Who's Who?

This precious dress has come a long way......

Lily 11 1/2 months

Rachel, no clue how old I am...maybe 7-8 mo? ( that's how old I would have been at Christmas, if this is Christmas time)

Thanksgiving 2012

We usually are super busy Thanksgiving Day, trying to get from one place to the next, squeeze in naps, prepare food to take, and get ready and out the door on time, but this year was different.  My parents were in Puerto Rico celebrating 40 years of marriage so we only had one place to be and it was so nice!  Not only was I not stuffed from eating two huge meals, but I also wasn't rushed and got to relax and spend the morning at home with my loves.  After a 6 mile run, I settled in to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Will.  He loved all the floats and really loved the dog show that was on afterwards!  We watched the whole thing.  Around 2:30 we headed over to Grandpa's house to eat and spend the rest of the afternoon with Aunt Kelly, Uncle James, and Grandpa.  We had a wonderful time with family.  We are truly blessed and thankful for all that God has given to us!

Will loved stacking the "blocks"  aka napkin rings....

October

Fall is in full swing in North Alabama, and as Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, I'm trying to not forget October.  We had a great time, as we always do, visiting Lyon Family Farms with our closest friends and celebrating Halloween on our Street with a few hundred other families....Seriously, there are HUNDREDS of trick-or-treaters on our street on Halloween.  It is the hot spot of the neighborhood and always tons of fun.   We also thoroughly enjoyed our church's trunk-or-treat.  Will is starting to understand the whole "trick-or-treating" thing and LOVED getting all the candy that he (and mom and dad) didn't need!  But hey, that's what Halloween is for.....who doesn't love a few extra pounds over the holidays when it means you get to experience it through the eyes of a two year old and an (almost) one year old!  I wouldn't trade it for anything! 

Lyon Farms

The Gangs all here.....Halloween night! (I love the 4 little additions to the back)  Our little friend family is growing!

Halloween night!

Lyon Farm Animals...

Lyon Farms

Trunk or Treat

Corn...Lily didn't love it.

Pumpkin Patch

10 Months of Lily

Lily is such a joy to have in our family!  She is always happy and so easy going.  Pat, Will, and I are so in love with this little girl.  We couldn't imagine a life without her.  At 10 months, Lily:

• Can take steps.  The most we've seen her take is about 10 in a row.  She's not a "walker" yet, but is well on her way.
• Has 6 teeth.  Four on top and two on the bottom.
• Has Curls!  IN HER HAIR!  If you know me, you know that I have the straightest hair there is.  Lily apparently inherited her pretty little curls from her Grandma's side of the family. I love them!
• Is a great eater.  She loves all fruit, but isn't crazy about veggies.....
• Has a love/hate relationship with her brother.  He bugs her to death!!!!!  If you know Will, you're not surprised.
• Knows how to throw a fit when she wants something.   Pat and I didn't know what to do the first time she threw a little tantrum.  I guess we just thought she would be perfect forever.  
• Still has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger.  They are best friends.  

A little chocolate cake a Daddy's birthday party.

Photo shoot after church.

My love!

Lily @ 9 months

I can hardly believe our little angel is 9 months old...Really, she's pushing 10 months(like tomorrow she'll be 10 months).  Our lives are so complete with her around.  She brightens our day with her sweet spirit and loving smile.   Did I mention she's an angel, the sweetest child ever born, the easiest and most precious baby there is!  We only love her just a little......

At 9 Months:

• Weighs 19 lbs. 11 oz.
• Height
• Is getting her two front teeth
• Can stand alone (for just a second)
• Cruises around all furniture
• Waves and Claps (she was doing this at 7/8 months too, just forgot to mention it)
• Still sits through the entire church service!  Yay, Lily!  Big brother did  NOT do this.
• Is becoming quite a wiggle worm
• Will eat just about anything you put in front of her.  
• Rides in a big girl car seat.  

Visiting Grandma Clark

It's been almost 5 years since Pat's mom left her earthly home to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.  We miss her terribly, but have learned to go on and to keep her memory alive.  We've told Will about his  grandmother since he was born, but he's only just now starting to ask questions.  Will has recently been into watching the "Mommy and Daddy" show (aka, our wedding video) and loves to see all his family members on t.v.  He's always asking about Pat's mom, "who's that?", "that's daddy's mommy?", etc.

 September 27 would have been Pat's mom's 63rd birthday, so we loaded up the fam and headed to Maple Hill Cemetery for a visit.  We explained to Will that we were going to see Grandma, and that she lived in heaven with Jesus, and that she was his angel that watched over him everyday when Mommy and Daddy can't.   We really had no idea how much he really understood or if he would even be interested in the cemetery until we pulled up.  When we got to Pat's mom's grave, he immediately repeated all that we had told him.  He remembered to tell her Happy Birthday and was more than excited to have his picture taken with her.  There is something to be said about the innocence of a child .  When we were leaving he had to run back to her grave to tell her "bye and I love you" one last time.  So Sweet.

Reflecting back on her death and how tremendously hard it was on all of us makes my heart hurt.  It hurts for my children, who will never really know their Grandmother in this earthly realm.  It hurts for my husband who lost his mother way too young.  She wasn't able to watch her baby turn 30, or buy his first home, or give him a hug after the birth of his babies.  But we do have hope and the reassurance that we WILL see her again one day.  She will be there to welcome us home and for that I am thankful.  For now, we will go on remembering her and keeping her spirit alive in her grandchildren.

Michael Phelps

We spent a lot of hours this summer watching the Olympics, especially swimming.  We talked about Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and all the other Olympians.  We cheered them on and clapped for them and DVR'd every race so we wouldn't have to miss it!  Will talked about Michael Phelps A LOT, but I haven't heard much about him in over a month.  That is, until yesterday, when Will was scrolling through my phone.  He came to this picture and said:  

 "That's Michael Phelps."   

Oh Will, I wish.......Although this 16 year old is pretty cute too!

8 Months

Since I completely skipped over 7 months, I figured I better document Lily at 8 months.  She has changed so much in two short months.  I forget how fast they grow and it makes this Momma SAD!

At EIGHT months Lily can:

• Crawl all over the place (like on all fours crawl)
• Sits in the high chair and feeds herself.   
• Eats big people food.
• Can almost pull up and stand.  
• Has two teeth (her two bottom ones are poking through)
• Has enough hair for bows!  They are adorable. 
• Got her first brother battle wound (a scratch on her nose from where a picture frame fell on her face....compliments of Will)
• Loves her walker and travels everywhere in it.  
• Sleeps 12 + hours a night.  
• Talks and babbles all the time
• Loves her momma, Loves her brother, LOVES HER DADDY!!!  (and Pat didn't want a girl.....)

Lily is still the best natured baby I have ever seen.  She is so relaxed and easy going.  We can take her anywhere and she behaves!!!!  This is a new thing for the Clark Family, as her brother was never this way!  He still doesn't sit still.  

Lily we love you and are looking forward to watching you continue to grow!  You are the light of our lives!  We know God has great things in store for you!  

Circus and a Half Marathon

At the end of April, Pat and I headed to Nashville so that I could run my 3rd half marathon.  It was nice to get away for the weekend.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for keeping Will and Lily all weekend long!
Last year, I ran this half marathon 7 weeks pregnant with Lily.  I finished this year in two hours and 10 minutes and have set my sights on a marathon in December!  Wish me luck.

That same weekend Aunt Becky treated Will to the circus.  He had a great time and Pat and I enjoyed an afternoon of "only Lily".  After returning home from Nashville, we needed it.  I was still so exhausted.    I'm really not sure what I am thinking signing up for the marathon!  

Party Time

Believe it or not, Will did have a 2nd birthday party.   Will's birthday is March 1st and the weather is always unpredictable.  This year, I decided to be smart and wait to have the party until the end of April. Well, that did me absolutely NO good. It was actually warmer on Will's birthday than it was the day of the party. In fact, I had to move the party to Friday at the last minute because it was supposed to be so cold the day I originally had the party planned.  It all worked out in the end and all of Will's friends were able to attend.  We had a great time celebrating Will's 2nd birthday with a Backyard Birthday Bash complete with balloons,  presents, swing sets, hamburgers, hot dogs, cupcakes, and DEAR, SWEET FRIENDS!