If someone could find me the "pause" button, I will pay top dollar for it! I truly cannot believe my once tiny babies are now 9 months old and I am starting to plan their 1st birthday party! It was just a year ago (February 3, 2010) that we found out my cervix had shortened and my new home was our family room couch. I will never forget how frightened both Ryan and I were. By the grace of God and my determination to keep my babies growing inside of me by taking my bedrest super seriously, Clayton and Chloe were born strong and healthy. We are so lucky to have found such amazing, conservative doctors. Bringing Clayton and Chloe into this world truly was a team effort starting from their conception! Once again, January was a busy month of milestones. Here's their news...
Clayton's Update:
*Clayton weighs 19 pounds 2 ounces (28%) and is 28.5 inches (60%). His height has really increased and his weight is normally down due to his increased activity level.
*Within weeks Clayton went from army crawling to sitting from any position,to crawling up and down steps, to pulling up! He now pulls up on everything...the baby gate we just installed at the top of the stairs, our dresser, his crib, the exersaucer (he loves to when Chloe's in it), the couch, EVERYTHING! He's mastered a pretty graceful fall too and doesn't seem to be too bothered by his frequent falls and bumps. I'm thinking a monthly pass to the hospital would be a good investment right about now!
*He now does the traditional crawl too, but only when he wants to get to something that's a short distance away or he is going to pull up on something; otherwise he sticks to his army crawl because that gets him where he wants to the quickest.
*Clayton thinks his crib is romper room now. He could be exhausted and falling asleep as he eats, but once in his crib he pulls up, falls, giggles, looks at you through the slats of the crib. It's so funny.
*He says all sorts of sounds and I think is starting to associate "da da" with Ryan. Ryan's been really good about saying "da da is right here" when Clayton says it. Still waiting on "ma ma" though. I feel like he says every other combination of sounds, but "ma ma"! Clayton also varies his happy sounds from a really deep octave to super high!
*Clayton grunts all of the time, especially since he is so busy and always on a mission. I knew he was up to no good when I took Chloe upstairs to change her, heard him grunting, and found him on the third stair. Mommy needs to shut the gate at all times now!
*Sadly for Mommy, he would rather be on the floor playing, exploring, and getting into things than cuddling. Clayton is so busy all of the time. You can just see his mind racing and he is always on the move.
*He's graduating out of 9 month clothes and moving onto 12 month clothes and is still wearing size 3 diapers.
*Clayton loves to play rough...Daddy's job, not Mommy's!
*He now has hair long enough to style...he looks so handsome when Daddy gels his hair!
*Clayton goes to sleep now by 7:30 and wakes up at about 7:00 and takes two naps a day.
*He truly is so much fun. I could not have imagined loving someone as much as I love him.
Chloe's Update:
*Chloe weighs 18 pounds 4 ounces (41%) and her height is 26.5 inches (18%). Her height definitely comes from her mommy!
*Little Bugs really found her tootsies! She always has her feet in her hands or mouth.
*Chloe says "da" now, which is so fun to hear. She says it right back to you too when she gets herself going.
*She rolls everywhere...still no scooting or crawling yet, but Chloe knows how to get to where she wants.
*Chloe is starting to like tummy time more and more. When she tries to move, her legs and arms go up and she flaps and smiles. It's so stinking cute, but so sad too because she's really trying!
*She is a total drooler. Poor little thing is still cutting her bottom two teeth and soaks through a couple of bibs a day. Chloe has a really hard ridge at the top of her gums, so I know she's in pain, but she really handles it like a champ.
*Chloe still does her happy scream all of the time and loves making a game of it as we scream back and forth with her.
*She lays her head down on me and grabs on when she's uncomfortable or doesn't want to leave my arms...I know it can be annoying for the person who wants to hold her, but I have admit, it warms me up inside.
*Chloe LOVES jewelry, which is evident from her 8 month pictures. The second she sees me, she goes for my necklace. Chloe's really gentle, though, with it. I feel like it's some type of a comfort for her.
*She is finally starting to get hair and it's coming in really light. Chloe's also started forming quite an opinion about the bows I put in her hair!
*Chloe goes to sleep by 7:30 and wakes up with her brother now by about 7. She takes 2 naps during the day and is so easily adaptable to sleeping in different environments.
*She has mastered reaching for toys and now extends her reach so far that she often falls onto her belly and then cries of course!
*Chloe is still wearing size 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.
*I thank God everyday for Chloe and am so grateful that our Baby B was a little girl. I couldn't imagine loving anyone more.
Here's some pictures from Clayton and Chloe's 8th month of life...
Little models had their 8 month photo shoot and the pictures came out stunning.
Papa Jim came over one morning to go on a walk with us and then took us for a ride in our favorite form of transportation...our wagon!
We went to the park to meet some of Mommy's cheerleading friends from high school and their babies.
It doesn't matter what Chloe has, Clayton always wants it.
Clayton (aka little monster) crawls, rolls, knocks things over, stands, jumps in his crib, pulls up on everything, and pretty much doesn't stop ever!
Music Lessons!
Chloe sasses, sleeps, jumps, giggles, and most of all is the princess of all the lands!
Clayton and Chloe LOVE going to the park!
