Read about Reid: 1 Year

Right Now I should be doing plenty more things other than sitting down to blog.  However, when the boy is asleep I take the chance I have and run with it.  I cannot believe almost a whole year has gone by since he has been born.  It really feels like just yesterday he was placed in my arms after 9 long months of waiting!  The things we have been through in a whole year have been amazing too, some that I wish I could go back and relive, and others I do not care to go back and do over.  Here are some things about Reid that I want to never forget.

1.  The boy loves balls!  They are his toy of choice and it was the first word he said after "dada".  He can find one any where and wants to play with it instantly.  I love watching him be entertained by something so simple and to see his delight in it.

2.  He is now sleeping through the night quite comfortably.  We have finally reached the full 12 hour a night mark instead of 10 and for that I am SUPER grateful!  It is so nice!

3.  Reid can put away some food.  He likes most anything (berries are not his favorite.  We will work on that).  It amazes me how much he eats, it is way more than I eat that is for sure!  Some of his favorite foods are scrambled eggs, pancakes, bananas, grilled ham and cheese sandwhich, potatoes, green beans, taco meat, bread of any kind, spaghetti,  the list goes on and on!

4.  I love his little laugh.  He loves to be tickled and will giggle and squeal to let you know he is enjoying himself.  We have this silly came we play where I sit him in my lap and say "I" (while pointing to my eyes) "love" (cross my arms over my chest to make the love sign), and then I squeal "YOU!" and tickle him!  He goes crazy!

5.  There could never be a little boy who is loved more.  He has so many people around him that just want to eat him up it is crazy.  We are blessed.

6.  He is now toddling everywhere.  That just started last week!  It is crazy how one day they just decide they can do it, and go for it!

7.  He is also a strong little guy, he has muscles like you wouldn't believe.

8.  He loves to drive anything!  Going riding at noni's with poppy is one of his favorite past times.

9.  Swinging is also a blast.  There is a whole swingset set up just for him at Nana and Pops' house ready to be used whenever we are there.

10.  He is the best baby in the world!  I love how happy and joyful he is.  He brings so much to our lives, I know we will never be the same!  I pray that he loves deeply always, and follows hard after the Lord.  He is wonderful and I have been blessed by him this past year

Fun In Tyler

On labor day weekend Mark and I decided to take the whole weekend and go spend it in Tyler with my in-laws.  However, this wasn't going to be just any weekend, the whole Clifton clan (besides Blake who is a goober and decided not to come) AND their girlfriends/fiances were going to be in town!  To say this was a new experience for everyone is an understatement!  Seriously, for 4 years now I have been the only girl this family has had besides my mother-in-law, so now to have a house that had as many girls in it as boys was great!  I have to admit I was nervous about the dynamic, about how it would change, would the other girls like me, would we all mesh well etc.  What would you know, it did all come together and we all had a great time!  

Reid with his first real soon-to-be Aunt Melissa

If you could read his shirt it says "my uncle is a great catch".  Melissa is engaged to Wade Mark's oldest brother.

We got in some good reading time with Nana!

Reid with Scott and Wade, two of his many uncles!

This is Scott, Mark's second oldest brother and his girlfriend Katy

They are precious!

Wade and Melissa, love them too!

Daddy and Reid after church.

Just hanging around!

It's easy to see a good time was had by all!  I cannot believe how fast my little boy is growing up!  At the end of this week I will have a stinkin' 1 year old!  Where has the time gone?!?  Tell me does putting a book on his head make him stop growing up?

8 Month Pictures! *Finally*

I know I know, it has been A WHILE since my last post!  I promise I have been nothing but busy!  The Cliftones rocked out a few youth camps for a week and a half a week ago (say that 5 times fast) and then Mark and I had a little anniversary/birthday get away the day it ended until a Friday!  Needless to say, this Mama has been busy!  However, without further delay and thanks to a brand new card reader, I will now give an array of 8 month pictures!

Look at this big guy!  

Isn't he a doll?!

Mmm Mmm Mr. Monkey is good eating!

Love those blue eyes!

"Mom wanna show everyone my new trick?"

"It's so much fun!"

"Oohh lookie at what I can do!"

Here comes trouble!

Love his crooked grin!

Reid + Ellie = BFFs

Of course he is cutest when he's nakie!

Ellie watching bath time!

Getting brave crawling around!

The kid has not 1, not 2, but 3 swirlies!  Can we say YIKES!

Love this precious boy!

Dear Reid: 8 Months Old (a little late)

I started writing this last week, but had to go do something else, and never got back to it until now.  Sorry for the delay.

Dear Reid,

Today you are 8 months old!  Wow I can hardly believe it.  It seems like just a few short weeks ago I was finally able to hold you in my arms after 9 long months of waiting.  You are such a blessing to your Daddy and me, a treasure we could not live without.  We love waking up to your adorable cues and huge grin when we come to get you out of your crib.  You remind us to start the day with a good attitude and that everyday is on that the Lord has made.

You are doing so many things baby boy.  It is fascinating to see all the changes you have gone through and what all you have accomplished in just 8 months, but especially in the past 4 weeks!  Now you are able to sit up freely, all by yourself (instead of mommy and daddy having to run to keep you from falling backwards and bonking your noggin) which is a huge help to mommy when she needs to put you down for one reason or another.  After 3 weeks of getting to your knees and rocking back and forth you have finally started crawling!  In fact the first thing you crawled for was an iPhone and it is still the thing you will crawl fastest towards.  I guess you love your technology.

You have your two bottom teeth in, and are working on those top stinkers.  Mommy hates it when you teeth because you're in pain and you don't sleep to well.  You chew on anything and everything, the plant by the T.V. (you try that one daily), your hands, paci, blanket, you name it!  Mommy has already had to pull a starburst wrapper out of your mouth, you were happily chewing it like gum.  Speaking of chewing, some of your favorite foods are mangos, peaches, apples, bananas, pears, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, and baked potatoes!  Mommy keeps trying to get you to like green beans, but you always make a horrible face.  We will get there.

Another of your many skills is pulling up in your crib.  You can get yourself all the way to the standing position.  You are working on pulling up on many more things now too.  You really are fearless.  Figuring out you can now crawl around during bath time has opened up a whole new world of possibilities, full of laughter and splashes.  This is probably your favorite time of the day.  Another favorite is when you and mommy read books together.  It is so funny to watch you go from a very active boy to sitting and listening intently to a story.  It makes my heart so very happy to see you love books already.

One thing you do hate is getting dressed.  I feel as if you think it unnecessary because you will cry over it!  Loudly!  There are just bigger and better things to do in your opinion.  You are beginning to test mommy's limits too, pulling on cords and other items you shouldn't be.  She must now begin the procoess of baby proofing and parenting you so you don't get hurt.  Baby boy, you have a mind of your own, would rather do your own thing then crawl after Mama, you have actually yet to do that, you find something else you would rather have!  Putting you to sleep is still a chore, but we are getting there.

All in all Reid I cannot believe you are 8 months old.  That is so big!  You are a wonderful baby, so happy, full of life, and loving every minute of it.  We get compliments on you, your big blue eyes, your smile, your disposition and I am reminded often to thank God for a little boy who just enjoys being alive.  I pray that one day you will be alive in Christ and find the unspeakable joy in living for Him.  I promise to do my best to teach you and disciple you in Him.  I am so glad you are mine, I cannot imagine a better baby.  Know Mommy and Daddy love you very much, pray for you, and enjoy you.

Love,
Mommy

7 Months Old!

Wowee has time flown or what.  I am now a 7 month and 1 week old baby boy!  I can't believe it!  That is way closer to being a 1 year old then it is to being a baby!  Where did the time go?

As usual we took our pictures by Mister Monkey

Isn't he so precious?

Then of course we had to eat him

I can't believe all the things he is able to do now!  It is crazy.  He is rocking back and forth on all fours. Can go backwards and forwards, and side to side when laid on the floor (stills struggling with forward motion.  Hey that kinda sounds like a good song lol, jk.  Any Relient K fans out there?).He is sitting up like a champ, and he so happy.  He is eating everything we put in front of him.  He even used his pincher reflex (thumb and pointer finger) to pic up little Gerber Puff things!  I was so impressed.  He loves fruits and sweet potatoes and squash.  He isn't too much on the green foods, like peas or beans.  I think when I give him the real deal on those he will like them much better.

Here are just some pictures of cuteness.  Daddy usually gives Reid a bath so mommy gets a break and daddy gets some one on one time with him.  This particular night he was just being extra cute so Daddy called Mommy in for some pictures.

I know we have the most adorable kid!  He is so much fun right no,I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Our Cute Easter Boy

So firsts things first, raise your hand if you watched the royal wedding this morning? Ok, so maybe I have been in school a little too long (try everyday this week!), but honestly I hope you got a chance to see it.  Seriously worth the 5 A.M. morning!  I didn't mean to watch it, but Reid was stirring around and I was awake, and decided this is a possible once in a lifetime thing to watch live so I turned on the television.  Just in time to see Kate make her entrance into Westminster Abbey.  One word, stunning. . .  The ceremony was beautiful, the singing was beautiful, everything was beautiful. . . However this is a post for another day and not what you click on to read about.  So I will give you what you want!

The church put on a community wide easter egg hunt.  Here is Reid with Daddy!

Haha, "No mo pictures!"

First egg hunt!

He did pretty good!

He had a great time

And is sitting up like a champ now!

Just in time for cute easter pictures!

It's a bird. . .

No, it's a plane. . .

No, it's SUPER BABY!

Yes that would be daddy chunking his first born as high as he could.

This is Lisa, my mom's best friend.  He LOVES her, and her hair!

Mark and I sang in the choir for our Easter Musical

This is our new music minister and his family who did so much work to get it all ready!

And this is the cutest Easter boy around!

Aren't the vest and tie just adorable?!

We aren't very dressy because we were in robes for the musical at church.

Eating carrots 

And making a mess.

Then going for a little swing.

And spending some time with his great great grandmother. . .

All in a good Easter day!