Dipping (food) is fun!

This is a recent skill from the last 2 weeks or so.

Baby doll

Today was meet the teacher at Clara's MDO (mother's day out). Ms. Diane is going to be perfect for Clara, and we found out we only live a few streets away!

Clara was super excited about the classroom, and was immediately attached to this little dolly. Then, when we went to Target to pick up diapers she saw some tiny dolls that were very similar (and inexpensive). I think she is pretty excited about the impulse buy :)

She knows how to give it a hug and sugar and was quick to chew on its feet. I'm sure she'll make a great mommy :)

Hopeful puppies

C'mon sister, we like crackers too!

It's an exciting hair day.

Goober.

My Gym Trial Run

Sounds familiar doesn't it? 

While we really enjoyed the Little Gym when we went, I discovered that they don't have a time that works for us with MOPS, Bible Study, and Mother's Day Out - all of which came first and are more important to me than a mommy & me gym class. 

STILL I would love to do one, so I did some further investigating and found a similar business called My Gym in The Woodlands (which is where we tried today), and I also have us signed up for a trial class at Gymboree next Thursday. Both of which have times for her age group that aren't 100% perfect, but close enough to make work. 

I think C may have been the youngest, or at least one of the youngest kiddos at the class today. It's amazing what a difference just a few months make - and then what several months make! I think it was good to see the older kids doing the activities. When it's not all so new, I think she will really benefit from the seeing them in action. I also have to hand it to the instructors - they were amazing! Reassuring, helpful, playful, and learned all of the kids' names immediately. Both Mom & I were impressed and pleased. 

Speaking of my Mom, she came with us! They actually let both of us play and interact with her during the class which is like 800 bonus points from my perspective. Clara is a little ... adventurous ... and "staying in a circle" or "following the leader" are foreign concepts right now. My hope is that a class of this nature would make it more comfortable for her to (slightly) conform to organized classes, although I hope she never gives up her zeal for investigation and curiosity :)

Anyway, pictures! 

(Also please note: ALL children are REQUIRED to be barefoot. CB was THRILLED when her shoes had to come off :)

Here you go:

:)

Note where Clara is on the left while everyone else is in the circle to the right. Sigh. 

Thankfully the instructors said that was fairly normal for a first visit since the kids are way more interested in exploring than structured activities. 

See me, Mommy?

There was a giant ramp that led up to a big ball pit that the kids could jump in. It was a big hit. 

Silly faces with Lulu:

Playing on one of the trampolines:

Back to the ball pit!

At the beginning I was wondering what all of these blue strings were hanging from the ceiling. Turns out they are for hooking up lots of swings - a hit with ALL of the kids. 

Train ride! Clara was one of the first to volunteer, but she needed a hand to hold to for security purposes. 

chooo chooo

Music!!

Then they had all of the parents go into the lobby area while the kids worked on socialization, sharing and separation anxiety. I thought that was pretty cool. 

I was actually thinking it would be a disaster since she was already so pooped and hungry, but she proved me wrong and had a ball playing the drums and walking around! Go baby girl! That independence sometimes serves you very well. 

a peek-a-boo look

Since we got to observe, how could I not do a video!?

Then they brought out the bubbles - OH BOY! :)

I wish I could describe the facial expression and noise she made when she spotted the bubbles for the first time, but I simply couldn't do it justice. She was just mesmerized and so excited.

I'm not sure what they did last because Clara was starving and unable to have any more fun. Oh, toddlers :)

Coincidentally I was also suuuuper hungry, so we walked next door to Coney Island (that might not be the name, but it's something like that) which was unfamiliar to all of us, but thankfully had more than just hot dogs!

I just think this is a funny picture of Lulu & Clara. I was close to fainting at this point so mom was awesome and carried the squirt for me. 

A blueberry frozen lemonade? Um, YUM. 

(Although her expression doesn't seem like it in this picture, she was actually quite a fan.)

Strolling back to the car. 

This is what I saw upon arriving home, ha. I was easily able to transfer her to her crib - barely even noticed when I removed her shoes. Soooo sleepy!

It was a fun trial run, and thanks a million for your help, mom!

Final thought: there's really nothing like marathon vomiting with a toddler around to supervise. Sheesh. 

world breastfeeding week article

loved, loved, loved this article and all of the funny comics about world breastfeeding week!

http://ouradoptionfaithwalk.blogspot.com/2013/08/world-breastfeeding-week-salute.html

Play time!

Before I get to the really fun part of the day, let me show you our progress in learning how to eat yogurt by ourselves :)

It's a messy business, let me tell ya.

Video from a previous spoon lesson:

Then, after a nap we were joined by Meemaw, Papaw, Lulu, Auntie M, Molly, Murphy, BreAnna and Ruth! 

Video of Clara and Papaw:

Lulu trying to help Molly feel a little less gassy. It's a really tough life.

Ruthie was originally unimpressed by Murphy, I just love her expression here!

The girls are destined to be rockstars.

Video:

Both young ladies checking out the littlest lady:

So sweet:

Video:

Playing with friends is exhausting. Murphy agrees.

Tunnel time!

Marissa and baby girl

After a nap for MOMMY, not baby (thank you 1,000x times over Lulu!!) it waas time for dinner.

More practice with a fork!

(This kid ate an entire enchilada!)

I hope you enjoyed all the videos!

We had such a great time!

And I'd like to give a shout-out to BreAnna - toddlers can be tough and temperamental, but you handled Ruth like a pro. I really appreciated the chance to watch and learn. Thank you!

A Toddler Tuesday

There's really no point to this post but to share some of our day. Hopefully the cute pictures of Little Miss will excuse the lack of purpose :)

After finally remembering to take Clara's birth certificate to Trinity for Mother's Day Out (note: their admissions' director is probably the nicest and most patient woman ever), we came back home for a late breakfast. 

For some reason she could not stop giggling at her banana this morning! 

The banana was sooo good, in fact, that Clara felt the need to lick the inside of the peel to get the very last bits out. Silly girl!

After some playtime, it was time for her "night night". The picture of her on the top right was her reaction to the idea of a nap. "Never!!!"

But my dear, I can still see you outside :)

Once she reluctantly napped (not helped by the ridiculous amount of construction noise!) and then woke up, we had lunch and then met Natalie & Devon at Bouncing Bears. 

She was very tantrum-prone, but when she was allowing herself to have fun, we both enjoyed ourselves!

Doesn't need her mama's help climbing and sliding anymore! Wow. 

Oh, you know, lounging in a lobster. 

Climbing to the top of a tall slide!

And then didn't wait for mommy before sliding down and taking off! Eek! Independent spirit. 

Devon driving Clara around. 

She objected to the lack of personal steering wheel. 

Ahh, better. I can drive as erratically as I want. Phew. 

Don't buckle & drive!

Kisses for germy Fido!

Devon having fun jumping with his mama:

While Clara prioritized her stomach. 

Quick stop home, and then we met Collin & Laura for dinner at Olive Garden. It was Clara's first time there, but since its mostly a carb-fest, she was perfectly content. 

Sharing pasta with good-natured Collin :)

Time to get home, take the elephant for a walk, and get ready for bed.

Oh, bedtime NOW??

Maverick agrees.

The end. How was your Tuesday?