Mom's Musings

While Bailey is conked out at the moment I want to share some of my new mom musings with the blogging world while I have some time.

Things I've learned.....

- babies breath really does smell sweet

- my favorite thing is when people have been holding Bailey and they hand her back and she smells like their perfume or cologne... I think I'll pick my next fragrance with this trick

- Though sleeping takes up 75% of Bailey's life- she still sucks at going to bed at night

-Binkey's matter... Bailey was such a fusser and would not keep her 1st set of Binkey's in her mouth and would just yell at them.   After trying a 2nd type of Binkey- she is able to keep it in her mouth, actually be comforted by it, and we have more peace in our home.

- I am so grateful that Bailey does not spit up (knock on wood).  She may be soaking wet from her slobber, but very rarely spits up.  In fact when she does, it's such a rarity that we never know where to find a burp cloth

- As Bailey is developing and growing she is starting to smile a ton-  she giggled once or twice, but seems to have forgotten how,  we are still waiting for her to develop this skill and can't wait

- Shower buddy-  Bailey loves the sound of the shower.  From the time we brought her home she is so calm sitting in her bee seat outside the shower.  I hope this means I'll have myself a water baby.

of course now that I'm writing i can't remember all the quirks of my child, but I'll ponder and write them down.  Stay tuned for the next set of Mom's Musings.

SURPRISE!!!!

So this year since it was Nate's parents first Christmas back from being mission presidents in Mexico we decided to stay in Utah for Christmas this year.   This would be my (Stevie) first Christmas away from home in Colorado.  We put together packages and mailed them across the state lines, we received packages as well.  Then on Thursday the 15th, Nate came home and announced that he did not have to go to work the next day- and since he never works Mondays he had a 4 day weekend.  He suggested that with his new time off that we surprise my family and drive to Broomfield.  We decided to check the weather in the morning before making a decision to go.   The weather gods were with us... nice weather forcasted for the weekend.   So we packed up the car and drove over.

Somehow we managed a whole trip without taking any pictures with our own camera so I have nothing to show for the weekend, but it was a ton of fun.

When we got to 1387 McIntosh Ave  Matt and Jen were just loading up the kids and Matt was heading to the car.  Nate took that opportunity to run him over and scare the begessus out of him.    We then unloaded and walked in to find Mom on the couch.  Nate promptly asked if she had anything to eat, and after a few moments of confusion- it set in who we were.  We then called Dad who was off at work to come over.  When he walked in my mother was holding Bailey and Dad looked and thought- that's the wrong baby.  He then saw Nate & I and put it all together.

We had a really nice weekend- we got to spend Saturday night with my Aunts and Uncles and a few cousins (including Jake who Nate had still not met- He does exist).  Sunday we went to church and got to hear dad give a mini-talk about the Hallelujah Chorus that the choir was singing.  It was a beautiful talk and i was so glad we could be there to see it.   That night we had a mini-Christmas, (since we had packed up all the gifts that had been sent to us) and then had a wonderful dinner with Pam & Josh and their awesome kiddos.  We left Monday morning and headed back to Salt Lake City.

We had a great time and it made me not feel as home sick about missing a Colorado Christmas.. thank you Nate for the wonderful idea and the great memories.


P.S.  as if this isn't long enough- just wanted to point out we had better driving weather in the middle of December than we have had in October, April, or any other time of the year.

TRES MESSES

Bailey just celebrated her 3 month birthday  she is 1/4 of a year old.. she's getting so big!

Here are her 3 month pictures to document.  She was a real grump face this morning and wouldn't give mom a smile... I promise she is generally a very smiley girl

 

This month Bailey has found her hands.  They are constantly making a B-line for her mouth. She is constantly wet from slobber as she noms on her hands, shirt, someone else's hand, her toys, etc.  She is also starting to reach for things and is fascinated by the toys hanging from her car seat. Her favorite toy is her Cow-  it has a rattle and is apparently very tasty. She is also able to hold her plastic keys and wave them around.  I don't think she quite understands that she's the one moving them, but she has fun with them either way.   

Bailey Meets Santa!!!

This is Bailey's 1st Christmas- so of course she had to have her picture taken with Santa Clause.  We were so excited when we heard that Santa and Mrs Clause were going to be visiting at the Nate's work Christmas party.  We were excited mainly because that meant we did not have to wait in line at the Mall. 

Here is Bailey with Santa & Mrs. Clause telling Santa how much she would like some new daipers for Christmas.

Mom and Dad then wanted their turn with Santa so we could ask for a new House, $1,000,000;  a kitty, a lot of shoes (for mom) and a personal live in diaper changer for Bailey.. (i don't think Santa is going to grant our wishes)

I also just want to show off her super cute 1st Christmas sleeper :)  

Fun Happenings

Bailey is growing so fast-  we are finally out of the fussy newborn phase-  she is now into her smiling and social phase-  we love it!  She has multiple videos talking to dad on the changing table (her favorite place of conversation) just after her bath.  Here is one of many!  We call this the Moses video 

  She is also getting better at holding her head up while on her tummy.   Video 2 is her working on those baby push-ups.  Don't mind her moms silly talking in the background-  you lose all sense of maturity when the baby is in the room .

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving at the Clark house this year.  It was a wonderful meal-  Jared made the Turkey and a wonderful cranberry sauce,  Glenys made yummy stuffing, Spence and Amy made Potatoes and i made my moms sweet potato suprise.   Good Eats!   We were all so stuffed that we didn't even touch the Pie-  blasphemy- haha.

That night we made gingerbread houses once Annette and Shaun (and baby James)  came over.   It was a lot of fun- we always enjoy our time with family.

Melanie brought this awesome bib for the babies and each got their turn wearing it-  Here is Bailey in all her Thanksgiving glory :)

2 Months Old

Bailey has grown SO much-  we went to the Dr. for her 2 month check up and the difference between her 1st week and 2 months is incredible.  Here are the videos to prove it- the first video is at 1 week old weight check and the second is her 2 month appointment.  Same scale-  bigger baby

Here are her 2 Month photo shoot as well - she was far more wiggly this time around than last month

Bailey's Blessing

On November 13th we blessed Bailey Rae Clark in Church.  We were very touched by all the family and friends that came to support us and participate in the Blessing. That morning Nate made the comment that if she cried and fussed she was only going to get a name- no blessing.  Well she did just that and cried the entire time.  Her father still pronounced a beautiful blessing upon her.

Bailey's blessing dress was created for her by a good family friend Robin Shepherd-  the material and lace came from my mother's wedding dress.  It holds a great sentimental value to me.  Her booties came from Mexico.  After telling Bruce and Glenys we were pregnant they sent these to us.  Bailey looked beautiful!

After church we came home for a Baked Potato Bar-  The trick to baking 65 good potatoes at once- use a double oven-  bake on 350 for 2 hours and then leave on warm for 1 hour while at church.

We are so thankful to all our family that traveled far and wide.  Grandma & Grandpa Hartmann flew in from Colorado and Uncle Matt & Aunt Jen Drove over with the kids. 

Bailey's First Snow

On November 5th we had Bailey's first snow.   Her mom promptly put on her snow suit to take her out.  When we emerged from her room Nate just laughed.... i thought she looked stinking cute- he thought she looked silly... you judge for yourself :)

Happy Halloween

Bailey's First Halloween!!! 

On Friday October 29th we had the Steele's and Steere's over for our yearly pumpkin carving fiesta.  Nate carved a Day of the Dead Pumpkin and I carved an Owl.  Bailey made a kitty pumpkin in honor of her costume.

For Halloween Bailey was a Kitty-  The Cutest Kitty ever!  We took her Trick-Or-Treating to a few houses in the Neighborhood.  Her parents had to take advantage of candy that we wouldn't have to share with her-  we only get about 2 years of it :)   

1 Month Old!

For Bailey's 1 Month Birthday we decided to drive to Colorado to see Grandma and Grandpa Hartmann.  We left town on Friday after work and got to Grandma's house at about Midnight  The next day we went to Skylar's soccer game and hung out at the house and socialized.  On Sunday we went to Skylar's Primary Program and Aunt Jackie and Kelli came to visit.   That night we went to Great Grandma and Grandpa Hartmann's house.   Monday morning we packed up and headed back to Utah.  It was a great weekend and we were so excited to spend time with family and show off Bailey.  Here are a few fun memories. 

 1 Month Old :)

 Cousin Lizzy (September 14th)  and Bailey Rae (September 22)

 All the Kiddo's - Lizzy, Bailey, Skylar and Justin

Kid Swap-  Matt with Bailey, Stevie with Lizzy 

Photo Shoot

Nate and Bailey had a mini photo shoot (since the hospital photos weren't very good)  Here are a few of those gems

WELCOME HOME BAILEY

We came home from the hospital on September 24, 2011.  That night Bailey's cousins Taryn (May 5, 2011) and Baby James (May 29, 2011)came to visit.  It was fun to see the difference just a few months make in size. 

Bailey Rae September 22, 2011

She's Here!

Crocodile Feet

First Family Photo

Skin to Skin time with Mom

She finally made it!!!!

Bailey Rae Clark born September 22, 2011 at 7:19pm  7 lbs 3 oz.  20 inches long.

Bailey had a rough entry into this world.   As labor progressed the Dr. discovered that Bailey was positioned to come out lips first, rather than the standard head first.   The Dr.  prepped mom and dad for the possibility of a C-Section just in case either her chin or forehead got caught during delivery.  Luckily everything went well and she was able to come naturally.   She came out a little battered and bruised, but improved quickly.

We are so happy to have her in our house- we love her so much and are so glad that she chose to join our little family

Lets Get this Started!!!

So I always said I didn't feel like i would have anything to blog about until I had a family.  Well as I eagerly sit at home waiting for this baby to come- I figured now would be a great time to start!

Nate and I are so excited to be parents and can't wait for the arrival of little girl- Bailey Rae-  our due date is September 17th 2011 - but we hope she comes sooner than that.  We can't wait to see her little face and snuggle her.  Nate keeps saying he can't wait to push her around on the floor with his head.   :)   The nursery is all ready to go-  our hospital bag is packed and in the car with the car seat, now we just need Bailey.

I had a dream that she came on the 14th- so Nate wrote it on our calendar for tomorrow "BB come Out 2:15am". Well it is 11:30am on the 13th so she better get moving to make our prediction come true.    Hopefully we have an update for all very soon.

So here starts our Blogging adventure-  welcome aboard-  we hope you enjoy :)

~Stevie~