Friends forever

This morning as I was nursing Katie, Claire came over to be near us. At the sound of Claire's voice Katie stopped eating and looked over at her. They both smiled at each other.

"Katie, you are so fluffy." Claire exclaimed laughing. Katie responded by laughing. "Why is Katie fluffy?" I inquired. "Because she has so much hair." was Claire's response.

Already I can see a friendship blooming between these two. Right now they adore one another. I just pray that through the ebb and flow of their relationship over the years that they will remain close.

Friends forever.

Conversations with Claire

A conversation with Claire today,

Claire (looking at me) "Ewww, I don't like that shirt." referring to what I am wearing.

Me  "That's okay you don't have to like it. What's wrong with it?"

Claire "I have no idea I just don't like it.  Change it."


Hahahaha.  That's our little fashionista who attempts to change her clothes multiple times a day (although we have put a stop to that). She definitely already has her own sense of style. It makes me wonder what she will be like when she is older. :)

(I think I should make this a regular section in my blog. Claire says the funniest things.  I need to write them down so I don't forget.)

Sometimes

Sometimes I forget how old she is. She seems so much older. We hold such grown up conversations. She is growing up so fast. She is so smart and funny. She always surprises me.

But then on nights like tonight when:
~She climbs up unto the dresser and gets into her big sisters lip gloss and uses it as lotion...and makes herself look like the joker.
~Drags a Rubbermaid container out of the closet (when I'm in the other room nursing) and uses it as a stool so she can squeeze/eat a tube of tooth paste.
~Closes her bedroom door, locks it and turns on the fan to poop in her pants. When I try to enter she tells me to go away because she isn't finished yet.
~Finds poop on her blanket because she put it there. (so nasty)
~Cries because I need to wash her blankie.
~Gets out of bed fifty times (Oh why, oh why, can't she be like the other kids and just GO TO SLEEP...Oh and yes I just had to stop typing because Claire got out of bed again. She told me that she wanted to "watch Ice Age the Dinosaurs." What in the world!)
~Has one hundred excuses at bedtime, "I'm thirsty." "I need my tissue." "I need to go potty." and the list goes on.
~Tells me that she wants diapers for Christmas.

And then I remember...

She is still only two! It's a good thing she is so cute. :) When she looks at me with those pretty blue eyes and says, "mommy hold you." I pick her up and she folds herself in my arms and I sigh! Oh I love you sweet girl...even if I am wondering if you are too old to put back into a crib. {grin!}

Worship with gladness

picture taken on 6-29-2010

After lunch today I sat down to feed Kaitlyn. Being that she was over tired and hungry she was really upset and crying pretty hard. In the midst of trying to calm her down and get her to nurse Claire climbed up onto the couch next to us. Claire had been singing sweetly and suddenly stopped and looked at Kaitlyn and said,

"Katy, what's the matter? Worship with gladness! I worship with gladness!"

I had to laugh. What a sweet thing to say. I pray that all my children will worship the Lord with gladness.

Sunset

Claire and I watched as the sun went down the other night.

and it

was

breath-taking!

Big sister little sister

So much sweetness I can hardly stand it! :)

Happy birthday baby

Our baby had a birthday on the 21st. It's hard to believe that she is 2!! How can that be possible? I still remember the day she was born so clearly.

Things Claire is doing right now:
She has developed quite the vocabulary and says pretty much everything
She can't pronounce "c" or "k" so replaces all of them with a "t"
She loves to play outside and run
She loves babies
She loves to color
Her favorite food are oranges
She wants do do everything on her own
Showing interest in going potty
Has to have her favorite book (she calls it "Sunshine baby") read to her at naptime and bedtime
She also sleeps with that favorite book
She still sucks her thumb at naptime and bedtime
She still sleeps with her favorite blankie
We can never keep socks and shoes on her
She loves to do anything her older siblings are doing
She thinks she is a big kid too
She is getting a little attitude and will put her hands on her hips
She cries easily especially if someone else is crying
She still loves to snuggle
She can count to 8
She loves to sing

I'm sure there is more but that's what comes to mind right now.

The other day when I dropped her off at her little mini's class her teacher said to me, "we hid her blankie in her cubbie this morning and it seemed to help. She acted less babyish." I wanted to respond, "She acted less babyish? But she is my baby." Instead, I asked her teacher if it would be best if we didn't bring it with her in the mornings. She thought it would be good for Claire to leave it home. Sigh! I'm just not ready for her to grow up...appearently. One more step away from babyhood. I know this is a good thing these are milestones, but in a way it makes me sad. So the blankie stays home and Claire does fine without it. :)

Wow 2 years old!

Claire, you have filled our lives with so much joy. You were an unexpected gift that we will always praise God for. God has given you a tender little heart. We are so excited to see what He has in store for you. I pray that you will come to know and love Jesus as your Savior. I know He will use the gifts He has give you in a mighty way.

Happy birthday sweet girl! We love you!

The pain in beauty

When I went back east to visit with my family we decided to do some fun things. Since it was such a heavy thing that we were dealing with with our mom, we had to do something to lighten the situation. When we weren't with mom we spent time playing Wii games, talking and shopping. The last day I was there (Monday) we decided last minute to take the girls to the mall to get their ears pierced. Gavyn (my sister Allie's daughter) is only a few months younger then Claire.

The girls were both happy until the moment of truth.

The look of terror.

The look of sheer pain.

Claire admiring herself and her new "pretties".

Uncle Matt and Aunt Dana treated the girls to ice cream.

Ice cream makes everything better! :)

In the end it was worth it. And they both smiled again. It was a weekend worth remembering! :)

My tiny dancer

Piggy tails

They might be short but you get the idea. :)