Cousins

Sunday we had our family lunch at Grandpa Corky and Granny Leigh's house.  As usual Mason and Layton kept us all entertained and surprisingly Layton was interested in holding baby Morgan this time.  He was so cute holding him.  We also celebrated Layton's birthday again.  Here are a few pictures of all the boys.

Layton is going to be a . . . . . . .

. . . . BIG BROTHER!!!!!!

We are so excited to finally tell everyone that we are expecting Baby Shearrer #2 around January 9th.  I’m officially 12 weeks now and so glad to be through the first trimester.  I have been exhausted but other than that I have been feeling great.  Everything so far has been similar to my pregnancy with Layton so it makes me think we are having another boy but who knows.  We are still trying to get Layton excited about the whole idea of a baby in the house.  When we asked him the first time if he wanted a baby brother or sister his response was “I really don’t need one of those” so as I get bigger I’m hoping he will warm up to the idea.  He is very jealous lately though any time I’m around other babies and am holding one he gets very protective of me and says “this is my mommy, hold me.”  Looks like we have our work cut out for us.  We have been calling the guest room the baby’s room and he corrects me “No that is Mason’s room.”  When Mason comes over that is where he naps so he has declared it to be “Mason’s room.” 

This pregnancy had an interesting beginning and had both of us a little stressed out for about two weeks but we are both confident that God knows what he is doing and had the perfect plan for our family in place all along.  My first appt. was at 7 weeks and we had our first ultrasound.  I was so nervous just going into the appt.  I think I was more nervous this time than I was with Layton.  The doctor finds the babies heartbeat right away and the baby is measuring right at 7 weeks.  She said everything looks great and then she starts looking around and she says “Oh look there is another one.”  At this point my heart is pounding so hard and fast it feels like it is beating outside of my chest.  I looked at Clifton and said “twins really.”  He remained calm the whole time and just sat there watching the screen.  The problem was the second baby was smaller only measuring 6 weeks and we heard and saw the flashing light on the screen of the heartbeat but it was slower than the first baby.  Our doctor started warning us of vanishing twin syndrome and told us we had a 50/50 chance of the 2nd baby making it.  I couldn’t even think of the right questions to ask her because I was still in shock.  I was so excited about the possibility but at the same time trying not to get my hopes up.  She gave us pictures of both babies and told us we had to come back in two weeks to see if the 2nd baby was going to make it.  Those two weeks were the slowest of my life.  We told our parents and siblings what was going on and I loved watching everyone’s reaction when we told them twins.  My sister didn’t believe me and then I told her over and over it wasn’t a joke. 

After lots and lots of prayers from our families we went into the next appt. at 9 weeks feeling pretty calm.  I really had a peace in my heart about everything.  When the doctor started the ultrasound I knew immediately the other baby didn’t make it.  There were still two sacs but one was totally empty.  I was really calm the whole time and she explained that I miscarried the other baby but I should go on to have a normal healthy pregnancy.  I was really debating on whether or not to put anything on the blog about it but this is a journal of our life and this is what we went through so I decided to go ahead and share it.  Needless to say, Clifton and I were both disappointed about the outcome but at the same time so thankful we have a healthy baby on the way.  I was really stressing too about handling two newborns at the same time and a 2 ½ year old so I know God knows what he is doing.  This whole situation has brought me so much closer to Him and my faith has grown much stronger through this whole ordeal.  I have learned that you have to put your trust in Him and His plan is always the best.  We are so excited about this new little life that is coming into our family and can’t wait until January!  We feel fortunate that God has chosen us to be parents again.  Here are the pictures of our sweet little miracle at 9 weeks.

 

Weekend Happenings

We have been potty training all weekend and wow this is a lot of work.  Our pediatrician told us Layton might be ready since he talks about it all the time and seems interested.  After two days of cleaning up accidents I'm not convinced.  Yesterday he had lots of accidents but made it to the potty once.  I got so excited and he got some stickers for his potty chart and his first potty prize.  He wanted the green play dough so he got to play with it yesterday.  He was so proud of himself.  Today he has had four accidents and no successful tips to the potty so we will see how tomorrow goes. 

Update: Since I posted this he actually went on the potty after holding it for 4 hours.  He kept saying he wanted to take a bath which I was afraid he would just go in the tub but it was bath time tonight anyways so I went with it.  He was dancing around acting very uncomfortable the entire time and I finally asked him to you want to try and sit on the potty?  So we dried him off and he actually did it on the potty.  Poor baby had been holding it so long.  My parents were over here tonight so Nana and Papa got to see him do it and he was so excited!  He got another potty prize and got to play with some more play dough tonight before bed.  I was getting really discouraged but I guess we will keep trying.  Today he was able to hold it for longer periods of time before going so maybe he is learning a little bit.  
If he isn't catching on more tomorrow then we are going to stop all together and wait a month or two and try again.  Most of my friends that have boys it seems like they have been closer to 3 so it might be awhile before he gets the hang of it.  I figured we could at least try and see what happens.  Here is a picture of Layton in his big boy underwear yesterday playing with his play dough.  This afternoon Clifton showed up with a dump truck to haul some dirt and Layton woke up soon after from his nap.  We took a ride with daddy in the dump truck and Layton had more fun.  Here are a few pictures from our little afternoon ride too. 

 

 Here he is tonight with nana

This is what happens when you give a toddler peanut butter and apples with his lunch.  He made the biggest mess today.

Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to Clifton and my Dad!

We were in Rockport on Father’s Day this year but unfortunately Clifton had to leave Saturday night to head back home so he could be at church on Sunday morning for the ground breaking ceremony for the roping arena.  He was in charge of getting everything set up that morning so Layton and I didn’t get to spend the day with Clifton.  We celebrated on Saturday with Clifton though.  I did get to spend most of the day with my dad.  We pretty much packed up that day and cleaned up the R.V. and loaded all the stuff before I had to head to South Padre Island for some continuing education for my C.P.A. license.  Nana and Papa were so nice to take Layton back to Pleasanton in the motor home with them.  Clifton and Layton were on there own until Tuesday night when I got home.  We celebrated some on Saturday and Layton got his daddy some new reef flip flops and a huge tube to take to the lake that you sit in and relax.  I’m anxious to try it out next time we take the boat out.

Layton and I are so blessed to have Clifton in our lives.  I couldn’t have asked for a better daddy for Layton.  I love that he takes time everyday to play with him and he helps me so much just take care of all the little things.  I know as Layton grows older he will be spending lots and lots of time with daddy outside so I’m cherishing these years where he is still little and wants to be with me inside.  Clifton always takes time to talk to Layton and teach him things and I'm so thankful for that.

I also want to wish my own dad a very happy Father’s day.  He is such a great dad to all of my siblings and has been a great example for me.  I’ve always been daddy’s little girl where as my sister was more of a momma’s girl.  I’m so thankful that my dad and I have such a great relationship.  My dad always puts all of us (his kids and our spouses) before himself and always has.  He made a lot of sacrifices for us while we were growing up and now that I’m older and have a family of my own I see this more and more and appreciate everything.  We had so much fun in Rockport thanks so much for everything!

My all time favorite picture of my dad and I.

 Some father/son time on the beach.

The day Clifton became a daddy!

Layton's 2 Year Check Up

I took Layton to the doctor today and we got a great report.  He is still a BIG boy and seems to be developing like he should.  Here are his stats:

34 lbs. 90th percentile

37 inches tall 93rd percentile

He is wearing mostly 3T clothes now and a size 8 1/2 - 9 shoe

Some things I want to remember about this stage Layton is in:

He is extremely attached to me right now.  He will hardly go outside with daddy if I’m not going too which is a new thing.  He is constantly asking me “mom hold me” or "mom carry me" and he is a big kid.  I love that he wants to be around me all the time but it is also very exhausting.  If I don’t hold him then he wants to walk along side me and hold my hand.  I know some day I will wish he was back in this stage so I’m enjoying it.

He tries to discipline the dogs.  He was trying to put Roscoe in time out last night and decided he needed a spanking.  The poor dogs just lay there and let him mess with them.  I guess he knows the dogs are the only thing he can kind of control so he is constantly trying to ride them or sit on them.  He also enjoys “crashing” his big wheels into them when they are trying to sleep.  I think the dogs like that he is very interested in them and at least they are very patient with him.

Layton is really into fixing things right now.  His little mind is constantly trying to figure out how things are put together so he can see how they work.  He gets this from his daddy.  He is constantly telling us “I change the tire on my car” and “the trailer is broken so I need to fix it.”  He got some tools for his birthday and he has had more fun playing with them and pretending to fix things around the house.

He loves to haul stuff around.  We bought him the little tikes trailer that goes behind his cozy coupe car and he has been hauling stuff around in it.

He always prays for us before dinner now and he tells us “mommy, daddy close your eyes so I can pray.”  He can be a little bossy at times.  J  He learned a little prayer at school and he says it in the quietest sweetest little voice.  

He loves to sing every night before he goes to sleep.  We always sing a few songs and he knows the words to a lot of songs now.  I think his all time favorite would be “The Wheels on the Bus.”  I have a children’s cd in my car that has this on it and he is constantly asking for “I want to hear go round and round song.”  The other day he was singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider and he got to the part where it says “washed the spider out” and he said “wash the spider out with daddy’s pressure washer.”  Clifton and I couldn’t stop laughing.  He loves all of daddy’s equipment and toys and knows the difference between a regular chainsaw and a pole saw and he will correct you.

He knows that Papa drives a Ford truck and daddy has a Dodge truck and will point out trucks on the road and tell us whether or not it is a Ford or a Dodge.  I can still remember my brother’s doing this growing up.

His favorite little t.v. show we let him watch is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  On Friday and Saturday mornings since I’m home with him we usually watch an episode while we get breakfast ready.

Every kind of ball right now is a basketball and he loves his basketball goal that Aunt Amanda and Uncle Jerrod bought him.  Maybe we have a future basketball player on our hands.

Lately taking him out to eat at a restaurant has not been fun.  He used to be so easy to take out but not so much anymore.  He tries to get out of the high chair and we have tried a booster seat and climbs out of it.  He is very inpatient about waiting for food and is constantly asking to sit in mommy’s lap.  He gets very distracted at restaurants and doesn’t eat as well so for now we are trying to avoid taking him out.  Eating at home with a toddler is just so much easier.  I really hope he grows out of this phase because I always enjoyed eating out after church on Sundays but he is usually so tired after church that it is a big struggle and not worth it to me.

He is becoming very independent now and wants to do everything by himself.  It is frustrating when I'm in a hurry but he will throw a huge fit if I don't let him try to do things on his own.  He has been trying to dress himself but of course he can't figure it out yet.  Little things like climbing into the bathtub he has to do without mommy's help.  He always wants to open and close the doors now too.  He likes to brush his own teeth and comb his own hair now.

I spent several hours tonight looking at old pictures and wow he has grown up fast.  Here he is at 1 day old.

 On his 1st birthday last year.

At the zoo with mommy last year on his birthday.

 His 2nd birthday at the beach in Rockport.

 Layton,

Your daddy and I are so blessed to have you in our lives.  You keep us laughing and on our toes all the time.  I cherish every day we have with you.  You are so much fun at this age and I wish I could stop time and just enjoy this phase but I know there are more fun things to come as you learn new things.  You are such a happy little toddler and I pray that you always have that same sweet spirit.  You are so full of energy all the time and I love being your mommy.  I'm so excited to see how you grow and change in the next year.

I love you so so much Layton!!!
Mommy 

Happy 2nd Birthday Layton!

I can’t believe I have a two year old now.  It seems like he was just a little baby and now he is turning into a little boy so fast.  He is becoming more independent each day and his new favorite phrase to say right now is “mom I do it by myself.”  We celebrated Layton’s birthday last week in Rockport with all my family.  We also celebrated my nephew Cooper’s 3^rd birthday since the boys share a birthday.  We drove down Wednesday night after work so we were able to spend Thursday, Layton’s actual birthday with a morning at the park feeding the turtles, playing on the playground, and then a trip to the beach.  Layton loved the beach this year!  He had so much fun digging in the sand and swimming “in the big swimming pool” as he called the ocean.  The Rockport beach is so family friendly with playgrounds and it is very clean.  Daniel, Lauren and the kids and Aunt Amanda all made the trip to Rockport Friday night and arrived just in time for the little Mickey Mouse birthday party we had at the R.V. park for the boys.  We grilled hotdogs, hamburgers and had a delicious cake.  Layton had a special request that we have “crazy party hats” at the party so we had two different kinds of hats.  Layton and Cooper had so much fun opening presents and then playing with all the new toys.  It is so much fun to sit and watch the two boys play together.  They get so excited when they see each other and play so well together.  We all went to the beach with the kids on Saturday and got to witness little miss Kyleigh’s first trip to the beach.  She loved splashing in the water but wasn’t too sure about the sand.  We had a great time celebrating with family and we can’t wait to go back to Rockport for our annual family trip in July when Carter and Laura can also be there.  Here are lots and lots of pictures from our fun weekend in Rockport.

Layton opening a few presents the morning of his birthday.

 Feeding the turtles with mommy and nana.

 At the park on his birthday.

 The Rockport Beach with Nana, Grandma Hill and Mommy

 Grandma Hill helping Layton play in the sand.

 He loved to pretend to drive this little bitty jet ski it was hilarious.

 Heading to dinner for Layton's birthday.

 Next day at the beach with mommy and daddy.

 The birthday party for the boys.

 My sweet little birthday boy.

 Cooper the birthday boy too.

 Kyleigh was so cute in her mickey mouse ears.

 I love this picture!!!  The boys were laughing at each other.  Great memories.

 The boys ready to open some presents.

 Layton was more interested in Cooper's presents. 

 At the park after a run with Aunt Amanda and mommy.

 More fun at the beach with everyone.

 Kyleigh's first trip to the beach. 

 Aunt Amanda and Kyleigh

 The boys splashing and splashing.

 Trying out the water table that evening back at the R.V. park

These boys have so much fun together.

 Uncle Daniel reading bed time stories before bed.