My Big Boy

Parker is doing well. He reacts very well to the baby, is SO sweet to him and always wants to help. I’m sure it helps a lot to have Spencer and I home so that we can give him the attention that he needs. Yesterday we went to the zoo- just he and I. It was so good to be with Parker. I missed him so much when I was in the hospital and the feelings I have right now with him are surprising to me, very very emotional. Yesterday I put him down for his nap. I read him a story and then we sang a song just like we always do. He let me hold him as we sang “Pearly shells”- his favorite these days. I finished one verse and then got so choked up I couldnt sing despite Parkers urgings-"sing mommy!" Here I was holding my little boy- who suddenly was not my little boy anymore. He was my big boy. And SO big. Next to Ben he is MASSIVE. It's a realization that time is past, that he is growing. We will never have moments alone up at the garden or playing trucks on the floor. Not like before. He is the big brother and there is this part of being a mom that you have to let go of him as your little boy and let this other little baby replace him. Not that he is being replaced, but in a way he really is- he is no longer my baby. How I will look back with so much love and fondness on all our days together, just me and him- playing in the sandbox and running around doing stuff for foothill, going to the zoo, visiting grandma and going to the park. Doing projects at home, having him tug on my leg and ask me to play, sitting on my lap at the computer and watching him grow from a tiny little infant to this big boy who talks and sings and has his own definite personality and is no longer the baby. Gone so fast. All those cliché things you hear about and now I am experiencing them and just like they said it would- it makes me cry. How thankful I am for the time we had to be together. And our little family of four will do well. I’m excited.

Benjamin Mark Clegg

Ben came as a definite surprise. I was not due for almost 3 more weeks and Spencer and I went up to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho on a little anniversary get away. Parker was with Spencer's parents. WE had a great time Monday night up there and then I woke up at 2am with contractions. Thinking there was no way it could be real labor I waited them out for awhile but knew I couldn't wait TOO long because we were over 3 hours from our hospital! So we called our doctor at 5am and she said leave NOW! I was still in denial but Spencer got us in the car and we drove to the hospital- his high school driving skills came in handy :) This first picture is the only picture we took of our time in Idaho. It was at 5am right before leaving to go to the car and the camera died right after this picture which obviously I was not ready for. So we drove to Salt Lake and I was having contractions the whole way but it really wasn't that bad. When we got to the hospital I was at a 6. We were there 3 more hours and then little Ben was born.

He's beautiful. A small 6lbs 6 oz and 17 inches at birth with TONS of dark hair. He seriously needs a haircut. He didn't have a name for a few days and Ben wasn't one we were even considering but Spencer thought he looked so much like a Ben. So he's named after his Grandpa Hull (Spencer's mom's dad) and a Great grandpa Clegg and Spencer and my good friend Ben Jenson had something to do with it too. He's super sweet and it's so beautiful having a new baby in the home. Parker is incredibly cute with him so far and keeps saying "mommy, he's so cute, he's so cute." The only thing we worry about is him being TOO helpful (feeding him toast and wanting him to play cars with him by tucking them under the sheets). And it's Spencer's fall break this whole week which couldn't have been more perfect. It's been such a beautiful time to spend time together as a family getting used to our new foursome!

Ben has special feet. He was born clubfooted and you can see that in this picture. They turn in. If they were to remain that way he would be walking on his heels but fortunately we live in an age where they can correct it with no problem. He will probably have to wear casts on his feet for a few months (we have an apointment next week) but after a few months he'll be totally fine and be able to do everything anyone else could do. It makes me so thankful for our doctors and the day in age we live in. He will be able to play sports just like his mommy! We sure love this little guy.

Please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g_F2SYQWJg to watch our video announcement.

Final Days Before Ben

This is how Spencer puts Parker to bed- not regularly I guess but it's no wonder Parker loves his daddy so much. And no, the crib didn't break.

I know I already posted about Parker's birthday but I had to include these pictures of the awesome mom cake I made and Parker eating it- his tractor (it did look better than this at one point- though not much).

My family went to a Lagwagon /MXPX show a few weeks ago- courtesy of my dad who is so funny. He now has Linkin Park and Lagwagon to add to his list of concerts and November will bring Coldplay. I'm not complaining though- I love the shows! But boy did I feel OLD. There were like 50 people there (Lagwagon used to get tons of people) and most of my brothers and their girlfriends didn't even know them. I realized suddenly how uncool I am. But it was still fun and if the little guy comes out deaf we know why (but I already know he's not deaf because he's already born and he passed his hearing test :) )

Big Events

So it's been about a month since this happened but two fun events for the end of the summer- produce from the garden and daddy got his braces off! Spencer's had them on for two years now and Parker doesn't know any different (and probably doesn't even notice) but the boy I married's smile is back and I love it! --though he sure was cute with those braces too. :)

30 and 2

Parker and I were born 27 years and 359 days apart. So he turned 2 on September 13th-which makes my birthday on the 19th the big 3-0! Here's how we celbrated:


We had a small party with just family for Parker's big day and spent the day at Wheeler Farm. It was PERFECT. There was even a big autism fair there where all kids got to go on all the rides for FREE! Parker was in heaven with the bouncy machines, slides, horsey rides, tractor rides, animals and especially all his new toys and the tractor cake that mommy made for him (I had visions of this perfect professional looking cake which turned out very mommy-amatuerish but in the end- I was so glad it looked that way) :) Parker even blew out his own candles out this year!

And for my big 30th my sweet husband planned the perfect little party for me. He rented a couple of rooms up at Snowbird and invited some family and close friends up for food and fun. He even got a babysitter for the kids- though as you can see they joined us sooner than later. :) I didn't know about it until I got an invitation in the mail. It was great. I loved having time to talk and really spend time with people who I have known for most of my long 30 years. I feel so grateful for their friendshps and for my sweet husband who planned a perfect night- with "Spencer food" (bratwurst and pastrami burgers) AND "Erin food" (vegetables and bbq chicken- though really I ate whoppers the whole night) and my favorite -carrot cake. After everyone left we had the whole place to ourselves. so we watched a movie and listened to the thunder, got up in the morning and went to a little bit of Oktober fest and drove home in the beautiful fall canyon. Perfect.

Spoiled

So my parents completely 100% spoiled me and bought me the one thing I have coveted since getting pregnant with #2. A Chariot double stroller. These things are absolutly ridiculously overpriced and yet so very worth it for me- they just make running with children possible- plus daddy can hook it to his bike. Parker loves it and rode next to his Leap frog- soon to be his little brother though as much as we explain that I'm not sure he gets it--he's in for it!

End of Summer

We took our last family trip a couple weeks ago before Spencer went back to school. Because I had never seen the Clegg family farm in Grace, Idaho (where Spencer's father grew up and where Spencer has spent a few summer's working on the farm) we went there. I never knew a farm could be so much fun! Parker was in heaven with animals, tractors and four wheelers galore.

We spent a lot of time at the lake they built- there is a HUGE waterslide/slip in slide type thing- probably 80 feet long that plunges into this pond. It is AWESOME and Spencer and I (and the little baby inside of me) loved it. Parker was too scared to go on it- maybe in a few years. We camped in the barrack up the canyon from the farm, rode on tractors, had hot dog roasts, attempted the ice cave but Parker was too scared to go all the way back, swam laps in the lake and played on the sand. We got to hang out with relatives who were so awesome and get a taste of our Clegg heritage. Being there I really realized how lucky I am to be a Clegg- they are amazing people.


Then we went to Boise and hung out with Ben and Lori Jensen and family. They were incredibly good to us. I of course only took pictures of one event- Spencer and Ben in matching colored shirts (every morning they matched) after disc golf and the boys playing in the water. But we also did tons of other stuff- farmers market, parents night out, watched the Olympics and ate awesome food they cooked and just hung out and talked which I LOVED. Brandon is so cute with Parker and Bridger is awesome. It was really fun to be with them and see their lives in Boise. Thanks again Ben and Lori!

Spencer grew a beard for the week we were away. It was manly but the mustache he had for about 5 seconds when he shaved it was scary.

And now we're home and Spencer is back in school in his last semester. He really liked his internship this summer at GE and he just got back from a trip to Milwaukee for an interview with GE (not necessarily to be located there but the interview was there). We have lots of options already and we'll be having more as the month goes on and Spencer starts applying everywhere. Who knows what the future holds! I'm almost 7 months and doing fine. Just my normal aches and pains but this one is going faster than when I was pregnant with Parker. Maybe because I'm not so anxious to be done- I know what awaits me with a newborn and for that reason--he can stay in there a little longer!! :) Sad the summer is ending. It was a good one.