Messy Good Times

Cuz That's What You Do...

...when you have a baby and a bunch o' clothespins lying around.

Clark reading his book...

Clark LOVES the shower

I mean he loves it...today, Jason and I were talking while the shower warmed up and then we realized Clark was not beside our feet...nope, he had crawled right in the shower with all his pajamas, socks and diaper on. We were laughing so much at the cuteness we didn't think to get a picture, but here he is last week in the shower with his buddy Phoenix.

Free Time

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Not sure how long I have to write this before Mr. Man wakes up. So bear with me if this gets cut short.

Yeah, time is precious alright. Clark demands that all our attention belongs to him, and righteously so, but dude...seriously. I'm flattered as all hell that you scream your head off when we have to put you down for a nap. I can't help but take it as a compliment, when you're in your play area surrounded by toys, that when I walk by you moan and shriek for me to join you. I mean, I was JUST in there, playing in the ball pit, crawling through the tunnel, repeatedly setting up the blocks just so you can knock them down. But dude, sometime Daddy needs to like...eat...and pee! Oh, man, it's amazing how long I'll go without a pit-stop, lately. I mean, I'll just forget! I've always considered myself an expert multi-tasker, but Mr. Clark Otis certainly tests the levels of how much I can put on my plate.

Am I complaining? Fuck no. All this has been expected and easily adaptable. Just thought you, our loyal followers, deserved an update and this just happens to be at the top of my brain right now.

Clark's got a schedule and he sticks to it. Wakes up 6:45am on the nose. We're weaning him off the formula, so he gets a bottle of almond milk first thing to tide him over while we prepare breakfast. His meals now consist of anything from scrambled eggs, toast, bits of broccoli, peanut butter, organic mixtures of spinach, potatoes, carrots and more (thanks to Chef Momma and her new Vitamix Blender). He doesn't mind getting spoon fed, but he really likes grabbin' and chowin'. And he's eating lots more!
He'll nap around 9 or 10am, just outta plain fatigue. Lunch at noon or 1pm. Then we'll set him down again (whether he wants to or not) at 2:30pm. Dinner at 6pm, then bed between 7:30 and 8:30pm. Really up to him.
Bath or shower every other day...he friggin' loves it! We'll shower together, I'll hold him in my arms and let the water cascade on his back. He just relaxes into me, screeching with delight.
Oh yeah...and he's gettin' LOUD. Sometimes it sounds like a pterodactyl audition for Jurassic Park.

It has gotten to the point, sometimes, where our patience is being tested and the "oh, poor premature Clark" just goes right out the window, and we have to separate ourselves from the little beast for a minute or two for some deep breathing exercises. Once composed, we're thrown for a loop when we return to find Little Mister, greeting us with a big, excited, sparsely-toothed, grin as if we've been gone for weeks, and suddenly we're like: "I was freaking out over what?"

So, again, sorry this blog is not getting the attention you hope, but someone else kinda has dibs right now.

Some pics

Napping with Molly


Playing with his buddy, Blake


Shopping with Mommy at Whole Foods


And playing in his balls!

Climbing up Daddy

Jason and I have been working like crazy and have fallen behind on the posts but briefly to give an update....CLARK IS AWESOME!

Crib? What Crib?

Bday Celebration!!!

Exactly One Year Ago Today

FEB 17 2010
Definitely of the most intense days of our lives.
Also the scariest, loveliest, best'est, confusing...
Challenging.
Heart opening.
Can't believe that was a YEAR ago.

We are so blessed. So blessed. So blessed.
Today will always be a day of great celebration for these two parents! Every time he blows out those candles (you know, when he can actually start doing so) will be a big exhale for us, representing our independence from the strangle-hold of the most traumatic day of our lives.

Clark, on behalf of your mother and myself, you did it! You completed
one calendar year around the sun! You have beaten odds! You have
captured our hearts and the hearts of so many. It's amazing to watch
how you affect people. To have watched you change shape. Gain expressions.
Create opinions. Build with excitement! Stare at your surroundings with such
absorption. To eat more, climb stairs, gaze quizzically at your own fingers.
We love you so much!

Christy and I asked ourselves, what do we get him?! It's not like he
recognizes that today is different than yesterday or last week or
last month. If we see a cute outfit or a toy or a piece of furniture we
think he would like...we get it for him. But what about today? What
do we get our baby boy on his 1st Birthday? He already has plenty of clothes
and toys. Sure I could get him a Radio Flyer, but something tells me he'd
rather have a pair of glasses. Rather, the glasses off my face. Or your face.

The dude has got plenty of shit.

So, today, we're just gonna make sure he feels extra special. I mean,
extra EXTRA special. Maybe take him somewhere fun! Give him as much
(supervised) freedom as possible. And bake him a CAKE that he can
grab, smoosh, fling and messy hisself up with!

Yeah...that's it. We're gonna bake him a cake.

We'll probably post those pics tomorrow. For now. Enjoy a look back over the past year. I'm pretty sure we haven't posted most of these. Should be all new! Got time to do some scrolling?

Wow

It has been a LONG time since I have posted anything. With working full time and being mommy full time, it is so easy for weeks, months even, to pass. I often think of so many things I want to post. The experiences we are having with Clark...the memories of the past year...Clark and all his 'aunties', the friendships from the NICU...so much...then I get overwhelmed. Welcome to mommyhood!

So, in an effort to post SOMETHING...here is Clark, Molly and I snuggled up on the couch watching the Muppets!

Clark in his ball tunnel...
And a short video of Clark swinging at the playground...

So He's Doing This Now

If we can just get him to beg and roll over, we're golden!

Here's Somethin'

Not to worry, Clark Fans, Mr. Clark Otis is doing great! In fact...he's doing really great. Like, get up every morning at 6am-crawl at a rapid pace-pull himself up onto his feet-scale staircases-run Mommy and Daddy ragged-great!

Yes, he is full on crawling! None of this army scoot, stuff. He crawls with conviction!

Yes, he has learned to pull himself up onto his feet! Anything firm enough to hold his weight (or the occasional flimsy object), he will grab ahold and wriggle himself up to a full on stand! This is not without it's peril, of course, as he as fallen backwards, sideways, head over heels onto his noggin' several times. (Sigh).

Yes, he climbs stairs. Only upwards. There will be video evidence!

Needless to say, he demands a LOT more of our attention. As you can imagine that is why updating the Chronicles has been few and far between. Like REALLY few and far between this time. Weeeee!

Christy and I have a new system now. She's got him Mondays and Wednesdays. I get him Tues and Thurs. Giving each other stress-free time to tend to work projects. Fridays will be family time. Weekends, up in the air. But the two free days are already a big weight lifted!

S'all for now. More to come. Like, Christmas, a NICU reunion, and more!

Wouldn't want to leave you with nothing so here he is!

Clark Update!

Clark Otis Marsden,
at nearly 11 months old,
17.07lbs,
28inches long,
healthy as a horse,
and loookin' gooooooood!

So This Just Happened

He just pulled himself up all by hisself!


You can see the pride.

(THIS JUST IN: While posting this, he made another attempt and slipped on his noggin. Don't worry, a-o-k. Practice makes perfect. Just another way to remind us...that it's on!)