Easter 2012

I almost completely forgot to do an Easter post. So, here it is, almost a full month later. You're welcome. John and I decided when we first started talking about children that we would absolutely never dress them in the same outfits. Ever. Never ever. Then we had little Harv, and it was so super simple to stick to that rule. Then, little Charlie came along, and I lost my mind a little (a lot) and decided it's just TOO perfect to have two little boys, who look so much alike not to dress them the same. Seriously, it's a right of passage, really. And all children have to grow up and complain about something they seriously disagree with their parents about from their childhood. Honestly, I would rather our children complain to their therapists about how they *always* had to wear matching outfits on holidays. I would LOVE to think that's going to be our one and only shortcoming in their lifetimes. A girl can dream. :) Here are a few photos from our attempted photo shoot, in their matching seersucker suites. Oh my goodness, so precious (in my VERY humble opinion). And now for two of the most bizarre photos from the day: Doesn't he look just like the little old man from "Up"?? Such an old, old man look right here.

Charlie 8 Months

Mister Charlie Bird is 8 months old now. And, he's so super ready to debut his monthly photo shoot on here today :)










Such a love/hate relationship with the camera when you're a model. I totally understand.










Charlie at 8 months:

He can sit forever and ever, and he would prefer that to anything. He posses the ability to roll over (as in, we've seen him do it twice), but he really has no interest in moving. So, we've started some tough love lessons where "we" (aka John) put him on his stomach and make him stay until he a)rolls over (which never happens), or b) John takes pitty on his poor baby soul and sits him back up. I'm afraid it might just be a long road to locomotion with this guy.


He LOVES table food---prefers it to baby food. I think it's mostly an independence thing. We noticed his cheeks were really red all of the time (I attributed this to hand foot and mouth that he had last month), but it was still lingering. Plus, all the eczema on his legs was interesting. Finally, we put it together that it was most likely a soy allergy and possibly an egg intolerance. He's currently in "detox" meaning only fruits and veggies and things we know for sure don't have eggs or soy in them (by the way, soy is in EVERYTHING.....for real). Then, in a couple of weeks we can reintroduce eggs. Then maybe soy, but I'm quite certain that's what was making his skin crazy bad. He's been in detox mode for over a week, and his skin looks awesome. I'm pretty jealous of it once again.


We have another snuggler/blanket lover. Today we went to the zoo, he was starting to come undone, and I handed him this little stuffed bunny. Home boy started giggling and rubbing it on his face. Not to mention all the love he shows his Taggie blankets when it's time to go to bed. He's a mess.


He still prefers passies to his thumb. Guess we're stuck with them until college. Or until the passy fairy comes and takes them all away. Whatever comes first.


He's still a good sleeper. Eleven-twelve hours at night, a morning nap (1-2 hours) and an afternoon nap (3ish hours). As he's upstairs screaming his face off right now. See? Amazing sleeper. And, amazing mothering since I'm obviously not going up there to rescue him until this blog is finished. Mommy's busy buddy!! Perhaps I should just go toss the magic bunny in his bed with him...........

Ok, more photos and updates are coming soon. We still have to show off all of our amazing Easter photos. Brace yourselves people.

Our Life in Videos

I use my phone all the time to take photos and videos that almost no one ever sees. So, today I'm going to fix that. Here are a couple of videos from this week that really show exactly where we are with life right now.

First, Charlie.





Yes, this boy at just 7 months old, with only two teeth, has shunned all baby food and only eats table food. Of course, he would do this right after I find a really good deal on organic food and order a ton. Thanks man! He's so much happier eating from the table. And, John and I are so much cleaner now that we don't have him spitting baby food in our faces.


And, then the Harv.





We were sitting out in our front yard, enjoying the awesome weather and watching planes fly over---Harv's new favorite past time thanks to our super awesome location near the airport. :) He gets so darn excited every time they fly over. Which some days is quite often. Fortunately, it doesn't take long to get used to the sound of planes flying so close to your house----as long as you're not a two-year-old boy, of course.

Harv *Almost* Three

What in the world is happening to my children? Why are they growing so ding dang fast? Everyone says it goes so fast, and on really looong tantrum filled days, I think they're all so darn full of it. But then when you look back at baby photos, and look across the room at your huge almost-three-year-old, you realize "they" are so right (just this time).

I finally have a few photos that I either bribed him to allow me to take, or just snuck a few photos out of him. He never wants to have his picture taken these days. "NO take a pishure!" every time he sees the camera, or even our phones turned a certain way. He tries to be so independent and so strong willed, yet he wants his "bwanket", wants mommy and/or daddy to snuggle every night, he sucks his thumb like a crazy person. Ah, three year old madness.

Here are some recent photos of The Harv.
















A boy, his blanket, and his thumb. What more could he need?




Well, he obviously also needs cowboy boots.




And time-out, for those days when he's getting really crazy.




Sweet, sweet brotherly love.












And some train tracks. Little buddy is obsessed with trains, train tracks, train videos on the computer (not even kidding, just boring videos shot by people's cell phones that they've posted online. John has endured many hours watching/enjoying those videos with him!).







Big Harv loves, loves, loves time with daddy. He's always so super excited to get home to "Go see daddy!". Melts my little Grinch heart every time. I love all my boys.

Charlie Seven Months

What in the world??! Since when is this guy seven months old?! Since Saturday, actually. It's funny really. I noticed last week that he was going to be seven months old this Saturday, and it dawned on me that he wasn't sitting up yet. Most seven month olds can sit up.......some even have been for some time. So we kicked it into high gear, and he's totally sitting up! He was definitely ready, he just needed some gentle prodding. And propping.

Let's just act like I did this because I'm an excellent mother and not because I desperately wanted to take some photos of him sitting up in front of his calendar. It sound so much better that way.

So here's big Char at seven months.





It was St Patty's Day, so here's what he was really wearing:

He didn't want to get pinched or something.



Chatty little fella. Wonder where he gets that...........













I love that little face.

Some fun facts about Charlie at 7 months:

He LOVES blankets, lovies, anything soft and snugglie.

He is obsessed with feeding himself. He wants to hold his bottle (and squirt it all over his face), and he's dying to eat real food. With his gums. And two teeth. Baby Mum Mums save the day.

Some of his nicknames: Char Char, Chugga Chugga Charlie, Chugs, Charlie Bird (Bird, Baby Bird), Char Char Binks. He's got some interesting names! Most of them aren't used out in public, that's for sure.

Tomorrow, a WHOLE post about Harvey. I finalyl have enough photos of him to do a post on him..........unreal.

Can You Tell They're Brothers?

Charlie's Official 6 Month Stats

I took this guy to the doctor today to get his official stats (super fun for mom!), and 5 vaccines (so super sads for everyone within earshot). Here are his official numbers.

Weight: 21 lbs 8oz---I totally would have guessed more than that. He seems SO much heavier when I have to carry him all around all the time.

Length: 29 inches

Head: 17.8 inches

How this all compares to Harvey---- He's one pound heavier, the exact same length, and his head is just a teeny bit smaller. Overall, another baby giant for the Clore family. We love our baby giants.


And, I love this photo. He just looks so victorious.

Yeah yous guys!! I'm growin' real big and stuff!

The Halfway Point

Big 'ole baby Chugs is six months old. I know! So hard to believe. There's been A LOT of life lived in our little family since then. Yet, it doesn't feel like it has been that long at all.

We did our traditional photo shoot to celebrate. He's been pretty grumpy lately, so I was glad he *mostly* cooperated for these. Gotta get in and get out quick at this age!



The gym is that way, ladies.




Girl look at that body....... I-I-I workout!








Our sweet friend Brooke sent us a cute little mustache hat in a care package for big Harv. But low and behold, it fits our other large headed buddy as well. :)







How can you NOT smile when wearing a mustache hat?!





Good job Aunt Bookie!!!





She taked my hat off!!






But, you can't keep a good man down. Love this little boy. His official stats are coming later this week. I know, you're all on the edge of your seats now.

"Willing" Participant

Currently in our home, I only have one child who is "willing" to let me take photographs of them. Ok, so it's *technically* the one who can't move to get away, and the one who can't say "NO Piture!" in the sassiest voice possible, but he loves it. Really.

And until he can move out of that chair or tell me otherwise, I'm sticking to that story and I'm going to keep on taking a bazillion photos a week if I want.

Here are some from this week.





Starting off totally normal, totally cute.




Then things start to get a bit.....crazy........



Habin' my picture takened is so much fun, you guys!!!




Just a wittle rest, and den.......




Some of dis!





And a wittle of dis!!




Ooooooh! Bet you didn't even see dat comins!!




Dis da best game I ever pwayed. I WUV hasin' my picture takened!




Annnd... time to rest, and chew my hands. My favowite part of da days.




Geeze lady, won't you give it a rest alweady??