What have you read today?

Tagged by the Selke Blogs.

The rules: "Look up from the computer, look around the room where you're sitting and pick up the closest book. And closest really means closest. No cheating by running upstairs to unearth your pink-highlighted college copy of The Critique of Pure Reason or the Prolegomena. Open the book, turn to page 123, count down to the fifth sentence on that page, and then post the next three sentences."

Now, I'm sitting at my desk and all I had were really boring work books about CRM and Communication. Since, I also share my office with the playroom I looked over to see what Clinton had. The only book he had with 123 pages was "My Fun with Words".

explain - When you tell your friend exactly how you built your igloo, you explain how you did it. You tell it so clearly that he learns how to build his own igloo. Now explain why you built your igloo.

TAG...you're it!

SNOW DAY!

All children of Tennessee woke up this morning to a blanket of snow. While this was very exciting, I imagine many of them were disappointed because it was on a weekend. If it had been just one day sooner, they could have had a three-day weekend. Since we're not in school yet, it made no difference to us...we just got to enjoy the day!

Now, I post all of these pictures knowing how jealous Samantha is going to be...but I am sure even she will be able to enjoy these ADORABLE pictures. I left all the pictures in the original format because his eyes are so beautiful against the snow! Forgive me for being a gushing mommy....and enjoy our 2,000 pictures. :-) ....oh, and Clinton is 13 months old today...can't even believe it.

Easter Lesson for the day!

Easter is early this year. Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above information, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) that is rare.

Here's the interesting information. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:

1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Interesting!

Something to think about....especially if you have kids

Picture Perfect Personality

This is what meal time often looks like in our house these days. Occasionally, Clinton will sit and eat and eat....and often he'll eat and play, then eat some more and then play, and over and over until Mommy's had enough.







Rodney and I took Clinton to the park the other day. There wasn't a lot he could do, but he enjoyed a couple of slides and a swing. We weren't able to let him run too freely as the older kids had a tendency of running over him.

Happy Birthday...a month ago!

On Juanuary 25th, I think I failed to give a shout out to my little sister for her birthday. Since it is February 25th, I thought I'd post a shout out to Chelsea...and say Happy _ _ st/nd/rd/th! (Can't mention your age because then people will know that I am older than that...so let's keep it on the DL.) I've posted some pictures from Chelsea's party which her sweet beau Brian was kind enough to throw for her. Can't wait to see you two in a few weeks...I hope you have prepared Brian for the insanity!

Oh, and for those of you who don't know Chelsea, anytime you see her in an outfit for something special...she has designed and made it herself.

We've been ick and it ucks

This has been the LOOOOOOONGEST week ever! Tuesday morning Clinton woke up around 4.30a...not so unusual. So, I got him a bottle and put him in bed with us. Normally, he drinks it, goes back to sleep and wakes up around 7.30a. However, on Tuesday he drank his bottle, squirmed for a little while, then woke me up by puking all over me....gross! So I jumped up and started stripping the bed and getting clean clothes for me and Clinton...Rodney managed to not get any on him...figures.

Clinton spent the rest of the morning throwing up over and over....and he's on real milk now so it was all very much like chunky yogurt. By the afternoon, all of his explosions were from the other end. These didn't seem to bother him as much. He'd get a little fussy just before, but then when he was actually doing it, it was so loud that he would look at me and laugh. Anyway...we went through about 20 diapers Tuesday afternoon...and a million wipes.

Wednesday I woke up hoping for a calmer day where Clinton could just rest and recover from the day before. I sat up in the bed to play with Clinton and talk to Rodney as he got ready for work. Then I noticed my stomach was feeling quite unsettled and rumbling....CRAP. So, Wednesday was my day. Rodney had a couple of meetings he had to go to and I thought I was going to be okay so I sent him on his way. I guess Clinton still wasn't feeling well because he was only happy if I was holding him AND walking around....ugh. Walking around...or any movement even resembling blinking...would cause me to get sick....but I had no choice. So, I would walk around for as long as I possibly could...using every ounce of strength I had...then when I felt IT coming on, I would set him down...screaming of course...shut the gate to the family room, and run downstairs to the bathroom. We did this over and over until I lost about 12 pounds. Occasionally, I would have to just lay on the floor, which of course would send Clinton into crying...so then I would start crying...but I was so dehydrated I had no real tears running down my face. Needless to say after a few hours of this, Rodney got a text message and voice message sweetly but sternly saying, "Get home now!" While the day was so very miserable, by the way one of the worst viruses I have ever had, it resulted in the flattest tummy I've had since my pre-pregnancy days...you know me, always looking for the silver lining. ;-)

Thursday was actually a day of rest and relaxation for me and Clinton. He took some really good naps while I laid on the couch with my computer and worked. But before leaving for class Thursday evening, Rodney wasn't feeling like himself...DOUBLE CRAP. Luckily, Rodney's hasn't been anything more than a head ache and a flu test came back negative.

So, Clinton is doing okay...but has had some diaper explosives return. However, it's from teething now...he's cutting 4 teeth right now...poor kid.

So, I tell you all this to apologize to certain people....like Samantha....for not getting a post up sooner. I know how much you depend on my exciting life to get you through yours! :0) Please, girl....

Ride 'em cowboy!

In true rodeo fashion, Clinton has started riding his zebra with only one hand...throwing his other hand up in the air just as his Pop did when he was a bull rider. We're not sure where he learned how to do this...must be instinct.






Now that Clinton is quite steady on his feet (and can bounce back from just about any kind of fall), we've started letting him play out in the yard. He LOOOOOVES it! Of course, he immediately runs for the street, so we have to take a toy with us to keep him distracted. Here are a few photos from our very windy day out!

Weirdo

Ok, so I stalk the Selke blogs and they have recently challenged those of us in the blogging world to name seven weird things about ourselves. Rodney has mentioned several times how he thinks I'm weird, but I help him rephrase it to "cute"...maybe quirky. Anyway...for this, we'll suppose I'm weird.

1. When I make a pan of brownies, I eat them right out of the middle. I don't like the edge pieces. Even when it's down to just the edges, I cut off the side that touched the side of the pan and pretend it's from the middle. I also only cook my brownies for half the time I'm instructed.

2. I brush my teeth with hot water. Try it...I promise your teeth will feel cleaner.

3. I love mayo on my chili dogs. My sister does, too. But everyone who has ever seen us eat one or order one thinks we're gross...even our parents, who have no idea where we learned to eat them like that.

4. I'm a devil's advocate when people gossip about other people. I always try to help explain their behavior or explain their circumstances...even if I agree with the person telling the story. I think part of it is feeling like I should stand up for the person being talked about, and the other part is getting a rise out of the person who wanted me to take their side!

5. I fall asleep on my back with my right ankle crossed over my left one and my hands on my stomach with my right hand holding the top of my left one.

6. I am not right handed or left handed. I do some things right handed--writing, throwing, brushing my hair. I do some things left handed--dribbling and shooting, driving, cartwheels. I do some things with both hands--put on my make-up, eating, straightening my hair.

7. I have memories from so early in my childhood, people say I couldn't possibly remember that far back. I remember bouncing in my Johnny Jump Up before I was 1. I remember playing in my walker at my Grammy's house and loving to play in the huge tins she kept the flour and sugar in, also before I was 1. I remember jumping off of a piano bench and breaking my arm when I was two. And many others...but I won't bore you!

Okay...so if you read this and you're a blogger, I expect to see this on your blog...and I know who some of you are!

Being One Is So Much Fun!

Well, we survived our first birthday party. On February 8th, Clinton turned 1. We spent the day running errands with my mom to get ready for the party. That afternoon our friends from Kentucky--Sheryl, Julianne, and Natalie--came in. Shortly after that my dad flew in. We spent the evening visiting and not doing much to get ready for the party....

So, Saturday it was nothing but work. Julianne made the birthday banner, Natalie and Sheryl made the Cowboy Cookies for the goodie bags, I made the cowboy chili, mother did everything else, and Dad and Rodney ran all the errands. It was a long day, but we had a lot of fun! Thanks so much for ALL your help....we couldn't have pulled it off without you!

We had about 30 people in attendance. We served a big pot of cowboy chili with choices of cornbread, hot dogs, fritos or baked potatoes. Below are some pictures from the big day.

On Clinton's actual birthday we did a little photo shoot with a cake Bebe (my mom) made and brought with her on the plane. Clinton was dying to touch it, but as soon as his hands hit it he was disgusted and wanted to get it all off of his fingers. We couldn't even get him to taste it. He ended up getting up and running away!




Our awesome birthday banner made by Julianne (on the right). Also pictured is Emma, Clinton's cousin.


Clinton with his Aunt Alesha


Clinton with Daddy playing with his new basketball goal.



Having a great time at the party!



Clinton's friend Marin D with mom, Heather


Another cowboy, Hutch, with mom Leslie



What an awesome cowboy cake!


A little smash cake just for the birthday boy.



Still not interested in cake!


Loving the new wagon!


All pooped after opening all the gifts!



Me and Jules



Saying goodbye to Bebe and Pop....thanks for coming!!!



Clinton also had his 12 month appointment yesterday. See stats below...

Weight: 24lbs. 12.96oz. (75th percentile)
Height: 32 inches (97th percentile)
Head: 19.69 inches (way off the charts...no longer a laughing matter...I'll post more later on that)
12 months milestones: on track and ahead of schedule in some cases