Clover's 1st Halloween

I'm watching the Biggest Loser as I write this, so if my sentences are incoherent I apologize before hand. It's very intense!

Clover's first Halloween was so fun! We don't really celebrate Halloween, we celebrate life through Christ instead of death. But on this night, who can pass up free candy?? ;)

Clover's granny/bb/beanball/whatever she's going to be called (aka Brenda, Brian's mom) and her MawMaw(Brian's grandma) came out to see Clo in her first ever costume. She was first a ladybug and we took some cute pictures of her and my sister's dog Macy, who was a bumblebee.
Then, like any classy young girl, she had a wardrobe change into the main costume of the night. A giraffe! Cause you know this girl loves giraffes! Well, we like giraffes, that is.



We only went to 4 houses, and they were all our neighbors we've known for years. And because she is just so darn cute, we got lots of extra! So afterward we thought we'd take some cute pictures of her and her pile of candy. And the inevitable happened, she bit through the package of a crunch bar and got her first taste of chocolate! ah, I know I'm a bad mother!! ;) jk! But we did try to get all the pieces out of her mouth before she swallowed!

The evidence.

Okay, I hope I satisfied the few who actually read this. Im going back to eatin' some not so good stuff and watching Biggest Loser! Happy Tuesday!

10 Months & counting

. 19lbs . 27.5in .


.Milestones.

1. first steps! the most she'll do is about 3
2. understands "don't touch" although when I say it she usually touches whatever it is and then crawls away at lightening speed!
3. almost has "all done, please" in sign language down ... usually in the form of clapping hands
4. learning to nap unassisted (translation: crying it out) ugh, it kills me!
5. has yet ANOTHER cold
6. 8th tooth coming in for landing!
7. eats just about everything now, including stuff she finds on the ground; still.

We had an ultrasound on Oct. 18th. We got good news, not great news, but its good. Her left kidney (the better of the 2) has grown and the swelling has gone down. WOO! The right (the bad one, which had surgery) has grown just barely enough to be called grown. But hey, that's better than digressing or not growing at all! We are seeing the light at the end of the long tunnel. We have another ultrasound in February and he is scheduling a Mag3 scan (details of last one, click here) which will tell us at what percentage the kidneys are working. And after those tests we will decide if/when to do our (Lord willing) last surgery. Phew, lots to be praying for!

As for me, things are busy. Not that I have a ton of plans or anything. I thought having an infant kept me busy, but now that Clover can crawl everywhere super fast (I wasn't joking about "lightening speed") I am constantly saying "don't touch" "no" and chasing after her. She is a smart thang ... go figure she is learning how to get around my barriers (pillows) I put up to keep her in the living room!

On to our recent venture. Gap Casting Call I know it's a slim chance to win, but if we win the fan vote, we get a $1000 gift card to baby gap! That's awesome! And then there is a separate judging panel and if we get in the final 20 we get $500 gap gift card and a trip to San Fransisco for a photo shoot etc. I'm mostly doing it for the gift card! So please vote for Clover! CLICK HERE! You can vote everyday until November 14! And then I'll leave you alone :)

Gap Casting Call

Normally I wouldn't look twice at this, but the prize is too tempting!

Please vote for Clover! You can vote everyday until November 14!

Click here to vote for Clover

GO DODGERS!

Actually I could care less. My family roots for the Dodgers and my husband is in love with the Braves. I say in love with and not roots for because I constantly find him looking at Braves stuff on MLB.com when he is supposed to be doing other things. It's not healthy.

My dad, wanting a picture of Clover in her new first Dodger's t-shirt, insisted I try to get a cute picture of her in it. Well this is no easy task. You can have a brief look into the multiple pictures I tried to take just for ONE good one. I tell ya, I took about 30+ pictures.

So here ya go!














































































and the lucky winner:

The Year of the 5

I'm going to stretch this idea a bit so bear with me. On a tangent is it "bear with me" or "bare with me"? That is the question of the hour, isn't it?

Five number 1
This year we have added a fifth member to our family, Clover! How? We consider our dogs our first children, and yes we do realize that for those of you who don't really like dogs we seem crazy! If I were to never get married or have children I would be the crazy dog lady. My dream is to have a huge house with property, overflowing with dogs and children! Ah, I'm going off topic again! Sorry. So there are five of us.

Okay moving on!

Five number 2
Indiana, our first child, turned 5 this year. We always celebrate with hot dogs which he barely chews, just swallows them whole. Gross.

and
Five number 3
We have been married 5 years this last September 17. Yes, we made it. We are now considered a wise married couple, so if anyone needs counseling you know who to call. No not us! The church, they'll give you someone good. ;)

We celebrated by going to Oceanside and staying in a beach house right on the beach! It was beautiful and COLD! Clo enjoyed the sand, putting it in her mouth, in her diaper, pretty much anywhere. And right before we left there was a hot rod drive right outside, they were pretty cool. Five years came fast, and now that we have a babe it's going to go a whole lot faster.


Now Im not really a sentimental or emotional person, but I don't want my love for my husband to go unnoticed. The Lord gave me a man that I didn't think existed. He was everything on my "list" that I wrote out when I was 16 as a new believer in Christ. He is my perfect counterpart. We don't even have to say anything, just a look and he knows what Im thinking or looking at or wondering about. He is patient, kind, gentle, playful, hilarious, and all around my best friend. And like I tell him all the time, he better NEVER die!!! He is my little poopsie (like from the little mermaid).

Monday Morning Laugh

This is for you early Monday morning pleasure. Listen at the end for the BIG finale ;)





permission to show this video given by: Clover Irby

9 Months & counting

. 17lb 14oz . 27.5in .

.milestones.
cruises
7 teeth
can stand on own for a couple seconds
says mama, dada
knows object permanence
eats a variety of fruits, vegetables and as of last night, meat!

.fun facts.
has had 2 colds
her eyes have changed from dark blue to a hazel green
hates the church nursery
loves alone time with dad because he gives her whatever she wants (i.e. fruit before veggies)
We are back, by popular demand! Sorry it took so long ... the 2 colds hit one after the other ... and each take awhile to recover, GEEZ!

A few updates before Im on my way.

For those of you who heard through the grapevine, we were suspicious that there might be another bladder infection. Thankfully it was just a little bacteria, not enough to be considered an infection. So some heavy doses of antibiotics and we were on our way.

Clover is doing great! She is so much fun. She's turned into my mini-me. Brian even said she does my "that's not funny" face. She loves people, just not if they try to hold her or take her away from mom. If you were to sit next to us in a restaurant, just know there will be a little baby staring at you the whole time you eat. Yes, I have the child with the staring problem that makes you think, "geez why doesn't that baby stop staring!"
We just got her halloween costume! Yes, we are fully planning on trick-o-treating! No, we will not be letting Clo eat the candy, that is for us! So watch for us, maybe we'll come to your house (but only if you have good candy).

I have a few updates in the making ... so please feel free to yell at my to hurry up if I take to long!