The Rhea Family: March 2013

27 Month Claytonisms:

We have been working hard on getting Clayton to learn her manners from an early age. She is pretty good about thank you and please. She says, "Thank you, Dada!" or "Thank you, Mama!" We love how she says the person's name as well. "Yes, mam" and "No, sir" are next on the agenda but she doesn't say it the greatest so I'm waiting a little bit.
The introduction of a big girl bed means nighttime is a nightmare most nights at our house. It is difficult for her to lay still long enough to go to sleep and also requires that I lay in bed with her making sure she doesn't get up. Not sure how this is going to play out once new baby comes. Because she is a mama's girl and dada doesn't cut it. I just can't bring myself to locking her in her room at bedtime. I don't want to be trapped in a room so I can only imagine the panic a two-year-old would endure. But we shall see....I may get desperate.
'To nap or not to nap?' that is the question. Since at night we struggle with bed time, some days are spent being tortured through meltdown mania as I struggle to keep her awake without a nap so she will go to bed/pass out early. Sometimes she can make it til about 5 and then poor thing is so tired, she literally passes out on the couch. Well, so much for that no nap day. Now she's definitely not going to bed at a reasonable hour. I know most of her sleep habits are because she wakes up rather late (most days after 8:30/9) so thinking when baby comes that maybe she will wake earlier making nap time earlier as well as bedtime. Wishful thinking on my part! Try waking her up early and she morphs into a crazy teenager kicking, yelling, and pulling the covers over her head. Bad mood baby isn't fun waking up to so starting the day on a bad note isn't worth it for mom. Again, not sure who she gets this from.
Weighing in at 28.5 lbs
Clayton is rather prissy. She likes to climb and be a little tomboy, but doesn't particularly like dirt on her or getting her clothes wet. Oooohhhhs and awwwwes over new clothes and likes to prance around in her high heels.
Has always loved wearing her pink boots but has discovered the 'real' cowboy boots in her closet and loves putting them on and stomping about. She clicking of the heels sends her little personality into sassiness overload.
Baby ducks, horses, Mikes (tiger...LSU's Mike the Tiger), and babies have taken over her/our life. She has the biggest heart for animals and is obsessed with baby ducks. Finding videos on Youtube of them is a favorite activity of hers this month.
My parent's neighbors, The Boltons, have a horse and two dogs that Clayton adores. She loves to go to the fence and talk to them. However, at night her love turns into worry and she can't go to bed thinking that they are outside in their pasture in the dark. I reassure her that the horse is in the barn sleeping and the dogs are in their house in their beds. Many times she will get out of the bed to look out the window just to check. Thankfully it's pitch black, so either way she figures mom is correct. I have no clue where she gets this animal-loving heart.
Her animal-loving heart extends fully into our own house. Sadie is truly man's (Clayton's) best friend.

She lets her outside multiple times a day and tells me, "Sadie, poo-poo, tee-tee!". Although sometimes Sadie actually wants out, many times she is looking at me like what did I do? My favorite is when she really wants Sadie to go outside to do her business and Sadie just stands at the door wanting back in. She gets mad and attempts to yell at Sadie to leave the deck.
Clayton moves her kitchen chair over to the counter where we keep Sadie's treats in a canister. She will get a treat for Sadie but will get down from the chair and then take off running and giggling through the house. She thinks it's great that Sadie excitingly chases her around the house.
Clayton likes to put Sadie's leash on and walk her around the house. Probably because when we go on walks, Sadie is too excited and Clayton can't hold the leash or Sadie will knock her over so she uses the confines of the house to her advantage. Sweet Sadie just follows her around.
Sadie is required to kiss Clayton's bo-bos. She will go around the room making us kiss her horrific injuries and never leaves Sadie out.
Loves throwing the ball for Sadie and playing fetch with her.

Barney & Elmo are two of her favorite things to watch on tv. She loves dancing to the music.
Mac & cheese is her favorite foods this month. Mac & cheese individual servings are requested numerous times a day. Harris likes to complain about her healthy diet but I'm just glad she when she puts something in her stomach.
Clayton loves the book Where's Spot? You flip open the flaps and see if Spot is hidden in various pieces of furniture. Every time we get to the grandfather clock, Clayton insists "I don't like snakes!" I have to reassure her that I don't like snakes either and that I'll protect her from them. It amazes me that she doesn't like snakes from seeing this picture in this harmless book. It must be genetic because I'm petrified of snakes. Harris is in for drama protecting both of us from snakes.
Clayton is very independent. Getting in and out of the car and her car seat is another thing this month that she insists on doing. Many times she gets distracted and she would like to monkey climb around the car until she finally decides it's time to get in her car seat. Certainly want to avoid her getting behind the wheel either. Makes for meltdowns when we are in a hurry and I put her in the car seat instead of letting her climb into it.