Clayton is 3, Check Out What He Has Been Up To!!!

Clayton is quite the character...he seriously talks non-stop!!!!  I have had numerous people, including his pediatrician, compliment on how great his speech is and how clearly he speaks.  He is definitely not at a loss for words...hmmm wonder who he gets that from?! 

He can count to 20 and backwards from 10!  He loves to count while playing hide and seek!

He knows no strangers, greeting people in the store and wherever we go.  If we go someplace new, he just walks in like he has been there a million times and makes himself at home!  He is not shy in the least and is usually "the life of the party" :)

He is seriously a SPONGE!  He knows so many more things than I even realize.  Half the time he will say something and I am like...how did you know that?!  We were on the way to Sam's the other day and all I told him is that we were going to the store.  Well instead of turning left at the light to go to Schnucks I went straight and he starts shouting from the back, "No, no Mommy it's that way (pointing left)!"  I had to explain that we were going to a different store.  So now he calls Sam's the "different store".

He is so full of character and life.  People can't help but smile when they are around him.  He is always smiling and laughing.

He has a huge imagination!  He loves the movie Cars 2...Finn McMissile is his absolute favorite.  He carries him everywhere including the bath, the table while he eats, and his bed at night time.  He loves to role play and often makes Daddy be "Tow Mater" and he is Finn and Daddy has to tow him around the house.  They also are designated race cars and race around and around the house!

He loves to play on our Iphones and I am absolutely amazed at how well he can work that thing.  He loves the games, but he also loves watching the videos of he and his brother and look at the pictures we have taken.

He is still train obsessed!!!!!  We have played trains all day everyday since we bought the train table 2 Christmases ago.  It was seriously the best money we have ever spent.  We could take everything else out of the toy room and he wouldn't care as long as that train table is still there.

He also loves playing super hero and we always talk about his muscles growing when he eats foods that are good for him.

He goes into Kindermusik on his own now.

He is such a sweet little boy.  He loves to cuddle and is always telling me, "I love you Mommy".  He has very good manners, always saying please, thank you, and sorry.  People compliment him on this often.  He is always giving kisses and hugs. 

He has been having nightmares lately...this is new for us and no fun!!!

He is so brave.  He has had several medical procedures lately and has not cried a tear!!!

Loves to talk on the phone.

Loves going to church and music class.

Has a memory like you wouldn't believe.  If you tell him something one time or take him someplace, I guarantee he will remember it.

Loves to rest in "mommy's bed" and watch "pony's" (My Little Pony's)

His big thing to say now is "I'm scared"  I don't know where this came from or why he says it, but he says it all the time when he doesnt' want to do something.  Silly boy!

He like to play like he is "Dr. Cochran" (his pediatrician) and "check us out"

Scott always changes out of his suit before playing with the kids when he gets home, so when Clayton wants him to play he will say, "Take your shirt off Daddy!"

He loves our Iphones so much , he often says (with a sad face and voice), "I need my Iphone, I don't have an Iphone!"
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Some of his phrases he likes to say now..."What's going on in here?", "Hey guys, whatcha doing?", "It's your fault", "Hello...Is anybody home? (he says this when he wakes up), "No, Hollis!"

Loves to play outside and with his friends!

There is so much he can do now, he just amazes me!!!!!  I wish I could just follow him around every second recording all that he says and does.  He is growing up so fast!  He is pure joy and such a blessing!

Clayton the Builder!

Lowes has "build and grow" workshops on Saturdays.  This Saturday the project was building a dinosaur!  Obviously to all who know Clayton this is right up his alley.  So I got online and signed him up.  Daddy took him, and his Great Granny and Pop Pop got to join him.  He got to wear real goggles and hammer with a real hammer!  They made a T-rex with wood, a hammer, and nails and got to decorate it with stickers.  It was really cute, but Scott had to help him with most of it.  It is definitely something we will continue to take him to in the future!

A Trip To The Cardiologist...

The same week we had tests we were scheduled to see Dr. Kumbar the cardiologist.  The tests were done on Monday, so we weren't supposed to get the results until seeing her, but our wonderful pediatrician called me himself on Wednesday night to tell me they came back normal.  He didnt' want me to have to wait any longer.  We are so blessed to have him as a Dr, there aren't many Dr's left that would take the time to call themselves to tell you test results that you were going to hear in the morning, just so you wouldn't have to spend one more night worrying!!!  I was beyond relieved to hear this news, but I was still anxious about seeing the cardiologist.  She was great as well.  She checked his blood/oxygen level and listened to his heart for a long time.  Once again, Clayton sat up on the table all by himself and was a perfect patient.  The nurses were eating him up because he is not a shy guy, he just walked into that office and yelled, "Hi!" to everyone he saw!  He is quite the character!!!  She explained that he does indeed have a murmur, but at this point it is a "soft murmur" that Dr. Cochran will just monitor over the years.  If it ever gets louder, that would be a concern, but she doesn't think it will cause him any problems.  This was a HUGE relief!!!!  God is Good!

3 Year Well Check...

Clayton had his 3 year well check with Dr. Cochran on the 23rd.  He was such a big boy!!!  He makes me so proud.  He weighed in and got his height taken like a champ.  He weighs around 27 pounds, which is only in the 4th percentile!!!  Dr. Cochran isn't concerned because he is staying on his own growth curve even though it is below the "norm".  The nurse asked him to get undressed and put a paper gown on.  He got undressed no problem, but he wasn't a big fan of the gown that was made of paper and I didn't blame him.  I told him being in his diaper was fine and Dr. Cochran agreed, he wadded it up and threw it in the trash :)  He let Dr. Cochran check him out no problem, and he even did a check up on Finn McMissile, his favorite car!!!!  His ears are really sensitive, so Mommy held him while he got those checked out, but still no tears and he just sat on my lap I didn't have to hold his arms or anything.  I could not have been more proud!  Dr. Cochran was very impressed with his speech and even asked if he was in a preschool program, and we told him we just worked on it at home and he complimented a job well done.  At the end of the appointment, we got thrown for a major loop!  Dr. Cochran told me that he heard a heart murmur!!!  My heart sank, and I felt like the floor fell out from underneath me.  Dr. Cochran explained what it was and that his level of concern was not high, but that he would feel better about it if we had some tests done and then see a cardiologist.  It was a shock to say the least, but I love that Dr. Cochran is thorough and I too knew I would feel better after seeing a specialist in this area.  So off we went for tests at the hospital!

We headed to St. Marys for an EKG and a chest X-ray!  Clayton was AMAZING!  I again could not have been prouder.  He walked right into that X-ray room, after I told him it was a robot, and hopped up on that table and sat as still as he could be!  I couldn't believe a just turned 3 year old would do so great, that room was intimidating for me, much less a little guy like him!  Then we headed upstairs for the EKG, and again he laid on the table, let the nurse put the stickers and wires on without one tear or fuss.  What a big boy!!!!  This was especially impressive considering we had just been at the pediatrician's office for an hour and then spent almost two hours at the hospital and it was lunch/nap time.  Quite impressive if I do say so myself.  I was beyond proud!

Hollis is 14 months old...here is a look at 13 months!

Hollis is just growing like a weed!!!  I can't believe how fast time is flying by.  He has been super busy growing and learning.  Here is a look at month 13...

*We now have a full blown walker on our hands...he not only walks he practically runs trying to keep up with his big brother

*Hollis is definitely my eater, no doubt about it.  He eats more thank Clayton!  He has like pretty much everything he has tried, but he will let you know if he doesn't like it...he either spits it out or pushes it away!

*He is into everything...loves to explore!  Of course like all other toddlers he loves to get into the things he is supposed to.  He loves to climb into the big garden tub in our bedroom or just climb up on the stair of it and turn the water on and off.  Yikes!  So, obviously we have to keep the door to our bedroom closed at all times.  Loves to get into the cabinets and trash can of all things!  He will throw anything and everything away!

*He is so smart...if you show him how a toy works one time, he remembers and can do it himself.  He is a thinker...you can see those wheels turning, he takes it all in!

*Says lots of words now....a few are Mama, Dada, Nana (banana), bye bye, and just "talks" in general a lot.  He is always babbling about something, and he sure knows what he is talking about.

*Loves music class and musical toys!!!  Hoping he got my Dad's musical talent :)

*One of his favorite games right now is to take all the pillows off of the couch, he thinks this is big fun!

*He also LOVES to crawl on Daddy and roll around on the floor.

*Loves to be "chased", he will literally belly laugh, and he gets those little legs going so fast trying to get away that he usually ends up falling.

*Loves, loves to play and "eat" our phones.  For some reason this is the best toy ever!

*Sleeps through the night!!!  Once I fully weaned him this month, within two weeks he was sleeping 10-12 hours straight!  This is big for those of you who know, he was still waking up to nurse through the night all the way up until this point.

*Such a cuddle bug and so sweet.  He loves to cuddle up with you with his "lovey" and thumb.  He now has to have lovey at all times, not just when sleepy.  So sweet!!!  If he doesn't have it, and you say Hollis where's lovey? he will look for it until he finds it.

*Loves to dance, so cute, he sways back and forth...not the usual bounce like most babies have.  He steps from one foot to the other swaying, it is beyond cute. 

*Still loves hide and seek and will put a blanket on his own head, he usually put it on top and you can still see him, but he thinks you can't.  Too cute

*Still a huge fan of bathtime, so if he see Clayton in the bath and he isn't in it...he will fuss at you until you let him in.  He doesn't mind water being poured over his head, he is an absolute fish in the bath!  He will sit in there and play forever.

*He definitely has the Gregory temper and will let you know when he is mad and is strong willed just like the rest of us Gregorys :)  He will let you know when he doesn't like something!

*Still very shy and reserved, he likes to take it all in first before he is comfortable in a new environment and around people he isn't used to being around.

*He has a belly laugh that is beyond contagious!

*He has the cutest little curls on the back of his head that I cannot bring myself to cut yet!

*Gets his feelings hurt super easy!

Everyone that knows or meets him can't help but say how cute and sweet he is, and I must agree.  He is heaven sent for sure!  Love my little Hollis Man, my life wouldn't be complete without him!

Clayton is 3!!! Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

I can't believe my baby is 3!!!!  It just doesn't seem possible at all.  He is the most fun loving little boy I know.  You just can't help but smile when you are around him.  He has brought unmeasurable joy and love to our family, he is truly a blessing from above.

This year we woke him up with our tradition we started when he was one.  We all went into his room as soon as he woke up and sang Happy Birthday to him.  His birthday breakfast of choice was of course a sprinkle doughnut!  We rested up for the big party.  This year Clayton got to have his first "big boy" party!  He had almost 20 friends join him for a bounce party at Bouncing Off The Walls!  Lots of friends and family came to help him celebrate.  The kids had so much fun running around and bouncing, but I'm pretty sure the adults had just as much fun!  After about an hour and a half of bouncing, we went up stairs for presents and cake.  Clayton loved everyone singing to him!  He had a dinosaur theme, so his cake and invitations both had dinosaurs on them.  The boys favors were dinosaur cups with dinosaur suckers and the girls got Tinkerbell chapstick and pixie sticks.  After we headed home, I think everyone was exhausted.  Of course when we got home we hauled in the loot and opened and played with all of it.  We had a wonderful day celebrating. 

Happy Birthday sweet Clayton, we love you more than you will ever know!  You truly are the light of our lives.  You make us laugh, smile, and we couldn't be more proud of you.  You are such a joy, and we are blessed beyond belief to have the privledge to be your Mommy and Daddy!

Christmas is Over!

We took the Christmas tree and decorations down while Clayton was napping.  This is the spot where the Christmas tree used to be...as you can see he is quite devastated that it is now gone.  He kept saying, "Where is the tree Mama?"  Hard to explain to an almost 3 year old why Christmas can't be everyday! :)

Houston...We have a Climber!!!!

So every mother knows that once you have children, you never again go to the bathroom alone...well at least not for many, many years!!  So in my bathroom there is a big area with vanities, sinks, and a garden tub.  Attached is another smaller area with a toilet and shower.  I only explain the layout because it will give you a better idea of the VERY SMALL time frame in which this incident took place.  So I place Hollis in the big area to play, and go into the smaller area to use the restroom.  It literally took me less than a minute and if I lean forward it's so close that I can see him.  So I hurry, use the restroom, go to wash my hands and see that Hollis is INSIDE the garden tub.  To give you an idea of how big this thing is...if I am standing in it the top probably goes to my thighs.  He had to climb two stairs and when he is inside you can barely see his head peeking over the side.  The funniest part is that he must have done this rather gracefully because I didn't even hear him do it.  It's totally crazy that he did it in such a short amount of time!!!!  I cannot even explain to you how fast this all took place.  So, moral of the story is the door to our bedroom can no longer stay open and I cannot let him crawl around in that room while I hurriedly use the restroom.