9 Month Shots aren't TOO bad stuff

Clayton had her 9 month old doctor's visit yesterday.  She weighs 20 pounds 6 ounces (75 percentile) and is 29" (90 percentile).

She was such a big girl when they had to prick her finger to test her iron levels and make sure she isn't anemic.

The nurse told us to make sure she didn't chew off her band aid and then choke on it.  I'm clearly failing in this picture.

So putting it on her head was a much better option.

Next Dr. Y came in and checked her out and gave us some tips for the next few months.

Then came the shots.  Here's the play-by-play.

 

Typically Clayton screams bloody murder after her shots.  We would quickly leave the office so she wouldn't embarrass herself with her extremely loud screaming.  My mom and I would console her for 10 minutes in the car afterwards.  But surprisingly this time, she didn't cry as loud.

And then once I picked her up, the tears stopped and she was fine.  So proud of my big girl!!!

Since Harris is unable to be at her appointments and suffer through watching her cry, then I call him at each appointment and set the phone next to her and make him listen to her scream.  This time she had already recovered by the time I could pick up the phone and tell him that it was over.

Germantown Festival

This weekend we went to the Germantown Festival.  We've been going for as long as I can remember.  It's an annual tradition that the Gaiennie girls go together.  

Last year my sister, myself, and my best friend Rachel were all with child.

And this year we were also with child.

(and Rachel without eyes.)

(Chris was shopping when we took the pic.  Surprise!)

Just hoping she wasn't looking for this outfit for Mary.

Clayton and Ella enjoyed strolling and people watching.

And as always I played dress-up with Clayton.

And no, I didn't leave with a terrible flower bow...and shockingly I didn't buy anything this year.  

9 Months Old

Clayton turned 9 months old yesterday!

 
At 9 months Clayton......

• Is constantly on the go.  Moves from getting into one thing to another quickly including pulling out all the dvds, playing in Sadie's water bowl, pulling all her toys out of her cabinet, or pulling all the plastic cook stuff out of the kitchen cabinet.  I clean it up and then the process of getting it back out starts again. Harris frequently asks, "Does she ever sit still?"  My typical answer, "Nope."  For this reason, I'm not sure when we'll be able to have any decorative accessories in our house if she can reach them.  Stuff that she can't damage or that wouldn't injure her isn't too pretty, so our house may look pretty bare for awhile.
• Has a fake, threatening to cry face that I love.  She opens her mouth and does a funny face threatening to cry but then quickly returns to whatever she is doing and stops.  It's hilarious.
• Loves to watch the washing machine and dryer go round and round. 
• Starting to hold her bottle but hasn't mastered holding it higher up.  Still prefers you to hold it for her.  Will hold her cereal feeder all by herself though. 
• Walks around furniture while holding on.  And likes to walk behind her walking riding toy.  
• Loves riding in her wagon, push car and stroller.  Stop for too long and she'll try to bail out.
• Enjoys taking baths with her mom.  Likes to suck on a washcloth while bathing and I thinks it makes her teeth feel better.  
• Favorite word is "Ah".  It's her form of talking.  If someone yells "ah" she will repeat and the "game" of going back and forth has begun.  She typically gets louder and louder.  This entertains her parents and family greatly.   
• Prefers to be playing with someone than by herself.  Will play contently by herself for a bit but once she sees someone walk past, she crawls like a mad woman to follow them.  
• Has mastered crawling and can get where she wants very quickly.  Turn around for very long and she's gone.  She likes to carry stuff in her mouth when she crawls or really just anytime.  
• Only has two bottom middle teeth so far.
• If sitting on the couch or in your lap and she decides she wants down, she will just bail off.  No fear.
• Dislikes having to sit still long enough to have her diaper changed.  Giving her toys and singing funny songs only extends her stillness for a few seconds.  Got to contain the wiggle worm and pops on her legs may not be too far in her future.    
• Gets excited and claps her hands.  It's so cute.  It's essentially just sitting on the floor and waving her hands close to each other together.
• Like all children, her parents think Clayton is the most precious baby in the world.  This makes me laugh because I know everyone thinks that about their baby.

Settling In Tupelo

After the painter stripped wallpaper and painted all the interior walls for two weeks and having the carpets cleaned, we unloaded the PODS (portable storage units) into our house in Tupelo the weekend before Labor Day.  We are slowly unpacking boxes, arranging furniture and settling in.

Clayton has helped out a bunch!

Bye, Bye....Kyle

The first night in our new home, the Roger's (Kyle and Brittany...aka our only Tupelo friends) came over to have drinks. 

Kyle and Brittany gave Clayton an Ole Miss recliner.  It has a cup holder and imprinted in the cup holder is "not an ashtray."  Glad the manufacturer clarified.

She fell asleep on the couch and we put her in the recliner.  I took this picture and sent it to my dad.  His response, "Get her out of that chair!!!"  

I told the Rogers that Clayton would use it and when they have kids, we will return it for theirs to enjoy.  Her LSU pillow fits in it perfect so she has both teams in her room.

Clayton thanked Kyle by waving bye-bye.    

She has waved bye-bye a few times since but it's not mastered yet.

Tony

We had to say goodbye to our family horse, Tony, last week.  He had been battling health problems (blindness and foundering) and my parents along with his vet decided it was best to end his suffering.

Tony was our first family horse.  I'm not sure how my dad found him, but he was a man down the street's horse.  I'll never forget when my dad and I went to get him, as he (Tony) came walking out of the door of the neighborhood hangout bar.  He was a spirited horse and enjoyed eating cigar butts and drinking beer when we first got him.  If my parents or their friends had a beer in their hand he would lunge for it and try to drink it.

When Mary was little she couldn't say Tony so he was nicknamed Ta-ta.  I remember one day someone must have left the pasture gate opened because Ta-ta was on our porch at the back door.  

Tony was more of a pasture dog then a horse.  After 18 years of being a Gaiennie family member, he will be missed.  

Labor Day Weekend

Clayton, Sadie and I went to our hunting camp in Louisiana for the Labor Day weekend (while Harris stayed in Tupelo to do yard work....boo).  

Someone wasn't a happy car rider for most of the trip.

But once we got there she loved looking out the door with Sadie and Katie.

There were many events over the weekend.

THE OPENING OF DOVE SEASON

Clayton enjoyed wearing some wonderful redneck outfits in celebration.

CHRIS' 40TH BIRTHDAY

and the 1ST FOOTBALL GAME OF THE SEASON

PawPaw and his cheerleader grand-girls

The cheerleaders enjoyed watching the game.

The first of many years to come of trying to keep them out of the ice chest.

Mary and her muscles

John's new tat

Pooped cheerleader

Although Hurricane Lee made for a very soggy weekend, we enjoyed laying around and being with family.