The Cleek Family

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Labor Day in Memphis

On Labor Day Weekend, the Cleek's traveled to Memphis to go see Honey, JoePa, Uncle Joe, Meemaw, Papaw, and Uncle Brandon and Casey (who came in from Lexington, KY for the weekend, too).

Friday night, we went to our favorite Mexican spot, Margaritas. Miles spent his evening on the dance floor, flirting with the ladies.

The next day we hung out by the pool and went swimming.

That afternoon/evening Honey and JoePa took Miles to the first stAte game of the season.

Mommy and Daddy went out to Memphis with Brandon and Casey. We ate at Central BBQ and then went to Overton Square.

On Sunday, sadly, Brandon and Casey left us and went back to KY. But we had some one on one time with Meemaw and Papaw.

Miles and Meemaw read together.

Miles had so much fun on Labor Day weekend. He was exhausted!

1.5 Years Old

A couple of weeks ago (Wednesday, August 28th), Miles turned a whopping 18 months old. I am just in awe of how amazing our child really is. Granted he isn't speaking in sentences like half of my friends' children are or did at his age, but we think he is very smart. We are extremely grateful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving us this healthy child who is such a joy and treasure to all of us.

This month he weighs 27 pounds and is 33 1/4 inches long. We went for his 18 month checkup on his 18 month birthday and Dr. Blake says he is doing great and growing just fine.

Most days he is all smiles.

But lately, he gets very angry and throws fits when he doesn't get his way. He also hasn't felt like himself because he is cutting molars....AGAIN!

He loves riding in the car with his "buddies". Elmo 1, Elmo 2, Grover, and Donald Duck. He is big on stuffed animals these days.

Some of this month's MILEStones:

I have really mastered throwing fits!
I have become a terrible, picky eater.
I know where my bellybutton, nose, eyes, stomach, feet, hands, toes, and mouth are.
My favorite movie is the Lorax, especially when I can watch it on Daddy's kindle fire while I eat.
I can say a few small words like, cat, daddy, mommy, side (outside), whas dat (what's that), whun dat (want that), and Ogatine (ovaltine).
I have been teething very bad this month. So much so that I've had fever several times.
I am wearing 2t and 3t clothes.
I love to sleep with my stuffed animal, Scout, who talks and sings to me.
I love to read books.
When I do eat, I take forever.
I love getting my way and will throw a fit unless I do get my way.
I spend minutes in timeout at least 2 times a week.
I am mastering climbing onto things.
I love to play hide and seek.
I can throw a football.
I am still in size 5 diapers.
I can turn on the water faucet in Mommy and Daddy's bathroom.
I am very curious and always into things, especially drawers and cabinets.
I know what a lot of things are, like football, Roxie, Luke, chair, moon, sky, tree, lawnmower, and people in my family.
I can catch onto things very quickly.
I love to watch videos and look at pictures of myself on Mommy's iPhone.
I dance all the time.
I HATE getting my diaper changed. I run every time I see someone with one and I kick and scream until it's finished being changed.
I like to wear around my pajamas, even though they are dirty.

This is Miles throwing a fit at me because he can't have my phone.

This is a taste as to how smart our little guy really is.

These are Miles' football throwing skills. We were watching the broncos game the other night, and he went and grabbed his football and started throwing it. Matt, of course, was thrilled!

I came home from work one day on a Thursday, which is the day Miles goes to our church's Parents Day Out program. He had on his jammies when I walked in. I was a little concerned, so, I asked Matt, "Did he wear those to school?" Matt said he didn't so I assumed he must not have gone to PDO that day, but Matt said he did. Apparently when Miles and Matt arrived home from PDO, Miles saw his favorite zoo jammies and threw a fit to wear them. So, Matt put them on him and he was a happy camper.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

It's Football Time in Tennessee AGAIN.....

Even though summer is coming to a close, we are so thrilled with its end for two big reasons...one is the fact that hopefully it will not be so hot (sooner rather than later). It is hard to keep Miles indoors, knowing he longs to go outside to play. He doesn't understand why we can't go out. So, we have to make do with our time indoors....

He runs around and plays,

hides from us,

and enjoys watching himself on video.

The next reason for our end of summer excitement is a BIG one for the Cleek family.

FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We love football in this house.....especially college and high school football.

Last night, we all ventured to Dyersburg (Matt's Alma mater) with the Williams clan. We ate at Alvino's pizza before JCM hit the gridiron for their first game of the season. And get this...Matt actually wore a JCM shirt and stood on our sideline to watch the game.

Miles thoroughly enjoyed running around on the field.

He also sat in the bleachers and watched some of the game.

Matt was reminiscing and telling Miles all about his former football glory days. I love this picture because Miles looks like he is really listening and taking in all that his daddy was telling him. (A big thanks to Brian Williams for snapping this picture for me!)

We ended up losing the game 51-28. The officiating was pretty one-sided if you ask me, and someone in the Dyersburg stands used an air horn several times when we were needing a crucial down or play. However, we did have 2 kickoff returns for a TD and we all had a blast!

Sunday, July 28, 2013

17 Months

We are incredibly blessed with such an amazing little guy who is such a joy in our lives. Miles turned 17 months old today! I can't believe how quick time is passing. I know everyone always says, "It seems like yesterday when he was born." But this statement is very true. I try and cherish each and every moment I get with this vivacious dude. I thank God every day for giving me such an awesome child who is perfect in our eyes.

We actually weighed and measured Miles this time. He weighs 28lbs. I think he's lost weight because he is such a busy body. He stands at 33.5 inches tall. We think he is going through a growth spurt right now. He eats nonstop!

Here are some of this month's MILEStones:

I am busy and into anything and everything.
I am quick.
I can run.
I love to dance.
I know where my nose, hands and toes are (thanks to Mommie Cica!)
I can point out several things in books, including the moon, cats, dogs, zebras, chairs, and toothbrushes.
Every night while Mommy/Daddy prepares my bath, I go to the drawer for my toothbrush and toothpaste.
I like to snuggle with my talking Scout dog while I doze off to sleep.
I can say these things: moon ("moo"), tree ("tee"), I want that ("wah dat"), cat ("tat"), and more ("mo").
I throw temper tantrums when I don't get my way by screaming and kicking my legs.
I have been to time out a few times.
I still love Yo Gabba Gabba.
I can recognize people I know in pictures.
I can climb on and off chairs and couches.
I imitate things I see and hear.
My favorite food is still macaroni and cheese.
I love ice cream and yogurt.
I can follow simple directions like going to get a toy or diaper.
I am better at walking up and down steps.
I can give kisses.
I love dogs and cats.
I am getting pretty good at cause and effect.
I can throw a ball.
I am beginning to appreciate plates instead of throwing them off the table.
I put my hands over my ears whenever I hear something loud or unpleasant.
I still love outside and wish I could be out there all day.
I love to play hide and seek with Mommy and Daddy.
I have 16 teeth.
I still drink warm milk in the morning before breakfast.
I don't care for vegetables, but I am beginning to explore more types of fruit.
I like to be told "no" so I can immediately go back to doing whatever I was doing again.
I crave attention.
I am wearing 24 months, 2T and some 3T clothes.
I am still in size 5 diapers.
I know not to do things, but I wait until Mommy and Daddy aren't watching so I can do it anyway.
I like to carry things like shirts, stuffed animals, and small toys around the house.
If I dump or take something out of a container I usually pick it up without pitching a fit.
I try to climb up people when I want them to pick me up.
I still cuddle when I'm tired.
My favorite snacks are goldfish, teddy grahams, and grapes.

Miles getting his 3rd haircut at Little Rascals.

Miles picking wildflowers.

Miles throwing a tantrum because we couldn't get his juice from the waitress at Cracker Barrel quick enough.

Miles can brush his teeth, but only after Mommy or Daddy brush them first.

I caught Miles kind of picking up one day...

This is how he does before he takes a nap. He likes to chill and talk to himself.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Miles' First Time on the Lake

Friday night as I was winding down from our beach vacation, I got a phone call from a teacher friend of mine. She invited us to go out on Pickwick with them this past Saturday. I told her I'd let her know. Well, despite my exhaustion, Matt and I jumped at the chance to have a day of fun on the water with Miles and some great friends.

Carol Ann, her husband Brian, and their daughter Logan took us on a Saturday extravaganza...featuring tube riding...

...yes Miles rode in a tube (very slowly)...

...pontoon driving with Carol Ann...

...pontoon napping... (I think he took the best nap of his life!)

...and a little lake swimming with Logan.

He is wearing a life jacket called a puddle jumper. They are the BEST!! I advise moms of swimmers out there to definitely invest in one of these. They don't ride up on their little chins and are U.S. Coast Guard approved.

Miles liked the lake better than the ocean because it was a lot calmer. He would cry every time we made him get out of the water.

He enjoyed riding on a boat for the first time, too.

Pickwick is a pretty lake. I had never been before until Saturday so Miles and I both had some firsts that day. A HUGE thank you to the Williams family for asking us to go "laking" with them. We had a great time.

Coming Home

The way home from vacations are always depressing, and this one was, too. Miles even could sense that our awesome vacay was over. I didn't ride with him because I drove NeNe's car most of the way home. Honey says that Miles was very fussy. We didn't stop as much, and this is probably why Miles was unhappy.

In fact, he went a straight 4 hours in the car without stopping as we traveled from around Spartanburg, S.C. to almost Crossville, TN. We made a stop at a rest area near Crossville.

Miles and Joe Pa enjoyed stretching their legs a little bit.

Despite his fussing, we made it home in pretty good time. Miles was pumped to see his Daddy and puppies.
We are so grateful for the special family time we got to have on this trip. We made so many wonderful memories that we can talk about for years to come.

Even More from Myrtle

Our last day on the beach was by far the best! We woke up really early and stayed out all day long.

The water was the best on this day.

So...much so, that Miles got in and played and rode some waves. But there was a little bit of a scare on this day. We had to get out of the water for about an hour because someone got bit by a little shark.

Oh...and Joe Pa got Cica and I some new sunglasses.

And Miles made some friends.

That night we cleaned, packed, and grilled steaks. Then, we decided to head down to the beach for one last walk and for Miles to play at the playground.