Bright spot in my day

Just wanted to say thank you for all the thoughts and hugs that were sent our way today. This time of year is really hard and bitter sweet....tears and sad memories, but so thankful for the bright spot in a difficult day!

Claire said the word ball today for the first time while playing at Gymboree and also showed off a little bit of her "smarts"....she crawled over to an outlet in the wall (which had outlet covers in it), pointed to it and said "no, no, no." So, she is obviously comprehending what I tell her, that we don't touch outlets, but also knows what no means. I was pretty amazed and loved how she just stopped in the middle of playing to do it.

These pictures were from tonight while she was playing around (and a bit wild) after dinner....she loves her new backpack and has to have it on when she hears Dora coming on. She was also talking to her Daddy and telling him all about her busy day.

She was probably trying to let him know that I let some lady poke her with needles in her legs earlier that afternoon (she was getting caught up on her 12 month vaccines since she was sick last month). Poor baby! But she took them like a champ and after a few tears (ok, more like the breath holding screams), some puffs, juicy and a trip to play at Gymboree she was all better!

Day with Grandma

Afternoon at the playground

On a Saturday afternoon

These are the days....

Enjoying the beautiful weather
Fun Friday afternoon

Doing a little talking to Daddy

Private business with Daddy (phone is tucked under her left ear)

Having a little snack

Posing for the camera

Yes, that's toilet paper

New discovery...the toilet paper

So much fun

13 months

Doing a little walking
Giving love to my baby and ducky

Little help mommy, please! Saw a "baby" on the frig (yes, it was her)

Break for juicy

Gabby, what are you doing

Just chillin in my chair

Walking & talking & playing, oh my!

Just thought I would sit down and blog a bit....no pics this time, but promise to get some more up this week.

Claire will hit the 13 month mark on Thursday and wow, how she's changed in just one month! She definitely hit a growth spurt and is getting so tall! She took her first official steps on her actual birthday and has built her confidence and moves all over the place. She will walk with your hand and is almost like a wind up toy by getting going so quickly that she can't catch up with her own feet. She loves to stand up and just go, especially if it's towards something she really wants. I have a feeling in just a few more weeks she'll be close to running!

So, I thought in the past she talked nonstop, but I have learned that was nothing compared to now. She says exactly what is on her mind and what she sees. Some of her favorite words are baby (said more like bebe or bAAAby), mama, daddy, gabby, dog (woof), duck (quack), bunny (hop hop), moo, juice, milk and the famous & used most frequent, that (while pointing at whatever "that" might be). She is good at hearing something one time and once she understands it, saying it all the time. For example, last week she learned backpack while watching Dora and now every time she sees her, she starts yelling, "backpack, backpack!" She is really picking up on sign language...she has more and all done down pat and is trying really hard to understand please, thank you, mommy and daddy.

It's so amazing to sit and watch her think about something, process it and then use it correctly. She is just on the go constantly when she is awake and definitely sleeps hard and sound when she rests. She just loves to play with anything new and has really taken off in Gymboree. She will climb on, walk up, slide down, crawl through and play with everything in there. Her favorite part is still the parachute, bubbles and Jimbo the clown.

We hit a big milestone on Saturday when we got to finally turn her car seat around. They have to be one year and 20 lbs, so we hit the mark and got to make the big move. She loves facing out and thinks it's so funny that you can turn around and look at her. She is always smiling at us and making us laugh when we glance back at her.

I had a hard time with her turning one and officially losing my "baby" but I have to admit that these days are so great. She is a little person now with her own personality, likes, dislikes, thoughts and emotions. She still likes to snuggle and enjoys giving out love a lot. She loves her babies and knows that she is their "mommy." It's so cute to watch her play with, talk to and love on her toys.

She of course loves to go on walks in her wagon (with her baby, juice, snack & Gabby), sitting in her "Claire chair" to watch noggin (especially The Wonder Pets & Dora), swinging in her swing outside, bath time in the big tub with all her toys, reading books and story hour at the library, and doing anything that involves her Daddy! She doesn't let me get too far and loves me to be close by, but really loves playing, exploring and doing new things with Chris.

Well, that's a bit of an update for now, more to come as we quickly approach May and summer time! Yeah for warm weather, pool days and vacations!

Ducks, Ducks, Ducks

Kindermourn's 5th Annual Hope Floats Duck Race
15,000 ducks raced down the rapids to the finish line

Fun & exciting day

Big girl now....forward facing!
Love my new seat

Ice cream!!!

Checking out the fountain

Lunch outside with Daddy, Mommy & Gabby

Gymboree with Daddy