Clayton's birthday

I decided Clayton deserved a birthday post of his own that didn't have the word poop in it....well except the fact that I just said it there....so I'm doing 2 posts tonight.  If you want an Oksana update scroll down to the blog below this one.

Today was Clayton's 14th birthday!  I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday.  I had intrauterine growth restriction which in simple terms is abnormally slow growth while in the mother's womb.  I had weekly stress tests to make sure all was well until I delivered.  When I got to the hospital the nurse freaked out because I was so small!  She breathed a little easier when I told her I was 37 weeks.  After 14 hours of drug free labor our 4 lb 7 oz boy entered the world.  It happened to be Father's Day that day!  I remember saying "I did it!  I did it!" over and over after he was born!  The nurse handed him to Larry and said "He looks just like you."  He didn't think that was a compliment and thought he looked a bit like an alien but he didn't say that out loud :)!  He was literally just bones with skin over them and his preemie clothes hung on him.  In fact he was a few months old before he really fit in his preemie outfits.  Despite his small size Clayton was very healthy.  Each time a new nurse would come in she would oooh and aaah over how small he was.  Having never had a baby I finally asked a nurse what the big deal was.  He looked perfectly normal to me.  A little while later she asked me to come out into the hallway.  She had brought me a 10lb baby from the nursery so I could see the difference.  I distinctly remember looking in the bassinet and saying "I'll keep mine!"  Another nurse brought him to me and said "You have a feisty one there."  I was so offended.  How in the world could she say that about my tiny little baby?!  Let's just say I quickly learned to trust nurses :). 

14 years later he is taller than me and has a voice as deep as his dad.  How is that possible?!  Here are some pictures of his day:

His #1 request was a souffle from Panera for breakfast.  He was so excited he ate it in the car on the way home!

I made him get his picture taken with me.  I enjoyed torturing him through the whole thing.  If I'd thought of it I would have kissed him for the picture too :).

I wonder about these kids sometimes!

That's a little better!  Cookie cake was the requested birthday treat.



Evan's birthday is in just a couple of weeks so the boys are pooling their money together to get an xbox which is coming in the mail tomorrow.  This weekend we are going to eat at Jason's Deli (his request) to continue the celebration.  You've got to love a birthday that lasts multiple days! 

I can't believe 14 years flew by that fast.  I absolutely loved him at 2.  It was such a fun and cute age.  I never thought I'd enjoy an age as much as that, but I have to say that 13 was a really awesome age, and I anticipate 14 will be even better.  He's turning into a pretty incredible young man :).