CLAIRE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

Claire enjoyed her first birthday. She enjoyed opening her presents:

She did not like the elephant wash cloth and book Dad and Mom gave her:

The cake seemed to make up for it:

So much to do!

Claire liked getting down and dirty with the chalk, as she helped Alley color on the sidewalks.

" Mom - there's a waterfall over there! Why are you looking that way - there's a waterfall over there!" - If she could only talk - we all went to the Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, which neither Rob and I had been too- living here all these years.

Just plain exhausted from all the excitement and all the growing up she is having to do lately.

This week we are weaning her from bottles and turned her carseat around for the first time tonight. I have a feeling it isn't going to be so easy to wean her from the pacifier.

Just imagine how tired she will be after the big birthday party on Sunday - number 1!

Climbing to new heights

Claire has started climbing the stairs and made it to the top of the 14 high stairs. She is pretty fearless though, so you have to stand behind her. She easily pulls herself up and even took some very akward steps pushing the Bumbo chair.

She is almost one - but still seems like such a baby to me. Lots of cute fat rolls still and still likes to cuddle. We are excited to celebrate Claire's birthday in Fargo with all of the Grandparents, Robs sister and my brother who is flying in from South Carolina. It is hard to know what to get her - except maybe something of her own - since she has had mostly hand-me-downs from Alley most of her life.

No significant words yet - I tought I heard her say "Mommy" the other day, Rob thought she said "Thank you" - and daycare thought she said "ball" and "All done". She likes to clap spontaneously and shake her head no to everything.

Feed me!

Claire is certainly a good eater! She eats better than the picky 2 year old that Alley is. Claire hasn't learned patience though and becomes quite vocal when she is getting hungry. I am trying to teach her a few signs in sign language like we did with Alley - but she so far just gets frustrated - almost saying Just Feed Me Already!

She is however starting to use her hands for clapping and trying to figure out a wave - so far she just puts her hand up in the air. No real words yet - a lot of babble - Ba, mamamama, Heyah.

She is pulling herself up on furniture but hasn't lean to cruise or walk along beside them. She is quite the crawler though and quickly is off if you don't watch her. She finds her sister very neat and wants to do everything her she is. I anticipate some fights in our future, as Claire at her young age has figured out how to throw temper tantrums - mostly over a sought after toy.

WEEKEND WITH GRANDMA

Claire enjoyed a weekend with grandma Helen in town. We spent some time at the zoo. Claire slept through most of the visit, but did not miss snack time.

She really enjoyed spending some time at the park with her sister

Day at the lakes

Claire, Alley, and I went to visit Grandpa at his lake place on Father's day weekend.

She is at the stage where she puts everything in her mouth - so she got a couple tastes of sand - but just seemed to like to run her hands through it.

Happy Little Girl

Claire is very pleased that she crawls with ease now and able to sit up on her own. We now have to really watch her- as she gets to the other side of the room or to the door in a flash. Tonight she was looking at the stairs like she is contemplating her next challenge.

She locks her legs firm when she gets a chance to try out standing. She isn't pulling herself up yet on her own. She is going to be a early walker though.

With all this activity Claire is eating like a pig. She seems to try a new table food daily. She chomped on Cheerios for the first time today.