Mondays with Crosby and Jane Claire

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 3 years and 42 weeks old!!!  At 1:03 pm, Jane Claire turned 29 weeks old!!!  Like always, I am amazed by the numbers and how quickly they are increasing.  This week has been an emotional one and these numbers don't help!!  Might as well jump right in there...

We had Parent's Night at Otter Creek on Tuesday night!  Crosby was super excited to see all of his friends and teachers.  Technically, he only has one teacher.  However, my little social butterfly has made his presence known in that building...

He says he knows "aaaallllllllllll" the teachers.  When I asked if he knew Miss Dele, he said, "Sure I do!  She is beautiful."  I mean, seriously. I am starting to think he just might be a politician with all the schmoozing he does!  He would get the ladies' votes for sure! ;-)

Jane Claire was a big hit.  He just loved showing of his baby sister.  You can see him walking up in the background, coming to supervise her...

He had been working hard on a book for us to see.  Here he is showing it off to his daddy...

Sweet thing just sat there playing with her buckle.  Looking all cute.. ;-)

 We attempted a family picture...

Poor Jane Claire.  Crosby's affection can be a little "rough" at times!!!  He has good intentions...

We try!  Crosby's loves the waiting room outside of Miss Pat's office.  There is a fish tank.  And these cubes...

 That he LOVES to get in...

Of course he got Charlotte and Lucas to follow suit!  So silly these kiddos!  I am absolutely loving him being at Otter Creek this year with all of his friends.  It is truly a precious place.

Jane Claire had her 6 month pictures on Friday...

Is it just me or is she just darling???  Could that dress be any sweeter?  Have mercy!!!  She smiled so sweet for her legitimate pictures.  And she held that left arm out just like a dainty little girl.  Too sweet.  And she really has gotten the hang of this sitting business.  She sat up so big for the ones the took.  I cannot wait to see the proofs!!  Love, love, love some Clavert's!!

On Friday afternoon, Crosby, Jane Claire and I joined Joanna and the Wootten boys at the Woodmont Christian carnival.  Crosby had a grand time, running from room to room with his buddy!  They requested pictures with Buzz...

Crosby all of a sudden has an interest in Buzz.  He is now says he is going to be Buzz AND the actual halloween costume we already have! (I will keep that a blog secret. Next week it will be reveal.  Oh the suspense...) I guess I am going to have to start  asking him what he wants to be next year!!!  At least he got the pictures...

This is where things get emotional...

 And why would a trash can make me emotional?

 It is the blue thing in it.  Bubba.  Earlier on Friday, Crosby came downstairs with Bubba in his mouth.  A big "No No" when he is not napping or going to bed.  I told him to take it out of his mouth and put it on the counter.  He stalled.  I said he needed to put it on the counter or I would put it in the trash.  He stalled.  Then he walked to the trash can and said he wanted to throw it away.  What????  I told him if he really wanted to he could.  But I told him once it was in there, we couldn't take it out.  He dropped it in.  "I don't need my Bubba anymore."

I was floored.  I have threatened to throw Bubba away a million times.  He sneaks it in his mouth and comes in the room smiling a few times a day.  We give him the look and tell him to put it up.  He always puts it on the dresser or counter after he takes, what we call "a hit", off of it one more time.  This time.  There was no "hit".  He just threw it away.  Knowing we had 3 more, I didn't think too much of it.  Of course I could have taken that one out and sterilized it.  But he didn't know that!    

This all happened before lunch.  Before Carnival.  He told everyone we talked to all day long that he threw his Bubba away.  He didn't seem to be phased by it at all.  Meanwhile, as the day went along, I started to dread bedtime.   Would he really try to sleep without it?

We followed the normal routine.  Bath first.  He usually gets Bubba during his bath or while drying off.    Like clockwork, he asked, "Mommy will you get my Bubba?"  while Blake was getting him dry.  Then he realized what he asked.  He laughed and said, "Oh yea!  I am not sleeping with my Bubba!"  He seemed okay.  PJs went on.  He and Blake read his book.  He talked about Bubba and the fact that he was a big boy and didn't need it.  Then I came in for prayers.  We said them and it was time for him to sleep...

 Super bright flash!

 So excited...

But he was restless.  He couldn't settle in.  He didn't know what to do with his hands.  He "itched".  He  moved his legs all over the place.  He smacked his lips.  "Mommy, it is hard for me to go to sleep." "Bubbas are for babies, right?"  "What if I need my Bubba?"  "I don't want to cry, Mommy.  But I am starting to cry."  He was trying to be so brave, all on his own doing.  I didn't push him.  He really wanted to do it.  But it was hard.  I told him to pray, asking for help.  Then my sweet boy started with little breath prayers.  Over and over.  "Please help me sleep.  Please help me sleep.  Please help me sleep..."  I was for sure getting teary eyed at this point.  I just wanted to get a Bubba from behind the picture on the dresser and give it to him.  But he never asked for Bubba.  He wanted to be brave and make it without him.  I scratched his back.  I ran my fingers through his hair.  I thought back over the past three years.  The sound of him sucking on that silly Bubba.  The "Bubba Face", aka ring of slobber, around his mouth every morning.  The way he totally mellowed as soon as it hit his mouth.  The way he immediately found a seam to rub and eventually rip to shreds.  Oh how he has loved his Bubba.

After lying with him for an hour or more, helping him fall asleep for the first time without his best friend, he was asleep.  And I was in tears.  I am not sure why this is so emotional for me.  The tears are secretly rolling as I type.  I can't stand watching my baby make such a big boy decision.  I can't stand watching my baby grow into a big boy.  I just need him to stay little a little longer...

He made it all night.  He woke up super early and made his way into our bed at 5:55 am.  Not a normal wake time for Crosby.  Since Blake had his first Saturday off in 3 weeks, our day was pretty full.  I was hoping he would go to bed easily that night if we ran him all day long!  We started at Gentry's Farm with the Ricks.  Sure, we went on his field trip.  But I had to get Jane Claire there for her first fall...

And she wore the same pumpkin outfit Margaret wore when she and Crosby went for the first time!  How sweet is that!?!

Adorable Mr. Wells on the hayride...

He is a big fan of babies!  Jane Claire was quite taken with him. And of course Crosby loved being right up in there too...

 Mommas and the babes...

Happy girl...

She cheated...

Trying to stand on her tippy toes!

 Look how much taller he is this year...

 Compared to last year!!!

This will be the last year these two can "legally" ride on the tractors.  Not to mention he is driving a girl around on his tractor!!!

Down the slide...

 And we add one more kiddo to the picture this year...

Would you just look how little they were last year...

Yes.  I am just adding salt to my open, emotional wounds right now.  He was such a baby face this time last year.  Heaven help me!!!

The newest little pumpkin...

Sweet as pie..

Another attempt at a family picture...

...

 Maybe this is the best one?!?  Who knows...

My sweet babies...

Blake had a soccer game Saturday afternoon.  It was a little chilly so I kept the kiddos at home and let Jane Claire catch up on a little sleep. Eventually night rolled around and it was time for Crosby to sleep again.  Saturday night was a much different scene.  Much like Friday night, he asked for his Bubba out of habit when he was getting out of the tub.  But you could see a little bit of panic set in.  He wanted him back Saturday night.  We tried to distract.  We tried to redirect.  It didn't work.  He wanted Bubba. For 45 minutes or more, tears were in and out.  Talk about painful for this momma.  Of course I secretly cried to. Couldn't let him know I was ready to cave.  At one point he said, "I really want my Bubba and nobody is doing anything."  Break my heart.  I wanted to hold out for his sake and I wanted to cave for his sake.  Who am I kidding.  I wanted to cave for my sake too.  After much rubbing and scratching and loving, he fell asleep.  And I cried.  Of course this night, he was up at 2:00 am.  I had to lie down with him and help him fall back to sleep.  Luckily it didn't take too long.  Then he made until 7 am or so on Sunday.


We participated in service so we needed to be to church a little early.  Our part would take place shortly after church started so I decided to put Jane Claire in the nursery right off the bat.  I assumed I would get her once we were done.  She is one smart cookie.  As soon as I passed her off, the tears started.  I got out of there quickly hoping she would settle in.  We made it through half of the service before we got the text!  It wasn't for lack of trying.  I am so thankful for the patient women that try to let us sit through a service.  Jane Claire just wasn't having it.  She wanted to be in her bed, at home, asleep.  She made sure everyone knew she was not happy about the change in her plans!

After church, we met Gee Gee and Pop & Justin, Katie and Harper at J. Christopher for brunch.  I found something Jane Claire likes to eat!!!  She is a true southern belle.  She was aaaaallllll about the grits from my shrimp and grits dish!!  I guess I am going to have to make that now?!?  She has since eaten my oatmeal (NOT the baby kind!!) and rice/smashed pinto beans from a tex mex dish I made tonight!!  I attempted purees again tonight and she would have none of it.  And it was sweet potatoes.  I think we have a high maintenance baby on our hands.  Maybe I should stick with the MAM "Diva in Training" pacifier.  Or maybe we should just toss the pacifiers all together...

Speaking of.  Sunday night went much better for Crosby.  He asked for his Bubba, and started to tear up a time or two.  All things considered, he was able to fall asleep rather quickly.  However, at 2:00 am, I felt a warm body crawl up next to me in bed.  I had to take him back to his bed and attempt to convince him to stay there.  I didn't want to get in the bed with him and start a pattern.  I should have just done it!!  1.5 hours later, he was back to sleep.  I was still awake at 4!

Today was a pretty lazy Monday.  Monday is trash day.  Crosby heard the truck and called me downstairs so he could watch the truck.  We walked out and watched the men load the cans and dump them in.  I wasn't even thinking.  He was...

"There goes my Bubba."

 Oh my heart.  Once again, I had to hide my tears...

And he waved goodbye.

I kind of can't stand this.  I don't care if it is the right thing to do.  This is one of the hardest things I have had to do.  I am not sure why.  But it is.

I had to get it together and think of something else.  Like the fact that Jane Claire is getting, oh, so big.  Here she is at 29 weeks... 

 Eating her bunny...

And laughing at her brother...

Such a cutie patootie...

She really is a happy baby!

She just doesn't like the nursery!! ;-)

Maybe one day.  Until then, I will just hold her and love on her all I can.  I will just enjoy this baby while she still in one.  Soon enough, she will be a big girl too.  Doing brave big girl things.  And I will be crying about it.

Much like I did tonight.  When my boy had an even easier time falling asleep tonight.  We found Lloyd between the wall and the bed.  Lloyd made him smile.  Maybe Lloyd is the key.  I sure hope he is.  Otherwise, this momma may just have to cave.  Not for his sake.  For mine...