Eleven Months!

It is becoming increasingly hard to believe how much Claire is growing and learning. She has such a vibrant personality and she rarely slows down. We are working on having cuddle practice everyday, maybe one day she will enjoy being still for a few minutes. She certainly keeps us on our toes and we love (almost) every minute of it.

We keep remembering this time last year. I was so pregnant. We were so excited and so scared. We could only imagine how wonderful she would be. The reality is even sweeter and more fun than the dream.



Long lost loves... Claire and LB!



Pool party in our backyard!



Like a hen sitting on her eggs.



She did this all by herself.



Bedtime story



Landon and Claire at Papas and Beer in Greenville.



She had so much fun at Granny and Poppa's house.



Being sooo sweet.



Claire and Olivia plan on making mischief of all kinds....



There she goes






Relaxing Saturday morning

Almost Walking!

Marvelous May

Alicia came to visit us and we took a trip to Ikea.
Claire REALLY fell in love with this tiger.
Of course we had to buy it for her.



Claire ADORES her cousins Jake and Bradley.
They move to Charlotte this week and we can't wait to spend lots of time with them.




We met our friends Jenn and Landon snow at Southpark mall for a quick visit.
Claire needed a paci fix and found a way to sneak a few sucks on Landon's.




Landon and his Mommy, Jenn.




I think Claire is trying to shout "my Mommy is #1"
On our first Mother's Day.
She picked out a very pretty and special necklace for me, a pearl pendant, her birthstone!
I know I am so blessed to be the mother of this adventurous, tough, funny and friendly little girl.




At a rest stop on our way to Hilton Head Island where she took her first steps (on Mother's Day)!!!
We bribed her to step with the Coke bottle.
Don't worry, we didn't let her drink any of it.
The girl has so much energy, I don't think she should EVER have any caffeine.




At the pool with Daddy.




She had so much fun floating and trying to blow bubbles in the water.




Walking to the beach with Daddy, GramE and Gramps.



This is my favorite beach picture.
Her first taste of sand.



Playing in the sand with Bradley and Uncle James.




We thought that one bite of sand would be enough to make her realize that she didn't want to eat it. It wasn't. She never stopped eating it the whole time we were there. Maybe she knows something we don't?












She loved swimming in the ocean with Daddy (which she can say really well now.)








We had a great vacation with the Graybeals and the Warmoths.

Full of Fun

What up, Wallace?



Grandy refinished his old rocker for her!


Crawling in the yard with Mimi


In Florence visiting Grandy and Mimi


One of our favorite times; playing before bedtime


She loves playing in the yard


She is standing so well



Think she is enjoying the sing-a-long?





Munchin' on grass

April Happenings

Jon and I keep thinking about how far we've come as a family the in the past (almost) 10 months. We've gone from being strictly on survival mode where our old "normal" life seemed like a different life, to now....us barely being able to remember how hard the first few months were on us. Claire is an absolute joy. I definitely understand why people have more children now, I truly couldn't comprehend that for a while. She can talk a million miles an hour, always greeting people at the store with a friendly "hi." She can crawl faster than my eyes can keep up with. She is starting to stand up on her own and rapidly moves her arms up and down when she is upset or wants something. She is so wonderful and we are so proud. Of course, we all have our moments but overall we are a happy little family.

I cannot believe we will be planning her one year birthday party in a few months. Surely it is something to celebrate. We say that she got off to a rough start but boy, has it all been worth it.
She is making up for it now.



Snuggling with the blanket



Still think she's cute? I sure do.



It's impossible to keep her clean while eating sometimes.



High school friends at Lainie and Wilson's wedding.
See, we still kind of have a life :)


Looking pretty in her new hair clip



We loved seeing Evyn and meeting Henry.
Please, move home...



Claire enjoyed torturing him while he rested in the bouncy seat



Dance party



We loved our visit with Sara and James Thompson.
Come back soon!