Thursday, April 30, 2009

Maybe I was wrong...

I didn't see it at first, but after a little research (translation: looking through a multitude of Clayton's baby pictures), I think that my babies do resemble each other a bit.

Baby Clayton (6 months)


Baby Drew (6 months)

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Going Green & 6 Month Appointment

Drew's going GREEN.... eating green beans, that is. :)

Drew has been eating 4 tablespoons of oatmeal in the morning and 4 tablespoons of rice cereal at night. So, we decided to start trying other baby foods. Last night, we introduced green beans. Clayton HATED green beans as baby food, but loved them once he could eat the real thing (for some strange reason). However, Drew thought that green beans were great from the first bite. Well, maybe the second bite. :)

He made a funny face after the first bite, but was all smiles after that. I have a feeling that our big 'ole boy is not going to be a picky eater. Ha ha!



I took Drew to Dr. M. this morning for his 6 month checkup. He weighed 18lbs. 8.5oz. (60%), was 27 1/2 inches long (75%), and his head circumference was 17 inches (25%). Not too shabby, I'd say.
He also said that his ears were clear and everything else looked fine. His next well visit will be at 9 months. By then he'll be eating baby food at breakfast, lunch, and dinner and crawling - I can't even wrap my mind around that right now!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Happiest Place on Earth

We just got back from Disneyland!!! Let me tell you what, they don't call it "the happiest place on earth" for nothin'! We had the best time!

We have been debating about taking Clayton on a Disney adventure for over a year. But... I was pregnant, then we had sweet Drew, then we debated about traveling with a newborn, and then it finally all came together. What made the whole trip possible was having 4 adults for our 2 kids. Grammie and Papaw were kind enough to go with us and we could never have pulled it off without them. They entertained Clayton on the plane, took turns watching Drew so that we could all ride the rides, and took Drew back to the hotel a couple of the days so that he could get some good naps. Thanks Marsha & Terry for all of your help!!!

I was really worried about how the boys would do. A 2 hour time change, 3 hour flight, being off schedule, cat naps for Drew, no naps for Clayton - it could have been a complete disaster. However, the boys did so good - so much better than I thought that they would. They slept on the plane, Drew was rarely fussy, Clayton only had a couple of minor meltdowns towards the end of the week, and they didn't wake up at the crack of dawn (they are pretty hardwired to wake up at 7am which would be 5am California time). I was so proud of how they both adjusted!

I don't know how they do it, but there is something in the Disney air that makes everyone into a kid again. I think that we adults had just as much fun as the kids. :) I loved getting to do things with Clayton & Drew that I remembered from my childhood. I had vivid memories of It's a Small World, the Dumbo ride, the Teacups, etc. Getting to share those things with my kids felt so nostalgic. I loved every minute of it!

Family Picture with Mickey & Minnie



Wade, Clayton, Pluto, and I at breakfast on Wednesday


A family picture in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle


Grammie & Papaw with their boys in front of the castle


We were all sad to leave...



We played so hard over the last week - it was a complete and total blast! It sure is nice to be at the second happiest place on earth (a.k.a. our house), though. :)

* This is the Cliff's Notes version of our week at Disneyland. The "mega post" is below with MANY more pictures and tons of details if you care to read more. ;) *

The Disneyland Mega-Post

One of these days I am going to make a blurb book out of this blog and it will be our family scrapbook. That's my plan, anyway. I want to make sure that all of the details of our first family Disney trip are covered. So, here's the play by play. :)

Day 1:
It was Drew's first time on an airplane! You know that his Mama dressed he & Clayton in their matching airplane shirts. :)

As soon as we took off, there was a diaper emergency that can only be accurately described in a Not Me Monday! I'll have to save that story. The thought of it makes my stomach churn. YUCK!

Shortly after the above disaster, Baby Boy was sleeping soundly and napped for the entire rest of the flight.

Clayton got a pilot hat and wings. He looked so cute, but I couldn't get him to smile normally. What a goof!

After the flight, we drove around LA and did some sightseeing.
Day 2:
This was our first day at Disneyland! There were tons of characters waiting right when we walked in.
Mickey & Minnie

Goofy

Pluto - Clayton LOVED Pluto! He was one of his very favorite characters.

Papaw discovered "Jedi Training School" over by Star Tours. That was right up our little Jedi's alley!!! We were worried, though, because they told us that not all of the kids get picked to participate. The Jedi master uses "the force" to pick out some kids from the audience. Luckily, Clayton got picked and even got to stand right next to the Jedi master on stage. He was stoked!!!

He got to have a real duel with Darth Vader....

and got a little diploma stating that he was a real Padawan. :)

Drew got to ride his first ride - It's a Small World. He was in heaven with all of the colorful lights, music, and movement. He didn't know where to look!

Clayton talked us into a Pluto hat. Too cute! (In case you are wondering, Clayton ended up with a grand total of 5 hats from the trip!)
He got to hug Pluto again in Toontown.

And he met Goofy. Goofy was apparently offended that Clayton didn't choose a Goofy hat and covered up his Pluto hat for the picture. ;)

Sweet Drew was such a trooper all week long!

Clayton rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with Papaw.

Then he rode the Teacups with Grammie & I.

Drew took many a nap in his carseat. It's a good thing that he is used to being on the go!

Day 3:
We woke up and had breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. It was AWESOME!

They had Mickey shaped waffles and pancakes, peanut butter & jelly pizza, and a huge buffet of every breakfast and kid food that you can think of.

Where else could you have gummy worms & dirt cake for breakfast?!?!

This is also where Clayton met Alice. He was completely and totally smitten with her. He talked about her nonstop for the rest of the trip. He has told me multiple times since we got home that he wants to go back and visit Alice again. She has stolen his little heart. :)

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and he was on cloud 9. He wouldn't even let us wash it off when we got back to the hotel. HA!

We also met Baloo...

and Chef Goofy...

and Chip.

Clayton couldn't resist doing the Hot Dog Dance with the Goofy topiary. What a trip!

We spent the rest of the day at Disney's California Adventure park. It was very cute also. There were lots of movie themed rides and attractions.

Clayton loved the zip line at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.

The 3D Toy Story Mania ride was a fav for Wade & Clayton.

Drew hung out in the Baby Ktan until Grammie & Papaw took him back to the hotel for a good nap.

Clayton got to meet Woody.

And he told Cinderella, "You're so beautiful!" She declared him to be her Prince Charming.

Grammie & Papaw brought Drew back after his nap so that we could all enjoy the parade together. (Clayton took a short nap too, as evidenced by the drool spot on Wade's jacket. ;) )

At the parade, we discovered that our boy definitely does not have rhythm. He pretty much just stood there and swayed.

They had a little Conga line for the kiddos.

Day 4:
It was Drew's half birthday! (I cheated and wrote his 6 month post before we left and scheduled it to post while we were in California.) We celebrated by driving down the Pacific Coast Highway and beach hopping. How's that for a half birthday! Man, have we ever set the bar high?!?! Every birthday after that one is going to be a let down. Ha ha!
The area by Torrey Pines where people hand glide off the cliffs.

La Jolla

All those things behind Clayton that look like rocks are actually seals and sea lions.

How neat is that?!?!

Our little family on the pier at La Jolla

It was G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!



Clayton & Wade played in the freezing cold water at the beach. They are so crazy!

At Coronado Beach

Day 5:

We spent our last full day of vacation at Disneyland.
Clayton & I rode the Dumbo ride.

Clayton got to meet Buzz Lightyear. He thought that was, "Awesome!" Buzz even let him push his laser.

Have I mentioned how much I love my baby boy??? Just checking.

Minnie was such a gracious hostess.

Mickey was pretty neat, too.

Clayton got a Peter Pan hat. Oh, the dress up fun that we will have...

Wade spotted the lead actor from the movie Twilight. He said, "Do you mind if I take your picture with my Mom?" (Marsha LOVES the Twilight series!) The actor (Robert Pattison, right?) said, "Sure! Come here, Mom!" and gave Marsha a big hug. What a nice guy!

Wade, Clayton, and I rode Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters one last time before calling it a night...

THE END