Clayson Family Pictures

My mom wanted to get some family pictures before Curtis left. We will miss him, but we're so happy he's decide to serve a mission. He will be fantastic!

Half a Year

Time sure flies. Megan is over 6 months old now. I had a 5 month update for her, but never posted it. It's below. So it's Megan overload on the blog today.

Here's what she's been up to...

"Crawling" and sitting up. I'm not sure how I feel about the crawling. It started just before she was 6 months. It is fun to see her get around, but it sure makes life a little crazier. I definitely can't take my eyes off her for a minute! And sorry the video is sideways. I can't flip it. I don't know why I took it that way.

She loves it when anyone claps and cheers for her. It always gets a reaction like the picture above. It also seems like she's tried to clap a few times, but hasn't been successful.

She went to the doctor again this month. Here are the stats:
Height: 26.97 inches --> 89th percentile
Weight: 16 lbs 12.5 oz --> 66th percentile
Head Circumference: 41 cm --> 12th percentile

So, she's staying about the same. Really tall. A little heavier than average. And a small head.

Other things we've been up to this month:
- Megan really likes looking at books...and eating books.
- We spent a couple days at Grandma Clayson's last week while dad was in St. George at a conference. Megan was definitely showered with attention and we got to spend a good few days with Uncle Curtis before he left on his mission.
- She is getting so noisy. She just likes hearing her own voice. So if she gets bored, watch out because she'll just start screaming and making silly noises. It makes church and the car more interesting! :)
- Megan has also been starting to get into solids. She doesn't love anything yet. She has had rice cereal, applesauce, and pears. We'll probably try some sort of vegetable next week and see if she likes that any better.

Basically she is super fun and we love her to death. I can't believe she's growing and changing so fast!

Five

Well it's another month and another Megan post. I feel like the months go by so quick. I'm not good at blogging anything else, but I at least want to keep up with Megan's progress each month so I can remember what she was like! Some of these pictures don't have anything to do with the words below them, but pictures make everything better, right!?

Megan learned how to roll from front to back consistently! She started rolling from front to back every once in a while about 2 months ago, but she's finally gotten it totally down. So, now she can roll really well both ways. But, rolling over is so last month for this little lady. Now all she wants to do is sit up. I think she is going to be an independent child. She can't sit up on her own yet, but I'm guessing it's coming soon. She is determined. Also, ignore the fact that it sounds like I have a retainer in my mouth. I took this video right after I got a cavity filled.

Megan got her first taste of rice cereal on her 5 month birthday. She did better than I thought she would!

Megan has also been really into her mouth lately. She loves making all sorts of noises with it. She even went through a phase where she did a denture face all the time. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but it was pretty funny.

Thumb sucking has become our new reality. :( She had a nasty stomach virus for about a week and all she wanted to do was suck her thumb. And she won't take a binky since then. I still try to sneak it in once in a while just to see if she'll keep it in, but still loves the thumb at this point.

Megan is super giggly and loves her dad. They have playtime right before bed every night. She absolutely loves it. She loves being crazy with him. She's especially into hanging upside down right now.

Happiness

I am always bugged by these sorts of studies...

"Scientific studies have found that having children does not increase happiness. In fact, experts say it has the opposite effect. The more children you have the less happy you are." -Deseret News Article

I have heard this so many times! Studies say that having children makes you unhappy. It just never sits well with me. It is so opposite of what I believe. So opposite of the life I want to have. So opposite of God's plan.

I don't know why I let it bug me so much every time I hear it, but I do. I just want to scream at them with clear and perfect reasoning...convince the world that families and children are part of God's plan. And God wants us to be happy.

But, after having a child of my own, I can see why studies find this. I feel like having a baby multiplies stress. In our case...I stay home to take care of Megan and bring in no income. Stress. We live in my in-laws basement. Stress. Patrick has to work full-time and go to school. Stress. There are sleepless nights. Stress. You have to pack your entire house to go anywhere. Stress. Babies cry in public and people stare. Stress. The list could go on and on. Having a baby brings added stress and multiplies the stress that's already there.

But, do these studies say anything about the feeling you get the first time your baby smiles at you? Or how close to heaven you feel when you watch your husband gently rock your unsettled baby to sleep? Or the joy of family cuddles and naps on Sunday? Or how excited you are every time your baby does something new? Or how the world stops when your baby giggles? Or how at peace you feel when you hold a sleeping baby in your arms?

Is having a baby hard? Yes. Stressful? Yes. Does it require sacrifice? Yes. Would I ever take it back? Absolutely not! Nothing has brought me greater joy. Nothing has brought me closer to God.

Sure, life would be easier if everyone just took care of themselves. If people didn't care for or worry about anyone else. But it would have so much less meaning. Be so much farther from heaven.

What do you all think? Are these studies correct? Or are families really the way to find true happiness?