John a.k.a. Johnny, Johnny James, porker, tiny hiny, Jono, squishers



Despite my best intentions. My six month post for little John is almost a month late.

We are all more in love than ever with this little boy. Katie tells me daily that she thinks he is the "cutest baby in the whole wide world, don't you think mama?" I whole heartedly agree with a reminder that she and Joey were equally as cute. She promptly tells me that they weren't and moves on with whatever she was working on before. Love that girl!

He loves toys. I mean, he really really really loves toys. He is so grabby and leans with his whole body toward whatever it is he has his eye on . He could chat and growl at the toys on his exersaucer for hours.

-I love how he shakes with excitement over things like toys, food and getting picked up.

-He's a mighty fine sitter.

-I am boycotting tummy time to delay crawling. So far it seems to be working.

-He loves to be a part of the action. If he is left for more than 3 seconds by himself he screams bloody murder. The kid loves the chaos.

-He is my only baby to down peas and green beans without gagging, sputtering and head whips.

-Although we continue to call him "porker" he has certainly lost this title by definition. He has kept true to the Clevenger gene pool. He is a mere 15 lbs 3 ounces. A whole pound less than his older brother. Yes, we were all shocked. He has always seemed more robust than Joe at this age. I guess time does play tricks on the mind.

-His smile and laugh are incredibly infectious. Sometimes he smiles so hard his chubby cheeks squish his eyes closed. It is absolutely adorable.

-He's super super particular. Makes me extremely nervous for toddler hood.

-He's a blanket baby. It must be completely covering his head to go to sleep.

-For the most part he doesn't love napping. He will cry once we start walking down the hall to his room.

-He poops more than any baby I've seen at his age.

-He has the temper of a red head.

-He loves being held. He is super snugly, but when he's done he's done.

-He loves to touch your face when you're talking to him. It's the sweetest thing.

-I love his squishy little bottom. And, he has the best backfat rolls ever.

-I love this baby boy.

Of course, it is all going at lightening speed this time. I can't imagine what it will be like with any children in the future. Somedays I feel like I'm just hanging on for dear life. Like I can't savor it near as much as I would like. The other night as I was laying in bed thinking, something I wish I didn't do so much when I'm trying to go to sleep, I realized this phase of my life is going to be over in a blink. Sooner than later I will be "babyless." Those squishy toes and cheeks will be something I will only get from someone else's baby and just small tastes if that. And, in that moment I was very sad. So sad, in fact, that I just laid there and cried. I love this part of my life. I love these sweet little people who are so fresh and so trusting. I see some of that innocence slipping away in Katie now that she has started school and it hurts my heart. Oh, how I wish I could just keep them little, longer. Until I figure out how to do that though, I'll just have to love every minute with the little ones I have and then have a few more!

It's been a busy few weeks and I didn't want any more time to pass by before I wrote a few of the many things I am thankful for.

-A husband who works so hard, really, so hard. Sometimes I think if I had to do his job I might just curl up in corner and wait/pray for it to all be over. Seriously, he gets up at 4 am and sometimes doesn't get home until well after 8pm. On those nights when we're lucky enough to have him home before the kids go to bed he never utters a word about how tired he is and he is always happy to read stories, play ball or just be patient with all the chaos. I love him!

-Our three beautifully perfect (to me of course) children. They teach me so much about love and patience every day. I'm grateful they were entrusted to me.

-A warm cozy house even if it does have it's little quirks. I'm sure I will miss them someday--and then again, maybe not.

-A temple marriage to a wonderful man. I knows just how to love me.

-A job. Even though I don't work much at all these days. I'm grateful "my foot" is still in the door. And, for the chance I have to dabble in photography. It really is such an outlet for me and gives me such a sense of accomplishment.

-My mom. She has saved me so many times. She is my best friend.

-A washer and dryer. Despite my extreme distaste for laundry I really am grateful I don't have to drag it all to a laundromat with three kids in tow. It's hard enough to get done at home when I have all day.

-Smiles and hugs. I love them.

-Children who love each other. Don't get me wrong. They can fight like cats and dogs, but when they're sweet to each other it really makes me melt. It seems as they're getting older they are starting to have more "private" little conversations between them that are "not for mommy."
I hope they are always close.

-Food. I love it. Enough said.

-For a little boy who constantly tells me how much he loves me. "Mommy, I love you so much!" And then he wraps his tiny little arms around my neck and just squeezes. Gives me little goose bumps just thinking about it.

-Showers and primping products. You should be to if you know me or you could be easily frightened.

-A daughter who is wiser than her age. Who will be my best friend someday. She is kind and helpful. She is witty and smart. She is soo good to remind me of all things "church." "Mom, it's Monday we need to have Family Home Evening." We have a little chore chart for her and reading scriptures is part of her evening chores. One night we got home really late and I just wanted to put her to bed. She reminded me of how we needed to read scriptures. When I told her it was too late and we would do it tomorrow she just started to sob. "Jesus, will be so sad mom." I love her.

-Chore charts. They're brilliant!

-Repentance and forgiveness. Especially as a mother. It seems I resolve to do something better every day and then inevitably I don't. Awww, maybe one day.

-The beauty that surrounds me each day. I feel very blessed. I really am in awe at how beautiful this world is.

-A baby that lights up the room with his cheeky little grin. He is the most adorable thing to me in this world. I love that he loves me unconditionally. I'm all he has and he trusts me. It's a wonderful feeling.

- So much great family. My own little one, the one I came from, the one Todd came from... it all becomes even more important to me as I get older and as I watch my kids grow up knowing they are loved so unconditionally by so many.

- The Savior. My knowledge of his sacrifice, and his love for me and my family. It is most dear to my heart. As I look over my list, I realize none of it would be possible without Him.

-Music. I love it. I have always loved it. I love that my children love to fall asleep to it. I love the mood it can put me in.

- Just being happily content with my life. Sure, I would like some things different. But, at the end of every day as I'm laying in bed thinking I can't help but feel at peace.

Already yearning for this month to be more 'still."

I thought a lot about my own family vacations as a child while we were on this trip. I always knew the were really nice, but now I know they were REALLY nice. And, generally, when we would go it was for 4-10 days. My parents were saints to put up with us during all those times in the car, hotel, hikes, picnics and restuarants. I'm sure they would tell you they were some of the best memories they have just as they are some of mine. But I'm also sure they would tell there was a lot of "you're on my side, she's touching me, look out your own window" junk too. They took us to a lot of really great places and we learned a lot in the process. I really hope we can do the same with our children. There's something about just being with your family and learning to get a long in such tight quarters for days at a time. You appreciate each other more and less of everything seems to matter. And for those days, those precious children are all I have to think, worry or care about it. I wish more days could be like that. Perhaps... a new goal for the new year.


Zion National Park

I love this park. It is abosultey breath taking! We haven't been there since they implemented the shuttle bus and it really was quite pleasant. You could see and enjoy a lot more. Plus, the random tidbits of information were kind of interesting.

We took a few different hikes. Nothing too outrageous since we had the kids. I have never struggled much with a fear of heights until recently. I started thinking about when this all changed and it just so happens it occured with the birth of our children. My stomach was churning during several stretches of the hiking. Joey even informed me that I was hurting his hand I was holding it so tight. Guilty!! But, if you've meet Joe or Katie and seen how they don't pay attention (especially when frolicking through nature) and they seem to dance to where ever they're going to, then you would completely understand. And, I must be so much more paranoid about it than Todd. Of course, there were times when his voice firm and his grip was tight, but he was rolling his eyes at me more than a few times.

Like this bridge. Totally paranoid Joey was going fall through. And now, as I'm looking at this picture I'm thinking I'm really nuts. But, I swear it looked so much more dangerous when we were on it and he was trying to poke his legs, head or whatever through.

The last week in October we took a little family vacation to southern Utah. We had a ball. I hadn't been to many of these places in years. I was somewhat surreal to be back there married with my children. Who would've thought?! I suppose when you're a teen you aren't really thinking about your future family vacations!

My dad used to make us pose with all the signs of each national park we visited. We used to tease him and still do. But, now I'm realizing it just seems a little more official that way.

A little Halloween party at Grandma and Papa's house. The kids were so excited! They had been looking forward to it for weeks.