Smile, Handsome!

Clay's first smile was 3/15...here are some different smiles he's got goin' now...

This is his "I'm playing" smile

This is his "what the heck is mommy doing" smile

This is his "whoa" smile

And this smile is his daddy's new favorite. We call this the "I just spit up and you can't do anything about it. Ha, ha, ha!" smile. What a stinker...

Meet Your Cousins!

Clay finally met all of his cousins today! Kinsley still isn't too sure how she feels about him taking over the baby spotlight. She hasn't attacked him yet, so I think we're safe =). Quinn was happy to find out his new cousin was a boy and Hannah was super excited that there was another baby in the family!

Clay playing with Grandpa Dave

All of the cousins together. Perhaps some day we'll be able to get them all looking at the camera! Hannah was claiming to not feel well, Quinn's trying to keep Kins happy, and Kins...well, she cried and cried, until she realized there was a camera on her...then she smiled (sort of).

Funny Face, I love you!

These pictures show just what happens when we play with the camera during the day. I love his funny faces!

You're gonna do what?!??!?

Mommmm, I'm tired, leave me alone!

How you doin'?

This is what I like to call his "Duck Lips" face.

And, this is what happened when I said "Smile for mommy!!"

Mom, what the heck?

Clay's First Bath

Now, don't go thinking we didn't bathe him until now. He was just getting sponge baths til now. But, Mommy got Clay a super cool bathtub because the sponge baths were getting old and this tub looked fun (and it'll take him through 12 months)!

Good thing we covered him up because shortly after hitting the water, he started peeing!

Still Froggy Legs...

Clay's still got those froggy legs goin' on...hopefully, he'll finally stretch them out soon, but until then, it is cute as heck.

Clearly pondering something important!

After Clay fell asleep on Daddy, I realized he looked just like a tree frog. A tree frog!!

Clay's First Trip!

Clayton took his first long trip today to see his Great Grandma Garinger!

Clayton and Grammy <3

We sneak attacked Papa and handed Clay off to him real quick and then got a picture. This was the first time he held Clay!

Playtime with Clay

Here are a few pictures to show just what happens when we play with Clayton...

Have your tickets for the gun show?

Hiya, Mommy!

Maybe this will turn into something yummy!

Happy 1 Month, CJ!

This is what happens when you've got a full belly, clean diaper, and a really cute outfit. Okay, maybe the outfit isn't needed to sleep this well, but it was worth a try =)

Also noteworthy, Clay's been on this earth 1 whole month already! His newest accomplishments: real tears when he cries, eye lashes, using his tongue more, eyebrows coming in, and my personal favorite: using his arm and fist to try to shove things (Mommy or Daddy's finger, his other arm, once in a while, a burp cloth) in his mouth when he's really hungry! He's stretching some of his jammies to the max and doesn't grunt like a little piggy anymore when he's trying to eat. He's awake quite a bit more during the day and sleeping pretty well most of the time at night. He's eating a lot more and is finally okay with bath time. In fact, after having his bath and clean warm jammies tonight, he laid on the couch talking to mommy for a little while then put himself to sleep. Speaking of sleeping, his favorite way to fall asleep is on Mommy's chest with his head above my heart and his arms stretched across my chest like a little hug! He calms down when his back is rubbed at sleepy time, too! He now spends some time each day laying around, making noises, moving his arms and legs around, looking around, and occasionally smiling. I love getting down to his level and mimicking the noises he makes!

Polar Opposites

The following two pictures show how Clay can be adorably sweet and a little stinker!

When Conrad saw this picture, he thought it was staged. NOT! What fun would it be if this picture was set-up? My little angel was sleeping with his hands next to his face, how cute!

For some reason, we see this particular hand gesture most of the time when I'm feeding/holding him. He doesn't usually do this to Conrad or anyone else, except this day! Odd...

Steelers Baby!

Here are a few pictures of Clay with his Steelers gear on!

Clay hanging out on the couch with Mommy.

How cute is his little foot? I love this picture, it's kind of artsy with its angle and black and white-ness.

Apparently, the light was just too much for his tired little butt!

3 Week Check Up

Today was Clay's 3 week check up and boy is he growing! He now weighs 9 lb 1 oz. He is now 22 in long. What? When did he grow this much? I guess that explains why mommy's back has been hurting a little more.

Momma's Boy

Clay's newest thing is to blow bubbles like crazy while he's sleeping and when he wakes up, his chin is covered in drool. Just like his momma!

Baby Love!

Just a couple of candid photos that I caught.

I caught Clay and Daddy taking a nap together.

A nice black and white of Mommy's favorite guy <3

Say Cheese!

Clay's Buddah smile...he cracks me up =)

Clay smiles a TON while sleeping or gassy...and I finally caught it on camera!

Busy Bug

Before Clay's first doctor's appointment. He only lost 1 ounce and he gained half an inch. According to the doctor, he's within average range for everything =)

My little tired Love Bug on Valentine's Day

Clay LOVES his fingers and sticks them in his mouth whenever he can.

After Clay's first sponge bath. Nom, nom, nom...

Clay's first few days home...

Clay sleeps with his arms above his head all the time

Ready to head home with mommy and daddy

Clay and Daddy cuddle like this all the time...but when Mommy tries it, she usually falls asleep and bites her tongue.

My amazing little man...

Clay HATES having his clothes off for anything, especially bath or diaper changes.

Unfortunately, I can't get Clay's little smile on camera yet...or his little cross-eyed goofy face. He does it so quickly that when I try to get it on camera, it's over. It's like he knows or something...

Welcome to the World, Little Boy

Clayton Jasper Garinger was FINALLY born February 8, 2011 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA DENISE) at 3:05 pm. He weighed 7 lb 2 oz and was 20 inches long!

Mommy and Clay...40 weeks and 4 days

We were supposed to be induced on 2/7 but the doctor(s) never let us know to come in the night before to have medicine to dilate me. Sooooo, we didn't get the pitocin until 8 am Tuesday morning. By 10:30-11:00, I was ready for the medicine to take the edge off my contractions. I was able to breathe through most of them but they got harder very quickly! Around that time, I was finally 4 cm and able to have an epidural (I was opposed to it when I was pregnant but let me tell you, they are not bad at all). At some point during this, my water broke on its own. After being able to chill out for 2 hours (which flew by, probably because I was sleeping) and get some rest, I had an odd feeling that my wonderful nurse warned me was going to happen. When they checked me this time, I was fully dilated and ready to go, WHAT, ALREADY? They had me push twice to see where the baby was then I had to hold off on pushing until the doctor got there (thankfully he was quick). 20 minutes and about 12 pushes later, my amazing son was laid on my chest and his grandma was cutting his cord as her birthday present! I had quite the audience, too! There was a doctor, a resident, a med student, nurses, student nurses, a pediatrician, and at some point, a nurse midwife and lactation consultant popped in because they couldn't believe I was having Clay already. I was quiet and pretty pleasant the entire labor and the only noise I made was during delivery when they were pulling him out because I felt like they were taking a ton of pressure off of my body. Even then the noise I made was minimal and more like a loud sigh than anything else. I just couldn't see wasting my time and energy yelling, screaming, and being mean. My doctors and nurses were amazing and I can't thank them enough for all they did for us! Our little family is perfect right now =)