First Hair Cut and Nekkid-ness

Last weekend, I got my very first hair cut. I have to admit, it wasn't TOO drastic, but it was time to get all the baby hairs off my neck and out of my eyes. Lupe, my stylist, asked if I wanted bangs, but we opted out and just got a trim. It's not too drastic, but everything's even now and I can see a lot better. Daddy and Mommy took me to a place where I got to sit in a car as my chair and wore a big apron. They even put "cookie dough" in my bangs afterwards! I got a little picture and pouch with all my baby hairs saved as a souvenier to take home with me.

Before

During

After

I've been giving everyone lots of trouble when they try to diaper me now. As soon as you put me on my back, I flip over back on my stomach. There are times that Mommy and Daddy just don't know what to do with me! I end up getting to play with all sorts of things I normally don't see: lotions, Q-tips, booger suckers, thermometers, and more! They have also tried diapering me while I'm standing and just braving nekkid butt time when they're too beat down or can't keep up. Hehe.

Toosh on the loose!

I'm in the big people's bathtub now. That little one just didn't cut it out for me anymore, plus there's something about getting the steam of the shower to loosen all my snot? Anywho, I have lots of toys that I get to play with, and one of my favorite activities is putting all my toys back into my bag at the end of the bath.

Rub-a-dub-dub

Whew! I snuck in this last posting in the year 2008 (a very fine year, if I say so myself). I needed to make sure I got these in since all of Mommy's family here now visiting including the newest addition: Kirby! She's Xiao-Jiu Dwo and Auntie Crystal's doggie that they got last month. We were a little scared of each other at first, but we get along well enough now. Look for pictures of this week to come!

Helping Daddy get ready for Kirby's visit

As always, take a look at my December photo album for even more pictures, and I'll see you next year!

Merry Christmas (Eve and Day)!

I just celebrated my first Christmas! I'm not sure I quite understand the whole spirit behind it yet, but I do enjoy all the lights and inflatable figures in everyone's yards. I think Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the days off in the middle of the week, too.

Quack, quack

On Christmas Eve, Daddy and Mommy gave themselves a gift by taking advantage of already-paid daycare and dropped me off at school for a couple of hours while they went on a date (lunch and grocery shopping). Surprisingly, there were other babies there too; maybe their mommies and daddies were thinking the same thing.

Ready for school to go play

Then, afterward I go home, we played and went on a walk. Instead of doing hot pot like we planned (it was just too darn warm), we had yummy pasta together before opening up our gifts. I liked the tissue paper best!

Corraled in my playroom

Ready for my walk

Look at all this wonderful tissue paper!

On Christmas morning, Daddy and Mommy made a big country breakfast. I liked the pancakes. Then we got MORE gifts ... this time from Santa! Since it was so nice out, I dressed up nice in a holiday outfit Po-Po got me, and we went on another walk before coming home to enjoy a snack. Mommy and Daddy tried out her gift to him: miracle berries? Then we took naps together before having Christmas dinner ... yummy tamales!

Traditional Christmas morning banana?

Castle Hills Christmas tree

Just two gals hanging out

Very Merry, Merry Christmas, everyone! I added my pictures to my December album so you can see all the details!

We're blessed to have so many wonderful friends; the best gift a gal can have.

Happy Holidays!

To all of my friends: sorry it's been so long since I've updated you on my latest adventures! It's been kind of busy around here, but don't worry, I have pictures galore!

Missed me, did you?

My Gong-Gong and Po-Po came to visit me for a weekend, so he took LOTS of pictures of me. Here's a link to the photo album of his pictures that he titled "Claire 10 months - many smiles". Hehe. My Po-Po also fed me lots of food like grapes and blackberries. Looks like I'm going to take after her with my love of fruit! I'm pretty much eating everything now except for shellfish, fish, nuts, egg whites, and cow's milk. I definitely have my likes and dislikes though! Just a tip ... if you don't like something, you can throw it off the side of the table and it just goes away! It's great!

Mmmm ... blackberries. Messy AND yummy!

One big event is that I had my first dentist appointment earlier this month. Mommy and Daddy were worried about my extra tooth (they must have been scared that I'm part-shark!), so they took me to a childrens' dentist. The TV built into the ceiling was neat, but I didn't like them sticking their fingers and x-rays and stuff into my mouth. The dentist even commented on how incredibly strong my mouth is! Good news is, it's not an extra tooth, just a weird tooth that's curved. Now I brush my teeth everyday with my toothpaste (okay, not EVERY day) so that I grow up with strong, healthy teeth.

Ho, ho, ho ... green giant

My playgroup had our holiday party at Logan's house. It was so good to see everyone from both halves; some of the babies have gotten so big since the last time I saw them!

Me and Juliet

Then I got sick. My ever-present daycare cold started moving into my lungs again, so Mommy took me to Dr. Frank who prescribed me breathing treatments. I DO NOT LIKE BREATHING TREATMENTS. The mask part was the worst to where the nurse finally said that I could do it without a mask; Mommy and Daddy just had to follow my face around with the hose. :) At least I got to watch lots of Noggin that week since that's what they used to distract me (Moose and Zee are my favorite), plus they stayed home with me most of that week, so that was nice even though I didn't feel good. I'm better now even though I still have a cough.

I felt a little yucky this day (my 10-month birthday)

*** There's a story here from the week I was sick, but it's too long to go into the details. You can ask Mommy about it; use the keyword "noesbleed". Blech. ***

Last weekend, Ms. Jenny (one of Mommy's best friends from high school) came to visit! I was so excited to finally meet her and went right into her arms to greet her. I also had lots and lots of fun with her sons, Wade and Alex. We played in my playroom, watched movies, and went to the park. I hope I get to see them more often because I sure had a good time.

Playing in the ballpit

Playing at the park

Sofia (my best friend from school) also had a holiday get together over the weekend, so we went over to her house to play. The two of us are going to get into so much trouble together, I can just tell!

Giggling together

I think that's pretty much it. Still working on the whole walking thing. I have to admit, I'm not that interested in walking by myself since I know that Mommy and Daddy are happy to walk me all around the house. I'm still working on all my sounds, but I seem to have picked up some extra consonants recently. Now if only I could put it all together!

So much padding, no way I'll get hurt!

Mommy gave a pretty long update on her blog too if you're curious, and I've posted my December pics. Happy Holidays and very Merry Christmas to everyone! Since we'll have some extra days at home, I'm sure I'll post again after Santa comes to visit ... because I know he will ... I was a very good girl this year!

Gobble, gobble

A whole family of pumpkins. We got them for free! I'm the little one.

I have lots to be thankful for this year. Well, of course, there's the whole "being born" back in February ... that was nice. :) I also have wonderful parents that love me very much, a great extended family that doesn't hesitate to spoil me everytime they visit, fun friends that make me laugh and from whom I learn from everytime we play, caring teachers that take good care of me during the week, a beautiful home that keeps me warm and safe, and good health of both mind and body. What else could a girl ask for?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Gobble, gobble.

We celebrated Thanksgiving Day with some of Daddy and Mommy's work friends. They came over to eat lots of food and watch some football. I got to eat a little bit of just about everything, too! I am DEFINITELY not doing any of that bland baby stuff anymore when big people food is so good.

Sridevi lets me climb on the counters. We had so much fun, we forgot to take more pictures!

On Saturday, we went to T's wedding reception; she works with Daddy. She wore a pretty dress that was shiny and bright, and I couldn't stop staring. I wasn't scared of anyone and went from person to person so that they could cuddle and hug me all they wanted.

Pretty T. Congratulations!

Even the babies like to hold the babies!

Between trying new foods, watching movies (btw, "Cars" is great!), staying up late every night, going on los of walks, and just hanging out with Mommy and Daddy, this 4-day weekend sure was fun. I can't wait to do it again in a few weeks when we celebrate Christmas!

If you come visit me, we can play peek-a-boo! But this time I get to boo.

I guess that wraps up November. Hard to believe this year is almost up! I know it took us awhile to get my November album up, but it's there now and chock full of pictures. I'll see you in December!

I do believe it's snowing on me. I hope the real thing is better than this.

The Holidays Are Coming!

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but Christmas is already here! Actually, I think Christmas arrived a couple of hours before Halloween was even over if you base it on when the stores started getting rid of the orange and black and changing to red and green decorations. No exceptions in our house ... Mommy has gotten in the full swing of things, too! Our Christmas tree has been up for almost two weeks now, but mostly because Mommy wanted to use it for our Christmas cards that she ordered this week (look for them in the mail, but knowing Mommy, you may not see them until New Year ... maybe Chinese New Year ... maybe Christmas of NEXT year ... so don't hold your breath). The card is going at the top of our Christmas card tree -- sorry Clerkin girls -- but she wanted to make sure it was deserving of its place. Hope you enjoy!

Various outtakes that did not make it on to the card ...

Another big part of the holidays is a visit to Santa. Mommy has been looking forward to taking me even PRE-me when she first found out she was pregnant. And ever since she joined her playgroup, she had this vision of all the babies visiting Santa together. Well, the playgroup went together just as she planned, but we weren't able to go since Mommy had to work, so she and Daddy took me to Santa the next weekend. I was in a weird mood that day, so I didn't really laugh ... but at least I didn't cry, either! I did, however, get a big kick out of checking myself out in my picture after I got home. :)

Me and Santa. My shirt says "Elf Sized".

School is going well. My teachers are fun, and my best friend is Sofia. I haven't been sick nearly as much as I was before, but I do have a perpetual runny nose. I hear that it's pretty much expected between the months of October and March. Blech. But I can guarantee you, if I even see Mommy or Daddy holding a Kleenex, I'm outta there!

Trying to run away from the Kleenex. Can you see the shiny snot?

Pouty after the wiping

I'm very much enjoying eating grown-up food. I like it best when Mommy and Daddy just hand me something to gnaw at instead of trying to feed me. The next thing I need to master, though, is the whole cup thing. For some reason, I usually end up drenched and thirsty! Luckily I can always depend on that trusty straw.

A slight drinking problem. It goes in, but sometimes it comes back out.

This week is Thanksgiving which is exciting because Mommy and Daddy will be home with me for four whole days! I'm doubtful that they'll take me shopping on Black Friday, but I'm sure we'll find ways to have fun. As always, more pictures are in my November album (including the ones Mommy thinks are hilarious and on her blog) and will continue to be added throughout the month, so check it often!

Fall Festivities (Finally!)

Sorry it's taken me so long to post! Things have been a little crazy here. As promised, here were my many fall festivities ...

Woman, what is it with you and taking pictures of me eating bananas?!

With the weather so nice, all of us (snotty-nosed, drooly) babies have been meeting at the lake for our playgroup. Living in Texas, there's really only about 2 months during the year you can really do this, so our mommies have been taking advantage of it as much as possible!

Me and Logan

All the Camelot Cuties mommies got together and threw us a Halloween party! It was tons of fun with lots of my playfriends there that I haven't seen in a long time. I hope that it becomes a tradition. I got to wear my costume for the first time ... I was a ladybug. I didn't want to wear my antennaes though, so Mommy gave me my own antennaes instead.

So when you call my "pumpkin", what are you saying exactly?

Sofia and I playing. You should see the trouble we get in at school!

Juliet and I sharing a snack.

Daddy and Mommy went on a quest to find me the starter swings that we knew existed in the neighborhood. They're just down the street from us. Yay!

Doh

Next on the social calendar was Emily's Pumpkin Carving Party. Mommy was sooo impressed by all the decorations and creative foods; she keeps saying that she's going to throw a party like that someday, too. We'll see. I have a feeling we'll just be going to Emily's party each year instead. :) Since I was too little to carve, I got to play with lots of Emily's toys.

Vrooom, vroom

The next week, Mommy and I had a special day out at the Arboretum. We met up with Abby and her mommy to enjoy the Mommy and Me activities. We had tons of fun!

Abby and Me

Picking a nice flower

To eat, of course

Finally, it was actually Halloween! Mommy and I passed out candy to all the kids (well, I held out the candy, but I didn't always want to let go), and Daddy let me try a lollipop ... mmm, it was good!

Franken-fish

My first Halloween is over; I hear Christmas is fun, too!

Later that weekend, Mommy and I met up with Kaylie and her mommy for lunch and to play at the playground. We had tons of fun climbing and racing through the tubes together. We must get together more often!

On your mark, get set, go!

Giggling together

So, that's it! Well, the short version, anyways. There were so many pictures, I updated not only my own October photo album but even created separate albums for the Cuties' Halloween Party, the Bauer Pumpkin Carving Party, and my lunch with Kaylie!