Hiking with Dad

Shauna had to present at a conference in Gatlinburg so Claire and I spent the day in the Smokey Mountains National Park. We went to the welcome center but Claire was asleep upon arrival so we drove over to Cherokee, NC (her first time in NC). We then went to Mingo Falls where we ate lunch amongst a swarm of 20 or 30 butterflies.
After lunch we drove back to Newfound Gap where Claire ran around telling anyone that would listen that she was "on top of the mountain!".
Our last stop was at the welcome center again where we walked to Cataract Falls. Claire really liked putting her hands in the waterfall. On the way back we stopped to play in the creek for about an hour! Claire tried to pick up and throw every rock that weighed less than she does. In total I think we went through 2 bananas, two Oreos, 3 outfit changes, 2 pairs of shoes, and a lot of juice. I lost count on diapers.

Beatles and the Hug Bug!

Last weekend we went to Harlinsdale farm for a concert that included a child's performer and the WannaBeatles (a Beatles cover band). We had a great time and Claire just danced and danced!

I created the "hug bug" and the "kissy monster" when Claire was really tiny. While we were at the concert Claire saw this cute little boy and she went right up to him, stared at him and then held her arms out and cried "hug bug!" and tried to hug the little boy. Freaked him out! It was so cute!!

Claire is talking so much! Everyone we see who have not seen Claire for a week or so comment on how much she is talking.

Claire FINALLY has her canine teeth coming in. They have just broken the skin. I was worried that she would not have them!

Toe Nail Paint and Bobo

A few weekends ago I painted Claire's toenails for the first time. I painted them pink and she loved it! Last week I painted them with glitter and she called it pitter. Claire's vocabulary has just exploded over the past few weeks and she is consistently speaking in full sentences.

Claire's last day of school was last Friday. Bobo came to visit on Sunday and kept Claire Monday through Wednesday. Claire loved visiting with Bobo. Bobo and Claire played and played. Claire did get an insect bite that required medical attention. Sam and Bobo went to the Vanderbilt Walk-in to make sure it was nothing too serious. We were told it was just in insect bite (not a spider, thank goodness) and she was given a cream to use. The bite was huge and had three distinct holes. We took Bobo to downtown Nashville and visited a honky-tonk. Bobo seemed to like it. Claire did, too!

Claire likes to carry her dolls around and baby them. She found a maxi-pad in my bathroom and called it her "baby diaper" and tried to diaper her dolls. It was hilarious.

Yesterday and today Claire had a sitter, Miss Kaylee, who is the daughter of Mrs. Angie, Claire's new teacher. Claire is moving up to the Great Grains this summer. We were told that she is the second youngest in her class but much more advanced than the other kids so they are moving her up. I am so glad. I think that if she is with kids a little older that she will strive to do what they are doing (potty training!). The director, Mrs. Brooke, said that Claire is "brilliant!" I think so,, too!

Next week Claire's Aunt Kay and Cousins Sheffield and Susan are coming to visit. We will have fun!

Other notables: Claire has started, every so often, calling Sam and me by our first names! Claire does not like ice cream and prefers kosher hotdogs. Everything is "my -----" like "my chair" "my frigerator." We joined the gym and last week we visited during lunch and had our first family picnic. Claire was more excited about the birds I think.

Claire is so much fun!

Birthday Party and Floods, Oh My!

Claire attended her first non-family Birthday Party in May. Claire was invited to Addie Corn's birthday at a playzone in Spring Hill. Claire had a great time keeping up with the 3 and four year olds! The first weekend of May middle Tennessee experienced monumental flooding. We were without power for 18 hours due to a rock slide on highway 96. Franklin had many roads flooded and executed over 200 water rescues of families in flooded neighborhoods. Nashville was hit very hard. Claire was a trooper through the whole thing. Although she said that the thunder scared her, she did well with the candlelight (probably better than me and Sam!).

I have such a big girl!!

On Saturday Claire said "I potty" and I said "ok!" We went to her bathroom and she opened the lid to her potty and said "diaper off" which was weird because so far she has not wanted to sit on it without a diaper. She then said "clothes off" so I knew this was a different situation. She sat on the potty for a few minutes playing with TP and then she starting to pee!! The sound of the pee hitting the plastic scared her and she jumped up but once I sat her back down she was fine. She did play in the pee causing a bit of a mess, but this was progress. Today she wanted to "potty" again. She wanted her clothes and diaper off and then she peed a little. I am so proud of her!! She is such a precious little angel!

Tara, Matt, Taylor and Andrew came in this week, Tuesday night. Tara and Matt were going to the Dove Awards. Sam and I got to keep Taylor and Andrew Wednesday night while they went to the awards. We had a great time playing! Claire thought she had won the lottery with all the attention she was getting from Taylor. Andrew is a bit put off by Claire. He does not want to hug her or kiss her, which are two of Claire's favorite things to do. Taylor likes to hug and kiss her!

I had to go to the Planning Commission meeting Thursday night so I met the Lynch's at Jason's Deli for lunch on Thursday and Sam and I met the Lynch's at Mellow Mushroom for dinner Thursday night so I could spend time with them. Friday Sam and I took the day off and we went with the Lynch's to the Zoo. We had a great time looking at all the animals and playing in the playground! We also at in the kitchen at Buca Di Bepo's, which was fun!

Saturday we got rain...lots of rain...and a tornado watch. We stayed in during tha morning, the boys played Wii and Sam made a great Mexican meal for lunch. Then we went to OpryMills, Target and Zaxby's.

Overall, we had a great time.

She's Somethin' Else

Claire has grown up so much over the past few months. She is talking up a storm and is saying several word sentences. She likes to say "Me do it!" A lot. Even though she has not seen Andrew in a few days she still says "Andrew (Nanu) push me."

Claire loves her Mamaw and Papaw. She asks for them often. She also loves Matt ans asks if he is "home." She plays hard with Andrew and Taylor! She tries to keep up with them and for the most part she does a pretty good job!

Claire is so independent. She does not want anyone to do things for her. When she starts to count (she can count to 10 in English and in Spanish) and when I start to help her she gets mad and says "me do it." She loves to slide down slides but now she does not want help up or for me to stand at the bottom of the slide to catch her.

We got a note home from school today that said Sanjay, a boy in Claire's class, was sitting by himself watching the other kids. Claire went up to him, grabbed his hand, walked him to the other kids and then hugged him. How sweet is that!!! Claire had an art show a few weeks ago at her school. We were told that she, along with Owen, are the brightest in her class. So proud!! Her best friend at school is Carlie. She has a little "song" she sings with Carlie's name and it goes "Carlie, Carlie, Carlie." After school she loves to have her "nack" and her "gung gung" because she is hungry and thirsty from playing so hard!

Claire likes to play with her "real" doll and likes to carry "purses" which are anything with handles. She loves bubbles and for easter Matt and Tara got her a bubble basket and she adores it. She also likes to play doctor and check ears for temp. It is so cute. She loves to read books. She has a few favorites (Lullaby Little One, I Love You Through and Through, Panda Bear Panda Bear, What do you See?, etc) that she likes to have read to her and now she has them memorized and can say them along with me. She does the same thing for songs. She loves to sing along with songs!

Claire's hair has gotten so long and curly. It is beautiful. She is still wearing 18 month clothes, but we have been getting her 24 month now and they are just a little big. She brushes her teeth pretty well. She loves to eat meat. Chicken, ham, turkey; its all game (no pun intended). She also loves chocolate.

Last weekend she was diagnosed with strep throat for the first time. Yes, Easter Eve! She missed the egg hunt but still got to play with her cousins!

I love her, I love her!!!

Update on Claire's Accomplishments

Claire is really starting to talk. She is saying: mama, dada, mawmaw, papaw, dog, ball, doll, more (which she said to get more goldfish), shoes, keys, nose, eyes, Bobo. We called Bobo so she could hear Claire calling for her. Papaw also got to hear her say "papaw" on the phone! She knows many of her body parts. She tries to mimic words she hears but may not get the first sound right. I can't believe how fast she is learning and growing. She has both top molars but is still missing the teeth between those and her two front teeth. They are on their way because I can see them! She is eating a lot more food, too. She like cold cereal in milk, she ate a sandwich, and loves hamburger helper! She loves to dance to music and will "put her thumbs up" when you ask her to. She hates to have water poured over her head. She will whine and try to get out of the tub. I also noticed that she can walk backwards! Not sure why that is important, but the doctor asked me if she could do it. Claire loves slides. She climbs up and slides down a hundred times in a row. We played outside on her swingset this weekend. It was in the 70s and gorgeous!