the park for the first time and they truly enjoyed the swings. It was so fun to watch them experience something new and probably slightly scary for the first time.




Such big babies now...they don't need their infant bathtub any more. Now they have lots of room to splish, splash!



The absolute cure to fussy time when Daddy is working...Baby Einstein! I don't know what I would do without it because it allows me a chance to cuddle with one baby, while holding the hand of the other.


Clayton and Chloe wearing their warm Christmas jammies for the first time...so adorable!


So many firsts...Clayton and Chloe sat on Santa Claus' lap for the first time. Ryan, Grammie, Lindsay, and I were basically standing on our heads to get them to smile. Oh well!


Clayton, Chloe, and I went to visit Daddy at his fire station for the first time. Daddy was so proud to show them off to his collegues.




Play Time! We sit, we sing, we read, we sass (little Miss Sassparilla), we put everything in our mouth, we roll, we laugh, we talk!





Seeing a fire in the fireplace for the very first time...both babies were so amazed!


Clayton and Chloe's first Thanksgiving was very special for us. We have so much to be thankful for this year. We went to San Diego Thanksgiving morning. The guys golfed, while the girls and babies hung out at Uncle Roo and Aunt Debbie's house. We relaxed, ate, and watched football all day. We all then went to The Fairbanks Ranch Country Club for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. While I missed the homestyle cooking of Thanksgiving, it was really nice to not have everyone in the kitchen cooking the whole day.






Clayton and Chloe's first Christmas tree...they loved playing with the presents!



Our little impromptu photo shoot! I may be biased, but I think my little buddy, brutus, little man, and bug a boo, sassy p, princess are the cutest babies ever!

6 Month Check-Up and Peas, Peas, Oh My!

Clayton and Chloe had their 6 month check up today. Clayton is 26.5 inches long
(55%) and 17 pounds 13 ounces (58%). Dr. Banez was very impressed with his milestones and especially his strength. Clay even showed off for her by rocking on his hands and knees. Chloe is 25.25 inches long (34%) and 16 pounds 7 ounces (61%). Dr. Banez was equally as impressed with Chloe's development, but suggested a little bit more tummy time for little Miss Princess! We also talked all about food, eating schedules, sippy cups, toys, sharing, car seats, and reading. Both babies got the DTAP oral vaccine and Rotovirus injectable vaccine along with the flu shot. Clayton handled the shots like a champ, while poor Chloe cried so hard. I started crying with her because it made me so sad to see her in so much pain.

And then came the peas...

I thought I was so prepared. Boy was I wrong! I got out two jars of the organic peas I made a few days ago, bibs, a washcloth, the camera, and video camera. Ryan and I put the babies in their highchairs and they immediately started to whine. Rather than feed them individually, which is so what we should have done, we fed them at the same time. It was nearly impossible to enjoy the silly "gag" faces, take pictures, video, and feed! Chloe actually ate her peas at first pretty well. Then once she realized that they weren't Mom's milk she gagged, got bright red and spit them out. Clayton hated the icky bright green mush from the get go. He made the funniest faces. After a few bites, he decided to "choke" on the peas, raspberry them out and then projectile vomit the rest. Lots of fun! I then decided to mix the peas with some rice cereal, which the babies enjoyed much more. My lessons learned...mix the peas with some breast milk, feed Clay and Chloe one at a time, be ready for anything! So we will have peas for the next 2 days and then move on to another green veggie!

Clay Man and Chloe Bug are 6 Months Big!

Wow! This has been quite a busy month for us full of special memories, big milestones, and celebrations. We took our first family vacation to Lake Tahoe. The babies did great on the plane ride. We definitely were a sight with all of our stuff, but you can never be too prepared! Papa Jim and Nonnie came with us, which was so wonderful. We went on a beautiful hike (love our Baby Bjorns), ate great food at cozy little restaurants, went on several walks amongst the beautiful pine trees, visited the old western town of Virgina City, and just relaxed. It was really special for us to be together because Clayton and Chloe's great grandmother passed away that same week. She really was an amazing woman. I am so happy she got to meet her great grandchildren.

They have both grown so much this past month...

Clayton's News:
-Clayton is a master roller now. He rolls with purpose gaining distance with each roll.
-He can sit now too! It's the total tripod sit thing, but he can do it and is practicing sitting more upright each time he sits. Poor guy lost his balance the other night and fell straight back. Since then, though, when he straightens his back he stays upright. Such a stud!
-Clayton has started rocking back and forth on his knees too...we better get ready because this little guy will be crawling soon!
-He can turn the soother in his crib on and off. It's pretty incredible to watch him move toward it, find the button and turn it on and off.
-Clayton found his feet and loves to hold them.
-He had organic rice cereal for the first time at five and half months old. Clay loved it at first, but now gags, blows raspberries, and spits it out. We think he's bored of it and is ready for veggies.
-His smile and giggle are infectious. We love listening to him babble and laugh.
-Clayton loves his jumper. The child jumps like crazy, bouncing higher and harder when we get closer to him. It is the best invention ever!
-He puts everything in his mouth, but so far doesn't seem to be in too much teething pain.
-Clayton eats 8 ounces 4 times a day and 1 tablespoon of rice cereal 2 times a day.
-He wears size 2/3 diapers and 9 month clothes.

Chloe's News:
-Our little Chloe found her voice! She loves to talk now in her cute little raspy voice. And her giggle is precious. We can't get enough of it.
-She can roll over from her back to her tummy. It's so fun to watch her because she first tries to hook her foot on something to help her over and if there's nothing available she gets quite frustrated often quitting and putting her thumb in her mouth!
-Chloe found her thumb! When the paci falls out, the thumb goes in, but only when she's tired or sleeping.
-She's become quite sassy this past month. Chloe knows what she wants and that's our attention. She sasses until she gets it. It's quite funny that she immediately stops crying the second we get close...she's a smart little princess.
-Chloe likes the exersaucer and gets really animated while in it. She often hits the toys with crazy force to get them to move or the music to play.
-She still loves the play mat and rolls over on it now.
-Chloe gets quite annoyed when her brother takes a toy from her, pinches her, or grabs at her paci and bows. She lets us know with a nice high pitched squeal!
-She is a fantastic little shopper...just like her mommy! The girl likes nices things!
-Chloe had organic rice cereal for the first time at five and half months. She sealed her mouth shut and smiled at first, but now opens her mouth big and wide. Chloe loves her cereal!
-She is wearing size 2 diapers, but is ready for 2/3 and size 6 month clothes.
-Chloe eats 7 ounces 4 times a day and 1 tablespoon of rice cereal 2 times a day.


I love this picture because it totally captures Chloe right now as her fingers are always in her mouth.

Clay Man is officially sitting and loves doing it.

Pure perfection.

Adorable little sweet pea and banana! Had to take pictures in these fun outfits given to us by cousin Debbie.

Our paci princess is now a thumb sucker just like her mommy. When the paci falls out, the thumb goes in. We think it's adorable, especially since Chloe holds on to her little thumb all night long.

Roxi is an amazing big sister. Clayton, Chloe, and Roxi are already becoming best buddies. It's fun to watch them all get to know one another.

We went on our first real vacation (plane ride and everything) to Lake Tahoe with Papa Jim and Nonnie. One of the highlights was the hike we took at Emerald Bay.

Our new life perfectly captured.

We love Papa Jim and Nonnie and couldn't have done the vacation without them!

We had a lovely visit with Ryan's Auntie Rikki who lives in Reno.

Chloe had rice cereal for the first time at five and a half months old. She wasn't so sure about it at first, but now loves it. She opens her cute little mouth the second she sees the spoon!

Clayton had rice cereal for the fisrt time at five and half months old too. He loved it at first, but now makes gagging faces and spits it out. We think its his way to tell us he's over it and is ready for something tasty!

Clayton and Chloe had so much fun celebrating Maddy Pendleton's first birthday with her...I think Clayton met his first little girlfriend!

Thank God for jumpers! Clayton absolutely loves his jumper...so much so that rather than cry when he's tired, he just simply falls asleep and when he awakes he continues jumping!

Clay Man found his feet! He's always grabbing his tootises now, which makes diaper changing much more difficult!

Clatyon and Chloe LOVE watching Baby Einstein and Mommy and Daddy LOVE that they LOVE it because it's the best solution to fussy time!

Our first time going to the pumpkin patch...holidays and celebrations have a whole new and exciting meaning now!

Mommy's happy little skeleton baby boy.

Daddy's pretty pumpkin princess.

Halloween photo shoot before we carved our first pumpkins.

It was only fitting that Clayton be a monkey for Halloween because you see we talk about Mr. Monkey every day...Clayton plays in the sandbox with him at night and they eat bananas together! Just another silly story Mommy makes up while talking to her baby boy every morning.

And our little Bugs had to be a ladybug because she's our little bugaboo! Poor baby though wanted nothing to do with the photo shoot.

The cutest little monkey and ladybug ever!

Love their little butts!

Time to trick or treat!

Such big helpers...we passed out candy with Papa Jim and Nonnie.

Even though she's quite sassy, Chloe is enjoying tummy time much more now that she's gotten bigger and stronger, though she totally prefers to be held. We guess it's a "princess" thing.

Clayton and Chloe are totally interested in each other now. Clayton wants and takes everything Chloe has whether its a toy or the paci that's attached to her. He not so gently grabs it and she consequently screams. It's only the beginning!