The Clarks

Thursday, November 10, 2011

I'm Back!

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I've just had about the craziest 4 months of my life! However, it's starting to calm down, so here's a brief rundown of what has been happening in our lives. This is mostly a list of blogs I need to catch up on, so more should be coming soon...hopefully.

5 years. Ben and I had our 5 year anniversary on August 5. Pretty low key since I was in school and crazy busy.

Friendunion 2011. We decided to make it a tradition to get together once a year with our group of friends (like a reunion). This year we went to Jackson Hole, somewhere I'd never been, and it was a blast! We're excited for this new tradidtion and can't wait for next year's fun!

I am a Licensed Massage Therapist! That is why life has been so crazy. I finished my schooling and am ready to heal the world...one body at a time. I am just planning on doing private practice for now, doing mostly out calls in the evening. So, if you know anyone who is in need (or want) of massage, you know who to call :)

The week after my graduation, Ben and I went down to Las Vegas to run the Ragnar relay race down there. This was the first time we left Krew so we...okay I was very nervous, but my Mom came and stayed at our house and it was great!

Halloween half marathon. Ben ran the Provo Halloween half marathon...in a sumo costume. It was hillarious...pictures coming.

Halloween was fun this year. We went to a few awesome parties hosted by some great friends. I was an angel and Krew was a devil...a very cute little devil if I do say so myself :)

Krew. He is changing every day and I wish he would just slow down! He has been crawling for about 3 weeks and is all over the place! He's decided not to embrace the fact he can crawl and just uses it as a vehicle to get to something and stand up. Can you say anxiety??? Anyway, I realize that I haven't posted any pictures of him for quite some time, so here are a few from about a month ago. We has some famiy pictures taken and I was sure Krew would be his normal smiley self...wrong-o. He just had this blank stare on his face almost the entire time. At least that's how he was in all the pictures with all 3 of us. In ones with just him, we got a few smiles, but not many.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

3 months

Krew,

Ahh! 3 months already?! It seems like time is speeding up. You are such a big boy! This past month has been quite the adjustment for our little family. I started school again the beginning of June which means less Mommy/Baby time and more Uncle/Baby time. Uncle Jeff and Dad have been tag teaming to watch you all day while I'm gone. So far, they're doing a great job! I come home for lunch to see you and have some cuddle time. Uncle Jeff is learning a lot about babies, thanks to you.

You're finally starting to enjoy massage time! Me or your Dad try and give you a little massage every day. At first you didn't love your upper body massaged at all, but you're getting better. You have always loved your feet and legs rubbed, but we'll be up to a full body in no time :) You still love bath time as well! Whether it's a bath in your little tub or a shower with Mom or Dad, you're a happy little guy!

You're getting to be quite the little chatter box. Especially when on your play mat, in your crib, or on our lap. On your play mat, you kick like crazy and make all your hanging toys shake. Then, you laugh at them as they move. In your crib, you LOVE to stare at and talk to the owls on your crib bumpers. When we hold you and talk to you, you talk back, but the minute we get the camera out...silence.

You are starting to get such a personality. When you're not happy, we definitely know it! However, there is one thing that never fails when you're upset and that is a song. Not just any song, but the 5 Little Ducks song. It works every time to get you to stop crying...although if you're crying because you're hungry, the quiet time during the song doesn't last long. Other than that, it works every time :)

You have been spending some of your play time in your Bumbo chair. We'll take you out into the kitchen when we're cooking and you'll just sit there and watch. After a little while, you get tired and start to shrink down which is pretty funny.

One thing that I'm not too thriller about is that you're now a little drool face! You blow spit bubbles and let them fall out of your mouth...yucky! It seems like after we wipe your face off, you just spit more out like it's a little game. You are also sucking on your hands more than your binky. I think the teething process might be starting soon...NO!!! You can't be big enough for teeth yet! Along those same lines of things I'm not thrilled about, you're starting to lose your hair! It continues to get lighter, but I don't know how long you'll have it. I'm sure it will grow back, but right now it's getting pretty sparse.

You love to be outside and go on walks. You like to look around at all your surroundings, but the wind isn't your favorite. Sometimes when we go on walks, you fall asleep in the stroller and right when we get home and stop moving, you wake up. You went swimming for your first time this month and you seemed to enjoy it. You just sat in your little floaty the whole time and your expression didn't really change. You kicked your feet around a little, but not much else.

This month your Daddy had the oportunity to bless you and he did a great job. It was such an amazing day filled with family, friends, and love. You have quite the support group of people who love you.

You went on a little adventure with Mom and Dad about a week and a half ago. We did the RAGNAR relay race this year and you came along for the ride! You did really well for being in a van for almost 2 days straight. It was a really fun experience to have with the family, but I don't think you'll be participating in that again for quite a few years...you know when you can run instead of just ride :)

Well, I know I sound like a broken record, but we just love you so much! You have such a sweet personality and smile at anyone you meet (if you're not hungry or tired when you meet them). You're so fun to play with and a lot of our time is spent just staring at and talking to you. Your Mommy and Daddy love you very much and can't wait to see what the next month holds. We love you!

Love,

Mom

9 weeks old

10 weeks old

11 weeks old

12 weeks old

3 months old

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Two Months

Krew,

I can't believe how time flies! You're already 2 months old and you're changing every day. Although 2 months isn't very old, you look like such a little man. You have finally started gaining weight and have a double chin and a few rolls on your upper legs, but you still don't really look like a baby. Just like a very little boy. Your legs are really long and so is your torso. It's getting hard to find clothes that are long enough for you without being way to big around.

This past month has been a lot of Mommy/Baby time as your Daddy has been traveling about 5 days a week. He sure misses you when he's gone and can't believe how much you've grown when he sees you. He likes to hold you all day when he's here and even asked me if he could get up with you through the night and bottle feed you...my answer was yes :)

You are becoming interactive! You are the happiest after you wake up and eat. You love to listen to Mom and Dad talk to you and you now make eye contact with us and then smile! Talk about melting our hearts :) I am now sure that you are smiling instead of just random facial muscle movements that happen to look like smiles. You also move your little mouth like you're trying to talk to us and every now and then a cute little sound slips out. You squeak as you breath in and as you breath out is sounds like you're saying O. We can't get enough of your little noises.

The one thing you like to hear more than us talking to you is music. You absolutely LOVE music. We play songs and dance around with you often and nothing settles you down like a little bouncing and singing. In church, you calm down when you hear the organ and remain calm and content during entire hymns.

On the other hand the one thing you do not like at all is getting dressed. Your head is a little large and when we pull your shirt or onesie over your head, you begin to fuss or cry. Then, when we put your arms through the arm holes, you tense up your arm in a bent position making it very hard to get it on. The outfits that zip up instead of go over your head are our favorites :)

You are becoming very active. The only time you're still is when you're sleeping...and sometimes not even then. Your little feet seem to be moving all day. One of your favorite things to do is play on your mat, watch the toys swing above your head, and move your legs/feet one at a time, like your running. Whenever there's something pushing on your feet, you push back...which means you can pretty much stand. Of course the balance isn't there yet, but we play "up...down...up...down" several times a day where you straighten your legs and stand on our lap and then melt down to a sitting position.

You had your first haircut before your 2 month birthday! Not many babies can say that! Your hair continues to get lighter and lighter as do your eyes. They are big beautiful blue eyes that people comment on all the time. You are a very bright eyed baby.

You went on your first airplane ride this month and you did great! We went out to Virginia to visit the Stevenson family and it was so much fun! Sara loved you and you loved her. Her 2 kids couldn't get enough of you and wanted to play with you all day long. We just hung out at their house most of the trip and it was so nice to relax and be around fun people instead of home all alone.

Although Dad has been gone a lot this month, when he's here you two are so cute together! He loves you very much and is such a cute Daddy. When we pick him up from the airport, he opens your car door to say hello. When you hear his voice, you become excited and He loves knowing you remember him. We are experiencing a new kind of love by having you around. There is no way to put into words how much we love you. We are so thankful for the opportunity we have to be your parents. You are such a little ray of sunshine in our home!

Love,

Mom

5 weeks old

6 weeks old 7 weeks old 8 weeks old 2 months old!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Brothers

One of the first things people would ask about after bringing Krew home was how Buddy is doing with him. Well, a picture is worth a thousand words...

Enough said.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

First Haircut

So, I know it's the standard thing for a baby to have their first haircut when they turn 1 year old, but not this little man. Ben and I kept debating on whether or not to cut it, but it was getting pretty ridiculous so Mommy gave Krew his first haircut at 7 weeks old!

Here's before...

And here's after...

Haha! He looks so scared in this picture, but still so handsome!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mother's Day

I can't believe I'm a Mommy! It's so crazy how fast time flies by and how much life changes. As I think back to when I was a teenager, I always knew I wanted to be a Mom. It seemed so far away at the time, but it's here and I love it! Of all the things I've chosen to do with my life, I feel becoming a Mother, along with being a wife, is by far the most important. Although my education is very important to me, nothing compares to how rewarding it is to have a child. This little guy depends on Me and Ben for everything. He's so sweet and helpless and when I think about the kind of responsibility that comes with being a parent it makes me feel so grateful that we've been entrusted with this little life. There's a lot of pressure that comes with raising a child, but the joy that comes far outweighs any stress or negativity.

I have had so many great examples of Mothers in my life and I thank all those who have influenced me in my journey to and through Motherhood. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there!

Me on my first Mother's Day and the little man who made me a Mommy:)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Newborn Pictures

We had Krew's newborn pictures taken back when he was 1 week old. We actually had 2 photo shoots done and it's amazing how fast he changed. At the first one, he was exactly 1 week old and we couldn't get him to open his eyes for anything! Then, 4 days later, he only fell asleep for a few minutes out of the 2 hour shoot. I can't believe how tiny he was! They grow so fast -sniff, sniff- Here are some of my favorites from both!