Carnival Time!

The weekend of Clay's birthday party, our friends invited us to tag along to their daughter's school carnival. The elementary school is not far from us, so Clay and Mama ventured out while Daddy stayed back to get things ready for the party.

Daddy would have been proud that Clay's very first stop was to play golf. Clay was soooooo excited! We did this little 9 hole "course" three times!

Sinking it right into the hole! No kidding...this kid's got game! ;)



Golfing is in his genes! ;)



Sporting his "cool dudes" {as Clay calls them} waiting for the train ride.



All aboard!

Next stop...petting zoo! I wasn't sure how Clay was going to react since he's never experienced a petting zoo before {we've pet the goats and fed the deer at the zoo, but that's about the extent of it} but my normally-timid-I'd-rather-just-observe little guy walked right in and was ready to get his hands dirty! Literally!

Clay would call all the animals "fella" as in, "Come here little rabbit, come here fella!"

Not scared of the goat...mama might have been a little! ;)

Clay even got to hold a bunny rabbit for a little bit. He kept saying, "Awww Mama, isn't he cute?! He's sooooo soft!" Thank goodness this was NOT followed by a "can we keep it!"

Right after our petting experience, Mama promptly lathered on the antibacterial and whisked us off to the bathroom for a good hands washing! :) {Am I the only Mama out there a little freaked out by petting zoo germs?!}

A little stop by the playground...

some refreshments...{yes, he's his Daddy's son!}


And, we were off to end our day with a look at the Manchaca Fire Trucks!

Clay showing Mama all the "equipment"

Love this smile!

I could not believe this, but once again my usually non-dare devilish child decided he was going to climb the stairs of the truck to the top "all by myself, Mama!"

And, he's off!

All the way to the top! Now, I know you can't really tell in this picture {somewhat because Mama had managed to climb halfway herself!} but Clay climbed quite the distance and was so proud!

The view from the top!

What a great afternoon! We couldn't wait to get home and tell Daddy all about it!

I've heard of birthDAYS...

but Clay has celebrated a birthMONTH! No kidding! First, we celebrated in Ingleside with our family down there, then on his actual birthday {April 13th}, and then again a few Saturdays ago for our family and friends in Austin! Whew!



Coach & Mick came in early to help Mama get set for the party. Of course, Clay got to open his gifts early! :)




love this expression! think he likes it?!



getting "knuckles" from Coach!





Clay's very own "comfy chair" as he calls it!

Just like his Daddy...once they settle into their "comfy chairs" there is no getting them out! ;)

The weather on Saturday started out rainy, but just in time for the party, the rain stopped and the sun came out!

Construction theme!

wouldn't be complete without the hard hat pinata!

Clay was sooooo excited about his cake! He kept asking Mick, "When can I get my bulldozer and dump truck so I can play?"

Aunt Ash, Mama {with baby bump!}, birthday boy, & Mick

Since it rained all morning, it was still too wet to put together his sandbox from Grandpa but Clay and all his friends had fun with the outdoor toys and bubble machine!

Blowing out his candle! {Finally, he can get his dump truck and bulldozer now!}

Our traditional fam pic! Look at that smile on my birthday boy...precious!

About to dig in!

Thank you to all of our family and friends for coming to celebrate number 3 with

Clay! It was such a special day and we loved spending it with all of you! XOXO!

*Mama and Daddy are back from our "babymoon" feeling very refreshed and relaxed! More posts coming soon are...

--Carnival Time!

--Shaving cream just isn't for shaving!

--Mama & Daddy's Babymoon Adventures!

Mama's Little Reader

Note: Turn volume WAY up to hear this sweet precious voice "reading" one of his favorite books, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess.

I will be getting ready in the bathroom or cleaning up the kitchen and it just melts.my.heart to hear his sweet voice in the other room "reading" through his books. I am amazed that he {almost} knows the exact words on the page! We read, read, read throughout our day and the teacher in me jumps for joy that Clay has developed a passion for books. He even told me the other day, "Mama, I can't wait to read to baby sister!" Mama can't wait either, sweet boy! :)

Enjoy!!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

4-13-10

I titled this post 4-13-10 because I had every intention of posting this yesterday on Clay's actual birthday but with all the hustle and bustle that was our day, Mama was wiped as we all 3 lay our heads down at 10:30 last night!

Here's a recap of how my sweet 3 year old spent his special day!


He woke up to his favorite "cake muffins" as he calls them (really good 'ol betty crocker cinnamon streussel!}




I can't believe there are 3 candles on his morning muffin...my big boy!



made a wish and blowing them out! we may have done this three or four times...i'm just saying! :)


Then, it was off to see Dr. Jolet for his 3 year well check. Here are Clay's stats:

weight: 34.5 pounds--75%

height: 40 inches--95%

Can you say long and lean???? Pretty par for the course around here! ;)


Clay did GREAT at this appointment even having his blood pressure taken and peeing in a cup! Really...it was like an adult check up! Dr. Jolet asked him a few questions and he was more than happy to answer them all...have I mentioned he's a talker like his Mama?! :) The doctor had a good chuckle at his verrrrrry elaborate answers! My favorite answer to what fruits he likes to eat was, "Well, I like strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, apples, grapes, and raspberries are my favorite. I don't like oranges....they are too chewy!"

It also made my heart smile when he told Dr. Jolet, "Mama says we have to make make healthy choices." Wow! He really is listening to his Mama! ;)

Thankfully, Dr. Jolet had a resident assistant with her yesterday or else Mama wouldn't have been able to get her list of questions answered. Dr. Jolet introduced him as her friend, Nick. As I was chatting with the doctor I could hear Clay saying, "Nick, look at this Goldbug book {his favorite Richard Scary book} with me. Here is a combine. You know what combines do?" Clay will strike up a converstation with just about anyone. Thank you, Nick for entertaining my friendly little man!

After the doctor visit, we headed to pick out a special birthday toy then had a picnic lunch and nap time. After nap, I was so excited to start my card tradition with Clay. This is a tradition my mom started with me and I love, love, love to be passing it onto my sweet boy {and soon to be baby girl}! Every year {as long as I can remember}, Mom gives me a special card that is to be opened at the exact moment I was born (9:27pm). Here is my 4:30pm card for Clay...


I have 2 cards from year 1 and 2 but I obviously didn't start the tradition then. I felt like this year he was ready.





Still waking up from nap and reading Mama's 4:30 card!


Not long after nap, Daddy came home with another surprise...

Clay's very own fish aquarium! He was soooooo excited!

some decorations for the tank

peek-a-boo! more decoration...

there's still some work that needs to be done before we can add the fish...something about getting the ecosystem just right...Mama is still learning but Clay knows that in a few days the "home" will be just right for the fish to "move in." To say he is excited is an understatement. He walks by just to look at the tank and says in awe, "Isn't my fish tank beautiful?!" "Pretty soon the fish will live here. They are gonna love their home!"

I must admit, it was a tad bigger than I was expecting and not to mention our wedding album had to find a new home, but to hear him say those words makes it all worth it! :)

Then, later that night we had a special guest stay with us...Uncle John!

Clay opening the present Uncle John brought for him. {Somehow Mama didn't manage to snap a pic of his super cool mobile crane that you take apart and assemble back together with an even super cooler drill!}

Thanks Uncle John, Brittany, Caroline, Travis, Clayton & Kyndall for thinking of Clay on his birthday!

After a delicious meal at Maudies and some Baskin Robbins Ice Cream for Clay, it was more play time with Uncle John then off to bed.

As Daddy was reading books to Clay before bed, I couldn't help but think about this day three years ago and how our lives are so blessed now because of our sweet boy. Doug shared this story with me right before we turned the lights out and it is one that I will treasure always...

Here we were, new parents, settling in for the first night with our precious and healthy baby boy. Mama had just finished breastfeeding, Daddy burped him, we got him all swaddled into his cozy blanket just as they had showed us how and placed into the bassinet. Insert crying baby here. We both looked at each other a little unsure and went through all of the previous steps in our head...ate, burped, swaddled...what was left?! Thankfully, a nurse walked in about this time and we both said we weren't sure why Clay was crying and went through our check list with her. She looked at us lovingly and said, "Well have you checked his diaper?" Bingo! How could we not have known?!

We might not always know exactly what to do and how to do it, but we do know how to love you with all we have to give! Happy Birthday my sweet Clay!

How Did We Manage to Fit it all In???

Celebrating big guy's 3rd birthday {a little early} and Easter weekend?! Not sure how we managed to do it, but I'm so glad we did! It was one celebration after the next and I'm pretty sure we're still coming off our sugar rush! ;)

Our weekend kicked off with a little "ride on my big green tractor" as Clay says!


taking Paw Paw's John Deer out for a spin...a little hesitant by the loud noise at first {as you can see} but once he got going there was no stopping him!


Celebrating his 3rd birthday with our family in Ingleside/Aransas Pass

Big guy showing us how old he is! How can it be???

Waiting ever so patiently to open those gifts!

Tearing in! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Yeamans for the new Lego Duplo set!

Clay says, "It's a snowplow!" Matchbox cars and Hot Wheels are the way to his heart!

Snuggles from Grandma Flores

Sneaking in a little playtime with Daddy

Clay was so eager to blow out those candles, we didn't even get to finish the Happy Birthday song before he had made his wish and out they went!

Digging in!


And what kind of party would this be without a....

Lighting McQueen Pinata! One of Nana's Mexico finds! :)

Clay giving it a few good whacks!

And with a little help from Aunt Katie....

We finally get to the goods...candy and toys that Daddy had stuffed inside earlier! :)

look at that mouth...a little bit of cake, icing, candy and a whole lot of goodness!

When Momo and Baba appear in the picture, we all know Clay's winding down but still going strong playing with Cousin Abbey!

The next morning was Easter and Clay was so excited to know that the Easter Bunny had come to Nana and Paw Paw's house overnight to hide eggs for him to find.

Warning: These pics include a serious case of bed head!!! Not sure what happened while he was sleeping, but it looks like the Easter Bunny may have rooted around in his hair to find a hiding spot for those eggs! Just.too.precious!!!!

Off he goes...that practice run at the house had him well prepared!


What Clay didn't know was that the Easter Bunny had a little something hidden in each egg {the ones we practiced with were real eggs, not plastic}. In this next pic, I've asked him to shake the egg and tell me what he thinks is inside.

He tells me, "Mama, I hear something! I think it's a beautiful bracelet! {Not sure where this answer came from???}

Daddy showing him the "little surprises" the Easter Bunny left inside each egg!



Finding the "Golden Egg"...the one with the most loot! Although he loved the ones with the quarters, little Hershey kisses and Skittles the best!

I love this little man!

Can't wait to find what's inside!

And Easter just wouldn't be Easter at Nana and Paw Paw's without this...

the bunny that poops jellybeans! :) Clay thought this was extra funny!

Nana with her favorite Easter gifts! :)

We had such a great weekend and were so thankful to celebrate Clay's birthday with our family down south! Thank you to all who came and made his 3rd birthday so special! We love you all!