Catching up...

This summer has been a lot of fun w/a few not so fun moments...so to catch up here's whats been going on since my last post which was memorial day...

Camping...we've been on 2 camping trips...one to Mill Creek in IL and the other to KY lake where we stayed @ Big Bear. Both were fun and we did a lot of swimming. If you are a FB follower...I have the pics on there.

Jeremy & I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary!!! I'm soooo glad I found him...he is the best husband, daddy, & friend :-) I love you Jeremy!!!

Cheer...Crystal is in cheer & gymnastics & she loves it! The cheer is competitive so they will be competing 11/13 @ Lexington & 1/26 @ Indy. I can't wait to see 3-5 yr olds doing this cheer routine...it's going to be sooooo cute!!!

Clay is now 8 months old!!!!! It only seems like yesterday that we were bringing in hom. He's crawling, pulling up to everything (but staying on his knees), says dadada & bubub & mmmm (which I think is mamama for now :) ). He loves the water & to be outside! He ate his 1st hand fulls of sand & grass...uck!!! He loves food & has even started eating some table food...chicken, hamburger, pizza, peaches, pears, bananas but he also really loves his bottle...so I think he's going to be a tough one to get off that. Still very much a mama's boy :-) Loves his sissy more and more everyday!! Loves when daddy comes home too...he gets excited & squeaks really high...too cute! He kind of waves bye. Still has no teeth...I think his top 2 and bottom 2 are all going to come in @ the same time though :( Loves to give those big wet kisses...mommy can't get enough of those!!!

Went to another STL baseball game & are going again Sep 18th. The cards won...and we had excellent seats!!! We went to the arch & had a pretty good time. Again...pics are on fb.

Been boating on the river & Patoka Lake. We got us a tube & Crystal loves riding it w/us!! She's a little dare devil!!

Switched our internet and LOVE IT!!!! Verizon is much better and way faster than Wild Blue.

Got a pool too!!!!! It's 24ft & 4 1/2 ft. deep. It's awesome & it's nice to have our own to go slip into to relax @ night after the kids go to bed. We'll still be swimming down @ mom & dad's too...esp until we get our deck built...the kids love to run & jump in. We are also adding on a tiki bar to our barn. It's going to be all part of putting the pool in...it's going to look awesome when it's done!!! The kids love it & I can't keep Crystal out of it.

Now the not so good parts of summer...

First...Crystal has to get her little fake tooth replaced and her other front tooth...the nerve in it is dead. She hit her mouth on the back of the couch :( Her real tooth w/the damaged root is still in & should stay in but it's discolored. What matters though is it doesn't bother her.

And finally...on July 22nd @ 515pm my papaw passed away. He was 93 yrs old & fully independent until he had to have stomach surgery the 1st part of April. This has been really tough because he got really good & was probably a week away from going home and then had complications from the 1st surgery...had to have a 2nd one...and wasn't strong enough to fight that battle of infections. I always wondered what would be harder...watching somebody slip away but being able to say goodbye or something happening instantly & not getting to say goodbye...getting to say goodbye is a lot harder. At the time I did my last post, papaw was getting lots better day by day & was talking so I was going to Eville to visit him more. You never know how many more times you'll get to see somebody so within reason I tried to see him as much as possible. We had his memorial service on 7/31 & it was perfect...it was papaw. Got to see & talk to alot of family...it's just sad it was under these terms. I have alot more to say about my papaw & I'm working on my blog for that. I miss him everyday but I know he's not sick anymore and healed.

That's all for now...I'll try to keep up on my posts a little better...& w/this faster internet...maybe I can put some video on here :-)

Just a short one...

I know I haven't been on here like I should...but w/the weather getting nicer outside...it's hard to stay indoors!! So just a quick update on Mr. Clay Briley...he's 5 1/2 months old!!!! Where does time go...seriously????? He weighs 18 1/2lbs & is solid. He loves all kind of baby food...even creamed spinach...uck!!! No wonder he's 18 1/2 lbs...Lord help me when he's a teenager...lol!!! Here are his likes:

*Rolling from side to side
*JUMPAROO!!!
*Any and all baby food...he even ate a cracker too!
*Mommy kisses
*All about Crystal...it's scary because he watches every little move she does and just smiles and laughs @ her...they are 2 peas in a pod!!! God knew what he was doing when he made them brother & sister :-)
*Blowing raspberries when he is taking bites and getting food all over me :-)
*Sticking his tougne out...I just taught him that a couple of days ago...lol
*Water...I think he's part fish..lol!!!!
*Watching baseball w/daddy
*Laughing...everything is funny & it melts my heart to hear him laugh :-) He's such a good and happy little guy!!
*Not taking a nap during day...going to bed @ 8pm and getting up @ 6am..fun..lol!!
*Being outside
*Swinging
* Dogs...esp our sheltie. He has this look in his eyes like "One of these days I'm going to get a great big fist full of your hair & I'm going to pull and laugh"
*Water in his sippy cup..he'll drink some juice but I think prefers water..which is ok cause it's free.
*Grabbing...hair, shirts, cell phones...whatever comes close enough his little hands are reaching for it..lol!!
*Cuddling w/his momma :-)

I can't believe that next week he's going to be 6 months old...that's 1/2 a yr away from his 1st birthday!!!!!! He just amazes me on how good and lovable he is...he's what I needed after loosing Mason. It's so neat to feel the difference between a Mother/daughter bond and a Mother/son bond. I love both my kids to pieces and what I love them for I can't say I love one more than the other because it's certain little things that child does that melts my heart. All I can say is that I love being a mommy!!!! If it weren't for all the "possible" complications...I'd have more kids...but having my 2 plus Mason is good enough for me...they are my life. So I know this blog was mainly about Clay...but I just want to say...I love you Crystal & Clay & Mason!!!!

4 month Stats on my Big Boy!!

They had their "I Love Mom" shirts on the day of Clay's app. Too cute :-)

I hope that he plays baseball one day and gets to play short stop because I'll make this pic into a button to show it was meant to be...lol!!

1st time in his jumparoo and he loved it!!!

Doing push ups

Easter morning...I love them sooooo much!!! They are my world!!

Our little family on Easter morning

Clay got his 1st sand bucket from our church's egg hunt

Such a happy little guy :-)

Clay had is 4 month check up on 4/8 and did really good!! He's right on track for his age. He weighed 16 lbs. 1 oz & is 25 1/2 in. long!!!! Both are in the 75% so he's growing like a little weed!! I can't believe that only 4 months ago he was 6lbs. 11oz.

He's rolled over a few times from his belly to his back and lifts his head up really good now! I got his jumparoo out a couple of days ago and he goes WILD in it!!! He loves it too :-) My mom got him this red bird thing that he can chew on it's feet and he likes to chew on his beak...so needless to say it's going to get washed frequently. He loves putting things in his hands and straight to the mouth it goes!!

Everything is still very funny to him...esp sissy and mommy. Jeremy is very interesting to him too...but he sits and studies him and then will smile really big @ him. I think he's learning how to be just like his daddy :-) His laugh is the cutest and most wonderful sound!!!! I would love to tickle him all day long just to hear that :-) He's going to be a talker too...he's all the time making sounds and talking to the tv. He's not big into cartoons but LOVES basketball and baseball (Jeremy says "That's my boy!!!")

He's still taking 4 oz bottles but @ lunch time he eats some baby food w/cereal & takes about 2 oz...he loves his baby food!!! Right now his favorite is yogurt & homemade peach baby food. He's had green beans and applesauce and likes them...but not as much as the other two.

He loves being outside too!!! He can't wait to start walking...I can tell because his feet go 100 miles a min just Crystal run & jump outside! I think he might be a early walker because he already does his legs in the walking motion...but we'll see :-)

He's still a little momma's boy and loves to be held. I don't believe you can ever spoil a

child by holding them too much so he's in my arms A LOT & I LOVE IT!!!!

Mommy Break Down Ahead...proceed w/Caution :-)

This past weekend I had a major breakdown!!! It started w/Friday night. We decided to test Clay out in his baby bed. I was hesitant because I just like him being right there beside me in his bassinet where I can take a peak @ him if I wake up in the middle of the night. But I stayed strong and decided I would be ok...I had the monitor right next to my head to hear any little peep he made. He did really good though so we decided it was ok to start letting him sleep in there. Saturday was good...nothing major changed. Then Sunday morning came. His morning feeding became his last time for me to nurse him. It made me sad to quit but @ the same time I think he was getting close to being need to wean off because he's starting to teeth and he has bit me a couple of times the past week. I didn't want him to continue to do that & telling him "No"...well...that broke my heart too plus he'd just smile really big @ me. Plus w/my new birth control I'm taking I couldn't be nursing. Then on Monday I went to get him dress so we could leave for work and his clothes were too small...so we had to switch out to 3-6 month clothes :-( Then on top of that I get to work and my boss is anything but friendly so I sat and cried most of the time I was @ work. There was just too much stuff that was changing in a short period of time.

I'm a little better now...but this week has been an emotional roller coaster for me. For the past 2 yrs I've either been pregnant or trying to get pregnant so I've not really done a lot of stuff for myself...it's always been for the sake of getting pregnant or for the little boys I carried or nursing Clay...which I'm not complaining about that at all...but I kind of don't know what to do with myself now. Just yesterday I had bad sinus stuff going on and I was sitting there wondering what I could take...then it came to me that I can take anything now. It sounds silly to get upset over something like that but I did. I think that w/me starting a new birth control and not nursing now I've got more hormones to deal with and it's making me emotional.

Then there's the issue of having more kids or not. Jeremy doesn't and I really don't...but when I talk about no more kids...I get upset w/that too. I'm 95% sure I don't want anymore because I don't want to take any more risks and I have 2 of the most happy and healthy kids anybody could ask for. It's not like there aren't with me 24/7 because they go to work w/me, they go shopping w/me...there's really not alot I don't do w/them. But since I've been having all this overwhelmness I'm going to drop my 2 hr. day @ work and just be there for 2-3hr days. I want to stay home more and enjoy my kids. I think this will help alot because summer is coming up and it's always so nice to be outside and go swimming. Jeremy gave me to ok to just stop working all together but I can't let go of a job that lets me bring my kids to work and where I get to make my own work schedule. I really think I jumped too fast into coming back to work and didn't take the time off that I needed. I started back @ 6 hrs. a week 2 weeks after I had Clay & my 8 hrs. a week 4 wks after I had him..so I don't think I allowed myself to have that "at home time" because @ that point I was scared to death of the NICU bills that we were maybe going to have...but that's all paid off and wasn't as bad as I thought they were going to be. People might think it's silly to not be able to work 8 hrs. a week...but when you have 2 kids and you take care of all the household chores time goes by wayyyyyy toooooo fast!!!! When they both get in school...I have no problem taking on a full time job. But I see it as Jeremy right now has an excellent job & since I do all the housework that allows him to come home and play w/the kids, we have a nice house that's comfortable for us (it's by no means our "dream home" but it does it's job), & we have dependable vehicles. Plus not to mention our outdoor toys we have and everything we get to do...and Jeremy wants me to stay home.

Well...I feel much better after typing this all out...maybe that's what I needed. I'd have to say that having these 2 little rays of sunshine is a blast!!!!! They love each other and are starting to learn how to interact w/each other too!! I think Crystal is past her little jealous point she had @ first. It took a little while but now she knows she ALWAYS gets her "me and mommy" time everyday...she just has to be a little patient. She's into makeup and painting nails and doing hair...so right now that's what we've been doing and she LOVES it!!! We were going to send her to preschool this fall...but I'm going to try to home school her for preschool. She's sooooo smart now & I hate to pay close to $200 a month for her to sit and hear what she already knows. I plan on doing K workbooks w/her and then I've found some neat things and ideas on the internet....and I promised her field trips too!!! She's a little disappointed...but @ the same time exicted because we are going to do everything she would have to do in the mornings to get ready and then just have school @ home.

Clay is waking up and Crystal is needing a snack...so to whoever reads this...thanks for listening :-) The picture above is my favorite time...when I get both to have both of my little blessings on my lap :-)

Why do they have to Grow up soooo fast :-)

Crystal, Jeremy, & Clay chill'n on our little balcony @ the Opry hotel

He LOVED this bath time. I actually let him lay in the water and he kicked like a little mad man!!!

Needless to say...he loved his wagon ride too!! Can't wait for some more warmer days :-)

Crystal & Clay in their new pj's...clay had to change his because he decided to spit up all over them

Clay eating homemade peach baby food...and he LOVED it too!!! I don't think there is anything this boy doesn't like.

I can't begin to explain how much joy this little boy has brought to my life. He is everything and more that I ever imagined and dreamed about. I couldn't imagine my life without him now...he's everything to me...just like his sissy :-)

So Clay is 3 1/2 months old now. Last night he slept in his baby bed...from 9pm-6am!!!! Needless to say...I think he likes it and that means no more bassinet in our room :-( ...but that doesn't mean he can't sleep w/me after Jeremy leaves for work. From about 5:45am-7am is our little snuggle time and sometimes I'm sandwiched between both kiddos...but those moments are why being a parent is the greatest!!!! I think with Clay sleeping in his baby bed...maybe...he might start rolling over. He's almost got it from his back to his belly...but not so much the other way. Oh well...he'll get there :-)

He is a little ladies man!!! I've never seen a baby talk, smile, & laugh @ girls the way he does. We thought we were in trouble w/Crystal...he has already graduated from Charming School 101 w/flying colors!!! He's attracted to redheads too...hummmm...wonder why???

Everything esp his sissy is funny now!!! His laugh is soooooo cute too!!!! I have it on video and am trying to find a way to put it on here and facebook...but haven't figured that out yet.

He's still a momma's boy...but he's starting to find Jeremy very interesting. They are definitely going to be sport watching buddies...he LOVES to watch basketball and football!! We are hoping he'll add in baseball too! He loves to be outside and going for wagon rides. We'll have to get some sunglasses to keep the sun out of his eyes so he can see everything around him.

He is a cuddler which is why drying up from nursing is probably going to be hard. He is starting to become attached to nursing because of the snuggling...so we'll have to figure something else out. I promised him though that just because the nursing was over didn't mean he had to stop snuggling!!

I fall in love with him more and more everyday and thank God for him. They say there's a reason why things happen. I always wondered..."Why Mason" but now that Clay has been here...maybe he's more of what I needed...and I can't explain that feeling...it's just there. It probably sounds horrible how I just worded that...but I can't explain how I feel about Clay. I was so scared about how could I possibly love somebody as much as I love Crystal...but I know how now :-)

I can't believe it's been 3 months!!!

On the 3rd Clay turned 3 months old!!!!! I can't believe time has gone by soooo fast!!! He makes it soooo much fun and now that he's really starting to interact w/Crystal...watching those two is very entertaining!

So some things he's learning is GRABBING!!! That's his big thing right now...he grabs everything from hair, hoop earrings, the phone cord @ work, shirts...and he's trying to get the time down to put it in his mouth. The other day he was sitting in his bouncy seat and had been studying this toy elephant and trying to figure out how to grab it. Well...he got ahold of it's leg and had it all twisted in his hand. He was flinging his hand everywhere and of course the elephant was moving wildly and his eyes were soooo huge like he couldn't believe he had finally did it! He was just "ooooo" and "cooooo" to it...it was sooo funny!! He also likes to grab ahold of your shirt and twist it and put it into his mouth and suck on it. He LOVES getting ahold of Crystal's hair and just smiles when she makes all those funny sounds trying to get away from him!

He's discovered Mickey Mouse is pretty entertaining too. The other day he laid on the floor and watched a whole episode of him! I think he like Mickey and Donald the best.

He loves to still be talked to and will talk back. He does facial expressions to go along w/his stories and they are priceless!!! He'll smile @ just about anything or anybody...he's got Crystal's personality so he'll be quite the little charmer :-)

Most of the things he's found funny has been stuff Crystal has done. He does think it's funny when I run my finger down his nose and then tap his top lip. He's laughed out load a few times and his little laugh is just adorable!!! When Jeremy talks to him he really studies him and takes it all in. That's good because Jeremy's smart and doing stuff comes sooo easy to him...I hope the kids take after him on that.

He had his 1st cold which lasted about 2wks. I'm soooo thankful that's all it was and didn't turn into something worse because there is soooo much stuff going around and I know soooo many people who's babies have had RSV. I thank God everyday for healthy kids!!!

Everyday I wake up I fall in love all over again. He is such a happy baby and he's everything I dreamed he would be. I have been so scared of making sure to do everything right to protect him because I couldn't stand the thought of him not being here. He'll never replace Mason...but the emptiness I had in my heart from loosing him has been filled w/Clay. Clay is a free spirited and happy little guy who loves to snuggle w/his mommy and that is exactly what I've needed. I can look into his eyes and see that he knows what I need and then he'll flash that huge & adorable smile and snuggle under my chin and cooooo @ me. There's no doubt he's a momma's boy and will always be. I love him more and more everyday and everyday I thank God for him.

I'll put some pictures up later...there are some really good ones :-)

My typical day...

I got this from a friend and I'm suppose to tell how my days go. I'll try my best...but we really just kind of take it day by day...a lot less stressful that way!!

7am - Me & Clay usually wake up...nurse and bottle feed. Take him and change him and get his clothes on for the day. Usually Crystal wakes up shortly after we get up and after I feed Clay I get her some strawberry milk and breakfast. Then she gets ready after a round of cartoons.

8am - If it's Mon, Wed, or Fri I'm trying to load the kids into the Expedition to head to work. I have a WONDERFUL job that I can take both kids to. I only work 8 hrs. a week...but it's an extra $80 for the week to do what we want with. The kids do really good @ work too. Crystal has a tv and toys and Clay has a bouncy seat. If it's Tues or Thurs then we just sit and watch some cartoons. I'll sit w/them for awhile and then usually put clay on the floor to play w/his kicker while I clean the kitchen.

9am - 10am Either working or cleaning and playing. At about 930am Clay is hungry again so I bottle feed (I'm weaning him from nursing) and then he takes a short cat nap.

10am-11am - Either working and getting ready to head home @ 11am or playing w/Crystal while Clay sleeps a little.

11am-noon- We eat lunch.

noon-1pm - Crystal does her K books and I feed Clay (nurse & bottle) and then he goes down for his big nap.

1pm-2pm - Clay's napping, I'm either doing cleaning/laundry or Crystal & I are playing the Wii and exercising.

2pm-3pm - Clay's napping, I do my workout Wii for 30 mins and Crystal is usually playing baby dolls or barbies.

3pm-4pm- I start supper. Clay usually wakes up and get changed and feed (nurse and bottle) and Crystal watches some Dora or whatever she's in the mood for.

4pm-5pm - Either fixing supper, finishing cleaning. The kids are playing.

5pm-6pm - Daddy's finally home!!!! Eat supper @ feed Clay (bottle) @ around 6pm. Crystal is usually drawing a picture for her daddy :-)

6pm-7pm - Have some family time and play w/the kids. Sometimes Jeremy & I might get to watch one of our shows.

7pm-8pm - Every other night is bath night for all of us. I usually just get in the tub because it's easier to wash Clay that way. Plus he likes being in there w/Crystal and smiling and laughing @ her. I usually get Crystal washed 1st and while Jeremy is getting her ready I wash Clay and then he gets him ready while I wash myself.

8-9pm - Feeding Clay (nursing & cereal bottle). Crystal gets a little strawberry milk & a bedtime story.

9pm-10pm - Mine and Jeremy's time :-) then off to bed!!

10pm-5am - sleep, sleep, sleep

5am-6am - Clay might wake up when Jeremy's alarm goes off @ 515am and usually he'll just nurse from one side and goes back to sleep snuggled up in my arms.

6am-7am - Sleep. Usually by this time both kids are in bed w/me and Jeremy is off to work.