Happy in Hats

Considering SEVERAL of Claire's outfits have coordinating hats, it is not a big surprise that she is in love with wearing them all the time. Even. In. The. Bath.
This is the little hat that matches a onesie. The hat is a tad small, but she loves wearing it and playing with it around the house. She also loves to dump water with her cups in the tub.

And she still loves to look at her reflection. Doesn't this get old? She has a real mirror she can see into easily, but I guess this is still entertaining.

Our little Claire is definitely Happy in Hats! And she's always eager to run down the hall and take a bath! YAY!

Still Kicking

Well, we had a nice Christmas! We have many pictures and videos to post. Too many actually. I probably won't post the majority of them! We're still alive and still kicking! Just too busy to do any justice now!

It's good to be home and back on a semi-regular routine! I also managed to make, hand-address, stuff, seal, stamp, and mail out not only all the shower invites, but the bachelorette party ones too. I also scored some really great prize favors and found my gifts to Holly for her shower.

I also dealt with a dead phone. BOO! More hopefully sooner than later!

Playdate with Adrienne!

We recently had a playdate with Claire's friend Adrienne who is also a July baby! It's hard to get two toddlers to look at the camera! Adrienne's lovey is Elmo! Claire has her 2 carebears who she loves dearly.

Claire likes to touch other babies on their faces. All the time.

Well this is as close as we're going to get to getting them both to look!

Now let's play some more! Yay!

We see Adrienne and Hillary (her mommy) at the Castleton, Broadripple, and EastSide groups. We are not the only meeting hoppers out there! :)

Breastfeeding Website

Another good website to browse http://www.breastisbestbaby.com/

Sugary Peanut Butter Cookies

Sugary Peanut Butter Cookies

• ½ cup peanut butter
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 ¼ cup flour
• ¾ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt
• “Sweet Cinnamon Sprinkle” topping by Pampered Chef


First combine peanut butter, butter, sugar, brown sugar, and egg. Blend until smooth. Then combine flour, soda, powder, salt, and mix well all together. Chill dough 8 hours or overnight for best results.

Use a cookie scoop for uniform baking. Scoop onto tray, then press a large fork both directions to make an “X” design with the prongs of the fork. Top with Pampered Chef “Sweet Cinnamon Sprinkle” topping before baking. Put dough back in fridge between baking batches to keep stiff.
Bake on parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7-8 minutes. They will continue to bake while cooling on the hot tray! Allow to cool/form on hot tray for 1-2 minutes, then slide off paper and allow to set about 5-10 minutes before removing from paper.

Bacon Broccoli Quiche recipe

I made 2 awesome Quiches last night...one for dinner and one to take with to Mom's Club Breakfast Club today.

Here is the Bacon Broccoli Quiche recipe:

Ingredients:
1 9-inch frozen pie shell
1 10-oz package of frozen broccoli (I used fresh though)
1/4 an onion (chopped)
1/2 jalapeño (diced, seeded)
1/2 package of bacon (cooked and chopped)
1 cup milk
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Bake pie crust about 10 minutes to get started. Let cool. Cook broccoli onion, and jalapeño until tender, drain well. (I just put them all together in the microwave for about 4 minutes.) Meanwhile, combine milk, eggs, butter, flour, salt, pepper. Whisk until well blended. Then layer bacon on bottom of crust. Then broccoli, then cheese. Then pour liquid mixture over everything. Bake at 375 for about 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. (Put tinfoil on crust edges to prevent over-browning of crust--which I forgot this time..)


JOSH! Get RECIPE HURRICANE GOING! YAY!

Shutterfly Book

So on CafeMom there was a promotion going to get a free book and FREE shipping. YAY!


I decided to make a book for Claire for Christmas. I made it a story for her since she loves little kids...I know she'll love looking at herself. It's my first "published" book. Hehe!
My latest photo book of Claire:

Claire's Photo Book

I hope you liked it! I did send that out in an email since not everyone checks my bloggy regularly.

WHAT I FORGOT..sheesh...

Holly called to tell me that I forgot to add that she has a photographer. Booked.

She is also technically set on the dress...she is wearing my mom's with some alterations! ALMOST Done.

And Ginger (her roommate) already found out the license information for their marriage license. Yay Ginger, I know you're reading this too. Thanks for the pants, btw! :)

Congratulations to Holly!

Well, if you haven't heard...my sister Holly is engaged! Congratulations to the future Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood! Here are Holly and Mark this past fall. Yes, I jacked this picture off her FaceBook page. Go me.
Holly, please don't kill me for posting this, but I think that this is totally worth sharing because it's funny...that is her list of requirements for dating someone.

Holly's criteria for dating someone:

• taller than her--check (because when you are 6 ft..plus yourself, this matters!)
• blond--check (do you want blond babies or something?)
• has a college degree--check (because most women want a guy at least as smart as them)
• doesn't smoke--check (because who wants to kiss an ashtray?!?)
• can put up with our family--I don't know, Mark...do you know what you're getting into?

Anyway, all kidding aside, I am really happy for her. And I'm honored to be her maid...err...matron of honor (have I really been married almost 8 years?!). She has gotten some serious planning done since getting engaged Monday night when I wasn't able to take her call (d'oh!) for her to tell me the news.

And Claire gets to be one of the little flower girls! Mark has 2 nieces who are older than Claire and will help her walk down the aisle together.

So apparently just in a few short days, she has:

1. the date
2. the location (Valpo)
3. the church
4. the pastor
5. the hall (yay...Aberdeen)
6. she knows the colors
7. she knows what flowers she wants
8. most of the bridal party
9. most of her guest list
10. and probably the most important...the groom

WOW. I'm impressed. This is a girl that knows what she wants and knows how to get things down. (It's called OUTSOURCING!)

So that's all I'm going to post for now...because I'll wait for Holly to send you the Save-The-Date-Card for you to find out more. I have an insiders-seat. Yay. You might not get a STDC if you don't know her, um, obviously, or are just some random person who reads my blog...yeah, you know who you are...that's ok...I might just do the same thing to some people.

So Holly, I thought I'd help you out and post this for all of our family and friends who read this blog. Leave a comment once in awhile so we know you're still reading! And thanks to all of those of you who comment to me in person, emails, or leave comments! Yay! :)

Reading Books

Claire is sporting a warm cream-colored sweater made by my late Grandmother, Laverne. It has a matching hat that will keep her bald little head warm!

She is in love with peek-a-boo flap-type books right now! She loves the hidden things!

These overalls have little apples on them. There is a matching shirt with apples on the collar.

"What are you taking my picture for? You're going to have a hard time keeping up with future siblings, you do realize?!?!"

"Put the camera down and come read this book to me for the 42nd time today!"

Grandmother Beaten

Wow. This story is awful! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28251160#28251160 Some old lady was beaten really badly...

Christmas Outfit

So you've seen the red Santa outfit, the adorable plaid outfit, and now here is Claire's Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas sweater outfit paired with some black/red overalls. She also has a green dress with gingerbread men I will need to post sometime soon. There are simply not enough days to wear all these outfits! This is what we call Claire's Zoolander look. If you haven't seen the movie, please don't. It sucks. ;)

Claire has been having a blast with the little shopping cart that Oma and Opa got her for Thankmas! She likes to put her babies in in it and push them around.

She has been trying to pull it backwards with some minor success!

She also enjoys talking the toys in and out several times. We call her 2 carebears her "babies" since she calls them such.

Among other exciting news: Claire can now say not only "cookie" but pairs it with "more cookie." She does this with sign and speech, sometimes either - or OR both. She is using more, no, hi, and bye with other words for her first 2-word combinations. Like, "Hi, Mama, Hi!" Or "Bye, Dada, Bye." She also likes to say hi to her nummies as apparently they take on their own personality in the importance of her life. "Hi, Nummy, Hi!" It's really funny!

She also likes to bring me my Baby Bjorn when she sees me getting my shoes on. This guarantees her that she is going to come with me! Yes, I wear her out to the car! This leaves my hands free for keys, my phone, etc! And I don't have to put it on in the freezing cold parking lot whenever I get where I'm going. This time of year, I really like it as the carts are cold even if they are in the entrance-way of the stores!

She is also saying "teeth." She LOVES to brush her teeth. Yay. Let's keep it like that.

First Visit to the Dentist

Claire had her first dental check-up! She has 10 teeth. She has all 4 of her 1-year old molars, plus the basic 4 that all babies get first (2 bottom and 2 top middle ones), and she has her top 2 eye teeth.
Neither Claire nor I have any cavities. Yay for daily brushings and flossing. Yes, I am crazy for flossing her teeth, but I do it. I don't want her to get cavities. I just tagged her on the end of my 6 month appointment. They didn't really do anything as far as cleaning goes...right...clean a babies' teeth...good luck with that if you're not the parent!

She had a blast and entertained all the office staffers. My hygienist seemed a little bit of a dumbass. She was telling me not to breastfeed her to sleep, or feed her b-milk at night because it can cause bottle mouth. Because it's the same as formula or juice. "And she's seen it." Right. Ok.

Um, that's one of the beautiful benefits of breastfeeding...it's the perfect, ideal, and natural way to put your baby to sleep. As a matter of fact, I don't know how I'd ever put her to sleep if she weans before the age of ... I don't know!

I told her I'd be interested to see a pamphlet or booklet that said such, but she failed to produce any such literature of course. ;)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html That's a good read. Basically, don't share your silverware with you baby, brush their teeth or gums daily (maybe even twice daily!), and floss once there are 2 teeth next to each other, and that should help. I was reading that some kids are genetically more susceptible to tooth decay which would suck! I have only had one teeny filling in my adult set of teeth and hope to keep it that way.

Knock on some wooden teeth!

There is so much High Fructose Corn Syrup in everything...it's ridiculous. You can hardly find good food without it!

Breastfeeding Petition

Sign it if you haven't already: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5162/t/4002/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=177

Children's Museum in December

Claire and I went to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis with some of our friends. Every winter they have "Jolly Days" where they make everything all wintery.


We went with a friend of mine from teaching. She teaches Orchestra and since I taught German we were both in the "extra-curriculars." Here we are waiting to go down the slide.

They turned the stair case into a slide! WHEE!

They also have a really cool water clock in the lobby. If you haven't been here yet, you need to go sometime!

Here we are riding down the slide:

Now for the Merry-Go-Round! They had Christmas music playing for it today!

Claire didn't like sitting on the horse, so I put her back in my carrier!

There were a lot of people at the museum the day we went!



This is the little Cookie Cafe that they had near the Santa. We didn't stand in line to see Santa as the line was way too long!

Claire tried to hand stuff to random strangers! HAHA! I was sitting right there, though.

This is the big oven where kids could pretend to bake cookies, muffins, and other goodies.

This is the ultimate play kitchen!





Here is a large dollhouse! It's taller than both of the girls! They have tons of fun things for the kids to play with!

I don't think I got a single picture of Claire looking at the camera all day! There was too much for her to see!

Then we were off to play in the sand. Claire didn't eat a single grain! Yay!




She had fun, but kept throwing the sand onto the floor!

We decided to avoid the water table area today as there was no way they were going to keep their clothes dry!

Claire has never played with sand before today. She had a ball. Maybe we need to get her a sandbox this summer?

They have an area where babies can open and shut drawers and doors and turn off and on light switches and press buttons to make things light up.



Here is one of the slides in the PlayScape area:

Yay for fishies!

And let's not forget the dinosaurs in the Dinosphere! Grr!

Here are Kristen and Abby who is 22 months.

We had a really fun day! Yay for the Children's Museum!

Building with Blocks

Claire loves to build block towers! She likes to knock them down too or have us build them so she can knock them down. Her jammies have Christmas Stockings on them. So cute!

Our Little Tall Girl!

Wow! Look how tall Claire is! She can reach her cup on and off of not just the table, but off her highchair tray on the table!
Wow! Look how tall she is. Nothing is safe now!

Claire loves her big Elmo toy that her Uncle Richard gave her for her Birthday! Claire likes to give kisses!

Claire also loves to give hugs to not only her toys, but other little kids, people, and babies!

She has trouble walking with this giant toy, but she sure tries! She loves to run around and say "Elmo!"

This morning we went to the Broad Ripple LLL meeting and the topic was weaning and nutrition. Basically weaning starts the moment solids are introduced. So it was really perfect for us! Even though the topics repeat, the questions and discussions are always different at the LLL meetings.

I asked about gagging and choking. Apparently choking is only when the child cannot breathe and you have to do the Heimlich Maneuver. So I guess Claire has never truly choked. I thought that when she spit-up/vomited from gagging badly that THAT was considered choking, but I guess not. So her regular gagginess is just her saying she's not breathing the way she wants, but she's doing fine! Babies are good at getting their airway clear! We had pizza tonight for dinner, and she actually bit some off and ate it! She loves the tomato sauce and cheese!

Back to the meeting...they really stressed that you as the mother know the best way to parent your own child as you know your child best and to follow your child's lead. They are also huge on letting the child self-feed (sort of like nursing on demand). I have lately been letting her sit on my lap and eat off of my plate per suggestions at other meetings, and she seems to do better this way (eat more), although it's really messy.

Oh well!

Pictures from Hancock Group

Here is a photo of some of us regulars that attend the Hancock group and our kids!
(Kiddies: Elle (7), Claire (16 months), Catrece (7 months), Alex (11 months), Emma (16 months/same bday as Claire!) Mommies: Me, Christy, Sarah, Melissa)
Here is Claire playing with her friend Catrece. Claire is into noses right now. She loves to touch everybody's nose! Don't you love both of their outfits!?!

Busy Day!

This morning we had our last story time before Xmas Break! We also played at the library play area before and after! Claire loves all their puzzles and little chairs they have! We don't have Story time again until 2009!



Then this afternoon we had a weight check with Dr. H. She weighs 24.1 which is only 1 ounce more than the last time we saw him a week after Dr. W labeled her as FTT for weighing less at 15 months than she did at 9 months. She should be gaining on her own chart. So I'm glad she gained at least an ounce...at least she didn't lose anything! I saw a Family Practice Doctor for her weight a couple weeks ago as well. He was alright, but I think we'll go back to Dr. W or H in the future. I like the aspect of Pediatricians specializing in children...what's the real difference between a pediatrician and a Family Practice doctor?



Some kids don't even take their kids to well-child check-ups, but I guess as first time mom, I still am! :) I don't even know about trying to get her to fatten up...I just want to get her to eat for me. She eats decently for other people (Josh, my Mom, crackers while running around the library ;) hehe!) but when it's just me and her...it is a battle! They'd like to see her up to 25 lbs at her 18 month appt. which is in about 6 weeks. (Wait! Didn't she just turn 15 months 6 weeks ago!)



It seems like there are A LOT of breastfed babies that have fallen off the charts somewhere after 6-12 months. Or they are low...but a lot of people I talk to ... their kids aren't even on them. So when I say Claire got FTT at 60% for her weight they are a little confused. Anyway First Steps is coming to our house Monday afternoon so I think that will start to ease my concerns more. She ate pretty well all morning. I was trying to fatten her up for her appointment this afternoon! (As I've been doing the past 6 weeks!)



Then this evening we went to the local Hospital Breastfeeding Support Group/aka Social Hour and feasted on some awesome Pumpkin Brownies! YUMMERS!

Mom's Night Out

I went to a Mom's Night Out tonight. We went to Olive Garden for some food and a Secret Santa gift exchange that wasn't so secretive. ;) It was fun enough, but everytime I go out, I miss my little baby-boo! I feel like I'm missing an appendage! She did alright without me, but the minute I walked in the door she started shouting, "Nummie, Nummie, Nummie!"

Daddy did a great job...he got her to eat some dinner and gave her a bath. Since she was already in her jammies, I just nursed her right to sleep. I love how soft and silky her cheeks are! I love how fuzzy and fluffy her hair is right after her bath. I love how she gives such real hugs now! I just love her so much! I feel like I've been away from her a lot lately (3 evenings in less than 3 weeks!) LOL! I can't imagine working full-time and being away from her for an entire day. I would never see her! :(

Sometimes there are moments like right when she's fallen asleep so close to me that I want her to stay a little baby forever!

Sugar 'n Spice 'n Everything Nice!

"What's up homey!?"

"Uh, duh!"

"CHEESE!"

"I can has eat a cracker!"

"I can has pose perfect for your Xmas Card!"

"I can has be a goofball!"

"Oh you stop!"

"Seriously mom, you are burning up my retinas here. TOO MANY PICTURES!"

"I'm going to get out these clothes now!"