The Shearrer Family

Molly is a Month Old!!!

2012-02-06T19:55:00.000-08:00

Friday Molly turned a month old I still can't believe it. It seems like it went by really fast but was also the longest month of my life too. I guess lack of sleep and being stuck at home for a whole month will do that to you. I've been so paranoid about taking Molly out in public because of everything that is going around this time of year. I'm just praying Layton won't get sick and give it to Molly since he is still going to school three days a week. The last few days have been so much better. Last night I fed her at midnight and got her right to sleep and she slept until 6 this morning. It was so nice to get some nice uninterrupted sleep.

I went back to the lactation consultant on Friday for her weight check and she weighed 11 lbs. exactly. She was 10 lbs. 3 oz. the week before so she gained plenty of weight this last week so now I don't have to worry so much about feedings. It has gotten much easier and she has been wanting to eat every 2 hours the last two days during the day. We really haven't gotten into a schedule yet it just depends on when she wakes up in the morning and that kind of sets our schedule for the day. We have been giving her 1 oz. of breast milk first thing in the morning and last feeding at night mixed with her Zantac medicine and then I feed her myself once she finishes that. She has done really well taking a bottle so that is good. She usually eats for about 45 minutes and then stays awake for about 45 minutes and then sleeps until it is time to eat again during the day. She only takes about 30 minute naps during the day unless you are holding her. If you hold her she will sleep for 2 hours. She loves to be held and I hold her too much according to Clifton but I know she is only this little for so long so I'm enjoying every minute of it. She loves it when I put her in the moby wrap too and goes right to sleep. I've been using that a lot in the evenings when I'm trying to cook dinner and I need both hands.

I've had so many people ask how Layton is doing with everything. He has adjusted well but I'm not going to lie the last two weeks his behavior hasn't been that great. He loves to be the center of attention and I spend so much time on the couch feeding Molly I know it has affected him. I've tried to come up with fun things for us to do while I feed her but bottom line is I just don't have as much time to just play with him now. It breaks my heart but at the same time he is so sweet with Molly. He wants to hold her and help me change her diaper and talks to her when she is crying. He has only asked me one time "Mommy can Molly go back into your tummy?" LOL. He likes to watch her do tummy time and will lay right next to her and talk to her it is too cute.

Here he is playing with mommy's phone and watching Molly do tummy time.

All dressed up for another trip to San Antonio for a weight check.

I love these two kids so much!

Molly at 1 month old.

What We Have Been Up to This Week

2012-02-03T22:08:00.000-08:00

Our Week in Iphone Pictures

2012-02-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

We went for our first walk in the new BOB double jogging stroller. Both kids loved it! Mommy needs to get back into shape so hopefully we can do this more often if the weather stays nice.

Snuggling with mommy.

Worn out after tummy time.

Sleeping soundly in her nap nanny. This is the only thing she will nap in during the day.

Visiting with Great Grandma Hindes

Hanging out on the couch with Mommy. This is her favorite place to sleep right on my chest.

I can't seem to catch any of her smiles on camera yet.

Building lots of towers. . . . .

So Layton can have fun knocking them down of course.

We played dress up on Sunday morning. She is going to outgrow all of these cute little dresses before we make it to church.

Trying out my new ring sling Molly hung out in it for an hour without fussing :)

Trying to find different things to entertain Layton while I feed Molly.

Layton wearing my tall black boots lol.

Brother and Sister

2012-02-03T21:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Layton at 3 weeks.

Here is Molly at 3 weeks. Her mannerisms remind me of Layton a lot but to me she has a different look. We are still trying to decide if we think her eyes will stay blue or change.

Cooper and Kyleigh meet Molly

2012-01-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

Last weekend Daniel, Lauren and the kids came down for a visit and to meet Molly. It was so nice to visit with them and spend time with my family. I hadn't really gotten out much at all since Molly has been born so it was nice to just go to my parents house and see everyone. Last week was a rough week with Molly and she wasn't sleeping much at all at night and during the day she would only sleep if I held her so I was exhausted by the weekend. My mom has been so nice to come and watch Molly while Layton is napping so I can nap too. I wouldn't make it without those naps here and there.

Nana with her two girls

All the cousins at Nana and Papa's house.

Here is Molly getting her first bottle from daddy. I ended up pumping and giving her a bottle for the first time in the middle of the night last week because I was struggling to feed her myself. I have never felt pain like that. Let's just say breastfeeding has been a challenge this time. Now I understand why people give up at the beginning. I've been to see the lactation consultants at the hospital twice now and have gotten so frustrated with everything. I think Molly and I are finally figuring things out and I've learned some different techniques to help her with her sensitive tummy and acid reflux. We are going back this week for a weight check to make sure she is gaining weight like she should and hopefully things will start going smoother for us soon. Everything with Layton was so easy so I just assumed it would be with Molly too.

Headed to our first trip to Dairy Queen Layton's favorite place to eat.

Layton loves to hold Molly.

Jackie Comes to Visit

2012-01-25T18:46:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday my friend Jackie was in town for a club volleyball tournament so she hung out with Layton, Molly and I on Thursday afternoon. We loaded up the kids and went and picked up Subway for lunch and then enjoyed a nice relaxing afternoon at our house. I was exhausted that day because Molly hardly slept the night before so we even took a short nap while the kids did in the afternoon. Jackie was so nice to watch Molly for a little bit so I could get a little sleep. Once Layton woke up we sat outside it was a gorgeous day and watched Layton drive his Ford truck around the yard. I'm so glad she made the trip to see us so she could meet Molly and see Layton.

Telling Amanda and Jerrod Goodbye

2012-01-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday Amanda and Jerrod got on a plane and headed back to Kenya until next Christmas. We went to my parents house on Wednesday night and celebrated my sister's birthday because it was this Monday. It was hard telling them goodbye especially because it will be almost a year before we see them again. My poor sister was so sad to tell Molly goodbye because she will be so big and look totally different next time we see them. Thank goodness we can skype with them throughout the year and talk to them on the phone occasionally. Layton didn't quite understand why everyone was crying and he very quickly told them goodbye and we were on our way home. That night was a rough night for Molly and I and she was up multiple times crying and crying so it was an emotional night for me too as I thought about Amanda and Jerrod leaving the next morning. I'm so thankful that God called them to do this though and they are truly living their dream. So many people have come together to support their ministries and it is amazing to see what God has already done through them. I'm so excited to see how He will use them this year in Kenya. It is not easy to leave your family like they have and start a new life across the world. We love you Amanda and Jerrod and we are so thankful for all the time we got to spend together during the holidays. We made lots of great memories! Amanda you were a huge help to me with both kids and I wish you were still here so you could hold Molly while I get some stuff done around the house :)

Tummy Time

2012-01-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

We started doing tummy time with Molly last week and of course at this point she is not a fan. On this particular day she was sporting her Air Jordan socks courtesy of Uncle Jerrod.

Love her little baby toes.

Here she is resting after her hard work out :)

Play time With Layton

2012-01-23T19:49:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to set time aside every night to play with Layton. It is hard to juggle my time between feedings and I feel so guilty at times because Layton doesn't get the attention like he used to. He is doing great and has been so patient but it still bothers me that I have to constantly tell him in a minute I'll be there. Here are a few pictures I took of Layton and I just playing one night in his room. I feel like he has grown up so much in the last few weeks.

A Fun Night with Amanda and Jerrod

2012-01-23T17:43:00.000-08:00

One night last week Amanda and Jerrod came over to hang out and help us with both kids. Amanda held Molly so I could get a few things done. Layton adores his uncle Jerrod so he had more fun playing with him. Jerrod bought him this cute Air Jordan outfit a couple of weeks ago so Layton had to wear it so he could see him in it. Layton thought he was so cool because he had clothes like Uncle Jerrod. He wanted Jerrod to do everything that night for him even help him brush his teeth.

Meeting Great Grandma Hill

2012-01-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

Molly finally got to meet her Great Grandma Hill last week. Her and my mom came over one afternoon so I could nap a little bit while they watched Molly. I'm so thankful we are around all of our family so much so their grandparents and great-grandparents can watch them grow up and be a part of their lives.

A Visit to Grandpa and Granny Leigh's House

2012-01-23T17:20:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we went to lunch at Clifton's dad's house. It was nice to get out of the house for a little while and Layton had so much fun playing with his cousins and riding his tractor out there. Here are some pictures of our fun afternoon.

Molly's 2nd Week

2012-01-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

Layton has been so good with Molly. He wants to hold her every morning when he wakes up and every night before bed. He has been very patient with me when I'm feeding her which is all the time and always tells her how much he loves her. The second week was tough because Molly started spitting up a lot after every feeding and became extremely fussy. We haven't gotten much sleep at night she has periods of about 2 hours where she just cries after I feed her. It has been exhausting and frustrating but I know these days will be over and gone soon so I'm trying to enjoy the newborn stage. I didn't realize how easy of a baby Layton was until now :) We went to her two week check up earlier this week and discovered she has acid reflux. I'm so glad my pediatrician is being proactive and gave us some Zantac for her right away. I think it has gotten a little better but it has only been a few days so it is hard to tell. Molly weighed 9 lbs. 14 oz. at 2 weeks so she is passed her birth weight. Here are a few pics from Molly's 2nd week.

Layton playing with his sticker book.

Molly got to meet her Great Grandmother Fannie Grace Hindes who she was named after.

Aunt Amanda bought her this little tutu so we played dress up one morning with it :)

Layton wanted to wear his fireman costume the other night while we played tractors.

Holding Molly first thing in the morning.

Sweet baby sleeping so peacefully. This is where she sleeps the best propped up on someone.

Molly's First Bath

2012-01-19T20:07:00.000-08:00

We were able to give Molly a real bath once she was one week old. She wasn't a huge fan of the first one but since then she has done a lot better and gets totally relaxed in the warm water.

Molly's First Week

2012-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Molly's first week flew by so fast. She had her days and nights mixed up for a few days and needless to say I was extremely tired but thanks to the help of lots of family I was able to nap some during the day. We had lots of help with Layton and he has been spoiled lately by everyone. We had to take her to the doctor that first morning we were home because our pediatrician wanted to check her jaundice levels one more time before the weekend. Thankfully everything came back normal so we didn't have to do anything further. She weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. at the doctor that morning so she had lost some weight but the doctor said by her two week check up she should be back to her birth weight. At this point Molly was pretty content and only cried when she was hungry or dirty.

All dressed and ready for the doctor.

Big brother helping her out.

My sister went with me to San Antonio to the doctor and then stayed at our house all afternoon so I could get some rest. She got lots of Molly time in too.

We let big brother go play outside a little and he loves looking for big sticks and then hauling them in his new Ford truck.

Sleeping so sweetly on the swing outside with us.

Layton checking on Molly.

Kisses from big brother.

That night Carter, Laura and Jerrod all came into town and we had dinner over at my parents house.

Flowers from one of Clifton's business contacts. They were so pretty.

I love her chubby cheeks :)

Carter and Laura stopped by our house Saturday night before they headed back to Houston.

Sunday my parents came and spent the day with me because Clifton had to be at church and had meetings afterwards so I was so thankful for the help with both kids.

Later that night Grandpa and Granny Leigh came by to see us.

Layton got Molly to smile and we actually caught it on camera.

Monday Amanda came back for some more Molly time and to help me. Molly is sporting her onesie that Amanda and Jerrod bought for her in Africa.

I decided to try out the Moby wrap I think I will be using this a lot.

Bringing Molly Home

2012-01-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

We left the hospital about 11:30 the Thursday after Molly was born and we were so anxious to get home and start our life as a family of four. I was exhausted by the time we got home. Between feedings and all the nurses waking me up every few hours I was ready to get out of the hospital. We were able to get settled in and I fed Molly and then Clifton took over and watched her so I could get a nap in before my mom and sister brought Layton back to our house. Here are some pictures of us leaving the hospital and us getting home.

Kisses from Mommy

All dressed and ready to go home.

The going home outfit almost didn't work out I had to have one of the nurses help me get it on Molly because it was so small. I made the gown using a newborn onesie and Molly was so much bigger than we thought she was going to be. I almost said forget it. As soon as we got home we took it off of her poor thing looked so uncomfortable in it.

All comfy and settled in at home.

My parents decorated our gate, mailbox, front doors and house. It was so fun to walk in and see everything.

We got these beautiful flowers at the hospital from Clifton's real estate office.

My dad finally got to hold Molly and meet her in person.

Our little taco all ready for bed in our room in her cradle.

Day 2 at the Hospital

2012-01-12T20:23:00.000-08:00

We were so blessed to have friends and family come visit us in the hospital to meet Molly. I tried to get pictures of everyone with Molly but I know I missed a few. Here are some pictures from Molly's 2nd day.

Lauren made the long drive from College Station just to meet her first niece :)

My mom and sister brought big brother back up to the hospital to spend some more time with Molly.

Molly's Birth Story

2012-01-11T21:07:00.000-08:00

We decided to go ahead and be induced on January 3rd because my doctor said I was still measuring a week ahead and she thought Molly would be a bigger baby. We drove up to San Antonio early Tuesday morning because we had to be at the hospital at 5 a.m. I didn't get that much sleep the night before because I was excited, anxious and nervous. I knew what to expect because I was induced with Layton but I was really praying Molly would come faster than Layton did. My sister Amanda came and spent the night with us so Layton could sleep in his own bed and she watched him all day on Tuesday for us so all the grandparents could be at the hospital. We got checked in and everything started that morning. To my surprise I was already 3 centimeters that morning when they checked me before everything got started. My labor and delivery nurse was so nice and we realized after talking to her that she was best friends with one of the real estate agents that works for Clifton at his real estate office in La Vernia what a small world. She was amazing and made our long day so much better always making sure I was comfortable. They started the pitocin about 6:30 that morning and then my doctor came in about 7 to break my water. Ouch that hurt worse than the last time. Molly was extremely high so they had to prop me up just to break my water not fun. My doctor told me I could get the epidural whenever I wanted so once I started feeling the contractions I decided to go ahead and request it. They had to pump me with a bag of fluids before I could get the epidural so I asked for that about 8:30. Around 9 the anesthesiologist came in to give me the epidural. He said I had a small curve in my spine so they actually ended up sticking me twice before it worked. The epidural immediately made my right side numb but I could still feel pain on my left side just like last time. He had to come in and add more medicine to the epidural several times throughout the day on my left side. My nurse kept turning me from side to side in hopes that Molly would make her way down. All day I felt like my legs were going to fall off the bed because I had no control I couldn't even move my toes. My contractions once again were wimpy according to the nurses and not doing much of anything. They told me I had a very relaxed uterus. The good thing is Molly was doing awesome all day. She had a great heartbeat and it never went up or down much and she was kicking me all day long. I was still only about 4 centimeters around lunch time and I was getting discouraged. They kept increasing the pitocin and eventually had to place an internal monitor for Molly because I was maxed out on pitocin. My doctor reassured me that she thought the baby would be here soon. Finally things started to progress after lunch and about 2:00 my parents, my Grandma and mother-n-law Deborah showed up. I was finally at 6 centimeters and so happy to be making a little progress. Over the next two hours I finally dilated to a 10 and then I got nervous all over again as they prepped the room for delivery. The nurses thought Molly would be here real soon and told me I shouldn't have to push for very long so I was so excited to finally meet her. I started pushing at 4:00 and Molly Grace was born at 4:23 with the chubbiest cheeks I had ever seen. The doctor was shocked at how big she was and the nurses were placing bets on how much she weighed. She came out crying and wide eyed and they immediately put her on my chest. I cried and cried this time and was so in love with her the minute I saw her. Clifton cut the cord and we sat their in awe of our sweet blessing that God sent to us. They weighed her and she weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz. and was 22 inches long. I couldn't believe I had a baby that big. This time the delivery and recovery has been so much easier even though she was bigger than Layton. The nurses got me all cleaned up and I immediately got to feed Molly. I had to work with her for awhile but she eventually figured it out and did great. I had Clifton get my mom to come into the room once I was feeding Molly and we all just stared at her and couldn't believe she was here and healthy. They took her back to the nursery and all my family and Clifton's family went to the windows to watch them give her a bath and check her out. I was left in the L&D room by myself and I was so overcome with emotion I sat there and cried for a few minutes because I was so happy to have Molly here and that she was fine. The nurse came in to check on me and I reassured her that they were happy tears. I was also finally able to eat dinner which was amazing I was so hungry from not eating all day. Shortly after that the pain began as my epidural wore off and I was still on pitocin for about 2 hours that was not fun. I could feel everything contracting and asked for some Motrin as soon as I could have it. Finally my family all came back to the room and my sister arrived with Layton. He was so curious about all my IVs and wanted to sit with me in my bed. I was kind of glad that Molly wasn't in the room with us so we could just love on him and talk to him. Clifton showed him a video of the nurses bathing Molly and he was very interested. We let him open a few big brother gifts and then we sent them to go have dinner so we could get transferred to our post postpartum room. Eventually they brought Molly to our room and I fed her again before my family all came in to meet her including Layton. He was so excited to meet his sister and we all took pictures and let him hold her. It was a long day and I was in labor exactly 10 hours so a little faster than Layton. I stayed up really late that night just holding Molly and loving on her and talking to Clifton after everyone left. We are so thankful for that sweet miracle God blessed us with. I was talking to my sister I don't see how anyone can not believe in God after having a baby. They are such sweet miracles! Here are a bunch of pictures from Molly's birthday!

39 Weeks

2012-01-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 39 weeks

Gender: A GIRL!!! Molly Grace Shearrer

Maternity Clothes: Yes of course so ready for some regular clothes at this point.

Belly Button: Is totally popped out and sticks out now.

Movement: She is still active but has slowed down a lot this week I think she is out of room.

Sleep: I've been getting up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom and it is hard to shut my mind off at night. I lay in bed and think too much these days.

Symptoms: I've had indigestion again and my back gets tired fast if I'm doing too much.

Cravings: Ice cream I've eaten it almost every night this past week :)

Best moment this week: Spending time with Layton and just loving on him. He is having a hard time it seems like and won't leave my side. He is extremely attached to me right now and won't let Clifton do anything to help him which is frustrating. He is seeing all the final preparations we are making around the house.

Just the Three of Us

2011-12-31T13:14:00.000-08:00

We have enjoyed this last week with just the three of us. We have done a lot of this. . . . . resting up for Molly's arrival. I've tried to relax and rest some this week because I know next week is going to be exhausting.

We had Chad and Kellie and Justin and Natalie over for dinner one night and exchanged presents with everybody.

I also spent one day at my parents house monogramming some burp cloths for Molly. I have a stack of them I want to get done so hopefully I can finish the other ones this weekend sometime. I have a few sewing projects I'm working on as well this weekend to help pass the time :)

Friday Layton and I went with my parents to the zoo. It was a beautiful day but the zoo was so crowded. Layton had fun riding the train of course and we saw a lot of the larger animals.

I also had a wonderful treat this week and we got someone to deep clean our house from top to bottom. They spent two days cleaning everything and my house is spotless right now I love it!! We have a freezer full of frozen meals and I've gone grocery shopping one last time so I think we are officially ready for Molly to come. Our bags are packed and we are going to put her car seat in the car this afternoon. I'm so excited to meet our baby girl. I've really been praying for Layton this week that he will adjust to everything and not feel like he is being replaced. Every time I think about having to split my time between two kids I start crying but I know he will be fine. He has been so needy and attached to me this week it has been exhausting. He won't let Clifton help him do anything so I hope he gets over that soon because I'm going to need all the help I can get.

We have so much to be thankful for this year and I have a feeling 2012 is going to be even better for our family as we get to know Molly and watch her and Layton grow up. Tuesday morning we will go in at 5 a.m. to start the induction process unless Molly decides to come before that. Please pray for a safe and healthy delivery for both of us!

Christmas at Grandpa and Granny Leigh's

2011-12-30T21:52:00.000-08:00

The Monday after Christmas Day Layton woke up with 104 fever :( We thought he was getting better but then the fever came back. We spent the whole day at home resting and just playing with his new toys some more. We ended up going to Clifton's dad's house that night because they told us to come even though Layton was sick so we could go ahead and have our Christmas with them. We weren't really sure when we would reschedule it. Layton's fever finally broke and he was acting fine most of the day. We had some yummy soup and opened presents that night. They got the boys a nice riding John Deere tractor. The boys had so much fun riding it around the house that night. Layton can't wait to go back to their house and ride it outside. Here are some pictures from our Christmas with Grandpa and Granny Leigh.

Christmas Day

2011-12-30T21:43:00.000-08:00

We had a nice relaxing Christmas Day at home which was amazing. It was awesome not having to go anywhere and Layton had so much fun all day playing with all of his new toys. He was so surprised and happy about his new Ford truck. He kept telling us "Mommy this Ford truck came all the way from the north pole." I loved seeing him so happy. We lounged around in our pajamas until lunch time and then my parents came over for lunch. I made a simple Christmas lunch of chicken cordon bleu in the crockpot with green bean casserole and rolls. It was yummy. After lunch Layton took a really long nap and Clifton and I managed to get a nap in too which was nice. Here are some pictures from our quiet Christmas at home this year.

I got up and made some yummy sticky buns for breakfast courtesy of pinterest. It was so easy and delicious. This is before I baked them.

Here is Layton waking up

He is saying "Silly Bonnie put up a gate on my door."

He loved the new truck!

Checking out all of his gifts from Santa.

He immediately started loading up all of his presents in the bed of his truck to haul them.

Daddy playing with his new helicopter.

We let him ride his truck for a few minutes even though it was so cold and nasty outside and he was sick we had to let him try it out at least. Surprisingly he drives it really well and now goes everywhere as fast as the truck will go. It is strange to see him driving around in something.

His legs aren't quite long enough to reach the pedals so that is why he has the pillow behind him :)

Building a tower with his new peg set.

He woke up from his nap and wanted to cuddle so we were watching his favorite "Big Green Tractor" video on the Ipad.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

Layton started running fever the night before Christmas Eve so I wasn't sure what to expect when he woke up the next morning. He was still running high fever the next morning so we decided we better take him to see a doctor so he wouldn't get any worse. He also had a horrible cough that was not getting any better. I knew we didn't have time to waste because I didn't want him to be sick when Molly arrives and that could be at any time now. We ended up taking him to a pediatric clinic in San Antonio that was really nice and the doctor was very thorough. She sent us on our way with an inhaler, some steroids and some claritin and told us it was a bad virus but he should be feeling better soon. Three hours later our prescriptions were finally ready to be picked up at Walgreens. We had to kill a lot of time in San Antonio while we were waiting for all the medicine. It was of course cold and rainy and we had a cranky sick toddler with us that really needed a nap. I was really disappointed that we had to spend our Christmas Eve like that especially our last one with just the three of us but at least the three of us were together. We missed my family Christmas lunch with everyone because I didn't want anyone else to get sick especially Layton's cousins Cooper and Kyleigh so that was a bummer. We also missed the Candlelight service at church this year which was sad because that is my favorite service of the year. We made the best of it though and my parents, Carter and Laura and Amanda and Jerrod showed up after the service with tons of leftovers from the lunch we missed and we all enjoyed a nice dinner together Christmas Eve night. I'm so glad they came because it made the night feel so much more like Christmas. Layton was in good spirits despite being sick so we had lots of fun as a family. We watched Four Christmases and just enjoyed the evening together. We helped Layton leave the reindeer food outside and put out some cookies and milk for Santa. Here are a bunch of pictures from our Christmas Eve.

Playing that morning with his new toys despite being really sick.

Passed out in the truck on the way to the doctor.

Having fun with daddy once we got home from San Antonio.

Helping daddy open his present.

He wanted Aunt Amanda to be a fireman so here she is in Layton's new costume.

Feeding the reindeer or Roscoe and Daisy. They thought it was a treat for them so then Layton dumped the bag on their heads they were covered in glitter. The whole time he is telling them "No Roscoe and Daisy that is for Rudolph."

Sitting by the fire with daddy.

Putting out cookies and milk for Santa.

This is a horrible picture of me I was in my lounge clothes already we had a very long day and I was exhausted but Amanda and Laura look great :)

We stayed up way too late that night playing Santa. Clifton had to assemble Layton's truck and it was really cold that night so he just did it in the middle of the living room. I kept an eye on the monitor to make sure we didn't wake up Layton. It was nice to spend some time with just the two of us that night after everyone left.

Bonnie was up to her crazy ways one last time. She taped off the door to Layton's room that night so he would have to bust through the next morning.

Happy Birthday Jesus and Family Time

2011-12-28T20:08:00.000-08:00

The day before Christmas Eve we spent the evening over at my parents house because everyone was in town. It was a little crazy with so many people but so much fun. The three kids kept us all entertained and we kept saying we can't even imagine what next year will be like with two more babies added to the mix. My younger brother Carter and his wife Laura are expecting a little one too in June. I can't wait! Here are a bunch of pictures from our birthday party for Jesus and the kids unwrapping presents that night. I'm so glad we had this time with everyone because that night Layton got really sick and we spent the rest of the holiday by ourselves at home.

Layton the Innkeeper

2011-12-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

Last week Layton's school had a little Christmas program and he was the innkeeper. It was so entertaining as you can imagine trying to get 2, 3, and 4 year olds to cooperate and act out the story of Jesus' birth. Layton did really well and as soon as Mary and Joseph knocked he very loudly said "No" because there was no room at the inn. It was so cute! They sang a few songs and only a few of the kids melted down during the program. Layton and his cousin Mason I think enjoyed being in the spotlight and did a great job. Here are a few pictures of the boys in their Christmas program.

Waiting in the back for the program to start.

Layton and his cousin Mason.

A surprise in the mail

2011-12-27T20:48:00.000-08:00

My friend Jackie was so sweet to mail Layton and I Christmas gifts this year. Here are a few pictures I got of Layton opening his. Jackie this is for you! I want you to know that he has slept with Woody every night since he opened it. Woody goes with us everywhere and he has memorized all that Woody says. I think he loves it!!!

Seaworld Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T20:43:00.000-08:00

I took a half day off of work last Monday so we could take Layton to Seaworld. We were a little worried about the weather because it was supposed to rain all day long but thankfully it cleared up and turned out perfect for us. There was no one there which meant no lines for any of the rides which Layton loved. He got to ride all of the little rides as many times as he wanted and we saw Shamu and got another visit in with Santa. I'm so glad Clifton was able to get away from work for the afternoon to go with us. We made some great memories with my family too. Needless to say we did what Layton wanted to do and he loved all the attention from everyone. I think we all enjoyed ourselves too. Here are a bunch of pictures from our fun afternoon/evening at Seaworld.

Layton was finally tall enough to ride the Shamu roller coaster and he loved it! I think he rode it 6 times at least. He is in the third car below with Aunt Amanda.

I love his face in this one!

Sitting with his Nana.

Watching the Sesame Street show.

Getting ready for the 3d Polar Express show to start.

It was a beautiful night at Seaworld.

Being silly in the stroller.

The lights were so beautiful there.

Another visit with Santa to make sure he knows that he wants a "Tonka truck and an airplane."

This tall character was interesting but didn't seem to scare Layton he loved him.

I thought it was a good idea to buy him the light up sword before the Shamu show. He hit me in the head at least a dozen times and then managed to hit the people behind us as well. He was not interested in the Shamu show at all. Next time we will get the light up toy after the show :)

I love these two pictures he was having so much fun!

Drinking hot chocolate in the candy cane forest.

Layton with his daddy leaving Seaworld.

Fun times!!! Can't wait to go back next year during Christmas and take Molly with us :)

Attempting to Make a Gingerbread House

2011-12-18T20:41:00.000-08:00

Tonight I decided it was a good idea to make a gingerbread house with Layton. I was at Micheal's the other day getting some stuff and saw the kits on sale so I picked one up. Clifton was asleep on the couch and I woke him up to help us so you can imagine he was thrilled with the idea :) Our first attempt the icing was too thick and then I think we got it too runny. In the mean time Layton is sitting on the stool getting impatient and trying to open all the candy and manages to drop part of the gingerbread house and break it into pieces before we had a chance to assemble it. Clifton kept saying Amy this isn't going to work I'm done but I was determined to try to make it work. We laughed a lot and the roof kept sliding off but in the end I think Layton had fun and that is all that really matters right? Our little gingerbread house is pretty sad looking but having the help of a 2 year old little boy I'm not sure what I expected. I'm glad we are making some good memories with just the three of us before everything changes once Molly arrives. I think I may wait a few more years before I attempt another gingerbread house.

Christmas at Grammy D's House

2011-12-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

We had Christmas with Grammy D, John Paul and Leslie and the boys on Saturday. It was lots of fun and Layton was worn out by the time we left. We had a delicious meal and Deborah had everything decorated so pretty. We had a special birthday cake for baby Jesus and the boys got to blow out the candles. Layton and Mason enjoyed playing together and had fun opening the presents after lunch. It was nice just relaxing and spending the day with family.

37 Weeks

2011-12-18T19:38:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks full term woo hoo. So thankful that we are getting close to the end of this pregnancy and we will be meeting our baby girl soon. I went to the doctor this week and I'm already 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I know this doesn't mean anything but I was surprised because I never made any progress with Layton even at 40 weeks when I was induced with him. My doctor told me to make sure my bags were packed and that the car seat was in the car. This weekend I finished packing Molly's stuff and started getting my stuff together as well. I will be induced on January 3rd unless Molly decides to come sooner. I've been measuring a week ahead so my doctor gave me the option to be induced then. I will be 39 weeks and 1 day by then so I felt comfortable with that and told her to go ahead and schedule it.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 37 weeks

Gender: A GIRL!!! Molly Grace Shearrer

Maternity Clothes: Yes and I only have a few things that fit at this point. My belly is sticking out so much in the front my shirts are getting too short.

Belly Button: Is totally popped out and sticks out now.

Movement: She is very active and continues to stick her little bottom out in the middle of my stomach.

Sleep: I've been getting up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom and now it hurts to roll over in bed so I wake up tired and sore but I know the end is in sight.

Symptoms: Lots of braxton hicks contractions especially at night when I've been at work all day. I can't seem to eat very much at one time and nothing really sounds good ever.

Cravings: I haven't been very hungry lately I feel like there isn't much room for food. I get full so fast now.

Best moment this week: Watching Layton bring Molly's new little rattles and toys to my belly to show her. He even brought her little noise machine up to my belly and lifted my shirt and said "Molly can you hear that, do you like it?" I reassured him that yes Molly likes it :) I'm also really excited this is my last week of work. I'm taking some vacation the week between Christmas and New Years and then I will be induced on January 3rd and start my 12 week maternity leave.

Reindeer Food, Christmas Pajamas and Gifts for Teachers

2011-12-18T19:21:00.000-08:00

Layton and I made reindeer food for all of his classmates so he could take it to his Christmas party on Friday. He had fun and it was a simple easy project. It is for the kids to sprinkle on their grass on Christmas Eve so the reindeer can find their house ;)

I made some home made peppermint sugar scrub for all the teachers at his school. I got the recipe off of pinterest and it was so easy and made a nice little gift.

Here he is the morning of his Christmas party. I finally made myself sit down the night before and make him his tractor Christmas pajama pants. He has been asking me for weeks to make them. It was a quick easy thing to do I just hadn't made the time for it. He was so excited that morning to put them on and wear them to his pajama Christmas party at school.

Here is the little poem we attached to the reindeer food for his classmates I remembered on the way to school to take a picture of it.

Playgroup Christmas Party

2011-12-18T17:14:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday night we had our Playgroup Christmas party at Codi and Bryan's house. The kids all had fun playing and we had so much delicious food. Everything was really nice. The kids had a little book exchange after we ate and Layton got some really cute new books. I've really enjoyed getting to know all these girls and their little ones the past 2 years.

Baby Shower for Molly

2011-12-18T17:10:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday my friends Juli, Jackie, my sister Amanda and sister-n-law Lauren hosted a baby shower for us. Poor Juli ended up getting really sick on Friday so we moved the shower to our house at the last minute but it was SO NICE! Everyone went above and beyond to make the decorations and food so special. Juli had gone to a lot of trouble because the shower was going to be at her house so I felt really bad that she had to miss everything. I tried to take a lot of pictures so she could see how nice everything turned out. Lauren, Amanda and Jackie of course wouldn't let me help with anything since the shower was at our house but they all did so much. I truly appreciate what they did! We got so many nice things for Molly we are now ready for her to come at any time. She is going to be one well dressed little girl. I can't wait to dress her up in all the cute clothes, bows and tiny shoes. Here are a bunch of pictures from the shower.

Jackie did an awesome job on the cupcakes they were delicious.

The girls seriously thought of everything.

The pretty table

All the hostesses minus Juli.

My Grandma Hindes and I.

My double jogging stroller I got from my Grandma Hindes. I can't wait to take Molly and Layton in walks and eventually runs in this stroller.

Feeding my nephew Morgan while everyone else plays a game.

My Grandma Hill and I

25 Christmas Books

2011-12-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

This year I decided to do something special for Layton since it his last Christmas where it will be just the three of us and I bought 25 used children's Christmas books on ebay. I've seen this idea floating around the past few years and thought he would really enjoy it. I wrapped each one of them and every night starting December 1st he has gotten to open a Christmas book. It has been nice reading some new books every night I was getting tired of all the tractor, truck and construction books we are constantly reading to him :) I got a good combination of the classic stories and also several about Jesus being born in the manger. He gets so excited every night when it is time to open a present.

Playing with Cooper and Kyleigh

2011-12-18T16:14:00.000-08:00

Last Friday Kyleigh and Cooper were in town and they came over for awhile to play with Layton. I think all three kids had so much fun and at one time I think we had every toy out in Layton's room. Kyleigh helped me get a little organized in Molly's room and she loved pushing Layton's shopping cart around while Cooper and Layton played tractors.

This picture makes me laugh Kyleigh was posing and Layton is trying to sit on a slinky LOL.

My Work Baby Shower

2011-12-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

Last week my coworkers were so nice to have a baby shower for Miss Molly at my office. We were blessed with so many nice things for her and I was excited that my mom and sister were able to come and celebrate with us. Here are a few pictures from the shower.

Family Christmas Card Pictures

2011-12-06T20:59:00.001-08:00

The Saturday after Thanksgiving my friend Jackie and her husband Jared came down for a visit. She offered to take some family pictures of us because she has really been trying to learn how to use Photoshop Elements and has gotten good at taking pictures with her fancy camera. I hated to spend money on family pictures this year because our family is about to grow and change so it worked out perfectly. I can't wait to get some newborn pictures of Molly with Layton after she arrives. Jackie did a great job and surprisingly Layton cooperated for the most part. It was a nasty rainy day but in between the showers we managed to head to the backyard to get some pictures. Here are some of my favorites. Thanks again Jackie for doing this for us!!!!

Brooke's Baby Shower

2011-12-04T13:11:00.001-08:00

Saturday morning I helped host a baby shower at Codi's house for my sweet friend Brooke. She is expecting a little boy at the beginning of February. Everything turned out so nice and Brooke got all kinds of good stuff for baby Easton. Here are a few pictures from the shower.

Another trip to the Children's Museum

2011-12-04T13:02:00.001-08:00

Friday morning Amanda and Jerrod went with Layton and I to the San Antonio Children's Museum. I had a groupon that was about to expire and it was on my list of fun things to do with Layton before Molly arrives. I know we will be having to stay home for awhile with a new baby so I'm trying to take Layton to all of his favorite places in the next few weeks. He had fun as usual even though the museum was really crowded because of a school field trip on Friday. Here are a few pictures from our fun morning!

It's Christmas Time!

2011-12-04T12:50:00.001-08:00

I was waiting until my sister was home to put my tree up so she could help me. I knew she wouldn't get to put her own tree up this year so she was excited to help me with mine. I couldn't have done it without her because she was the one up on a ladder this year decorating the top. We had a fun night with Jerrod and Amanda and Layton enjoyed Jerrod playing with him for hours. He is getting spoiled with all the extra attention this week. Here are a few pictures from Wednesday night.

Layton loves to build towers and then of course knock them down.

I think Jerrod helped him build this one :)

My beautiful sister!

Making sure "Layton's polar express" is in working order to put under the tree this year.

Meet Bonnie! This is Layton's elf on a shelf. This is the first year we have done it with him and he seems to be enjoying Bonnie and trying to find her every morning. It took a lot of convincing on my part to get Layton to believe that she really could fly to the North Pole every night. He looked at me and said "No she can't do that Mommy." He might have this whole Santa thing figured out before I want him too. Layton decided on the name Bonnie because she is the little girl at the end of Toy Story that ends up with the toys. So I guess our elf is a girl :)

Welcome Home Amanda and Jerrod

2011-12-04T12:41:00.001-08:00

Tuesday afternoon we picked up Amanda and Jerrod at the airport. As most of you know my sister and brother-n-law have been full time missionaries in Africa since the beginning of August. They are home for the next 7 weeks to spend time with family and friends during the holidays. We are so thankful they had a safe trip home! Layton was beyond excited to see them he was so hyper at the airport while we were waiting for them. I'm so glad it worked out that Amanda will be here when I have Molly in a few weeks. They will be heading back to Kenya January 19th to continue doing ministry over there. You can keep up with them on their blog http://adventureswithjerrodandamanda.blogspot.com/.

Here are a few pictures I took at the airport I realized later my flash was turned off so they are a little blurry.

Emersen Turned 2

2011-12-04T12:32:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday afternoon we went to Chad and Kellie's house for Emersen's 2nd birthday party. Layton was so excited and had fun playing with Emersen and her cousins. Here are a few pictures I took from the birthday party.

The birthday girl was being shy when we were singing happy birthday to her :)

Emersen loved the cupcakes!

Layton had so much fun driving her jeep around outside.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-29T19:58:00.001-08:00

I only managed to get a few pictures of Layton and I before we left for Clifton's cousins house Thanksgiving morning. I should have taken pictures while we were there with all of his extended family but I never got my camera out. I was being lazy I guess. Here is what Layton did when I asked him to take a picture with me.

We enjoyed a beautiful day out at Mike and Connie's house with all of the Shearrers. Layton had so much fun walking around the Feed Pen checking out the cattle and all the tractors, barns and equipment. He never stopped the whole time we were there. He really wasn't even interested in his lunch because we were eating outside and there were just too many distractions. He did finally stop and eat some dessert before we left. We all headed back home after lunch and all took a much needed nap. We spent the rest of the day just as a family at home and watched the Aggies play later that night together. I started decorating the house for Christmas once I got Layton to bed. I have everything finished except the tree. Amanda is going to help me put it up and decorate it tomorrow. We have so much to be thankful for this year. I'm so thankful for my family especially my sweet boy and this baby girl that is growing and growing in my tummy. We can't wait to meet her in a few more weeks!

34 Weeks

2011-11-27T21:36:00.001-08:00

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 34 weeks

Gender: A GIRL!!! Molly Grace Shearrer

Maternity Clothes: Yes and I only have about 3 pairs of pants that fit now and all my shirts are getting too short. I'm going to have to get creative these last 4 weeks of work.

Belly Button: Is totally popped out and sticks out and Layton is constantly asking me "Mommy what happened to it? Did you turn it inside out?" LOL.

Movement: She is very active and now her movements hurt sometimes because she is getting bigger and running out of room.

Sleep: The last few days have been rough. I've been getting up 3 to 4 times to go to the bathroom and the indigestion and heartburn has gotten worse at night when I lay down. I've tried taking naps but lately I can't even seem to get comfortable for a nap.

Symptoms: Having to go to the bathroom all the time all day and all night. My left leg goes numb if I'm on my feet for any amount of time or if I sit for too long in one spot. Like I said above the indigestion and heartburn has gotten worse but other than that I can't really complain.

Cravings: I haven't been very hungry lately I feel like there isn't much room for food. I get full so fast now. Chocolate milk has tasted really good the past few days. I can't really think of anything else.

Best moment this week: Going to see my friend Barbara in the hospital and meet her new baby girl Addison. It made me so excited to meet Molly and get to experience child birth and all that goes with it again. Also realizing I only have 4 weeks of work left until I'm off for maternity leave so excited!!!!!

Going to See Santa

2011-11-20T20:18:00.001-08:00

Saturday morning I took Layton here in town to see Santa Claus. He was so excited he was pretending to call Santa on the way to make sure he had made it from the North Pole into town. We had to wait in line a while and he kept trying to get his attention while we were waiting in line. When it was our turn he walked right up to him and shook his hand and said hello and then climbed right up in his lap. He told him he wanted a tonka truck and an airplane and he was all business so I didn't get a picture of him smiling. I'm so glad he cooperated this year because last year he screamed the whole time. I haven't gotten the pictures that were taken there yet but here are two I got with my camera. Christmas is going to be so much fun this year!!!!

Photos from the Last Week

2011-11-08T21:26:00.000-08:00

Here are a bunch of random pictures I've taken in the last week of Layton.

I told him to make a funny face and this is what he came up with.

He still loves to play in the bathtub.

Being silly

We took him on Saturday to a cute little kid's haircut place in San Antonio and he loved it.

I love how they spiked his hair now he keeps asking us in the morning to spike his hair.

His favorite thing to do right now is play parade so every night we line up all of his cars, trucks and tractors and make a parade.

He asked me to take a picture of him with his train. This is his geotrax set that he absolutely loves!

These are his favorite pajamas right now he wants to wear them almost every night and he tells us my name isn't Layton I'm Woody. Too cute!

Molly's Nursery

2011-11-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy I can say Molly's room is finished finally! I love how everything came together and I still like to go just sit in there and look around and wonder what it will be like to have a sweet baby girl sleeping in that crib. Last weekend Clifton and I hung the chandelier after my mom and I spent some time putting it together and that was the last thing we had to do. It took some convincing on my part to get a chandelier but I'm so glad Clifton finally told me I could get one because it really adds a lot. Here are a bunch of pictures of Molly's nursery.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

Sunday night Layton started running fever so I decided to stay home with him on Monday even though he woke up and was acting fine Monday morning. I really wanted him to rest and take a good nap so he could enjoy the Fall Festival Monday night. He had so much fun wearing his pilot costume one more time and playing all the games. It was hard to keep up with him because there were so many people there and he didn't quite understand that you have to wait in line at each booth so that made things interesting. We got their early and played a bunch of games before it got too crowded and then he stayed in the toddler area riding the cars while my mom and I worked that booth until we left. Later that night when we got home his fever was back unfortunately. Poor kid has been sick all week. After two trips to the doctor he has a sinus infection and a really bad cough but the fever just won't go away. His ears never got infected which is good but he has been really cranky this week. I'm so glad to be home with him today because it has been challenging trying to juggle work, doctor's appointments and taking care of him this week. Thankfully my mom was free this week and helped us keep him and met me at his appointments in San Antonio. Here are some pictures from our church's Fall Festival. I'm so glad he was feeling up to going to it on Monday and he didn't have to miss out.

He insisted on holding my purse around his neck so I just went with it.

I love this picture of him so funny. I hadn't finished putting my makeup on but it was too cute of him not to post.

Getting Dexter into his Halloween costume.

Layton wouldn't really cooperate for another picture.

Grandma Hindes and Joe got a quick visit from Pilot Layton before we headed to the Fall Festival.

Checking out the fire truck.

Playing all the games

Pete and Abby were dressed as a pilot and a flight attendant so we got his picture with Abby.

Cousin Dillon the astronaut with Layton.

Finally a quick family photo

Layton and Emersen

Having fun chasing each other.

My sweetie Emersen

Trying to get them to sit still for a picture.

Daddy and his little pilot

Cousin Preston the rodeo clown talking to Layton.

Shaking hands so funny.

Having fun in the toddler area.

This is the best picture I got of Layton with his buddy Keaton. Both boys were tired and ready to go home.

Clifton's Mini Me

2011-11-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures I took as we walked out the door last Sunday for church. I can't get over how much Layton is changing and growing up. He looks like a little boy now instead of a toddler especially with his cowboy boots on. He had to have his sunglasses of course as we walked out just like daddy.

3rd Annual Shearrer Pumpkin Carving

2011-11-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Friday night we headed over to Justin and Natalie's house for what has turned into an annual Shearrer pumpkin carving night. I still remember the first year we did it Layton was just a tiny little guy sitting in his infant seat. My how time flies every year.

This year Clifton got into the pumpkin carving as usual and it has turned into a friendly competition. He started tracing his design before we left the house because he knew it would take him awhile. He spent about 2 hours carving the pumpkin this year but he did a great job! I didn't even bother doing one this year I just wanted to sit back and relax and take some pictures of everyone else. Natalie cooked us a yummy spaghetti dinner and we had plenty of Halloween treats for dessert. Thanks for hosting again Natalie and Justin we had lots of fun!

Of course her dogs have costumes every year for the occasion too funny.

Clifton's pumpkin

Layton played trucks while Daddy worked on the pumpkin.

My Office Halloween Party

2011-10-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon Layton and I headed to my office for the annual Halloween party. Everyone gets really into it at the office and they have turned it into a big competition for all the employees. The best decorations, costumes and treats get cash prizes. There were lots of kids there and the decorations were amazing once again! Layton thankfully had a quick nap on our ride up there and I woke him up once we arrived. He was so excited to be a pilot he marched right in like he owned the place. He had fun trick or treating in all the different areas and really opened up and was playing up the whole pilot thing. He was telling everyone he was flying them to Dallas, it was too cute. Layton ended up winning the costume contest for the boys and I won 1st and 2nd for my treats I entered. All my late night efforts paid off the night before :) He was so hyper by the time we left I think it had something to do with the fact he ate two cupcakes, a cookie, candy and lots of puppy chow. He was really proud of his little ribbon he won and his $25 gift card to Target. I told him he could go pick out whatever he wanted with it once we go. Here are pictures from our fun Friday at the party.

All my yummy treats I made. I found all these ideas on pinterest of course. I love that website!

My little pilot at the party.

One of my coworkers Courtney and her little boy Dr. Kevin.

The treat table at the party.

Little cupcake at the party she was so precious.

Mommy and Layton

Layton having fun with the decorations.

The Treasury group was sweating to the oldies.

Performing their routine in their work out room they created. So funny!

Layton and his buddy Marshall (Scooby Doo). Layton was fascinated with his costume and wouldn't leave poor Marshall alone.

Sweet Daylon the puppy.

Layton lined up for the costume contest.

Loading up on more sugar.

I wish I had taken more pictures of the decorations but it was extremely crowded and trying to keep up with Layton was a challenge. We had so much fun and Layton really enjoyed it.

Where Does Jesus Live?

2011-10-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

Last night as I was lying in Layton’s bed with him for a fewminutes he sat up on his pillow like he does every night and said we need topray for Amanda and Jerrod. Thenhe went on to say his little meal time prayer and then stopped in the middleand said keep Amanda and Jerrod safe and protect them. Then he started asking me "What should Isay next mommy?" and I explained to him that we can talk to Jesus just like wetalk to anyone else and he will hear our prayers. I saw his little wheels turning in his head and he looked upand said, "Mommy where does Jesus live?" I was not prepared for all the questions he had but I explained to himthat He lives in our hearts once we believe in Him and ask him to be our Lordand Savior and that he is also in heaven. He said "I want to go to heaven and meet Jesus, how do we get there?" Then I tried to explain to him that ifyou believe and trust in Jesus and ask him into your heart then we you die oneday you get to live with Jesus forever. The questions just kept coming and coming, he said "Mom will you andDaddy be there?" and I said yes we will and then he asked about Nana and Papa andwhat about his friend Emersen and on and on. He then asked if he could take his stuffed animals with himto heaven one day because he thought Mr. Bear would like to meet Jesustoo. I was so caught off guard bythe whole conversation but once I told him goodnight and walked out of his roomI had tears in my eyes just thinking about his little questions. It made me realize how sweet andinnocent a child’s faith is and even though he can’t understand everything heis so curious and wants to know why we do the things we do. It also made me realize once again thatGod has trusted his little life with Clifton and I and it is our job as hisparents to raise him in a Christian home and tell him about Jesus so we can alllive eternally together forever. Ifelt like God was really showing me last night that this is all that mattersnothing else does. This is thefirst time Layton has really asked any questions about Jesus so I just wantedto document it so I can always remember it.

Layton,

My prayer for you today is that you will grow up andunderstand what it really means to live for God and that you will come to knowHim as your Lord and Savior and ask Him into your heart. This will be the most importantdecision of your life and your daddy and I started praying about this beforeyou were even born. We love youand thank Him everyday that He trusted us to be your parents. You are so special to us!!!!

Mommy

Layton just being Layton

2011-10-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some silly pictures I took of Layton today. He said he was plowing the fields and of course he had to have his boots on. He wasn't wearing his pants because he was about to go take his afternoon nap.

Tonight after dinner being silly.

Playing with Cooper and Kyleigh this Weekend

2011-10-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend Daniel, Lauren and the kids were in town and we spent lots of time with them letting the kids play. Friday morning my mom and Lauren and the kids came over to play. Layton was so excited about Cooper coming over to his house he could hardly stand it. Here are a few pictures I took of the kids having fun together.

Friday night Lauren and I and a bunch of our girlfriends went to the Ole Marketplace in San Antonio and did a little shopping and then had dinner. We had so much fun catching up with everyone. I don't think anyone took one picture all night long. I had my camera but we were so busy shopping and then talking at dinner I didn't manage to take any pictures. It was some much needed girl time.

29 Weeks

2011-10-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will be 29 weeks. The weeks are flying by lately which is a good thing. We have been busy at work wrapping up our 3rd quarter stuff so my work weeks are going by so fast. When I tell people my due date they usually say wow you have a long ways to go still but to me I feel like I don't have much longer at all. I guess I'm just trying to think positive. Here are a few things I have gotten lately or made for Molly. This weekend I cleaned out Layton's closet and started organizing my sewing cabinet which doesn't sound like a big deal but it took me a while to organize all the fabric. I didn't realize I had so much. I'm trying to tackle a few projects each weekend so I can get everything done before January.

These first four things I ordered from Etsy. I love that website!

A ruffled onesie with matching baby legs.

A girly car seat cover.

Monthly onesie stickers

Here is a belly picture at 28 weeks.

I finally made some time this weekend to sit down and knock out a few sewing projects on my list. I made her a carseat canopy and I love this fabric!

A sweet little newborn gown to wear at the hospital.

I can't seem to rotate this picture but here is a bib I made for Molly.

I have a few other things in the works but nothing I have finished just yet. I also made a few baby shower gifts for friends but I want them to be surprised so I'm not going to post any of those pictures until after I give them away.

First Pair of Real Cowboy Boots

2011-10-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night we went to San Antonio and bought Layton his first pair of real cowboy boots. Let me tell you these things are not cheap even in a toddler size 10. He was so excited and has worn them around the house any chance he gets since then. He got to wear his new boots and belt to church last Sunday and he was so proud of them. He looked at me and said "I'm handsome like daddy." I guess he has heard me tell him that just a few times. Of course he wouldn't really cooperate for a picture but this is the best I got Aunt Amanda. She requested a picture of Layton in his new boots.

Here he is dressed and ready for church playing with his train.

The shirt tucked in lasted about 5 minutes :)

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we met Leslie and John Paul and took all the boys to the pumpkin patch in Devine. We got there when it opened but it warmed up quick. I'm so ready for some fall weather that will actually stick around longer than one day. Mason and Layton had so much fun playing and exploring everything they had to offer at Devine Acres. Little Morgan was a great sport too. Next year he will be joining the other two for sure. They were not really interested in sitting in the pumpkins to take pictures this year imagine that. They were going from one area to the next just taking it all in. We had a great time and it was nice to just spend time together and enjoy the day. Here are a bunch of pictures from our fun morning at the pumpkin patch.

We had so much fun can't wait to go back next year and take Molly for her first pumpkin patch experience.

Hanging out with cousin Morgan

2011-10-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

I kept Morgan last Friday for Leslie and John Paul and he is such a sweet baby. It gave me a little taste of what having two kids will be like that is for sure. Layton was very interested in Morgan and what he was doing all day so that made things interesting. He was really good with him and played with him when I laid Morgan on the floor with his toys. The day flew by because I was busy with both boys. Morgan is so happy all the time which is so much fun. He is at a fun stage where he just smiles at you and isn't on the move yet which is nice.

Fun Friday

2011-10-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Layton and I had such a good day. We managed to do a lot and have lots of fun together too. We started out in the morning going to Playgroup and painting pumpkins. Layton was more interested in riding the toy four wheeler and jeep than painting but he did manage to paint a pumpkin for about 5 minutes.

Then we picked up Clifton and headed to lunch at Dairy Queen Layton's favorite place to eat. Layton and I headed home and I put him down for a nap. I decided instead of napping while he was to work on some fall wreaths for the front doors of our house. I was finishing them just as Layton woke up three hours later.

Last night Chad and Kellie invited us over for dinner so we headed over there last night. We had fun catching up with them and watching Layton and Emersen play.

It was a good start to our weekend. Today we are working on a few projects in Molly's room. Hoping to get it finished real soon! Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Raising a 2 year old

2011-10-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

I read a similar post the other day on another mommy’s blog and it made me feel like my life was normal and it made me feel like I wasn’t alone in this. Life as a mother of a 2 year old is not easy and is probably the most humbling experience I have ever been through. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and just want to remember these times and document the good and the bad in our family blog. I’m sure one day I will look back and tell Layton the many stories and things he tried to do and get away with at this age and we will laugh about them together.

Layton is a very defiant, spirited, intelligent, curious, outgoing, strong willed toddler but I have to remember he is only 28 months old even though he thinks he is 16 already. He can be so loving one minute and he tells me constantly “Mommy I just love you so much.” These are the moments I cherish and boy do I love him but then the next minute he is pushing me to my limits. Some days it feels like I’m constantly disciplining and redirecting Layton all day long and my patience is stretched to the limit. I don’t want him to remember his mommy as the one that corrected him all the time. I want to be the fun mommy that creates a loving safe environment with structure and consistency. Most days it is hard to find that balance. We have realized that time out works best with Layton because he hates being secluded and hates having to stay in one spot. Don’t get me wrong he gets his fair share of spankings too but sometimes I just feel like it doesn’t even phase him and he goes right back to what he was doing. I guess the hardest part is I know he knows what he is doing but he likes to test me because he is smart and wants to see what I’m going to do about it.

I’m just a little nervous as to what will happen when we add a newborn to the mix. Will Layton act worse? Will he be jealous? Will he love his new role as a big brother? Will he learn that he has to be gentle around Molly? All these thoughts have been wondering around in my head the last few weeks. Clifton and I had lunch today because he was in San Antonio which never happens and we actually had an hour to talk without any interruptions. He was telling me this morning Layton was throwing a fit about having to pick up his puzzle pieces he had thrown all over the bathroom floor. He asked him “Why do you keep acting like this?” and he looked up at him and said “Is mommy going to leave me after she has Molly?” Talk about my heart breaking into a million pieces. It still brings tears to my eyes when I picture him asking his daddy this. Poor baby feels like he is being replaced by Molly. He said, ”Will mommy ever come back to me after she goes to the hospital?” I know he is trying to make sense of everything in his little 2 year old mind but wow I had no idea he was feeling this way. He has been asking a lot of questions lately about who is going to the hospital what we will do there and so on every single day. He is so afraid we are going to leave him. I guess I need to be better about explaining everything to him. I wrote this a few days ago and never got around to posting it but his behavior has improved a little. I've learned that some battles are just not worth fighting and he likes to do most things his way which is frustrating but he is just learning to be independent. We have spent a lot of time the last few days playing together and he has even helped me organize some things in Molly's room.

Some precious things I don’t want to forget about this stage are:

- We got a postcard in the mail the other day from Amanda and Jerrod in Africa and that night as we were laying in his bed he said, “Mommy I think we need to pray for Amanda and Jerrod tonight but I don’t know what to say. Can you tell me what to say?” So I said it and he repeated a little prayer after me it was the sweetest thing ever. It made me a proud mommy that he is already wanting to talk to Jesus as a 2 year old.

- He tells me something and then says “Does that sound like a plan mommy?”

- He wakes up every morning and the first thing he says is “Where we gonna go today?” He loves to know what he is doing and where he is going for the day.

- He is really into stuffed animals right now and brings at least two to our bed every morning when he wakes up to watch cartoons. He also has at least ten in his bed every night with him.

- Another phrase he uses a lot right now is just a few more minutes. Mommy can I play outside for a few more minutes, can I watch t.v. for a few more minutes, can I play in the bathtub for a few more minutes. I guess I use this phrase a lot too.

- We have tried to let him sit in a chair at the table like a big boy with us but he just isn’t quite ready for that. He constantly gets up and walks around and just is so distracted. We have continued to use a high chair and he eats so well and it makes dinner time so much more pleasant for all of us. Hopefully soon we can put it away until we need it for Molly.

- He only likes me to give him a bath at night if we are both home. I have always been the one to do it and there have been a few nights I’ve asked Clifton to help me out and I can hear him crying from the kitchen “I want mommy to give me a bath.” This is going to be more challenging as my belly continues to grow.

- I asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween the other day he said he was going to ask Santa to bring him a pilot costume. LOL he is getting his holidays mixed up. Ever since we flew to Dallas everything is his airplane and he is always a pilot. He likes to pretend the couch is his cockpit.

- He loves to wear his A&M shirt that has a football player on it. We just bought it for him in College Station 2 weeks ago and I think he has worn it 4 times already.

I finally got Clifton to take a picture of me this week. This is at 26 weeks and 5 days.

26 weeks

2011-10-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

I am 26 weeks along now and had another doctor's appointment last week. This was the first time my doctor measured the baby based on my belly measurements and she said the baby is measuring big so expect another big baby. We talked briefly about me being induced again since everything went smoothly last time and she said she would induce me a week before my due date if the baby continues to measure big. She said to tentatively plan on January 3rd so right after Christmas and New Years. It seems so far away but that is only 13 more weeks which I know will fly by. This week I've made some to do list of things I want cleaned out and organized in the next few weeks. I also made a list of things we need for Molly before she comes and things I would like to sew for her too. I know everything will get done somehow and we are almost finished with her room. It is coming together nicely I'm just waiting on a few more things to come in that we have ordered. We are still trying to decide on a chandelier for her room there are just too many options. I don't have a good belly picture to post this week but I will work on getting Clifton to take one of me. The only one I have is of me taking it in our mirror of myself so I can put it in my pregnancy journal. It is hard because Clifton and Layton are asleep in the mornings when I leave for work and then after work I've been going straight to the gym so I come home all sweaty and tired. I've seen this posted on several blogs so I thought it would be fun to fill in.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 26 weeks

Gender: A GIRL!!! Molly Grace Shearrer

Maternity Clothes: Yes and my jeans with just the little elastic are starting to cut into my belly so I'm going to have to start wearing the big panel ones soon. My belly has really grown in the last two weeks.

Belly Button: Hasn't popped out yet but it looks different than it used to.

Movement: I feel her move all day it seems like. Sometimes she moves really fast and jerks around in there especially after I eat something.

Sleep: I'm still sleeping pretty good despite having to get up multiple times a night to go to the bathroom. Some nights indigestion will keep me up but Tums usually do the trick.

Symptoms: Having to go to the bathroom all the time all day long at work. When I work out my left leg goes numb (it did the same thing with Layton). Major indigestion especially at night. Other than that I really can't complain this has been another easy pregnancy so far.

Cravings: Mexican food, salt and vinegar potato chips, diet cherry limeades from sonic, candy corn pretty much anything that is bad for you.

Best moment this week: Listening to Layton talk about how he is going to help get Molly to sleep because he doesn't want her to cry too much and he is going to show her how to play with the toys in her room.

Fun weekend in Aggieland

2011-09-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we took a road trip to College Station and stayed with Daniel and Lauren. We ended up going really late on Thursday night after Clifton finished work about 8:30. Layton had dinner and a bath before we left so he was ready for bed. He fell asleep on the way and slept until we pulled onto their street. He was so excited he woke up and said “Mommy we made it we are in College Station.” I knew it was going to be a long night since he had woken up and was super excited and hyper to be at Cooper’s house. I was really hoping we could transfer him to bed once we got there and keep him asleep. We quietly tried to take our stuff into the house and get to bed. It was already midnight and Clifton and I were both exhausted from the work week. Layton was not having it and was tossing and turning on his little pallet next to the bed we in the guest room. Needless to say we were up with him until 3:30 that night which was not fun and he of course woke up at 7 ready to play with Cooper. Clifton had to be up and moving the next morning because he had an appointment for real estate in Trinity at 10:30. Lauren and I took the kids to the mall in College Station to ride the train. They loved it and then we had lunch at Chick Fil A and let the kids play on the playground in the food court at the mall. All the kids napped great that day since we wore them out and poor Layton was exhausted. He was great when we rode the train but then Lauren got to see the terrible 2’s come out in Layton during lunch that day. He was not cooperating and I was tired so that was no fun. He needed a nap so bad. Lauren and I snuck away once Daniel got home from work that afternoon and headed to a fabric shop in College Station. We had so much fun looking around and I got some cute A&M fabric to make something for Molly and some beautiful fat quarters. Lauren was on a mission to make a game day dress so we also went to a tent sale and loaded up on the A&M shirts for everyone. Once we got home the kids were all up and Daniel grilled steaks for everyone and we enjoyed dinner outside while the kids played in the backyard. Gary an old college friend of Daniel and Clifton’s was also in town so we all hung out. Layton had so much fun driving Cooper’s Ford truck around the back yard that evening. After we got all the kids bathed and to bed Lauren and I stayed up and made her a game day dress. She found the tutorial on pinterest and it was pretty easy to make and turned out so cute. The guys all decided to go to northgate that night so we were all up late Friday night. Saturday we took the kids to the march in at Kyle Field. It was really hot and crowded but I think the kids enjoyed hearing the band and seeing the Corps of Cadets march in. We took some pictures and then headed to BJs for a late lunch with three cranky kids that needed naps to eat and watch part of the game. The kids all did pretty good and thankfully the restaurant wasn’t crowded at all. Kyleigh and Layton were fast asleep as soon as we got in the car to head back to the house. I napped while the kids did a little bit and then woke up and quietly snuck out and caught the end of the A&M game on t.v. Lauren and I decided to go get pedicures before the kids woke up from naps. It is so cheap to get a pedicure in College Station we had a great time. We headed back to the house and played with the kids outside until dark. We got the kids bathed and loaded up and headed out to get some frozen yogurt. There are yogurt places on every corner there which is awesome. Lauren and I stayed up again and I made a cute lamp shade for Molly’s room and we cut out the fabric to make ourselves some pajama pants. I was so tired I couldn’t stay up to actually sew them so hopefully I can find the time this week to finish them. We headed home Sunday morning so Daniel and Lauren could get to church. We stopped and had breakfast at McDonalds and then drove around campus for about 20 minutes showing Layton where daddy used to live, work and go to school. About 30 minutes down the road Layton was fast asleep and had a good nap on the way home. We enjoyed our trip so much Daniel and Lauren. My only complaint is the weekend went by way too fast. Can’t wait to do it again soon!

Talking to the conductor

Riding the train with mommy

Layton driving the train

Playing at the mall on the indoor playground.

Driving Cooper's Ford truck

Lauren's game day dress we made. It is so cute!

Sweet Kyleigh in her game day outfit.

Watching the band

Poor kids were so hot while we waited.

Fun weekend with Daniel, Lauren and the kids

2011-09-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

Daniel and Lauren and the kids were in town this weekend and we had so much fun just hanging out with them. Lauren was awesome and helped me with so many little projects for the nursery. It is really coming together and I love it so far. This is the only picture I took last night we had all the kids in the bath at Nana and Papa's house and they were having so much fun playing.

Here are the projects I've finished so far for Molly's nursery. We decided on a name and she will be Molly Grace. Clifton and I both have always loved that name and how sweet and simple it is. Grace is a family name my Grandmother (my dad's mom) is Fannie Grace so that is where we got the middle name. The bow board for her room.

A little lovey blanket.

Layton painted a picture on Friday for Molly's room. I've been trying to include him in this whole process so he doesn't get jealous. He is so proud of his artwork in her room.

A scrap booking picture I found on Pinterest that was linked to Etsy. Thanks to Lauren's mom and her amazing stash of cute paper and scrap booking supplies we were able to finish this little project. I can't wait to have this framed so we can hang it in her room.

Here is a wreath I started about 2 weeks ago and I finally finished it this week. I stayed up way too late every night this week working on it. I love how it turned out. Once I get everything finished and hung I will post pictures of the whole room. Clifton helped me hang the curtains Thursday night along with a mirror and some shelves. I love how cute and girly it is a nice change from all the trucks and boy stuff around my house.

Thanks Lauren for all your help this weekend. I wouldn't have been able to finish everything without your help!

Sneak Peek of Layton's Pictures

2011-09-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

While we were in Dallas one of my friends up there did a mini session with Layton in Grapevine at a vintage railroad station. I've only gotten 4 pictures so far but they are so good I had to share them with y'all. I haven't had any professional pictures of Layton taken since last November and he has changed so much since then. I love how blue his eyes are in these. He looks so much like his daddy!

Quick Easy Weeknight Crockpot Meal

2011-09-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a recipe with you that we tried one night this week. It was super easy and very tasty and it was nice to come home to a house that smelled good because dinner was ready. It is called Bacon Ranch Chicken. Before work I mixed:

1 packet of dry ranch dressing mix
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 cup of sour cream
4 slices of precooked bacon heated in the microwave
1 teaspoon of minced garlic

I put 4 frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot and poured this on top of it. I cooked it on low for about 8 hours and came home and shredded the chicken up and it just fell apart. I made some egg noodles or rice would work too to serve it with. It was very tasty and very easy.

Layton's First Plane Ride and a trip to Dallas

2011-09-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Layton and I flew to Dallas to stay with one of my friends from college. We decided to leave Clifton behind this trip so he could work and he also surprised me by painting the nursery as well. That was an awesome surprise to come home to. I was a little nervous about flying by myself with Layton especially being pregnant but it went so well. Layton loved to fly and he had so much fun. Once we got to Dallas he didn't want to get off the plane. It was a little challenging juggling him the car seat and the stroller but we managed just fine. Layton is Mr. Social every where we go and he talked to everyone and we made friends with all the people around us. During the flight he was very quiet and just sat and we looked out the window and watched a little Mickey Mouse. He even got to go up to the cockpit after the flight was over and sit in the pilot's seat and fly the plane himself. The pilots were so nice to let him do this. We had fun with Jackie we managed to take Layton to the park, do a little shopping, did some sewing, had delicious home made fondue one night, went swimming, met up with another friend, had Layton's pictures taken, sit in and see Jared's "special car" and I got to see another college friend before we headed to the airport Saturday night. Jackie has been wanting to learn how to sew for awhile so I taught her how to make a pillowcase dress and burp cloths for baby gifts. It was a quick trip but it was so nice to catch up in person and hang out. Jackie and her husband Jared who don't have any kids yet got to see what it is like having a busy toddler around too. Layton was well entertained by their two golden retrievers Lucy and Rusty the whole weekend. He was even telling people in the airport in Dallas that he was going to see Jackie and "Goose" which is her dog Lucy.

Our flight back went even better and Layton was excited to get back on a plane. After the flight was over we waited until everyone else got off the plane and I asked the pilots if he could take a look at the cockpit and they were more than happy to let Layton play for a few minutes. This time they were showing him different buttons that made different noises and were so nice to him. They told him "Layton you could fly this thing you just need to fill out an application," He looked up at them and said "I need a pencil." The whole flight crew was laughing at this point and they were impressed with how well he could talk for a 2 year old. We ended up walking through the airport in San Antonio with the whole flight crew talking to all of them. They were so good to Layton and let him play in the airplane a good 10 minutes. They have no idea how much it meant to Layton. He was in heaven up there with them pushing all the buttons. Here are a bunch of pictures from our busy but fun weekend in Dallas.

Daddy helping us get off in the airport in San Antonio Thursday night.

Headed to Dallas

Watching Mickey Mouse

He was a little shy on this flight with the pilots.

Waiting on our luggage.

Watching cartoons with Rusty.

At the park in Jackie's neighborhood.

Swimming at Jackie's house.

Sitting in Jared's Chevelle

Flying home to San Antonio

Talking with the pilots in San Antonio.

Layton riding the tractor

2011-09-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

My parents still have my brother's old john deere tractor. Layton has enjoyed riding it so much at their house but he is finally tall enough to actually peddle it. The other day when he was playing at their house my parents said he got really excited when he realized that he was peddling it all by himself. Here are a few pics my dad took of Layton riding the tractor.