K to the Fourth Power

Well that is the last of the pictures because as we put him on Santa's lap he started crying and I was to busy trying to soothe him that I didn't get the lovely picture of him screaming bloody murder. It was fun none the less.

So now we are officially ready for Christmas. It is going to be so exciting for Klayton and for us as parents as well. Shopping is a whole new experience (word to the wise... avoid toys r us 5 days before Christmas) and we are really looking forward to starting some new traditions and teaching Klayton some of our own traditions.

I'll leave with one picture of Klayton right before bed. He is suck a stinker after he gets out of the bath that he always makes us smile!

This is him sitting in Angie's bleacher chair. He thought is was quite funny.

He also got a big kick out of the end zone "thingies" (whatever they are called)

We tried to get a picture of both of the kiddos but were not very succesful.

And lastly, the winning coach and his granddaughter, it doesn't get much cuter.

It was a great weekend for family and of course football and now I am officialy ready for Christmas.

While we were in Houston, Mom told us that Klayton had gotten a runny nose but no big deal. We just assumed allergies or something. When we got home on Sun. he was not feeling good. He didn't really want to play, he just was not a happy camper but one again we thought maybe he was just tired because of the time change so we just put him to bed early. Well Sun. night was probably the longest night since he was newborn. Every 30 min to an hour he was awake. He was breathing hard and you could tell he was running a fever. So Mon we went to the doctor. Four hours,2 breathing treatments, 2 shots, and chest x ray later we took our little boy home with a neubulizer and a diagnosis of pneumonia. She told us if it got worse we needed to go to the emergency room. A little scary.

Luckily he was feeling much better the next day but still no trick or treating for a sick little boy so I was a little slow in sharing the pictures because like I said things were very hectic. We did however, pass out candy and Klayton even got the hang of it by the end of the night and was helping. He only got scared by a couple of kids.

We enjoyed see some of the neighborhood kids and can't wait until next year when I am sure Klayton will be bursting at the seams with even the thought of going trick or treating. I dont' know if I've mentioned or not but Klayton has taken a strong liking to rice krispie treats and cookies so if he ever discovers candy. Look out! We already have to hid the cookies or he will stand in the kitchen until he gets one. Nice!

Before we knew it the weekend was here again and that meant a trip from Carrie, Richard, and Austin. What fun! The boys are really starting to play together more and more and the picture opportunities are priceless. Sat. evening Austin would throw the ball and Klayton would go get it and give it back to Austin for Austin to throw again. Quarterback and receiver, a match made in heaven right?

This is Klayton smiling at slamming Austin's hand in the cooler

He gets it from his dad I promise.

And of course no fall weekend would be complete without game day attire

We ended up going to Mel's volleyball games and the boys looked quite cute in the gear!

And then we capped off the weekend with a few pictures.

We think they are just too cute!

I know this is two blogs in one week. Amazing! Last night Klayton went to his 1st carnival/costume party/halloween. They were having the event at Kevin's golf course which is a little bit of a drive for us but we thought Klayton would enjoy himself so we ventured out.

This is him sitting next to a big blow up spider. There were close to 300 people there but Klayton wasn't faced. He just roamed around and looked at everything. We kne he had fun because the entire way home he babbled about everything he saw and did. What fun! He made a great sheriff.

This past weekend Klayton got a new uncle. Uncle John - and suprise, suprise, he is a longhorn. Oh well! We will forgive him. The weekend really went good. We drove down Friday afternoon and rehearsal dinner was Friday night. When you eat dinner with 15 other people there are a bunch of people to make silly faces at Klayton and he just loved being the center of attention. Of course he has also taken a liking to tomatoes or carrots or green beans and the restaurant had all of this plus some bread and crackers and french fries. Yes, I am trying to say that he ate a ton. His poor little belly. Then on Saturday morning was the wedding. Klayton walked down the aisle (holding my hand) but did a great job except for the wedding was "interfering" with his morning nap and he wasn't all that happy about that so we snuck away for a quick nap before the reception. That meant that he had to fall asleep in my arms which, most of you know, does not happen. Well it did on Saturday. Yeah! I think that is the 1st time I have held in while he was asleep in 12 months :)

Then it was on to the reception where Klayton discovered M&M's. His Uncle David introduced them to him and before long we had maroon and orange M&M's everywhere. (Laura special ordered the M&M's and they were very cute) The theme of the weekend was definitely the A&M and UT rivalry and that was even more pronounced as the UT game was on during the reception. But Laura did get to have some revenge. Yes, she is sawing off the horns.

All in all the wedding was wonderful. Laura made a beautiful bride and it was great to visit with Grandpa Chance and Klayton's Great Uncle David. You can't help but laugh around them. I know I said there would be pictures but as usual, I was horrible with the camera. I think there are more pictures on Laura's camera and of course from the photographer but for now this is Klayton wathcing Uncle David dance. Klayton thought he was quite amusing.

This weekend we spent at home. Sometimes those are the best and after all of the running around I think these weekends at home makes me realize how blessed we are and how thankful I am for everything God has given us. We didn't really do anything major on Sat - some yard work in the morning, a little playing, and then Klayton took a nap during the A&M game. After the game we simply made supper and played some more. Klayton would actually sit on my lap and walk around and get toys and come back and sit down and laugh and tell us whole stories (in a foreign language he tells great stories) and frankly it just doesn't get better than that. Of course Kevin was in a great mood after the game so that helped as well but it was just great. A nice dinner with your family, great conversation, and lots of laughs. Then on Sun. we went to church and to lunch and again Klayton played wonderfully and we feel asleep on the couch and read a few magazines. None of it sounds extraordinary but I couldn't help but smile all weekend. I think God gives us weekends like this to appreciate all that we have. On a daily basis there seems to be something to worry about but in the grand scheme, we have nothing to worry about because we have each other and we have God and that is amazing. I know it is not Thanksgiving yet but I just couldn't help but recollect on why we are so blessed. The picture is of Klayton eating one of his favorites - black beans - and they are a mess but his smile is just priceless.

As much as I would like to forget the result of last weekend, the trip and events around the game were fun, so I'll say a few words. Last weekend we made the trip to College Station for the big A&M vs. Texas Tech game. Yes, that's right ouch! The game of course was a heart breaker and I get so involved in the games that I swear sometimes it upsets me as much as it does Kevin. Maybe that is because I just want to see him excited and having fun and with a loss that is sometimes difficult. We decided to head to College Station on Fri night so we left Klayton at home with Grandma and Aunt Laura. We had a great Friday evening out with Robyn and Thaddeus and woke up early Sat morning to begin the tailgating. All of Kevin's college buddies were coming to the game so it was great to visit with everyone. As I looked around at the tailgate I realized how we are all growing up so fast. There were children everywhere. Really quite amusing. Guys holding bottles (one of milk and one of beer), Grandma's pushing strollers, and Mom's chasing little ones. What fun! We really missed Klayton on Sat. morning but know there would be no one he would make it through the game so tried to enjoy a few moments with the two of us. Like I said, the game was a heartbreaker but we made it back to Austin and tried to move on.

Luckily Kevin had a golf tournament out of town for a few days so he got to escape some of the comments but that left Klayton and me at home to attempt the transition from formula and bottle to whole milk and sippy cup. Yikes! Klayton has taken so quickly to everything that I was not expecting a battle. Wrong! He has beend drinking water out of a sippy cup since he was 5 months so why wouldn't he drink milk? Wrong! We've tried new sippy cups, we've tried trainer cups, we've trained regular formula in a sippy cup but no luck yet. I am trying to stay calm but admittedly it is a little frustrating. All the doctors say that when they get hungry enough they will drink out of the sippy cup but they don't say that he will be so fussy that you will give in before he does. We have not given him a bottle during the day in 10 days and no bottle at night for the last 2 and still no luck. (Granted we are not starving the kid, he eats great at meals and we are pushing yogurt and cheese so he gets lots of milk products.) I guess we will try to remain patient and hope for the best.

This weekend it was my turn to be out of town. I had a bachelorette party and spent Sat. night in Houston with girlfriends. A&M survived, Kevin survived, Klayton survived, and I survived (barely) . I guess that means all is well on the homefront. Here is a picture of Kevin and Klayton walking to the mailbox. Oh I almost forgot. Klayton got new tennis shoes and he is such a grown up little boy. Sorry only one picture for the week. The next few weekends are weddings and Klayton is supposed to walk down the aisle at Laura's so that should mean a few pictures.

Tuesday was Klayton's actual birthday so of course there was even more celebration. Both Monday and Tuesday morning he woke up almost in a state of panic and just wanted to go downstairs to check to see if all of his toys were still there. It is too cute! Tues evening Aunt Laura and Grandma came over and enjoyed the afternoon. Kevin and I decided to buy separate gifts for Klayton and then surprise each other as well. Both of us ended up buying him jackets. (A jacket for as 12 month old is just too cute) and Kevin bought him some tennis shoes. For a while now we have been battling the shoe thing but with him walking everywhere now, "big boy shoes" were definitely on order. We tried to interest Klayton in the clothes but like any good boy all he wanted to do was ride his bike.

That was until Aunt Laura game him a new toy. It is the toy the every parent should be very afraid of. You know the one that you push and the balls pop and it makes a ton of noise. Yes, that is the one. And Klayton is a new proud owner. He took the toy with him everywhere - outside, to the dinner table, almost to bed. We had to hide it for a little while but he just thinks it is the best thing. Thanks Aunt Laura, I guess :)

I forgot to put this in my last blog but this website should take you to all of the pictures from the birthday. They are all quite fun if you feel like enjoying. http://family.webshots.com/album/554395893pVZOil

KLAYTON IS ONE!!

I can't believe it. Where has the year gone? What a marvelous first year. This morning is his actual birthday and as I sit here and try to reflect on the first year I realize we have so much to be thankful for. Of course, as any parent would say, Klayton is a true delight. Every time he smiles my heart melts and when Kevin is on the floor playing with him and they are both giggling, well there are few things in life that top that pride and emotion. My two boys are growing up (Kevin also had a birthday this week but unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share from that) and I am so happy to see it all take place.

We would not have made it through the 1st year without help from a lot of people but especially Mom/Grandma Chance. She is amazing. She makes the drive into Austin 3 times a week to watch Klayton while I go to work. She cooks supper for us a couple nights a week. She tends to Klayton's every need. And she does it all without ever complaining. She is truly amazing and there is no way to ever fully thank her. I hope that she knows how much Klayton loves her and how much we love her. I can't wait to see Klayton getting even closer to a very special Grandma as he grows up.

This weekend we celebrated both Klayton and Austin's 1st birthday and had a party for them at our house in Austin. Carrie and Richard made the trip in on Friday to help celebrate Kevin's birthday. We went out to eat, along with Aunt Marla, and enjoyed a little live music at El Arroyo's downtown. It was a little warm but being outside allowed the boys to stay up past bedtime and the daddies to enjoy a few margaritas.

Then on Sat. we of course did some playing and the boys opened there presents from Aunt Marla and Aunt Linda (we wanted them to practice)

What a cute toy and we know the boys will love the books. Here they are as they start playing.

Sat night after the game us girls made the birthday cakes. Mom would have been so proud. I think we had more fun making them than the boys did eating them but that is the best part.

Then came the day of the party. What fun! As usual Klayton was a little hesitant with the crowd. I try to blame it on the fact that he just woke up from a short nap and he was just hungry because he did do better after some lunch. He is eating like such a big boy now. He ate an entire plate with guacamole, chicken, beans, cheese and the whole nine yards. He even is starting to use a spoon. There was a little time for playing to start the afternoon and the boys showed that they must be related to the Henke's because the washer boards were the favorite toy.

We decided to open present outside to help with any loud crying outbursts and I think things went pretty good.

Then it was cake time. We made it through the singing and Austin even clapped for use and then the eating began. Both boys were a little leary but when Klayton got icing all over his fingers I knew we were in for it. He didn't understand why the purple icing made his fingers so sticky.

So then we had a little meltdown, but Austin continued to enjoy his cake.

Then we cut open the cake and taste tested a few bites and Klayton decided the cake wasn't too bad after all. It was just the icing he didn't like

After a bottle with Grandpa...

It was time for me playing. All of the little ones did a really good job of staying entertained. Next year look out - there is going to be a lot of kids running around. Play time then turned even better when Kevin decided to put together the toy that Grandpa Henke and Grandma Jeanette gave him. It was a ride and push toy and Klayton thought it was the coolest thing ever. I thought the smiles were the coolest thing ever.

The party was wonderful and I look forward to many more parties with cousin Austin and Aunt Carrie and Uncle Richard and we all look forward to another year on awesome firsts. Happy Birthday Klatyon!

Last weekend was another trip to Houston. As I said in the last blog Klayton is now facing forward in the car and you can tell how much he enjoys it. He still sleeps for most of the drive but he will also drink his bottle in the car and eat however many graham crackers you are willing to give him.
This trip to Houston was for Ava's (my cousins Danna and Mark's little girl) 3rd birthday party. Aunt Linda and Uncle Lary were also in town (they are living in Amsterdam now) and my cousins Krista and Robie from Okinawa were there as well. It was a great chance to visit with everyone and we found out that not only is Danna going to have a baby in Dec. but Krista is now expecting and is due in April. Cousins galore! Danna of course did a wonderful job with Ava's party. Here is Ava enjoying the purple icing on her Dora the Explora Birthday Cake. What fun!

Danna also had games for the kids to play. Of course Klayton was a little young but it just reminds you of all the good times to come. The 1st game was some fishing in the garage. Yeah!

There was also a pull string pinata. I had never heard of it before but perfect for kids who haven't mastered swinging a bat and hitting a moving target. Very cute! They tried to get Klayton involved but he was a little leary.


The thing Klayton enjoyed the most was all of the new toys. There was a little car to ride in, a push toy, a drum to bang on, a kitchen (Daddy was amazed that the kitchen even had "pretend" boiling water that lit up, pretty cool), and so much more. Klayton had a great time.

Klayton doesn't have a chance to be around other kids very often so I was a little concerned how he would do at the party but was more than relieved at how good things went. There were two other little boys who were 13 months and for babies I think we had as close to "playing together" as it gets. There was of course some stolen toys and a few timely redirections, but all in all, things were wonderful. Good times!

LOOK OUT! HERE HE COMES!

Yes he is walking, and walking more and more every day. It has been a couple of weeks now and he just keeps getting better and better. At 1st he would just take 2-3 steps and we didn't really consider that walking but then about 3 weeks ago he would walk to you if you were about 8 steps away. Now he walks from one room to the next. I am still a little unsure about him walking by himself outside. The cement is a little less forgiving and he scares me because half of the time he looks like he's had too much to drink. Nonetheless it is so cute and he gets quite proud of himself. Most of the time his favorite thing to do is hold your finger and walk everywhere. Unfortunately this is sometimes a battle because either my hands are full or I need to do something quickly and I need him to go by himself. Like I said this is a battle which means some give and take on both sides. I am trying to slow down and he is doing more and more on his own. I guess growing up in general is a battle. I want him to stay a little boy (I can't help it, he is just so cute) but yet I want him to start playing more on his own and being more independent. Yes I really he is only one so independent probably isn't the right word but I don't want to spoil him and do everything for him. I'm sure this is just one of those 1st time mom things that I am sure I will get more comfortable with.

Klayton is also a big boy because he is facing forward in the car. Yes, again I know this is a few weeks early but he acts like a one year old and with the new vehicle I couldn't see him when he was facing backward at all. I couldn't reach him or anything and with a few road trips to Houston in the last week, seeing him was imperative. We have made 2 trips to Houston in the last 3 weeks and are headed back this weekend. The first were wedding showers (both went really good) and this weekend is a birthday party. Klayton has done pretty good in the car. He gets fussy and irritable during the last part but so do I. I am glad he is getting to make all these trips with us. He is getting more and more used to being around other people. Several people have mentioned to me now that he needs to be around other children so I am trying to not shelter him quite as much from the chaos of all of mommy and daddy's activities. He is going to be just fine I am sure.

Sorry no pictures I really need to pull out the camera but I promise some next week

At the ripe old age of 10 1/2 months there is just so much to see and do and that you can't possibly sit still. Last weekend (it was "last weekend" when I started this blog but several tries later it has now been almost 3 weeks) we made a trip to Hallettsville to see Grandpa Henke and Grandma Jeanette. We actually made it in on a Friday afternoon so that meant Kevin and Dad got to play dominoes at Segura Country. Dad really enjoys the Friday night visits and it makes me smile to see him having such a good time. Saturday was spent putting in a new floor but that didn't stop Klayton he made plenty of time for all of his favorite activities:

1st - being outside chasing just about anything

including cows that don't want to be touched

2nd - driving anything and everything

3rd - Helping the cat keep an eye on the dog outside

It was a great visit. Then on Sun. we came back to Austin to help celebrate Grandma Chance's birthday. It was a long day for little Klayton as it was his 1st day without an afternoon nap. He slept for 5 minutes in the car but when he got home and Grandma and Aunt Laura were around, sleeping was totally out of the question. However, he still managed to sneak in a few candid shots and enjoy Grandma opening her presents. At first the bottle was way more interesting than any silly card ...
But then Grandma put on sunglasses and he was starting to get interested...

And then came the hat and he was even more interested

He was actually interested enough to put down the bottle.

Aren't grandparents fun :)

Last Friday we decided to do "date night." Luckily this is not our first date night since Klayton was born but nonetheless it was much needed and enjoyed by all, including Klayton. Let me just start this by saying we are getting old. That means that a night out now starts at 6:00 instead of 10:00 and it takes weeks of planning. We started with happy hour at a local restaurant that is pretty trendy (at least for us.) It was crowded but we managed and even got to watch a few innings of the Astros game (yes they were losing.) Kevin tried to complain about warm beer but I wouldn't listen very well. Another sign that we are getting old. We proceeded on to Midnight Rodeo. That means we were walking into the dance hall before it was even dark outside. Oops! There weren't many people there so we just played pool for a little while before we started dancing. We eventually ended up on the dance floor and had a really good time. Of course we were home by midnight but that is OK as well.

The best part of the whole evening, we didn't have to worry about Klayton because we knew he was having a blast with his Aunt Laura. He had taken an unusually long afternoon nap so we told her whatever time he went to bed was OK by us. That meant extra time for playing and I believe they took full advantage. It is so much fun to have an Aunt that is fun and crazy and let's you do whatever you want. Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Yes, that is toilet paper. It is one of Klayton's new things that he enjoys playing with and when Aunt Laura comes to babysit, Klayton gets to play with toilet paper. Barring a few diaper issues, I think they had a great time. He stayed up until almost 10:00 (normal bed time is about 8:00) but who cares when you are having fun. The best part, when we got home, Laura was grinning from ear to ear. It seems she had a great time and we really appreciated the evening as well. It is wonderful to have family who loves you so much and who is always willing to help.