Valentine's Day & 15 months

We love holidays around here!  My ideas for decorations took a bit of a back seat due to some home improvement projects, but I still had fun doing some Valentinesy things with the kiddos. 
This year Claire got a "love note" each morning on the pantry door in the kitchen.  She really looked forward to seeing them and even hinted a couple times about what she wanted on her love note.  It was also really fun to see the Valentines she made for other people - she is really loving drawing and making crafty things now, which of course I love!

On Valentines morning, Fielder slept in so we got to spend some time with our big girl.  I made Valentines pancakes and she had a little gift waiting for her (and pink milk.)

 


                                               Aunt Mary Lynn sent the kids some really cute gifts too which they opened on Valentines Day - Thank you ML!!! 

It was a SWEET day indeed.....there was a surprise cupcake from Samara left on our front door, Mimi brought cookies, Daddy brought home cake pops, neighbors brought cookies, and I collected some candy at work!  To say I "fell off the eating-healthy-wagon" is a total understatement!
Oh man, that red velvet cupcake looked so good, but the note attached said "To Claire, stay out Mom" so I didn't touch it!!

In other news, Fielder turned 15 months on the 10th!  I took him for his well visit on Monday and he is doing great.  32" and 25lbs....I think he's 85% for weight if I remember right.  He wasn't in a very social mood that day.  The second the nurse just touched him to measure his head he started crying and I don't think he ever really stopped until we left.  The pediatrician said "the 18 month visit is usually worse."  Great. 

Physically and socially, he is right on track.  I'm really hoping his speech improves in the next few months - even though the pediatrician is not concerned and this is pretty normal for boys, it is so frustrating for him and for me when he can't tell me what he wants.  His only real words so far are Mama, sort of a "Ca" sound for Claire, and a very southern version of hi.  He makes some sounds like "t" for eat and out, "k" for milk, a meow sound, and he uses a few signs.  He clicks at me a lot and I never know what that really means? 

One little funny thing....the paperwork they give us at each visit has milestones, info on discipline, stuff like that.  One of the notes says that potty training typically begins between 15 and 24 months.  WHAT?!  Has our experience with Claire completely distorted my view on potty training or is that just crazy?  What 15 month old knows when he or she needs to go potty?!  If Fielder pees while he isn't wearing a diaper, he looks at it in total shock like he cannot believe that actually happened.  Oh, I really cracked up at the thought of potty training now!

 

Here's a couple recent pictures.  Mom and Dad go to the VCU basketball games and brought home this sweatband for Fielder....I couldn't think of a more appropriate word for this boy!  Hilarious!  (He's always chewing on his fingers....4 molars and another bottom front tooth all started coming in at the same time!)  And also I just love this picture of him in a new outfit from Aunt ML.  I got out the camera and he actually smiled at me like he knew what he was supposed to do. 

 



 

SNOW!

We've had a couple small snowstorms the past few weeks and Claire has had a great time playing in it!  I'm so glad that Santa had thought to bring snow mittens and that Mimi and Papa gave Claire a sled  :-)

Fielder enjoyed being pulled around on the sled.  We had him bundled up in so many layers that he could hardly walk without falling down and then when he would fall, he couldn't get back up!  We got a cute little video, but blogger seems to have changed a bit and I can't figure out how to post it right now.

It's really been fun to play with her in the snow.  Even Mommy and Daddy took some turns on the sled!!  We still have snow in our yard from Friday since our house sits in the shade, but by Wednesday it's going to be in the 70s!

Haircuts

Fielder was starting to get a bit of a mullet so we decided it was time for his first haircut.  I took the kids to Divas n Dudes and prayed they had some tricks up their sleeves to make him hold still!  The lady seemed very confident and told me that the first haircut is usually fine, it's the 2nd that they get upset.  Hmmm.....I wasn't buying that.  Anyway, Claire went first and was glued to the tv the whole time, easy-peasy.  Then it was Fielder's turn and I asked how we were going to do this?  She told me just to put him in the little truck seat.  She actually thought he might just sit there and let her cut his hair?!  HA!  I knew better, but gave it a shot.  He liked the bubbles, but the minute she turned on the clippers, he was crying and thrashing around.  So I had to sit in a regular chair and hold him on my lap.  At one point, I was bear-hugging him, holding both arms down, and pinning his head under my chin.  I honestly have no idea how the cut turned out as good as it did.  I know they're used to it, but I was embarrassed and just wanted to get out of there!!  I can only imagine how well it's going to go the next time he needs a haircut!



He looks like such a little BOY!  And Claire's haircut turned out really cute too. 

 

12th day of Christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas, we had our 4th (or was it 5th?) celebration, this time with the Hulchers.  There were very few pictures taken because it was chaotic as usual and Fielder was especially difficult that day.  He wouldn't nap in the morning so he was cranky, teething, spitting up a lot (still has reflux.)  I had to hold him the entire time before we sat down for brunch.  Luckily he cheered up a bit after eating and I could sit down to watch everyone open gifts.

 Uncle Andy wore Grandpa's vest that day! 

Thanks to the Masons and Hulchers for another nice celebration and for all the nice gifts! 

 

Twinkle Toes

Claire was so excited about her 1st ballet class!  (And I was relieved that enough girls had signed up so that they could hold the class.....how sad would that be if they cancelled her Christmas present?!)  She got all dressed up and used her new bag from Sally.  Before class all the girls looked so cute running around in their leotards.  I peeked in the window a few times during their class to see what they were doing - a couple times Claire was off doing her own thing and not paying attention.  At the end of the class, she came out with a very sad look on her face.  She was upset that it was over (30 minutes goes by pretty quick.)  I asked her if she had said thank you to her teacher....so she went back and said "Thanks, but I thought we were going to do ballet?"  I shuffled her out and talked with her - turns out she had in her head that you go to ballet class and automatically you are a ballerina in the Nutcracker.  We've had a lot of discussions since then about how you have to work hard and practice to become a ballerina - just like having to practice with riding a bike, writing, etc.  She went back this past Friday for the 2nd class and still was pouting on the way out because she didn't want to leave.  At least I know she is enjoying it! 

The Doc is In!

We've been an around-the-clock Doc McStuffins clinic ever since Christmas morning.  Love that imagination at work!

 

Christmas #3

On Sunday the 30th, we celebrated again with the Barnes families.  Everyone was there including Coral's sister and her family.  Claire was especially looking forward to playing with Katie.  (Could you not just die looking at that photo of them hugging?!  Oh I love it.)

Katie also got a Doc McStuffins doctor kit from Santa so I gave both girls a headband like Doc wears and Big Books of Boo-boos for them to record all their check-ups. 

Claire also got a V-tech laptop, a new magazine subscription, a bathrobe, an owl purse, and a stuffed animal from Jake that she can draw on.  So many nice things!!  Fielder got diapers, an outfit, and some musical toys.  He also got this giant Mickey Mouse - Rob had given it to Jake when he was 13 months old so it was very sweet of Jake to think of it and pass it on to Fielder!

Coral prepared a very nice dinner for all of us - ham, chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, rolls, and a red velvet cake.  It was another hectic night (I guess it's just going to be chaotic for the next 5-10 years right?!) but so much fun to all be together.  We don't get to see Matt, Alison, and Katie nearly enough - we were so happy that Alison was feeling better and able to come to Richmond.  (Poor thing got the flu on Christmas)

It was hard to get everyone to settle down for bed that night....Claire stayed up late playing on her laptop and refused to take the bathrobe off!