Happy Birthday, Rob!

Er..."Dad-da."

Love, Clay

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our little turkey!!!!

Finishing Up

Saturday was the conclusion of the Junior League of Nashville's 'Tis the Season Holiday Marketplace. (http://www.tistheseasonshopping.com/) I have been a committee member since February and it is hard to believe that the fundraiser is over. I think the main reason it is so hard to believe is that my portion of the project is not finished. I was the Program Editor (so glad to have had that opportunity) and the Historian. As the Historian, I am supposed to compile pictures of the three-day fundraising event, including all the special events, and any media advertising for future marketing purposes. Therefore, I am still working on all that stuff. However, it is a great feeling to know that I participated in an event that gives so much back to the Nashville community.

As my JL 'Tis the Season placement winds down, I find myself thinking of other things I need to get done before the end of the year: Clay's baby book, Christmas cards, Christmas shopping, etc. It's all wonderful, but I know I need to be careful and not let it stress me out. Keeping my priorities straight is an ongoing goal of mine. I want to really enjoy the holiday season and not become an ornament of stress (how's that for a metaphor?) during this wonderful time of the year. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Blogging is a good way for me to relieve some stress and take some pressure off myself!

This picture has nothing to do with this post. I just think it is so cute!

Guess Whooo's a Year Old?

Well, Clay's first birthday has come and gone. Just like that. It was here and then it was gone in a flash. I thought it would be bittersweet - because he's no longer a "baby" - but I didn't feel upset about that at all. Of course I thought about it. But, I didn't get sad or feel like I was losing something. Instead, I felt like "we" had accomplished something. We made it through the first year! Woo-hoo! Time to celebrate and focus on what a wonderful little boy he is....how much fun we have together, how much we enjoy spending time with him, and just how much we love him - just as he is. So that's what we did.

Here are some pictures from his birthday party which was on Sunday, November 15th and some pictures from his actual birthday (Nov. 19th).

Just to reminisce for a moment, here is a picture of me and Clay shortly after he was born:



I found a new level of happiness that day.

Clay's 9-Month Pictures

Clay's 9-month pictures were taken months ago and I am just now getting around to posting them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Stripey Halloween

We started out the weekend at Rob's firm's spooky Halloween Party (try saying that three times fast) on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, we spent some time with Michael, Shay, Caden, and some friends. Then, we went to dinner at Barbara and Peter's house.

It was a great weekend and Clay's costume was a big hit. He didn't even mind wearing the giant zebra headpiece. You're such a party animal, Clay!

Hope you had a great weekend too!

New Place to Look for Missing Toys

The kitchen garbage can.

The Pinsons Pick a Pumpkin (or Two or Three)

Clay thoroughly enjoyed patting all the pumpkins within his reach!

We haven't carved any of the pumpkins we found; I think we might just "decorate" them instead.

Happy Sunday!

Subtle Changes & Falling Leaves

I took these pictures in our backyard this afternoon. Some leaves are starting to change color and some leaves are just falling to the ground and giving up. I hope more stick around because red, orange, and yellow leaves are my favorite!

I think we are going to pick some pumpkins tomorrow...there might be some pumpkin carving going on too. I can't wait! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Here Comes Trouble

In a good way! Clay took his first steps (by himself) yesterday evening. He is on his way to being a walker. W00-hoo!!!!!

Rainy Days

Clay and I have been camping out in the house for the past few days. It has been rainy, chilly, and gloomy outside, but inside the house it's toasty, cozy, and fun! (Well, there's a lot of stuff I need to get done too - after being gone for a week.)

It seems like it went from being hot and humid outside - where everyone is wearing flip-flops and shorts - to being full-blown Fall weather. Not that I'm complaining...I just have to get used to it!

We ventured into the outside world for a little while today. We were shopping for some new shoes for Clay. He got an adorable pair of boots and some cute long sleeve t-shirts. Like most other males I know, Clay's shopping tolerance fades quickly. But, that's okay, it keeps me on budget. Thanks, buddy.

Life's a Beach

I've never understood that expression, but nevertheless, here are some pictures from our vacation to St. George Island, Florida. We had such a great time!

On Vacation

As I type this post, I can see sand, sea oats, palm trees, a boardwalk, and miles of sparkling ocean. Rob, Clay, and I are on vacation in St. George Island, FL. It is beautiful and HOT. (They are having unseasonably warm temperatures.) Our vacation has been wonderful, but we've learned that having a 10-month old in a beach house presents some unique challenges. For example, his favorite thing to do is climb up the staircase (with three landings) whether or not a parent is with him. To try and keep him from climbing, we have created a barricade in front of it. The barricade worked for about a day. Then, he just started pushing the barricade out of the way and climbing up the stairs very quickly before we could stop him. I think we have a miniature Bear Grylls on our hands [from Man vs. Wild].

To further prove this point, Clay loves to eat sand. Sand. The gritty, scratchy, annoying stuff that's all over the beach. He eats it by the handful. He wouldn't put the seaweed on the beach in his mouth because that would be weird. But, sand, now that's completely different. I will post pictures of his sand consumption - and other great things - when we get home. For now, I think I should end this post and go sit outside under an umbrella with a good book and a cold beverage.

Parents Reaching Out

Some of you know that I volunteer for a non-profit organization here in Nashville called Parents Reaching Out. ("PRO" for short.) PRO's mission is to provide peer counseling to families facing the challenges of a high risk pregnancy or a critically ill infant or child. The agency works to reduce stress caused by hospital stays, increase hope for families, provide emotional support, enhance coping skills, increase awareness of the need for medical follow-up exams and encourage preventive health care. Services are provided at no cost to families experiencing high-risk pregnancies or with children and/or infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or in the Pediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU) at Vanderbilt's Children's Hospital, Centennial Medical Center and Baptist Hospital.

PRO has started a new fundraising program called: “5 on 5.” Donate $5 on the 5th of each month and in one year, you will have personally changed the lives of one family experiencing the challenges of a high-risk pregnancy or critically ill infant or child. For the price of two cups of Starbucks coffee or one fast food meal, you will be investing in families and children. A little does a lot when we team together. Giving is easy – sign up online at http://www.parentsreachout.org/ and they will take care of the rest. They will even send you monthly reminders with a weblink for giving.

This wonderful organization needs financial support from caring people to continue fulfilling its mission. I hope you will consider donating a little bit of money because it will do a lot of good.

Clay Loves Cheerios

Kodak Moment

I took this picture a few weeks ago. It was a Sunday and we were outside doing yard work. Rob was attacking the weeds around our flower beds and I was rearranging some flower pots in the back yard. Clay was sitting on a towel watching Rob's progress. He looked so cute that I wanted to take his picture so I could always remember what he looked like sitting in the front yard wearing his little hat and striped outfit. I ran back in the house to get my camera and when I walked back outside this is what I saw: Rob and Clay relaxing on the towel together. I just thought it was so sweet!

I couldn't resist getting a close-up of Clay too...

Where, Oh Where, has the time gone?

Clay is 9 months old. People always told me the first year would go by quickly and now I know what they mean. These first nine months have flown by!

I feel so blessed to have such a sweet little boy who gives me oodles of hugs and slobbery kisses every day. He is pulling up on every piece of furniture in the house. He can cruise around to different pieces of furniture too. (I have to make sure we don't leave shoes or anything by the coffee table because he will trip on them. That happened today and I felt terrible!)

Clay has also learned how to point to objects with his index finger. Although I don't think he knows what he is pointing at; he just likes to lift his arm and point his finger. It's really cute. He has gotten very clingy now. Sometimes it seems like I cannot walk out of the room - or even put him down if I'm holding him - without a flood of whimpers and tears following me.

Oh, he can crawl normally (instead of "army-style"); but, he usually doesn't. He likes to crawl with his belly off the floor, but his right leg stuck straight out to the side. We think the right leg gives him more propulsion. Or, maybe he just wants to be unique. Regardless, it's adorable.

He has four teeth now. But, all his teeth are on the right side of his mouth. He has no teeth on the left - if that makes sense. I'm sure the left ones will starting coming through soon!

Our Little Monkey's Trip to the Zoo

Yesterday we went with some friends to the Nashville Zoo. It was Clay's first time visiting a zoo and he had a great time, but he really didn't notice many of the animals. Instead, he focused on the grass, trees, mulch, and the numerous other kids looking at the exhibits. The only animals he found interesting were the koi in a small pond.

[Koi pond]

I think in a few more months he will LOVE seeing the animals. We're planning to go back sometime this Fall when the weather is a little cooler and he's a little bit older. I took pictures of some of the animals he didn't notice, so he can look at them later.

Here's a funny picture, well, it has a funny story behind it. Rob was trying to show Clay the alligator (and fish) in this tank, but Clay wasn't paying attention to them. Instead, he attempted to grab that little boy's hair!