Christmas festivities began as we went on Christmas Eve to a candlelight service at our church. Claire and Harper both did very well at church and they looked so pretty in their Christmas dresses. Claire spent most of the service taking turns in Cat, Pops or Grandma's laps. We then went to our house for a homemade Tex Mex meal. The boys and Claire had so much fun playing. Harper was fast asleep soon into the night. Cat read books to Charlie and Claire and they loved it. Chris was probably sitting on the floor right behind them playing with Camille's lamps. :-) On Christmas Day, my little family opened our presents together and then headed to Grandma's to begin presents all over again. The boys were still in their pjs so Claire quickly decided she wanted to wear Spiderman pjs with them. We spent the day playing with the boys, Christi, Cat, Pops and Grandma. Unfortunately for Harper, we went to Urgent Care with a high fever followed by a double ear infection. After some doses of antibiotics, she was good as new. :-) She is such a tough, sweet little baby girl. She works hard to keep up with her older cousins and her older sister.The boys loved their Batman cave and we played with it A LOT! Charlie and Chris decided too that they wanted to be Bumblebee and Ironman. It has been really fun to watch Chris, Charlie and Claire bond even closer as they grow up. This is one of the very tender moments that Charlie and Claire shared without any coercion. This was one of many picture attempts of my parents with their grandkids. Harper was sleeping and it isn't the best picture, but it was the best of the millions we took.
This was a great one of my girls with my parents. Overall, our Christmas was a wonderful one with my family. We are all very blessed to love and care for each other. And, we have a blast hanging out with each other.
That night, the kids begged to spend the night together so off we went to our house with all the kids and Cat to help. They were so excited!! They played and talked late in to the night. Finally at about 11, we separated them after Chris told me that "Charlie and Claire were bothering him and that he wanted to go to sleep." So, I slept in Claire's bed with Chris. Cat slept with Charlie in our guest room. Claire slept with Daddy in our bed. It was a really fun night and the kids enjoyed it very much. So did we. :-) We look forward to many more slumber parties.

One of my favorites of Harper girl...
On the 26th, we headed to "Rockin' with Mickey and Friends." Claire has a LARGE obsession with Minnie Mouse. She had so much fun at the show, and we had so much fun watching her scream "Hi Minnie" throughout the entire show. Harper did a great job and loved just looking at the lights.
On the night of the 26th, the Nixes headed in to town and stayed with us to begin our Christmas festivities with them. We had a really fun and special 2 days with them. We always enjoy each other's company and Claire always has a blast with them. It was a special time.We had a great time and here is one of the best pictures of the entire Christmastime. The girls love their LaLa and here is a great picture of them with her.

The Nixes gave Claire a Dora bike. She was ecstatic and couldn't wait to get out on the track down the street and ride it. Off we went...
As you can see, she loves riding it. She has not mastered it yet and is a little timid to pedal on her own, but in no time, she will be off and rolling.Overall, it was a fun and special holiday season with both sides of the family. Daren and I continuously feel blessed to be surrounded by such good people who love and care so much for us and for our children. It was a fun week filled with lots of memories to last a lifetime.

Claire's Christmas List

Mommy: "Claire, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
Claire: "Tape"
Mommy: "Tape? Like this kind?" (and I proceed to show her a roll of Scotch tape)
Claire: "Yes, tape."

Hmmm...

Christmas Party and rollovers

Mommy and sweet, sweet Harper girl working on our rollovers...Claire's Christmas party at school was lots of fun! Each kid drew another's name and they exchanged books. It was a great idea and Claire loves the book that Luca got her. Claire drew Rumi's name and gave him Where the Wild Things Are and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. :-)
Grandma, Daddy, Mommy and Claire enjoyed cupcakes, fruit and other treats. We feel so blessed that Claire is at such a great little school with such cute little friends.

Making faces at each other!

It's a giggle!

Harper Ann...

Harper is 3 months old today!!! She is a true joy. She is calm and chill. She is the sweetest little girl. She has been so easy. Poor thing has had very different circumstances than Claire had as an infant. Harper has to keep up with Claire's schedule which means she gets carted all over the place. Harper is a trooper and does so well for us. I don't know what we did to deserve two sweet, easy girls, but we are lucky. She is truly the sweetest baby!

Here's what she is up to at 3 months old:
Harper sleeps through the night. She eats well. She poops well. She holds her head up. Harper loves tummy time and she loves her baths. She coos and makes fun noises. She smiles. She has a great little dimple in her cheeks when she smiles. She has a great laugh- it is very throaty and deep. She loves when Daddy plays with her hands and when Mommy puts my hair on her face. She has recently discovered her hands and loves to look at them in action.

This picture is of Mommy making Harper girl giggle. It was one of the first times we heard a deep, good, real belly laugh!

Big 32!

We celebrated my 32nd birthday! It was really special. On Friday night, Daren and I went to my favorite restaurant, North, for dinner and then we went out for drinks afterwards. Grandma, Pops and Christi watched the girls so we could enjoy a nice dinner out.

On my actual birthday, Daren cooked me dinner and the girls got me a cookie cake! After we got Harper settled and ready for bed, my family came over for presents and MORE cake!! My 32nd was a great day!

For this, I am thankful...

I have a great life. I have the most wonderful husband a girl could ever ask for. He is a great father, friend, and all the other things every girl dreams of having in a partner. I love Daren more now than I ever have loved him. When I dreamed up all the things I wanted in a partner, Daren surpasses all hopes and dreams I had. Our love for each other has gifted us with two beautiful girls who are happy, healthy and full of life. I feel so blessed and honored to be their mother. My love for my new, little family can be overwhelming at times. My cup runneth over for them. I try so hard to step back and thank God because I am so blessed to have my sweet, sweet Daren, my Claire bear and my Harper girl. For this, I am thankful.

I have two amazing parents who have modeled unconditional love and who also have taught me integrity and respect. They have loved us (my sisters and I) through whatever it may be that we are going through, and my parents love like very few others that I know. In addition, my parents have a love for each other that is rare after 40 years of marriage. They are still full of passion, compassion, and love for each other that inspires me. They are incredible grandparents to my children. They provide a fun, safe environment that both of my girls will treasure for a lifetime. Both of my girls will love and cherish their Grandma and Pops forever. For this, I am thankful.

I have great friends to surround me as I journey through life. I am grateful to all of my girl friends who listen, who let me vent, who make me laugh, and who provide me fun times. I have two amazing sisters whose strength inspires me. We have so much fun together. I am so thankful for the love they have for my children and for the love my children have for them. My girls love my sisters so much! And, I am so thankful that they are two of my best friends in addition to being my sisters. I have two beautifully smart and fun nephews who light me up when they get excited to see me and be with me. I love them as if they were my own. They melt me. I have a sister-in-law who is a close friend, who understands me, who is a confidante and who is not afraid to get real with me. My daughters adore her and think she is the most special thing in the world. (and she is!) I am blessed to have two wonderful "in-law" parents who makes me feel like I am "in" the family rather than the outlaw that most in-laws seems to establish with each other. They are amazing grandparents to my children and wonderful people. My daughters enjoy every special moment they have with them and they treasure every chance they have to be with their Mimi and Papa. For this, I am thankful.

I am thankful to all the people who touch my life in any way. I am thankful for stability, creativity, and peace. I feel surrounded by love, by hope, by gifts and by gratitude. I just wanted to take the time to count my blessings because I have a full life. I am blessed. For this, I am thankful.

She found it!

Miss Harper found her thumb today!

Claire's 1st trip to Houston

This past weekend, Claire went for her 1st weekend getaway to Houston with Mimi, Papa and LaLa. In actuality, it was not the first time she has been there alone. She also stayed a weekend there without us when we went to Chicago, but I guess this is the first weekend since she can walk and talk. :-)

The weekend began with a fun trip to the park!Then a Saturday trip to the zoo where she got to pet and brush goats as well as climb into a prairie dog den. The prairie dog den looks like some sort of alien planet...it cracked me up! I can just imagine how fascinating that must have been for Claire.

She even got to see an elephant!They also celebrated LaLa's belated birthday with a yummy chocolate cake.
And finished with a morning walk as a tiger with Papa as well as some world class golf lessons
As Mimi said, "she even keeps her head down." What a girl!
Claire had a great time! She told stories and talked about her adventures the whole way home, and I am sure we will hear about them for days to come. She is so funny! It's fun to watch Claire grow up and enjoy her relationships with all of the people who love her. She is a lucky girl...

8 week appointment at 9 weeks old

Miss Harper Ann had her 8 week appointment with the pediatrician at 9 weeks old. She is doing great!!

Here are her stats:
12 lbs. 7 oz = 95th percentile!! (biggest girl!!)
22 1/2 inches long = 50th percentile
head circumference was also 50th percentile

Claire visited Mimi, Papa, and LaLa this weekend so we spend the weekend transitioning Harper from out of our bedroom to her crib. She has done great! Harper is alert and bright-eyed. She makes those wonderful coos and she smiles at us. She is working on holding her head up and is doing a great job!

Two of my favorite people hanging out watching some Saturday football:

The Snuggie

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am always cold. So when my Mom bought me a Snuggie, you know that is was the BEST gift EVER!!! I got made fun of A LOT from my family members. Catherine called me a nerd, I believe. Daren said it was hideous and so on... Little by little, people are realizing the value of a Snuggie. Not only does it keep you warm, but it is a great spot to snuggle with Claire bear! Check it out!

Kiddie Acres is the place to be...

Last Saturday, our family visited Kiddie Acres. It is a fun, little amusement park in Austin for kids. Claire had a blast!! And Miss Harper did what she does best--she slept the whole time! :-) Daddy and Mommy took turns on each little activity with Claire. I think the adults can enjoy Kiddie Acres too!! :-) If you've never visited Kiddie Acres, go! It is a cheap, fun afternoon activity.

Claire loved riding the pony!! She is still talking about Copper, so ask her about him and she'll tell you all about it.She got to fly an airplane. We got a little bit dizzy watching her fly in circles but she had a ball!Mommy and Claire rode the carousel. She wanted to ride the "red one." Interestingly, she was a little scared of this one. She white-knuckled the horsey's handle, and you can tell in the picture that it was a bit difficult to get a smile on her face during this one.
Daddy and Claire rode the train. She loves train and had so much fun!She drove a boat and loved that it was really in the water.And last, Mommy and Claire rode the ferris wheel. This one was a big hit because Claire went "in the sky" and "over the trees." She also was so fascinated that she wasn't allowed to stand up. She didn't quite understand that and she talked about it a lot!

Halloween Season...

Halloween season was truly a few weeks of celebrating!! Claire LOVED it this year and we had so much fun!! We did the Hallelujah Hoedown at church, went to Sweetberry Farms in Marble Falls, went with the boys to ACC for their Halloween event, had a Halloween party at Claire's school, and then we crashed the Brodheads 'hood for a fun, fun night of trick or treating. Claire doesn't quite understand that Halloween is only one day or that it is over because we still wear the tiger costume almost every day. Her pretty pixie outfit is so precious too, but she is uninterested.

Our night of carving pumpkins

Claire was so proud of the pumpkins she and Daddy carved. She wanted a "happy pun-kin" and a "scary pun-kin."

Claire's Halloween party at school

This is an attempt at a picture of my girls on Halloween, but as you can see, my little lamb did not want her costume on!

Miss Claire bear is ready to trick or treat! She was so funny! She "ROAR"ed every time someone answered the door.
Mommy and Claire's scary smile, but it looks like Mommy is the only one who did the scary smile. :-)
Daddy, Claire the tiger, Cole and Hayes the cheetah...

Harper's best attempt at trick or treating... She slept the whole time!

Conversations with a two year old

Conversation #1:
Claire: "Mommy, I need to go potty."
So off to the potty we go... Now, picture us at the potty.
Claire stands in front of the potty and asks "Can I stand?"
Mommy: "No, Claire, girls sit on the potty."
Claire: "Char Char stands. Claire can stand." (Char Char is a reference to her cousin Charlie)
Mommy: "Boys stand, Claire, but girls sit."
Claire: "Cause boys have a pea-nuts??" (pea-nuts = penis)
Mommy: Yes, boys have a penis and girls have a vagina."
Claire: "Claire have a gina?"
Mommy: "Yes, honey."

Conversation #2:
Claire: "Harper can't play with me?"
Mommy: "Not right now. She is an itty bitty baby, but someday she will be able to play all the time with you."
About two hours later...
Claire: "Harper will be my friend later?!"
Mommy: "Harper is already your friend, but she will be able to play and have fun with you later."
Claire: "Harper my friend."

Conversation #3:
Claire: "Daddy home?"
Mommy: "No, Daddy is out of town on business. He is working."
Night time comes...
Claire: "Daddy at work?"
Mommy: "Yes, Claire. He will be back on Wednesday. Daddy loves you."
Claire: "Daddy golfing."
Mommy laughs. Claire sure does know what her Daddy loves to do. :-)

Conversation #4:
It's bedtime and Mommy usually lays in bed with Claire for a while to sing a few songs and snuggle.
Claire: "Lay down, Mommy."
Mommy: "I would love to."
Claire: "Lay right here, Mommy." (she points to a specific location on the pillow)
Claire: "Libby, lay down right here." (she points to another location on the pillow)
Mommy: "Who is Libby?"
Claire: "My friend."
Mommy: "Oh. Is she nice?"
Claire: "Yes. She's like Minnie." (a reference to Minnie the Mouse...her FAVE!)
Mommy laughs...

I would love to be inside her mind. Claire makes me laugh so hard!!