Walking!!!

Not much time to post tonight...but I had to share a couple videos of Clare.  She has been attempting to walk for quite some time now.  She would even get a step or two together every once in a while.  However, since last Friday she has been walking like crazy.  It is so cute to watch her because she is still pretty wobbly.  She is pretty proud of herself (as we are of her) when she does it.  It just makes my heart explode with happiness!  Check it out for yourself...

And a quick update on the running club...I have gone a couple of times now and am proud to say I haven't passed out or collapsed yet!  Heading back tomorrow for more running...woo-hoo!  Have a great rest of the week and weekend.  :)

Labor Day Weekend

So it typically takes me a while to post, especially since I've been back to work.  But I have a few extra minutes today and I thought I would take advantage of it to post about our Labor Day weekend.  We went up to Axtell to celebrate Papa's birthday.  It was nice and relaxing and we all had a great time.  We took advantage of the nice weather and spent the majority of our time outside. 

Tony smoked meat for the reunion that we went to on Saturday.  The pork was delicious as usual.  We sat on the porch and played games (some sillier than others...like sitting in a circle and trying to keep a big inflated ball in the air).  We played kickball in the yard with the kids.  Clare just sat in the stroller on the sidelines and looked sad like she wished she could play.  We went on a long walk one day.  Clare got her first sunburn on her face, which made me feel awful.  I have been so good about putting sunscreen on her all summer, but it was cool and we were in long sleeves so I didn't even think of it.  We went on Clare's first four-wheeler ride...that I know of.  She may or may not have been before with Papa!  :)  Clare also got to swing in the yard, which she LOVED.  Clare is also learning to climb stairs (which I am not thrilled about) and she has started pointing.  And last but not least, Clare got to see Grandma and Grandpa Great Rochel and Great Grandma Noble.  Good old-fashion family time!  Here are some of our pics from the weekend. 

And on the way home from seeing Great Grandma Noble today we saw a gorgeous sunflower field that we couldn't resist stopping to shoot a few photos.  Check them out...

A couple of other quick updates about Clare bear.  First, she is finally getting a tooth.  It's on the bottom (there may even be a second one getting ready to pop through, too) and if you look really hard in the picture below you can see the tiny tooth. Also, she is starting to take more and more steps.  I wouldn't say she is really walking yet, but today she did take three or four steps at a time a couple of different times.  

And an update about me...at our school they are starting a running club to get kids active.  I definitely think it is important to be a part of things like this to be a role model for my students and others in the school, so I decided to give it a try.  Those of you who know me well know that I AM NOT A RUNNER.  However, I am going to give it my best.  Wish me luck! 

So Long Summer!

It was sad to see summer go, but we knew this time would come.  As summer came to a close, we took advantage of the hot weather and spent time in the water.  We went to the lake for a weekend to see Grandpa and Tammy.  I just can't get over how much Clare bear likes the water...and she sure does think she is the captain of the boat. 

Clare and I also went to the pool several times with Grandma while daddy was working in the summer heat.  Grandma bought her this fun inflatable turtle that she LOVES...especially in the baby pool when she can put her feet on the bottom and maneuver like she is walking in the pool.  She loves splashing and blowing bubbles in the pool too.  The baby pool in Wamego is great.  There's hardly ever anyone there and best of all, it's free! 

A few weeks ago Clare went back to an in home daycare in Wamego.  Lacey is absolutely wonderful and Clare is so happy every day I pick her up.  She is the only girl and the youngest...so I have a feeling she gets a little spoiled.  And I think being around all the boys has made her a little louder, but oh well.  It will make her tough too.

We started school on August 17th, which told me it was really the end of summer.  I was sad to have to leave Clare again, but so excited to teach my third graders!  I'm so exhausted, but loving it so far.  I have a great group of kids who really keep me on my toes.  However, I can't help but think of my baby girl during the day and our good times this summer.  Can't wait til next summer for more fun in the sun! 

Clare's Crazy Hair

There are so many things I love about my baby girl.  She has the most beautiful blue eyes.  She has the cutest fingers and toes.  She has this hilarious face she makes with her droopy cheeks and pursed lips.  She has a smile that can make my heart just melt and the cutest giggle (and sometimes snort!) to go with it.  But one thing that I just think is great about her is her crazy hair.  It's been this way since she was born - kind of a comb-over at times with a terrible cowlick.  Now it is growing out blond and looks like it has highlights, but the unruliness still exists.  So I had to share this picture of her first truly bad hair day.  I took this one during our ritual snuggle time in the morning when she wakes up and I am still a little bit too tired to get out of bed.  It's my favorite time of day.  What I think is so funny about this picture isn't just the hair - it's the expression that goes with it.  I've thought of many funny captions that could go with it, but I'd love to hear what you think she's saying - so post it as a comment.  This is one of those pics she will hate me for later, but until then I can look at it and smile!

Now, on a good hair note...we were able to put her hair in the first ponytail.  I love, love, love it!  She looks like a little pebbles and I just think it is too cute!

Have a great week!



Nine Months Old...and so much fun!

It's hard for me to believe that our baby girl came into our lives a little more than nine months ago.  My how time flies!  She's getting to be such a big girl.  Not exactly in height and weight, but in every other way.  In fact, when I took her to the doc for her 9 month check-up, our little sweetie was only 26 3/4 inches long (18th percentile) and 18 lbs. 6 oz. (32nd percentile).  She's super mobile, pulling up on everything, and even walking around on the furniture.  I anticipate her true first step won't be far in the future.  She still doesn't have any teeth...and I can't get enough of her toothless grin.  And her personality just keeps getting bigger and more fun.  I've loved every minute since our Clare Bear was born, but I really do think this is my favorite age so far.   Here are some of Clare's favorite things right now:

Clare loves to swim.  She loves both the pool and the lake.  And let's not forget how much she loves to ride on the boat.  We've spent some good time this summer in the water and I am so happy that she enjoys the water. 

It should come as no surprise as much as Clare likes water, that she loves her bath time.  As soon as she knows we are running bath water she crawls into the bathroom and gives us a big grin like "I'm ready!"  It's too cute.  The funniest thing about her bath time recently is that Daisy thinks she needs to be right there with her nose in the tub the whole time.  Clare doesn't seem to mind, though.  In fact she tries to share her toys with Daisy most of the time. 

Something else that Clare Bear loves right now is crawling in and under just about anything she can find.  Right now her favorite spot is under our dining room table.  It's so funny!  She quickly crawls over to the table, shimmies up the pedestal and walks around underneath and around the chairs.  She only has about an inch of clearance before she bonks her head so it won't be long before she will be too tall to play that game.  But for now, it sure makes all of us smile. 

And last but not least, Clare LOVES to play with her cousins.  This past weekend we had a very special visit from Nate and Morgan and Clare's cousin Cooper.  He's only 3 months old, so he's a little less mobile...but so cute and so much fun.  She really enjoyed getting to know him and we hope they can come back again real soon.  This weekend Clare also had some fun play time with Aubrey.  She hung out with us for the day on Sunday and the girls decided to climb into the toy baskets to play.  These are some of my favorite pictures of these two cuties that I've taken.  I can only imagine a few years down the road the two of them running around causing trouble...love it!

It makes me sad to think that summer is almost over...I guess we will just have to make the most of our time together in the evenings now that school is about to start for me. 

Celebrating the 4th!

I love the 4th of July.  Not because of the fireworks, but because it means spending time at the lake with family - boating, swimming, riding on the golf cart, and playing outdoor games.  Love it!  And this year was no different.  In between Tony's hectic work schedule and the tough times we were having with our family, we were able to take a break and enjoy wonderful Lake Wabaunsee.  Over the 4th, Clare got to meet her Great Uncle Billy for the first time.  Billy lives in Connecticut and comes out to visit once a year.  She really enjoyed time playing and having fun with him as well as daddy, grandpa, and Tammy.  In addition to the fireworks themselves, there were a lot of firsts for Clare Bear during our time at the lake and she seemed to love all of them. 

We started out with her first time riding on the pontoon boat.  She loved the boat.  She could crawl around, pull herself up, and feel the wind blowing in her hair.  Her favorite thing, though, was driving the boat.  It wasn't good enough to have her hands on the wheel, she liked to lick the steering wheel and have one hand on the gear shift.  I didn't get any pics of it, but it was pretty funny!

There was her first time swimming in the lake.  I wasn't sure how she would like this one because it meant getting in the very restrictive life jacket and dipping into the chilly (even with the hot temperatures) water.  But she was like a little fish...so cute!

Clare also had her first ride on the golf cart as well as the paddle boat. 



And last but certainly not least, Clare participated in her first 4th of July Boat parade.  This is a tradition at the lake.  Every year, we dress up in silly hats and other red, white, and blue items, decorate the boat and head out for a cruise with many other boats that do the same thing. 

As you can see, we had so much fun over the 4th of July.  I know there are plenty of pics on this post, but I will leave you with a couple more that are too cute.  Clare had two different outfits for the occasion.  One was a little romper with stars and stripes (check out how cute the back of it is), and the other was this adorable t-shirt that says "Red, White, and Cute"...yes she is!

We hope that you had a great 4th of July like we did!  Have a great week!



   

In Loving Memory

The last month has been a bit tough for us.  Within two weeks of each other, both Tony and I lost our beloved grandfathers.  Both of them had been sick for a while, but it doesn't make it any easier when they're gone.  The part that makes me the most sad about it is that Clare will never get to know them.  However, as I think back to the last nine months since Clare was born, I have to smile.  Clare may not remember the time she spent with them, but they sure enjoyed the getting to spend time with her.  And Clare loved to snuggle and play with them.  When she gets older, we will tell her the stories about what great men they were and how much they loved her.  We love you grandpa, and you will be truly missed!