Wow...18 months old! Here is a look at month 17!

It is really hard to keep up with all of the new things that Clayton learns and does! It seems as though he learns something new everyday! I will try to hit the highlights of the past month, but I'm sure there are many, many more. I know one thing, we try to cherish each and every precious moment because time is just flying by!

The past month:

*Clayton has aquired a new obsession for trucks...or "crucks" as he calls them. He loves to push them around the house making this "mmmmm" sound all the while. This also lead to the love of the Disney movie Cars. He also points out the window while we are driving and sees the trucks and yells "Truck, Truck, Wow!"

*Loves anything and everything Toy Story related...he calls it "Tu Tu"

*Has gotten really good at climbing...YIKES!

*Went to his first movie, where we learned he LOVES popcorn!

*Knows countless animals and their sounds...including crab, shark (one of his favorites), and turtle...this all from our trip to the Newport Aquarium

*Is full on running at this point

*Is becoming very independent...no more feeding him, which has been going on for awhile, but we used to at least be able to help, but oh no...things must be done on his own now!

*Some of his new favorite foods (which are few and far between b/c he is super picky) include yogurt or "ogurt", grapes or "gapes", and chicken nuggets or "chicky". Loves Capri Sun flavored water, chewy fruit snacks, pretzels, and his all time favorite love...POPSICLES!

*Says yes and no appropriately

*Chooses what he wants to eat given a choice, or he will just go to the pantry or fridge and tell you what he wants

*Still in love with his BB (blanket), Pup Pup, and Pie Pie (pacifier)...we are going to have to work on this last one!

*Loves to build with blocks

*Consistently knows the color yellow

*Has a new love for Cows, after daddy took him to Chik-fil-a and it just so happened to be National Cow Day...HA

*Still loves to be read to

*When watching Elmo's World...he sings the La La La La part at the beginning and sings the word World, and holds the note for a long time...it is beyond cute!

*Went to the spray park at Burdette for the first time

*I am always counting things with him, and he will point and count with me...repeating "Two, Two, Two"

*Really understands when given directions and will follow them, well, most of the time ;) For example...he will pick out a snack and I will say okay, you have to get into your chair...he walks over to his chair and says "Chair" and waits to be put in it.

*Really cute...I will say something like...after you eat then we will go outside and play, okay? and he answers "Okay"

*Is obsessed with outside...he will go to the door leading out to the deck and say "side"

*Loves to brush his teeth, but with our toothbrushes...HA

*Loves to dance

*Now when he gives kisses he makes the sound mmmwhhaaa...I have always done that when kissing him and now he does it...too cute!

*Is getting really good at eating on his own with a spoon or fork

*Will bring you the remote control when he wants to watch a movie

*His vocabulary is growing beyond belief...he evens says the word Yellow correctly...most kindergarteners can't do that...okay a little bragging, we have had numerous people with children his age or older tell us they can't believe how well he talks! We aren't proud or anything ;)

As far as Dr. Cochran's report...I am happy to say he is a healthy, happy baby boy! He weighed 22lbs and was 32 1/4 inches...so as far as weight goes, he continues to be a little guy...tall and skinny like his Pops! He does have to go see an ENT and will see Dr. Deppe again about his feet, but we couldn't be more thankful or blessed that he is an overall healthy and SMART :) baby! He is just growing up so fast!!! I need a pause button!

More Summer Fun!

Here recently we went on a playdate with my good friend Anne and her two adorable kiddos. Anne and I did our Masters together and had lost touch for a few years, but after running into each other at the mall we have reconnected and I am so happy we did. I am looking forward to many more playdates to come! On this day we met at the Children's Museum to play. The kids had a ball and Anne and I enjoyed catching up!

We also recently watched one of Clayton's best buddies Owen. We played outside in the water table and ate Popsicles. Both were a hit! I got some adorable pictures of the boys playing peek a boo with one another. I look forward to them growing up together.

We are truly blessed to have such great people in our lives!

Water Baby...Take Two!

Last year, we put Clayton in a Water Babies class at the YMCA. He was about 6 months old at the time, and he already absolutely loved the water. At the time, he was really only old enough to get in and splash around. They do things like sing songs that incorporate dipping them into the water, blowing bubbles, taking them under, and jumping into their parents arms off of the side of the pool. We basically did the songs and the splashing, but that was about it! Both Scott and I wanted to enroll him again to keep his enthusiasm of water going. Boy is it a different story this time around! The pool starts shallow and gradually goes deeper. Clayton loved walking around in the shallow part, and had we let him, he would have kept on going right on in to the deep end! He also enjoyed splashing, floating on his back with daddy's help, singing along with the songs, going under the water, and jumping off of the side into our arms. It is just amazing how fast they grow and learn! We are also looking forward to taking the class with Clayton's good friend Owen! He is enrolled in the class as well. He didn't get to come on this night, but I'm sure more posts and pictures will be coming in the future of the buddies together.

Big Brother Update...

Well last week was THE ultrasound, you know the one at which you can find out the sex if you choose...but we didn't. We are still set in our decision to have it be a surprise. Although we didn't find out the sex it was still just as exciting as ever. Clayton didn't feel the same way. Poor little guy, when I laid on the table and the lady started to look around and measure the baby, he started crying and reaching for me saying, "Ma Ma, Ma Ma". I think it scared him, he thought the lady was doing something to me or hurting me. I kept reassuring him by talking to him and smiling and telling him that I was okay, but it didn't really work. We pulled out his gummy fruit snacks, which he LOVES...and he ate them, but cried while doing it. My poor baby. He just isn't old enough to understand what was going on. We kept trying to point at the baby and say, "Look Clayton, there is the baby", but he was looking at that screen like...that doesn't look like any baby I've ever seen before. The great news is that Clayton's baby brother OR sister is healthy and strong and everything looked great! So very thankful for my two blessings, they are the greatest gifts that I have or ever will receive!

Mullins' Family Get Together...

Granny helping Clayton down the deck stairs
Scott grilling for the family

For some reason this wall is so entertaining for kids

The men playing cornhole in the backyard

Brian playing with the boys

Every one's favorite place...the kitchen :)

Clayton playing with his new tractor Great Granny Mullins got him

Hurry Grandpa...open that tractor!

This past weekend, we decided to have all of the Mullins family come to our house for a cookout. Unfortunately, we don't get to see each other often enough because of the distance, but thankfully this weekend everyone was able to make it in. It was also nice because most of them had not been to our new house yet. We had dinner, and sat and chatted while the kids played on the deck for most of the night. The next morning we had brunch at Firefly which was delicious! I am just so glad that Clayton has such a wonderful, loving, supportive family on both sides. We are so fortunate!

First Movie at the Theatre!

My handsome date

The perfect movie date :)

Owen and Clayton sharing popcorn, but Clayton is hogging it!

Checking out the displays

In the summertime, Showplace has older movies showing for 2 dollars, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to see how Clayton would do in the theatre. Not to mention the extremely hot weather we have had, a movie was the perfect playdate! We met some friends to see the Elmo Beach movie. We got there and as soon as we walked in the door, he says "Oh Wow!". He was amazed at all of the posters and life size cutouts. They even had big blow up characters from the new kids movie coming out. I got a big bag of popcorn, some drinks, and we were set. Clayton literally ate almost half the bag of popcorn by himself, and sat perfectly still for nearly the entire time! He was so excited and it was so fun to watch him! At one point the screen went black after the previews and before the movie started and he says (loudly) "Oh No!". Of course when Abby and Elmo came on the screen he also had to shout their names, he loves them. All in all it was a great experience and we plan on going again!

Summer Splashin'...

Daddy and Clayton sharing a Banana Slushy

Having a snack by the pool

Big Fun

Sticking his face in the water

Clayton loves the water, so on Monday Scott had the day off so we ventured to Burdette. It was amazing. I knew he loved the water, but this kiddo was in heaven. We started out in the baby pool which was probably up to his waist. We were obviously right there with him, but he fell under a few times and every time we grabbed him up out of the water he would just wipe his eyes and start calling for the water again...Wa Wa. We thought it might be a little easier for him to maneuver the spray park there, and man did he love that. People were even commenting on how they couldn't believe he would go right up to the water and put his face right in it...especially at his age! These two older women were there and were just in love with him, they were so entertained :) He even stood under one spout that would fill up a bucket of water and then dump the entire bucket on his head! Before we left Daddy and Clayton enjoyed a little banana slushy :) We will definitely be taking him back there. He cried when we left...Wa Wa :( What a great day!

4th of July Fun...

Clayton checking out the goose
Ducks, his favorite!

Daddy and Clayton on the fire truck

Checking out the tools

Riding shot gun

We had a busy 4th of July. We started out the day getting Clayton's 18 month pictures done, which by the way are so good! Then we took Clayton to a birthday party to see a real fire truck! Clayton was amazed by it, he wanted to climb right on as soon as he saw it. He even got to sit in the passenger seat! Then we visited family at Scales Lake where we went to the petting zoo. He wanted in the cage with those animals so bad. There was goose in particular that found Clayton to be very interesting, and Clayton was just as interested, !but we had to make sure Clayton kept his fingers out because I'm pretty sure that goose would have had no problem biting them! Finally we ended the night by watching fireworks. Clayton wasn't too sure about them even though they were far away, I think the noise scared him a little. It was a great, but exhausting day!