Animal Sounds with Claire

Here is a sampling of some of the animal sounds that Claire knows how to make:

A Letter to My 15 Month Old

Claire,

I cannot believe you have been on this earth for 15 months. I know that everyone says how quickly you will grow and how fast time will go by, but you really have no idea until you have experienced it. You are a light in my life. You bring my laughter and joy daily. Yes, you also bring frustration and exhaustion, but I thank God for every minute I have with you. You have gotten to be such a big girl - not literally, physically you are still quite small (still in twelve month clothes) - there are so many things you can do all on your own now. You do so many amazing things it is hard to keep track of them all. You run around like crazy. You have so much energy it wears me out and I love it.

Climbing into your old car seat. You thought this was hilarious and really great fun.

 You make the best animal sounds. You know what a kitty says, a doggy, a monkey, a snake, a cow, a duck (almost), and best of all you know what a "Razorback" says --Woo, pig, sooie! ; ) It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. (I will try to get a video of it soon.)

Calling the Hogs with daddy at the Red and White game. (4-21-12)

You are so proud of all of your accomplishments and you love it when others are proud too. You get the biggest grin on your face when you do something and look up expectantly waiting for applause and cheers. You sing. You sing beautifully. I love to hear your sweet little voice. Your favorite songs are "Wheels on the Bus", "Alice the Camel", the "ABC" song, "Rocking, Rocking", and "Old McDonald." You don't know all the words to the songs yet, but you can carry a tune really well.


You went from having four teeth to ten in about a month. Let me just tell you that cutting molars was not fun for you are anybody else. I cannot wait until all your teeth are in and we are done with that phase.

Playing with Carter's swing--which you are entirely too big for, but that didn't stop you.

Claire you are such an amazing and wonderful little girl. You are so smart and energetic. You are so talkative--which is crazy because your dad and I aren't--and I love to have conversations with you or listen to you "read" books to yourself.

Your daddy and I love you so much and we are so glad to be your parents. We pray for you everyday and hope you grow to love the Lord like we do.

Love,

Mommy

P.S. You love to smell your feet, or other people's feet and say "pew wee." It is pretty funny...

The Wallets...

Jared and I went to dinner with some friends last night. We had the best time. We were baby-free and got to really enjoy sitting and talking with two couples that we don't get to see often. It was a really great evening. On the way to our car I saw a wallet on the ground. As I picked it up I asked Jared what we should do. Luckily a couple was coming down the street looking for said wallet, so I handed it over and felt really good that the woman would not have to wonder where her stuff was all night.

Today after church I had ultimate league. On my way home I saw another wallet lying in the middle of the road. I stopped and picked it up, but I waited until I got home to see if I could figure out who it belonged to. Luckily there was a drivers license. I Googled the address and realized it was really near where I had found the wallet and just a couple of streets over from where we live, so I hopped back in my car excited that I got to be a good Samaritan once again. I rang the doorbell and waited.

Then through the door I heard, "Who is it? I have a gun."

I paused and kind of freaked out a little bit, but then I heard little boy giggles in the background and it calmed me a little bit. The voice asked who it was again (I did not give them my name). I just said, "I found your mom's wallet out here on the street and I am returning it."

The door unlocked and there were two younger boys with chihuahuas standing in the doorway. I am not sure they had believed me at first, but when I held out the wallet the older boy let out a gasp, "Oh!"

He then apologized for telling me that he had a gun, and explained that he was just scared of strangers. I politely responded that he didn't need to tell people that he had a gun, but that it was good to ask who was at the door before answering. Their mother was not home, but I left the wallet with them -- I just pray it actually gets to their mother unmolested.

I am not sure why I have been finding so many wallets lately, but I am glad to be able to return them to their rightful places. I pray that my actions are fulfilling kingdom purposes. And I am also greatly relieved that the little boy didn't ACTUALLY have a gun. Phew!

Crystal Bridges

A week ago I went to the new Crystal Bridges Museum (in Bentonville, AR) with two of my best girlfriends. It was really fun because we each have a kiddo under the age of two. We were quite the spectacle traipsing through the museum--each with a stroller and babe in tow.

We mostly just walked through each gallery and the cafeteria (the temporary exhibit wing was being redone, so it was closed) and then we ended up in one of the big meeting rooms. We caught the tale end of a "Shaky Bugs" performance. I had not heard of said Shaky Bugs, but as far as I could tell it was one lady with a guitar who sang fun children songs. Suffice it to say I have a lot to learn about the Shaky Bugs (I am told they/she are/is wonderful).

Claire got to run around with her pal Owen and Carter mostly just chilled with his momma. It was a really fun morning and I am so glad we got to all get together. It was a beautiful day. Here are some pics from our trip:

Claire with part of the Museum in the background.

Claire with her shaker from the performance.

 

 

 

 

Our friend Owen.

Owen posing for the camera. What a cutie!

Here is one of the whole gang (you can even see sweet Carter's face peeking through):

"The stroller posse"

Easter 2012

Holidays (in my humble opinion) are so much fun when you have a child to share them with. I get to see the day from a whole new perspective. Claire has a light in her eyes and a pure delight when she sees people she loves, or new places, or accomplishes something.

Easter was so much fun. It was fun to get dressed up and get Claire dressed up. It was fun to go to church and celebrate the resurrection of my Lord and Savior with my loved ones. It was fun to have lunch with my parents and our extremely tired and fussy baby. It was fun to take an afternoon nap snuggled with my hubby on the couch. It was fun to open Claire's Easter basket and see her reaction to her new books. It was fun to have dinner with my family and loved ones. It was so much fun to watch Claire learn how to put eggs into her basket. It was fun to watch her discover the eggs in the yard--and that those could also be placed into her basket. It was fun to watch her abandon the eggs in the yard to chase down a dandelion. It was fun to watch her JuJu and MeMe help her swing on her horsey swing. It was just a great day all around. I could not have dreamed up a better Easter. I am so thankful and blessed for and by my family.

I know not everyone had such a wonderful day. I know there are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, spouses, etc. who are sick, tired, hungry, wanting, needing, dying that did not have a wonderful day. I grieve for those people/families, but I also rejoice in the Lord and the blessings He has bestowed upon me.

Blogging Slump...

Ugh...

I have had a lot going on the past few weeks. There have been a ton of things to blog about. Regardless of all that is going on that I could write about I seem to just have no heart for it lately. I am forcing myself to sit and type this post...just so my blog doesn't lie dormant for the whole month of April.

I must be in the doldrums. If you never read the book "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster growing up...you should go back and read it, or at least watch the movie (yes it is for children, but I still enjoy it).

The past month has been really hard for me emotionally. I attended two of the most heartbreaking funerals of my life. One for a friend's one day old baby. And a second for another sweet friend of my brother's--who is like a brother to me--seven year old girl (you can read about their story or non-profit here). 

Ever since I have just not had the heart for blogging. The past month has not been all sorrow--just a lot of it--we have had some really fun things going on too. 

In fact, this past Sunday was Easter and it was the first Easter that Claire was old enough to sort of get into the holiday. The church service was really good and we had most of our family over to my parent's house for a potluck Easter dinner--maybe I will force myself to make an Easter post...

For now, all I can say is sorry blog and occasional blog readers. My heart is still grieving. My sorrow is deep, but it is not without hope. And because my words and thoughts have not been motivational enough to get me writing I am just going to share some of the verses that I have been resting on/in these past few weeks:

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" Psalms 34:18

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”' Psalms 91:1-2

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28