23 Months Old

 
 

23 Month Claytonisms:

• Nooooo!!!!  Clayton still likes saying "No" and she frequently hears, "Don't tell Momma, No!"
• She likes to munch on ice.  She most definitely got this from her mom.
• After Sesame Street Live, Clayton is all about Elmo.  She will sit and watch Sesame Street (parts of) in the morning and likes watching her Elmo DVDs in her room.  Complete change that she will sit still for any amount of time and watch TV.
• "Moan" (as in come on) is a common word in Clayton's vocabulary when she is trying to get you to dance with her, lead you somewhere to show you something, or wants you to come help her with something.  
• When Clayton is excited she grits her teeth so tightly that they make a terrible grinding noise and she shakes her head in excitement.  Although we think it is cute, I certainly could do without the blood-curling noise.
• It's so funny to me what Clayton picks up from being with me all day everyday.  When I'm getting dressed, she wants me to put perfume and deodorant on her as well.  She insists that when we leave the house that the TV and lights are turned off.  After she potties on the potty, she always puts the toilet seat down.  And many times she returns items to their proper place.  It's the little things that make my heart smile.  
• One of my memorable moments this month was when we were all in the den and then Clayton went in the kitchen.  We heard drawers opening and much clanking, but I decided to let her destroy whatever it was that she was most likely destroying.  I'd let her have her fun and clean it up later.  In reality, I just wanted to sit for a minute.  But then she came in the den and said, "Moan, Da!"  Harris went in the kitchen, and our angel had set the entire table with three placemats, napkins and forks.  I literally almost cried.  So sweet.  I quickly made dinner because apparently she thought it was time to eat.   
• Clayton maybe mischievous and always on the go but she is such a sweet girl.  Her heart is very big.  She loves bobies (babies), all animals, and (most) people.  If she thinks she hurt you she will give you the biggest hug and kiss to make up for it.  I let her think she injures me a lot.
• Many times in our house, the payment for us to do something Clayton wants is a hug or kiss.  She frequently hears, "give me a kiss and I'll...."  Most of the times she smiles and happily agrees to do so, but there are times she says, "No!" when shes in a fuzzy mood.
• Forget spankings or the threat of time-out (which she has never been in so she shouldn't have any clue what it is but is still threatened to be put in it), hearing "NO!" is very traumatic and punishment in itself.  And if I do spank her, it is rather heart-breaking because she looks at me like, how could you hurt me and then gives me a big hug.  (Note: She still gets spankings.)
• Clayton prefers to either wear her pink or brown boots around the house or no footwear at all.  If her shoes are off, then her socks must come off as well.  She makes us take our socks off as well.  After ours are off, she likes putting ours on and walking around in our socks and shoes.  
• Harris is rather proud that he taught her to fist bump.  Now, let me clarify that Harris isn't a serious fist bumper but for some reason he taught it to Clayton.  So when she sticks her hand in your face, she isn't trying to punch you, she just wants a fist bump and many times an explosion.
• Her new dance move is spinning in circles.  It drives me nuts because she will spin and spin and spin and then is dizzy as heck trying to walk around the house.  This maybe the cause of our first ER visit for when she cracks her heart on something.
• Pink boots, pink boots, pink boots.  I'm hoping my sister didn't know when she bought these for Clayton for Christmas last year that these would be the only shoes she would wear for months.  Forget the Keds or New Balances, the pink boots go with everything as well as going everywhere.  They sure do get compliments.  Probably most are backhanded with them thinking why the heck a mom would let her child wear pink, light-up boots with a smocked dress, overalls, pajamas, or any item of clothing that Clayton owns.  Oh, she loves her boots....and secretly her mom has grown to love them to.

Nashville: Day 2

The first destination for our second day in Nashville was the Nashville Zoo.  

 
Clayton's favorite animal by far is a tiger.  She was beyond thrilled.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  
 Next we headed to the Opryland Hotel.  I am amazed every time I visit.  If you've never been, it really is a must see. 
 

 

 
 
We picked Harris up from class and headed to Memphis for the weekend.  Deer hunting was calling his name.  Nashville was a wonderful first family vacation.  Not sure if Harris will invite Clayton and I on anymore business trips since he said we hindered his sleep, but we sure enjoyed it.

Nashville: Day 1

Harris was taking a training class in Nashville for two days so Clayton and I joined him for a little vacation.  

This is Clayton's first time in a hotel since she was 2 months old so it was a new experience for her.  And she loved it!  I think we have a little traveler on our hands.

 
We packed our two days full of fun beginning with the Adventure Science Center.

After a brief nap in the car, we went to the Opry Mills Mall.  (Tear, as I'd rather be going to the Opryland Theme Park.)

Then on to the Grand Ole Opry.  

Next was the Dukes of Hazzard Museum.

We picked Harris up from class but it was no time to stop then.  Bass Pro Shop was our next destination.  And from there we went to dinner at the Aquarium Restaurant.

  
 Apparently, Harris and I were into our food because we didn't notice that Clayton decided to color on the booth and table.  Harris thought the right thing to do was tell a manager that was walking by.  After the guy just looks at us blankly, Harris says, "I mean, if I need to pay for it just let me know."  The guy says it should be no big deal and it will come out with Resolve.  Yeah, no kidding, it's crayon.  Well, then he comes back to our table and asks for my telephone number in case it doesn't come out and so they can call us for a credit card number.  Uhhh, hello!  It's CRAYON and if I would have spilled red wine all over the floor and it didn't come out, I don't think I'd get a bill for new carpet.  Conflict avoided though as we never received a call.

We went back to the hotel intending on getting a good night's rest since Clayton's refusing to sleep in a pack n' play and sideways kicking kept us from a decent sleep the night before.  Harris declared that he was going to sleep on the pullout sofa and let Clayton and I have the bed.  How nice of him.  He's gets his bed ready and is excited about a bed all to himself.  He lays on it for maybe 30 seconds and says there is no way he can sleep with the support rods jabbing him in the back.  He would chance it in the bed.  Clayton fell asleep quickly as she hadn't gotten much of a nap.

 My brilliant self decided that Clayton had earned herself a bed all to herself.  So I moved my sweet baby to the uncomfortable pullout bed.  (I had to take a pic to show her Chri-teen and PawPaw that her parents gave her the cruddy bed while they slept comfortably.)

At midnight, Clayton went into a coughing rage.  I googled cough remedies and decided to try honey.  Went downstairs and got honey and stuffed it in her mouth as she slept.  Didn't seem to work.  Harris said I had to do something 1) because he had to get some sleep and 2) the neighbors had to hate us.  So off to Kroger I went for cough medicine and Baby Vicks.  When I returned, I attempted to give her cough medicine but she wouldn't wake up to take any.  So I lathered her up with Baby Vicks and slept next to her.  And yes, the rods in my back prevented much sleeping.