Our Growing Babies

Claire

This little spit fire has been doing so well with communicating and learning new words with us with some of the books we have. There are times when Chris and I will look at each other and go "Did you hear that?!" and I'll often think in my head "You are so cute!" when she does something new. She is gaining more personality, if that is even possible, and likes bananas, dogs, and the color yellow. Sometimes she gets sad when we leave her at the gym but not every time so we haven't figured out why that is starting. It just breaks our hearts when she cries and says mama or dada all sad like, even though we know once she starts playing she is happy.

Shay

This awesome girl is such a cute sweetheart that just loves waking up early and laying in bed with us while we try to sleep a little longer. I've started bringing a toy in the bed that she can sit up against me and play with while I snooze in the mornings or she will try to grab our faces. Most the time she is happy when she can be involved with what is going on and isn't left in another room if shes fed and well slept and stuff. She is rocking herself when she gets up on her knees from tummy time so I know the crawling is just around the corner!

Matching

This week was fun with our matching because I randomly decided that a day in the middle of the week was a day the girls were going to wear the matching outfit they have. It was one I got during Claire's birthday shopping with Nana and Grandpa Cox and found Shay the very same outfit in the same store and I've been waiting to use it. On Sunday we had a fun matching moment with our jean jackets and even though Shay still needs to grow into hers a bit I loved how we all have some now that it is fall and the perfect weather for them.

Subbing

I was able to substitute two times this week, one was a dream job of middle school math and the other was the complete opposite in 1st grade! I thought I hated elementary substituting but it wasn't bad because the kids made me think of how my own children might be in only a few years and they were pretty cute. I now am reminded of how I can help Claire start learning sounds and words and soon how she will be able to read and write.

Things are going to get busier!

Claire

Our little girl is getting such an interesting personality and does the funniest things sometimes especially if she encounters a dog. Anytime we go to the park and there is a dog around there is no playing at the park it is all just standing and pointing and wanting to play with or pet the dog. I hope we never run into a violent dog that tries to bite her, I'm worried so I've tried to not allow it unless the owner says it is okay for her to get close. She likes her sister sometimes but when Shay is trying to reach out for things that she has had in the past, Claire will try to take it away. I was able to braid her hair!!! It was while she had wet hair from the bathroom so it actually held but was right before bed time so we didn't go out with it, I still feel accomplished.

Shay

We are still working on helping her sleep more, or at least it is on my mind constantly because she doesn't sleep all night yet. I don't know what solution is going to work for us but so far we haven't been able to be consistent with letting her calm herself to sleep because she is still in our bedroom in the pack and play. The greatest joy I would have is to move her into Claire's room and make Claire deal with her but that can't happen, and it didn't help that she got a stomach bug this past week and was puking in the middle of the night. Other than that she is still rolling all over the floor and getting up on her knees like she is about to crawl but doesn't quite yet. She ate baby food really well the first two weeks feeding her but she is resisting it now for some strange reason, baffles me but we can still trick by quickly putting it in when she opens to put something else in her mouth.

Subbing

I'm back to being a substitute teacher and I did two jobs this past week! I'm very excited to be back at it and I love that it is possible for me to do some days since Chris doesn't work every day. We hope that I can pick up 2-3 days a week and start getting my name out there, even though we might be moving after the school year ends it is good for me personally. I still worry about Shay cause she doesn't like bottles but so far we survived and I've got more for this week already. This school district is so big that it is easy to get jobs, but I've been picky for now since we don't actually need the extra income.

Chris

I don't usually do a section about my wonderful husband, so I have a lot to say that even though he doesn't like attention, I'm going to give to him. He has been working hard at his own job and everyone loves him there but we are very excited for the interviews we have for PA school within the next month to move up and forward. I loved when he got the email because he was very excited and I'm glad the time has finally come to start receiving interview invites. He is a good husband when dealing with my emotions and a great daddy especially when he finds funny new things for Claire...even during church.

Nana Visits

When we have visitors we like to find some fun things to do but this time we stayed around town and went to the park every day instead of going on a trip somewhere. We did get a chance to go out to eat across from the Salt Lake Temple and walked around a little with Claire and Shay so we could get the spirit of the temple and enjoy temple square.

Claire

This week she has had fun having Nana Cox visiting because my aunts come and visits too so they can all play with her. We went to the park every day and she was able to show off how good she is at climbing up the latter and sliding down the slide. She got a splinter on Saturday from the wood chips at the park and we got half of it out really easy but the other half was stuck and we tried a trick to get it out. We put a band-aid on it with some antibacterial cream on it over night and it popped out so easily in the morning! I'll definitely remember that trick in the future cause digging for a splinter on a little one is not a good time, and it must have worn Claire out because she fell asleep early on Saturday night. Unfortunately, that means she woke up early on Sunday and we think she is getting a little sick and it has messed up her sleeping.

Shay

Our little wiggler is getting so great at moving around and can get up on her knees some times too which means she is going to be too mobile soon...uh oh. When Claire started crawling we were on a whole other level of baby proofing the house and now we are getting to that point again. We have to hide cords and clean the floor as often as possible in preparation for her to get into things so she can eat everything she touches. She already puts everything into her mouth, what a fun stage to be at because she will try to take our phones and eat them. It is pretty cute but dangerous when somethings are too dirty or delicate so it shouldn't be eaten. Luckily there is dad around to feed her things like popcycles to replace the things she shouldn't eat, right?

Me Time

I got to go get a hair cut this week which never happens as often as they suggest it to happen so I get it get it slightly shorter than I like it so it can grow for longer. The hair stylist is always fun to go to because it makes me want to go to spa stuff more and get my nails done, I just need more opportunity to pamper myself. I'm too busy with the girls and taking care of the house that I never feel like I get my own free time unless its late at night when the girls are asleep and then everything is closed. I also get that hour and a half at the gym every day when Claire and Shay play with others but that's different 'me' time.

School and Travel

Claire

She had so much fun when we visited the fair in Blackfoot because there were animals to pet and cousins to play with even if it rained. I was the one dealing with the rain and trying to keep the girls dry when I was not prepared for cold weather at all. I had time to jump into a store and buy a jacket for myself and the girls were under the stroller canopies and I ended up wrapping Claire in a towel I've had in our stroller for a while. We had a lot of fun with cousins over the weekend and was able to say good bye to uncle Steven who is leaving for a mission soon! I've noticed that Claire can be a bully but only to people her age and she is great with older or younger kids.

Shay

I love matching these two girls and I have to do it as often as possible because Shay grows out of her cloths so fast! I have to get pictures and use the cloths I have right away before I miss the chance so now I'm gonna make some normal days special by dressing them up together. I can't believe how much she is progressing already with her crawling! She is already pushing up onto her knees and rocking back and forth so it is a matter of days at this point that she figures out how to crawl She is too good at wiggling around with rolling and ends up pushing herself backwards as she is on her tummy. We are still working on eating real food cause its an adventure trying to figure out how to swallow instead of come out the bottom of her lip. Sleeping is still the worst struggle because she only likes sleeping for 3-4 hours at night when Claire was so much better at sleeping long periods of time at this point.

Subbing

I'm so ready to get back into a classroom! I love my girls but I really want to get back to teaching even if it is only substitute teaching, and I'm signed up and just waiting for a job on the right day. I've been looking into day care options for the girls but it is hard to find part time day care that will work with our situation. I only need day care when I get a job and if Chris is working which won't be very often, right now I have only had one call about a job except on a day Chris had work. I know we will work things out eventually, but I really want to be a substitute again which surprises some people, but I loved it.

On into September

Visitors

The last week of August was so great because we had Nana and Grandpa Cox come visit! Claire missed her nap time when they came because she was so excited to show all her toys to them and play with them. They came down from Montana for the whole of Labor day weekend and we went on a double date to their favorite theater and dinner show, Dessert Star in Salt Lake while my aunt baby sat the girls. We then made a trip up to Ogden to let Claire play at the Treehouse Museum which has soooooooo much to do! My parents had taken me when I was little and even though it is expanded now it was fun to go back especially for the old grandma couch I remembered. It always feels like it isn't enough time when they come, but I'm glad had such a fun time having them and I was able to get them for game time on Saturday night when the girls went to bed.

Claire

Her learning seems to be accelerating and she can find things when I ask her to point to her nose of which one of the toys is a fish, things like that. She tries saying full sentences but mostly they still sound like gibberish, but every so often I can understand exactly what she meant and it makes me so happy! I think it is so great and I can't wait to understand the constant talking she does all day non stop for hours on end...yay. She has a very cute way of saying please now and I can get her to say it all the time when she wants something but I'm still struggling with saying thank you and sorry when she is mean. She does get jealous of Shay sometimes and has shown how she doesn't like when she is wiggling too close to her so she hits her.

Shay

As of today she is 6 months old!! I am amazed at how time has flown since having her and how fun she is becoming with giggles and smiles and so many wiggles. She does this funny thing now when she is pushing up from the floor that looks like she is doing a plank to work out her abs. She also likes to suck on her bottom lip or the top of her onesie and gets her cloths very wet so if you're ever around to pick her up beware of the front of her cloths. She sometimes sticks her tongue out at me and stairs as I do it back. She likes to look at herself in the mirror or on the phone during church which makes it hard to pay attention but so fun too.

 Treehouse Museum

I have too many pictures of the Treehouse so I made a new section just to show some more off because my girls are too cute. Claire played dress up for the first time with a firefighter outfit and a komono but didn't get to do any princess stuff while we were in the castle area. She did 'play' some chess and move some of the pieces around and I got her to stand in a square for the pictures. She loved playing with the dolls and doll house making one sit in a chair at the table and putting a salad in front of it entertained her for a long time for some reason. After a long day playing in the Treehouse we were all worn out but Claire is a ball of energy that never quits and I'm just glad I got some cute pictures of the sisters together. Chris even wore a pink shirt to match the girls in his life and I think it was a great day.

Yet another birthday!

Birthday

August is so eventful for this family! There are no real holidays and since no one is in school anymore (or yet) there are only our three weeks of birthdays which is actually a lot. Chris was the last to have a birthday in our family and we celebrated by spoiling him as much as possible. He unfortunately had work which makes it hard to do things but I made chocolate chip waffles for breakfast and we went to his favorite BWWs for lunch. He said that his day was good which is the only important things at this age so I say I'm a good wife for making his day good.

Claire

Her head is healing really well and were just hoping it doesn't scar too bad, so we've been putting some scar gel on it and paying attention to it. She is starting to sit down and learn words instead of just ignoring me all the time when I try to teach her, apparently she has to be in the right mood. She loves the time we go play outside and go to the park but then we have to find more things to do inside which will help when it starts getting colder too. She is starting to not want to go for naps so we have to trick her by  laying down with her and pretending we are all napping which sometimes is exactly what I want to do. We've been practicing giving her directions like picking up toys and taking cloths off for bath time which makes her seem like such a big girl!

Shay

Our little girl is starting to push herself up while she is in tummy time and gets real frustrated when she doesn't move anywhere. She reaches for things right in front of her to put them in her mouth, so I keep pulling them farther away to get her to go for them, but no luck with crawling yet. I'm glad to have a normal sized baby who is outgrowing cloths that she is supposed to but I am kinda sad I don't get to use the cloths more. We are about to grow into the cloths Claire has abused when she started walking and drawing on herself so I need a good stain removing session before letting Shay wear them.