The Classic Texas Picture: Bluebonnets

Over spring break, Claire and I went down to Houston to make the rounds and visit. While we were there we were able to go to Brenham and take some Bluebonnet pics. There was this amazing field FULL of bluebonnets. There were 142 pictures, but I narrowed it down to 5 to show. Claire loved the flowers and got so excited looking at them (and eating them).

Birthday Baby

Here are some pictures of Claire's first birthday. She had a great time and loved having all of "her people" around her. What a great day! Thanks to all who could be there, we so appreciate it!

Happy Birthday Little Claire Bear!!

Oh my goodness. Where did the time go?!?!? My little baby doesn't seem like a baby anymore. She's not quite walking at this point, but she is getting close. She said her first word (besides Mama and Dada) about 2 weeks ago..."ball." We go to the dr. tomorrow for her 12 month check-up....UNBELIEVABLE, 12 months?!?!?!

She is eating any fruit you put in front of her. Right now she seems to really enjoy strawberries and mango. Not much of a veggie eater at this point, so I am still having to give her baby food veggies in between bites of her "grown up food" when she is distracted. She likes grilled cheese and LOVES turkey and chicken and yogurt.

Claire is really a silly little girl. She is always looking for a way to make us laugh. Right now the favorite comedy routine is to put something on her head (usually her "blankie") and crawl around without looking where she is going. She is so smiley and LOVES people. She really enjoys being out and about and always seems to engage strangers wherever we go. She really likes music and dances anytime she hears it. Her favorite TV show (and has been for a while) is "Yo Gabba Gabba!" As soon as she hears the music starting, she stops what she is doing, looks at the TV and dances.

It is amazing the changes she has made in this first, short year. Next thing I know she'll be going to kindergarten and then ...college (tear). What a blessing she has been to Kyle and I. She brings so much joy to our lives, I never knew I could love her this much, my heart grows more everyday.

Here are a few pics of her playing with her new "house" that she got for her birthday. I'll post some more pics after her birthday celebration this weekend (she is going to be so cute in her tutu).

Playing at the park and...

Here are a few pics of Claire at the park. We finally had some nice weather here in Ft. Worth, so we enjoyed an afternoon at the park. She LOVES to crawl on the big kid equipment and crawl through the tunnel.

Many of you have been to my house and seen the decorative balls in a bowl on our coffee table. Many of you also know that I prefer them to be stacked in a certain way (yes, I realize I am opening myself up to scrutiny and letting some of you know that I am a little OCD...ok, have control issues...when it comes to placement of items in my house). Anyway, I have had to let that go in the last couple of weeks. Claire has learned about these balls and LOVES to play with them. She has favorites and looks for them each time she starts to play. She also tries to shove them in her mouth, which makes me very nervous. They make her very happy! And because they do, I have officially let go of my "placement" issues. At least when company isn't here ;)

Hey Mom, Look at Me!!

Claire is looking so grown up these days. Here she is riding around the house on her first "ride on" toy. I have no idea why Kyle put the ear muffs on her...

Claire's baptism...

Here are a few pics fromt he weekend. We had the families up for a visit and to see Claire get baptized.

Ax 'Em Jacks!

Kennon graduated!!! We went to Nacogdoches to celebrate his big day and then finished off the weekend in Livingston. Here are the pics:

Claire and Auntie M having fun during the graduation

Kennon and Sarah

Claire and Auntie M reading at the bookstore

Kennon and John at the "Cheese Fountain." For his graduation party he had some of his favorite foods and thought it'd be cool to have a cheese fountain. It was apparently a big hit!

It's been a while....

We have been SO busy!!! A lot has been going on and I just haven't had a free moment to post.

My grandfather, Don Wigley (aka Grandad), passed away on October 15. We all miss him so very much! One of his greatest qualities was his humor. Grandad always had a joke for you and liked to make us all laugh, as he enjoyed a good laugh himself. My grandfather was very special. He was a role model to many and so enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren find success. We miss you, Grandad.

We had wood floors put in the house. For about a month we lived on concrete, though. They came to install the floors and ripped up all of our carpet. They began prepping the floor and realized that our slab was so uneven they could not put down the wood. We were stuck with dirty, dusty concrete. We were able (GO KYLE!!) to get DR Horton to come out and fix the floors. 1 month later, we got our floors. That was a tough time, but they look great and we love them!



My sister, Melissa, got married. She had a beautiful wedding in Bellville. I can't believe my LITTLE sister is now someone's wife, weird! She was so pretty and SO happy!! I am so proud of her.






Claire is 9 months today. She has 2 bottom teeth and is crawling everywhere and starting to pull up!! She is so grown up. She eats finger foods and drinks out of a sippy cup. Where did the time go? I know this is going to sound crazy, but I really think she is trying to say, "Puppy." She loves dogs. The other day we were sitting in the kitchen and we heard some dogs barking. She stopped what she was doing and looked for the dogs. I said, "Did you hear a puppy?" And she said, 'pup, pup, pup...puppa." Then, her babysitter has a dog named Muffin and today the sitter said, "I think I heard Claire trying to say Muffin today. Later, Claire and I went for a walk and we heard dogs barking and she said, "Muff." It may all be a coincidence, as an SLP I am quite skeptical that she could be talking this soon, but it is as if she is beginning to attach meaning.....smart little girl (I know, all parents think their own kids are geniuses).

Excited and still optimistic that the Aggies will win...

After the Aggies lost, no surprise there, though!

BOO!! Here's claire's costume...we decided not to get here a real costume this year. Melissa (my sister ) is getting married on the 1st and the rehearsal is on the 31st. I thought it mught be kind of strange for Claire to show up at a nice dinner dressed as a chicken (that's what she was gonna be). we found this little onesie and thought it would do. We went to a little fall festival this afternoon with Isaac, Lindsay, and Addie, so Claire got to wear her little "costume."

Sneak Peek...

Claire had some pictures taken recently and they are posted on the photographer's blog. Here are just a few pictures she took. She will post all (5 million) of the pictures she took in a couple of weeks. So, check back soon so you can see those, too.

http://www.birdseyephotographyblog.com/

Bath Time Fun!!

A little preview...

Here is a little preview of Claire's "6 month" (almost 7 months) pics. We had a photographer come out to the house on Saturday to take some pictures. I think they are going to turn out so cute. After she left, we took a few with our camera and they turned out really good as well. I was a little hesitant to share these pictures so I didn't ruin the surprise of her professional pics, but I just couldn't resist. This is a bonnet that my mom made for me when I was a baby.