The latest and greatest

1. Claire's hair fits in pigtails. Her teachers do it to her hair every day. (It is precious, I might add, but it looks more like horns than pig tails.) I haven't quite worked the courage up to do it myself because, like I said, they look more like horns than pig tails.

2. We were asked by her teachers to bring family pictures so Daren and I rounded up our personal favorites. Her teacher made these beautiful family posters at "toddler eye-level" for each baby to see throughout the day. She told me that Claire sees her pictures and shouts "Mommy!" and laughs hysterically or "Daddy" and laughs hysterically again. That made me so happy.

3. What I love about picking Claire up from school is that I get to feel the importance that I hold in her life tenfold in that moment. She runs towards me, arms open, squealing and laughing in delight, and shouting "Mommy, Mommy." I run to her too screaming her name. It must be the funniest sight for the teacher. To make a long story short, her newest thing to do once she makes her way to me is to give me the biggest hug you could ever receive and a huge, wet kiss. Then she sticks her thumb in her mouth and snuggles up like it is time for bed. We walk like this to my car every day. It melts me like nothing you can ever imagine.

4. The funniest thing lately is that Claire loves to play chase. I chase after her and she squeals, waves her hands in the air and yells "No Mommy." When I catch her we hug, love and laugh a lot. We must have played chase 50 times this afternoon before she looked up at me and said "eat." She is getting to be such a big girl.

5. She talks so much and laughs even more, but I think my personal favorite development is that she loves to love on me. If I say "Claire, give Mommy love," she pats my back or strokes my hair. She gives kisses and hugs. She whispers "Yuh Yoo" (I love you in Claire-talk).

6. She loves, loves, loves her new "puppy." Not only do we have to snuggle with puppy in her "big goo" (big girl) chair but puppy also goes to bed with Claire. You can hear her in her crib from time to time saying "arf." Cracks me up...

7. She loves to brush Mommy and Daddy's hair. She calls her brush a "rush." When you have a chance, make sure you set up an opportunity to watch Claire brush Daddy's hair...funniest experience of my life...every time.

I am so blessed. Great husband. Great daughter. Great family. Great life.

The Pumpkin Patch

Kool-Aid Smile

When Mommy says "Claire, look at Mommy so I can take your picture," Claire gives me this smile. I love it! Do you think she has had some practice taking pictures or what? Or maybe, she is hinting to Mommy to STOP taking so many... Whatever the case, she has the "picture-taking thing" down to a science.

When Mommy was taking this picture, Claire was telling me that she was a "big goo" (Big Girl for those of you who need a "Claire translation").

Green hair and "cheese"

Claire painted at school today. She was supposed to paint her paper. Instead, she painted her hair...GREEN! So in the picture, Mommy is trying to capture the green hair and that Claire now says "cheese" when you take her picture. You have to look really close to see the green hair but you have to trust Mommy that the bath water was green this evening. Funny, funny girl...

Touchdown!

Claire's newest trick (thanks to Pops and Daddy)...

When UT scores, Pops and Daddy yell "Touchdown" and she throws her arms up.

Chris and Claire and "the tickles"

Chris and Claire love to play with each other. The boys are always so, so sweet to Claire. Yesterday, Chris and Claire tickled each other, laughing hysterically. Claire thought it was the greatest thing she ever learned-- she can tickle other people?! Aunt Christi played referee. Watch and see!

Bye bye y'all

Claire spent the night with her Grandma and Pops and came home with a new phrase... "Bye bye y'all!!" Wonder who she is imitating???

Spaghetti Mess

Enough said...

She's very clever

Today, my baby girl has proven to Mommy and Daddy that she is very resourceful and clever when it comes to getting her way. This might pose big problems for us in the future, but for now we will laugh.

Claire goes through phases at daycare where she will not nap. They tell us that she is always quiet and lays on her nap mat like a sweet little girl. Lately, though, this has changed a bit.

A little parental background might help...Daren and I are separately two of the most stubborn people you will ever meet. Combine the stubbornness into one little girl and it might spell trouble for Mommy and Daddy in the future. Okay, back to the story...

Claire isn't taking her nap at daycare. They tell us that they have always been able to say to Claire "stay on your mat" or "keep your bottom on your mat" and that she will lay there during nap time and talk to herself, but atleast she gets rest. (I really wish I could be a fly on the wall during nap time. I can't even imagine this because at home, Claire is a sleeping fool!)

So today, Miss Miriam (Claire's sweet, sweet teacher) tells me that Claire has a new trick. When Miss Miriam tells Claire during nap time to lay down on her mat, she gives Miss Miriam a sh*#-eating grin and walks around the room holding the nap mat against her butt. So you see, she is keeping her bottom on the mat, just like they told her. Yikes...

Yuh Yoo

She finally did it. It was one of the treasured moments we have been waiting for. Last night, I was singing Claire the bedtime song that I have sung to her every night since she has been born. I was rocking her in the chair and loving on her. Just as I was about to put her to bed, I looked at her and said "Claire, I love you." She answered, "Yuh Yoo." It was a mangled response but she said it!! Tears filled up my eyes. I was so happy! So I had to confirm. I said it again. "Claire, I love you." Again, she answers "Yuh Yoo."

To make it even better, she told her Daddy "Yuh Yoo" this evening. Like I have said before in the blog, it's the little things...

Say goodbye to the baby days

I have had a sad awakening lately. It is going to sound stupid, but here goes... It has dawned on me very recently that Claire no longer fits in the "baby" category. In some ways, it makes me so sad. Those were very special days that we will always treasure. In other ways, I am loving all the things she can do now. She is developing her own little personality. Claire is so sweet, funny and very expressive. She is very gentle and loves to give kisses and hugs. She loves to snuggle but she also loves to run around. Claire is inquisitive and loves to ask questions. She notices everything and doesn't have much of a buffer in asking about what she notices. (sound like her Mommy?) She loves animals, balls, music, outside, books, and being busy, busy, busy.

Lately, Claire wants to do everything for herself. She wants to use her own spoon. She wants to color. She wants to sit like a big girl.
She wants to hold the big girl book. She is getting to be such a big girl.

We went to see Grandma and Pops tonight, and Claire wanted Grandma's lipstick. Yikes... Watch out!!

The Upside of Ike

If there is an upside to Hurricane Ike, it is that Claire bear got to see her grandparents who live in Houston. They evacuated and came to visit for the weekend. Claire had a lot of fun. She played outside...
She went out to eat a nice dinner, listened to a band play and acted so silly! She even had a "Halloween practice" with the Ladybug costume that her Mimi got her. Mimi and Papa left this afternoon and she has been walking around the house since they left randomly yelling out their names.

Dino Land

Build a T Rex and a Pink Leopard with Grandma and Pops

Grandma and Pops took the grandkids to the Build-A-Bear workshop! The boys were so excited about the T-Rex that they both made, and Miss Claire loves the pink leopard that she made with her grandparents. The boys thought it was so neat that they put a heart inside the T-Rex while Claire was fascinated with the stuffing machine. It was a fun event.

"Social Butterfly and a Take Charge" girl

When I went to pick Claire up from daycare today, she did the funniest series of things. Here they are:

1. She runs over to me and gives me 3 big kisses and a wonderful hug.

2. Just as I am reaching out to pick her up to leave, she tells me "No No" and runs back over to finish playing with her friend Wyatt. This made me laugh so hard.

3. Her teacher, Ms. Miriam says to me "Claire had a great day today. She is such the social butterfly. She is talking so much!" I thank Miriam for taking such good care of Claire, and then I say to Claire "Let's go." She looks up at me, smiles really big, takes my hand and marches us out of there.

Again, Miriam and I laugh hysterically. She is getting to be such a big girl taking charge of things...marching Mommy out of school.

PS- Her daycare report card today says "Claire had an awesome time painting today! She got paint all over herself. I got a picture of your technicolor toddler and will give it to you soon." XOXO