Joy

Today while sitting watching Klive play in the front room I had an overwhelming feeling of Joy come over me.   It pretty much came out of nowhere and was so strong that it brought tears to my eyes.  I have been a terrible blogger lately.  Maybe because we haven't had a ton of super exciting things going on... but we have experienced a lot of moments that will make great memories!  You know the kind of memories made when you're going about your daily duties, cleaning, folding laundry, changing dirty diapers, feeding a baby and so on and so forth.  It seems like life lately has been super busy now that we have entered the holiday season and sometimes it feels like I can barely find time to do anything, but I just wanted to write about this stage of my life and say that I am enjoying it!

I feel extremely blessed to be able to stay at home with Klive and see all the silly things he does all day.   The mischief he seems to be able to get into even though he isn't fully crawling yet.  I feel so grateful that I get to be the one to pick him up when he tries to kneel and tips over and bumps his head, that it is me who gets to get him out of is crib after his naps and when he wakes up in the morning.  I feel so overhwelmed with gratitude for these blessings.

I also wanted to say that I am so grateful for these two

My life would not be nearly what it is without them!  So to my boys I love you both very much.  I feel truly blessed that I get to spend the eternities with you!

6 Months Old

Happy Birthday buddy!  I can't believe you have already been here on this beautiful Earth for six months.  When I think about it the time has flown by...  Must be because we are having so much fun being your parents!  I couldn't ask for a better boy.  You really are the sweetest most huggable and cute baby out there.  Ever since you've chunked up I find myself squeezing your chubby legs and cheeks and kissing your very round face all over!  I adore being your mom and thank my Heavenly Father daily for trusting me with the the large responsibility of raising you.  You bring so much joy into my life and even though your Dad and I were married for almost 5 years before you came along I sometimes find it hard to remember what our life was like without you.

In your short life you have been privy to many experiences. You have been on a diet (by accident), flown on a plane, rolled off the couch, tasted ice cream, almost choked on a raspberry chunk, rubbed the hair on your head and grown it back, and during all of these things you have found time to nap and play!

Buddy we love you so much!  We hope you had a great day today on your half birthday!

PS.   Thanks for hamming it up during your photo session today!

PPS.  Here are a few of my favorites

 

 

A note from your Dad -
Hey pal - I can't even tell you how much we love you.  It's so crazy, your mom and I are just blown away every day at how we can love you more and more all the time.  You are the sweetest little guy, you're just so patient and lovey and just plain stinkin' cute!


We have experienced so much more joy in our lives ever since you've come along.  We think we're starting to see some little personality traits coming out and we love it.  One think is for sure, we know you're a wild man!  You're just soooo busy all the time.  Everyone always tells us that we're really in for it when you become mobile, because, they say, most kids your age just kinda' sit and hang out, but you have to have your hands on something or be looking at something - you just have to be doing something (you're kind of like your dad that way), and we get such a kick out of it.


From the day you were born we knew you were a smart little whipper-snapper.  I always remember how you hadn't pooped after 24 hours or something, so the nurse said she was going to get something to make you poop (a thermometer they would've had to put up your poor bum).  By the time the nurse got back, you had done it yourself - as if to say "No thanks, I don't need your stinkin' thermometer..."


We love that you're so much like your mom - always interested in ALL the people around you.  This week while we were in Phoenix with you was sooo fun, and it was hilarious to watch you look at everybody.  We would be in a restaurant feeding you, and every time somebody would walk by, you would push your bottle out of your mouth and make sure you watched somebody go by, until you couldn't see them anymore.  Then, whenever someone would be talking to you or your mom and dad, you would always give them your full attention... usually followed by a big 'ol gummy grin!  People LOVED you and always talked about how cute it was that you were so attentive.


Anyway, I just wanted to tell you, as your old man, that I love you more than anything in the whole world (except for your mom of course, I love her as much as I love you)!  You're the best - so fun, so happy, so lovey, so sweet, so cute.  Your mom and I just can't get enough of you and your cutest laugh and smiles.  Thanks for being the best little guy that parents could ask for.  Happy half-a-year!

Happy Birthday Little Man

It's hard to believe that just 5 short, but seemingly long months ago you joined are family.  Since then our life has been filled with the joys of first time parenthood.  Learning the ropes, while trying not to damage you in the long run.  You truly are such a blessing to our little family and it feels like you have been with us always.  We love you so much and love watching you learn and progress.  Even though my days are filled with changing poop filled diapers, getting spit up on, and listening to you cry while trying to fall asleep for you naps. I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING!  I absolutely LOVE being YOUR MOM.

So since you are 5 months old I thought it would only be fitting to list 5 things I love about you

1.  You are a very somber baby and you really make people work to get a smile.  As a matter of fact this is the expression you have on your face most of the time.

2.  You have recently found your toes and love to suck on them.  I think it is super cute, but your Dad thinks it's a little bit gross.  If you are still sucking on your toes when you are walking around on them I might have to put a stop to it, but for now it a okay with me.

3.  You have really grabby hands that are pretty quick.  It keeps us on our toes.  There have been a few times you have snatched your Dad's glasses and it makes us laugh.

4.  Smiles are hard to come by, but when you get one they are big, gummy, and so darn cute!

5.  And last but not least you still sleep in a swaddle.  When you are sleeping you constantly grab at your eyeballs and wake yourself up.  I worry that if I let your arms stay free you might not be able to see when you get up from your nap and your nap will be all of 5 minutes.

 

My Name is Klive and I Like Rice Cereal

Yesterday I took Klive in for his 2nd and final weight check.  He did awesome!  Our little buy tipped the scales at a whopping 13 lbs. 1/2 oz and is now 25 inches long.  He is now in the 4th percentile for his weight and the 25th percentile for his height.  Not only did we find out that he is growing like he should, but we also got the go ahead to start him on stage 1 solid foods and that he now can go 6-8 hours a night without eating.  I left the Doctors office energized and ready to start baby boot camp right away!  (This waking up ever 4 hours in the night to feed my sweet little one has really taken a toll on my sanity)

Last night once we got home from family night we got our little man ready for bed and his first taste of rice cereal, and to my surprise he seemed to like it!

As far as waking up every 4 hours to eat last night Klive went 6 1/2 hours before he woke up so we didn't even have to start bootcamp.  I'm not sure if he slept so well due to the cereal or a sleep sounds cd that I bought.  But whatever the change is from I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that it sticks!

What do you do in the summertime?

Lay in the grass

Suck on my lip

Laugh a little

Eat my bumbo

and play in the grass

Ready for Church

Sunday we headed up to the Stake Center for church, but since the our little Klivesicle was looking so adorable I thought I would take some pics so everyone who reads this blog can see how handsome he looked before he drooled all over himself and covered the front of his shirt with spit up.

There you have it, our little guy is one handsome devil!

Just Because

Today I took pictures of you just because I think you are the cutest thing ever.  Today I took a minute to enjoy the sound of your little cry, and to laugh at how tight you grab my hair and pull it when you are giggling.  I realized today that in the blink of an eye you will not longer be my little baby, but will soon be a boy so I better enjoy and savor the time I have with you right now.  So here is a list of the things I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about you:

your gummy smile
the way you grin at me in the middle of the night when I go in your room to feed you
the way you drool all over everything and everyone
that most times you poop a little when you fart and it makes me laugh
how you love to try and hold your bottle
your grabby hands
your ears and how they poke out a little at the top
your long skinny legs
your huge skinny feet
the tuft of hair on the top of your head
your teeny tiny bum cheeks
how your hair flips up at the back of your neck when you lay down
how you love to play with your toes
when you pull your binky out of your mouth and try to put it back in
watching your face when you roll over from your belly to your back, you always look surprised
how your tiny chin pokes down from your newly chubby cheeks
when you grab at your ears when you get tired
your pretend cry
how you burry your head in my chest when you're tired
your blue eyes
your dimple when you smile, it's just like your Dad's
how you cry when I try to suck out your nose
and last but not least how you love to kick your legs like crazy when I'm trying to change your diaper

You are such a cutie pie and we feel so blessed to be your parents.  You bring so much joy and happiness into our lives and we wouldn't be complete without you.  I love you always and forever! 

4 Months Old

I can hardly believe that is has already been 4 months since my Little Man came into the world.  He is such a darling little boy and we love him so much.  During his 4 month checkup we learned a few things about this boy 1.  He is in the 0% percentile for his weight.  At this check up he weighed 10 lbs 8 oz.  This is no good since 5 weeks ago he was a whopping 10 lbs. 13 oz.  So basically this means my breast milk might have the caloric quality of water and we need to start this boy on formula ASAP!  The Dr gave us order to feed the man child ever 3-4 hours 4-5 ounces of formula, no solid foods and to surely feed him during the night if he wakes up hungry.  Hearing this news I felt so sad since I was getting frustrated that he was sleeping worse through the night than he did when he was younger.  Well duh!  He has been STARVING!  Since starting this new formula feeding schedule I feel like I have a new baby!  He doesn't cry when his bottle is empty, he is much easier to get smiles from and he has become an excellent napper!  I just thought that I had a difficult child, I had no idea that his fussiness was due to the fact he was hungry all the time.  Since he is so underweight for his age we are taking him back next week for a weight check to make sure that he is packing on the lbs. and the formula is working.  Hopefully everything goes well.  2.  He is in the 25% percentile for his height.  He is now 24 1/4 in.  Since he has such a slender build right now this boy is a tall drink of water and so adorable!

Klive has now learned to enjoy his tummy time, but has also learned that once he is finished he can just roll over onto his back!

He likes his binky, but loves his hands and fingers!  Unless this boy is talking to you or smiling he almost always has his tiny little fingers in his mouth.  It is so cute, and to tell the truth I secretly love to watch him suck on his fingers.

He also loves to sit in his bumbo.  Since he's still a little squirt we have to prop him up with a blanket so he doesn't fall out, but needless to say he loves it.  I guess it makes him feel big!
Klive was a trooper when he got his shots this time.  He cried when she gave the shots but as soon as I picked him up he was finished.  He just snuggled with me till we got to the car.  As a matter of fact next time he gets his shots he might not cry at all since he might now associate shots with a full belly!
We also got a chance to see Tutu and Grandpa Cooper which is always so fun for us!

Even though Klive isn't looking I absolutely love, love, love this picture!  What can I say Klive might have the cutest Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa of any boy.  I adore these guys!

4th of July... Actually the 3rd

This year the 4th was quite a celebration around our house.  It started on the 3rd and lasted until the 12th.  Jeff's work had a summer break all of this week so we were able to party all week!  Our celebration started on the 3rd of July with the Murray City parade.  It was pretty exciting taking Klive to his very first parade.  Unfortunately he slept through the entire thing!  Maybe next year he will be able to keep his eyelids open and enjoy.  After the parade we went to a BBQ at Jeff's Mom's house and took Klive swimming for the first time.  It was so fun and he LOVED it!  He was kicking his little legs all over the place and cried when we took him out.  Unfortunately we had to get him out before his diaper exploded all over the place.  We weren't able to find a swim diaper small enough to fit his skinny bum, so we just used a regular diaper.

Our little family in our Red White and Blue!

Klive right before his first swim

and during his swim.


After we took a dip in the pool we headed to Murray Park for some fireworks. 

We were able to hang out with these to cuties!  Tre and Brook

Wear glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets

Look at this cute face

and see a few of these! 

Klive was so good during the fireworks.  I thought he might be scared, but to my surprise he slept through the entire show.

When we got home and told him about the excitement he missed he made this face!  Just joking, but this picture of him is too cute to leave off the blog and it was taken on the 4th.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 

Wasatch Back

This year Jeff ran the Wasatch Back with some buddies from our neighborhood.  So Klive and I decided to head on up to Park City with some of the wives and support the team.  We had so much fun waiting for them to finish.  While up in PC we had great Mexican food, hit up the outlets, and relaxed. 

I Am Now the Proud Parent of a 2 Month Old

Today was Klive's 2 month birthday.  So in order to celebrate his second month of life he swam in the bath tub for a little bit, went to a well baby check, and got 3 shots.  All in all we had a very productive day celebrating!  Klive was such a trooper at his dr's appt.  We were excited to find out that he now weighs 10 lbs. 5 oz., is 22 1/2 in. long, and his noggin is 39 cm around.  So basically he is growing like a weed!  He has been experiencing cradle cap and had dry skin behind his ears that cracks and will bleed so we had the Dr. take a look.  Lucky for us both of these problems are a quick fix.  Just a little hydrocortizone behind his ears and on his scalp 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days and that should fix him right up.  We also noticed he is starting to get a little rash under his double chin so the Dr. suggested we put a little baby powder under there and it should go away.  I guess that what happens when your chubby cheeks crowd your neck!  He was such a trooper for his shots, he did cry and experienced his first tears (super sad) I wanted to cry right along with him.  As soon as he got his last shot he went pee through his diaper and soaked the table he was laying on which made him more upset.  Who likes laying in there own pee?  I think that would upset anyone so we think he did great!  Just because we think he is adorable here are some pictures from our day today.

 

Bud we love you so much and are so happy to have you in our family!  Happy 2 Month Birthday!