My Baby's Three!

Where have the last three years gone?  It's so hard to believe that Claire is already three.  My baby is growing up.....not too fast, though.  She's still in diapers.  That's a whole different story....one that I hope ends sooner than later.

Claire was just a few weeks old here......

And now she's in a big bed......

Claire has definitely brought a new feel to our house.  It's amazing how one little girl can whip the whole family into shape.  I don't remember a time when she wasn't talking.  Sometimes I feel like I'm having a conversation with a 12-year-old.....and then I remember that she's still not potty trained.  Either she's more stubborn than the boys or I've just run out of steam.  

Claire is feisty, funny and strong-willed, but she's got a soft, tender side that can melt your heart.  She makes you work for the tiniest bit of affection, but when you get it, it's so worth it.  Man, I love that little girl!  Our family wouldn't be complete without her.

I love thinking of all the things we'll be able to do when she gets older.....shopping, pedicures, movie nights when the boys are camping.  The possibilities are endless.  =)

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Several months ago, I found an ugly little TV stand at Goodwill for $10.  I'd been wanting to make Claire a play kitchen for sometime, and this was just the thing I needed to get started.

Not too impressive, but I had a vision.  Thanks to Scott and his dad, my vision became a reality.  They did all the hard stuff like removing doors, dividing the bottom shelf, putting a new back on, etc.  Then I got to do all the fun stuff.  We were so happy with the way it turned out and so was Claire.  She absolutely LOVED it!

Amy and her boys stopped by to give her some new toys for her kitchen.....

What a fun birthday!  All of her gifts went so well with her new kitchen!

At Claire's request, we had a "worm cake."  This girl really does love worms.  I can't keep her from picking them up off the driveway after a rain storm.  Yuck.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Claire!!!  We love you!

I've Been Robbed!

Yes, I've been robbed......of the chance to paint my one-and-only girl's toenails for the first time!

Scott stayed home from church with Mason a couple weeks ago.  It's pretty much a given around here that if you stay home with one of the older kids, you get the youngest as well.  It's only fair, right?  When I got home, I was greeted by a smiley-faced little toddler admiring her pretty purple toes.  I must admit, I was a little mad.  I've waited a looooong time to have a girl and get to paint her cute little toenails.  When I asked Scott why he did it, he said, "Mason was sleeping and I didn't know what to do with Claire.  I figured girls like to paint their toenails, so that's what we did."  I couldn't stay mad for long.  It really was cute.  I just couldn't believe that Scott of all people would be the one to beat me to it.  =)

I'm just glad he took pictures.

He actually did a pretty good job.

Sweet little feet!

Sweet Tooth

A few weeks ago, I ran upstairs to throw a load of laundry in the washing machine.  I left Claire downstairs because I knew I wouldn't be gone long.  When I got back, this is what I found....

Check out the dent she left in that thing!  I knew she liked sweets, but I had no idea she would gnaw her way through the plastic to get to them.  She seems pretty proud of herself.  Almond bark, anyone?

Hair

We're discovering something around here for the first time....hair.  After three boys, it seems so strange to have a child with so much hair.  We love the way it swirls in the bath water and how it looks in a soap-hawk.  However, we're not so fond of the way it gets stuck in the velcro of her bib and in the snot crusted to her nose.  (Yes, that really does happen.)  =)

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall....

Who's the fairest.....

Of them all?

Claire loves to look at herself in the mirror.  We could be in trouble in about 15 years!

Oh How Fun, Claire is One!

My friend Tammy made these gorgeous cupcakes for Claire's birthday. She's so amazing....check out her website (www.cupcakekali.com). We had Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins over for her party on Sunday. It was so much fun!

Claire definitely had no problem digging in!

Has it really been a year? It's amazing to see how much she's grown!

Daddy loves his little girl.

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Daddy-Daughter Time

Who knew the kitchen could be such a wonderland? Claire loves playing in the dishwasher. I swear, she can hear that thing opening a mile away! Notice who's doing the dishes...there's nothing better than your hubby doing the dishes AND watching the baby.

Who says playing in the water is only a summer activity? Claire and Daddy had so much fun splashing in the sink last night. It was a little messy, but a lot of fun!

I love this picture...so cute! Daddy's little girl!

Pumpkin Patch

Brady had his first field trip to the pumpkin patch this week.  It was pretty cold that day, and I discovered that Claire doesn't own a heavy coat.  It pained me to do it, but I put her in one of the boys' old coats.  I guess it's time to go shopping!

Brady had a great time searching for just the right pumpkin.  He's so excited to carve it for Halloween.

Cute friends sitting on pumpkins.  

The corn play area was definitely the favorite activity of the day....and so much cleaner than a sand box.  We did bring home a few stray kernels, though.  

  

We've Got Spirit!

For some reason, this is Claire's favorite sitting position.  It doesn't look that comfortable, but apparently it is.  Every time I see her like this, I can't help but picture her in a little cheerleader's outfit.  Go Team!

4th of July

We definitely win the award for least pictures taken over the 4th of July weekend.  We only snapped a couple of Claire, but they're too cute not to share.  (I'm totally biased, I know.)  

Contraptions

What would I do without all the wonderful baby contraptions they have now?  Our newest one is the bumbo seat and it truly saves my life around dinner time.  (Thanks Grandma Weez & Papa D!) It's just nice to have a place to put the baby when I need both of my hands.  Fortunately, Claire seems to really enjoy her little entertainment centers, and I can usually buy myself a few minutes to get things done.

Claire & Colton

It's amazing what six months will do!  Suz stopped by with Colton the other day and I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.  Claire looks like a giant next to the little guy!  I still can't get over how much he looks like Nelson.  What a cutie!

The Paint Incident

I'm still not exactly sure how this happened.  I just know that I was gone and Scott was in charge of all the kids. :)  Somehow, between juggling the kids and cleaning up the crafts, Scott managed to give Claire her first highlights.  I guess it's not the first or the last time she's had something weird in her hair.  I have a bad habit of spilling my food on her head while I'm eating.  Just last night it was jambalaya.  Poor girl.

Incognito

These pictures are a little old, but I thought they were worth posting.  Scott thought he would entertain the boys one night by putting the Batman mask on Claire.  They got quite a kick out of it.  I don't think she enjoyed it quite as much as they did.  She didn't seem to mind my sunglasses though.

The Joys of Motherhood

I've decided that the phrase "opposition in all things" even (or maybe I should say ESPECIALLY) applies to motherhood.  Before Mason was born, I had glorious visions of what motherhood would be like.  And while the best moments of motherhood are so far beyond anything I could have ever imagined, there are still those occasional times when I think to myself, "Did I really sign up for all of this...four times?!"  This colorful little accident happened while we were eating breakfast at the hotel in Utah.  The topper is that I was carrying Claire in the sling at the time.  After I removed her from the sling, I quickly realized that not only did I need to change her clothes, but I also needed to change mine...all three layers!  A sense of humor is a must!  :-)