Crazy sleeper...

I hadn't put in the bumper with Clara when we transfered her to the crib. Our bumper had gotten some stains on it from being in the storage unit after we moved to Butte. Over the last month or so it has become clear that I need to get a bumper in the crib....... This is how I would find her after every nap and in the am..... We now have Aunt An's *vintage* bumper from when she was a babe in her crib :)

*new lens practice*

BJ and the kids got me a new lens for my camera for Mother's Day. It finally arrived in the mail yesterday! It zooms in real tight, so I can't get super close to Cash and Clara when I want those tight face shots. I'm learning how to work it, and just happen to have the cutest models to practice with!

...out-takes from the latest clara photo shoot...

I had a hard time chosing which picture to use for her 8 month shot. The crappy fence in our back yard was kinda cute in close up shots! I scored Clara's dress at the Goodwill for 99 CENTS and that quilt was also a Goodwill find for 4.99!

::Clara 8 Months::

Another month has come and gone! And we now have a sitter and *almost* a crawler in the house. Just in the last few days, she has been pulling up her knees and trying to scoot. This mostly ends up in her shoving herself backwards, and a bit of a holler on her part. She can get to anything she wants by turning around in a circle, using her left leg to kick off from! Highlights from the past month.... *eating like a champ still (can't you tell?!) I think she is getting bored of her mushy baby foods, so as soon as she gets some teeth, her variety will open up. *Sleeping 4ish hour stretches at night still. Although, on Mother's Day she slept NINE HOURS STRAIGHT!!! What a gift to her Mama that was!!! *Champion napper! Doesn't even matter if I am talking on the phone, the lights are on in her room, anything...if she is tired, she will go down to sleep. She will even sleep at Mom and Dad's in the pack and play. *Very much in love with her ring and middle fingers on her right hand. If she is tired (especially) or upset, those fingers get popped in her mouth so fast! Then her left arm gets drapped over her right hand. Pretty cute if you ask me! *She has started to like to have a blanket with her when she is tired. No particular one yet, but if she is sleepy she will suck her fingers and rub a blanket on her cheek. *Loves Cash!! He is pretty much the highlight of her day! She searches him out if she can't see him. And laughs histarically out loud when he jumps in the air! *Starting to get jealous of big brother. Often in the am, they are up pretty close to the same time. If I dare put her in the swing to sit with Cash, she starts whining and staring me down. *Blows raspberries if she doesn't like what is being done to her. Just today in the car, Cash wanted a drink and all I had was a sippy cup of water that happened to be hers. When she saw that he was drinking out of it, she starting yelling and blowing raspberries. I think this is her way of giving the finger! LOL *SUCH a Mama's girl! Don't dare take her out of my sight, and she is screaming and crying. Makes it hard to get a small break unless she is sleeping! *Still won't take a bottle, so we have moved onto sippy cups. She likes playing with them, but still hasn't quite mastered how to tip it up and suck at the same time. It's a work in progress! *LOVES her bouncer. She jumps up and down in that thing like crazy! Instead of bearing any weight on her legs, she just jumps! *She is just the sweetest, easiest baby ever! Her personality is just blooming daily, and we are enjoying watching her grow.

**Mothers Day**

My First Mother's Day with two kids!

We went out to breakfast at Great Harvest on Saturday am, since not too much is open in Butte on Sundays. Then on Sunday morning I got my card (with Cash's signature on it!) and a new lense for my camera! We headed to Bozeman after sissy got up from her nappy. When I got there, I had a brand new computer waiting for me from Bob and LaDonna!! My old one has been broke for some time now, so they found a good deal and surprised me with it!! It's really nice and I am posting all today's blog posts on it today :) {Clara hanging out on the back deck}

After lunch, just the girls went and got pedicures at the mall. Clara was a trooper and sat on mine and Nana's lap the entire hour we were there! I think we are going to start making it a tradition to get pedi's on Mother's Day :) {mama and her girls}

We came home after some errands and had a nice dinner outside enjoying the warm weather. It was a wonderful Mother's Day!! {sista's}

{benjamin}

{clara hearts grandpa}

The SUN is SHINING

The weatherman promised sunshine and Mama Nature has delivered! With the exception of Thursday, we have seen ample sunshine and a decent amount of warmth! Spring may have arrived in Montana :) We headed out to the duck pond/ walking path one day after pre-school. There were a lot of angry geese and not many ducks, but Cash still enjoyed pitching some bread their way.

:::Weekend Happenings:::

We hung low this weekend. It was chilly, and windy and other than a few errands we stayed home and drove Dad crazy! I ran out with my friend Melissa with Clara on Saturday morning, leaving the boys to fend for themselves for two hours. "He never quits talking!" BJ says....welcome to my world, honey....welcome to my world! I got a break from dinner making both days, and BJ cooked dinner while I juggled the other night time routines sans kitchen duty :) By 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon I asked him if he was looking forward to going back to work Monday morning, there was no verbal answer, just a slight smile that said it all! Cash has been having epic tantrums lately, that usually end up with him staying in his room for a bit to cool down. Having a 3 yr old in your house is like living with a crack addict! One minute he is happy-go-lucky, playing nicely, and the next BAM!! He is throwing himself on the floor claiming that "his legs don't work!!" because his demands haven't been met quick enough. But even with all the tantrums and screaming fits that are quite common in our house these days, he is still a sweet boy with a big heart! I captured some of those loving moments this weekend, and I know when he is older, these are the things that I will remember the most! New Cash register! Endless playtime ahead :)

BBQ-ing with Dad in their aprons or "capes" as Cash calls them!

They do a nice job at ignoring me with the camera!

Lining his trucks up so nicely.....

Chunkster just out of the bath...

We have a (pretty much!) sitter!! She is strong enough to sit on her own, but is so dang wiggly she just wiggles til she topples! She has been doing this for a bit now, but finally can sit long enough so I can take a pic! I think she should get a lotion contract with these, yes?

Playing together before Clara hits the hay! She likes to pull his hair. He likes to give her kisses!

The sun is supposed to be out and warm for the next 3 days! Can't wait to slather on some sunblock and head outdoors while it lasts! Happy Monday!!!