++Fourteen Months++

Time just keeps on passing us by and our little one just keeps growing up. I was blogging when Wyatt was this age too so it will be fun to look back and see how they compare.


At fourteen months precocious could be the best word to describe this one. She is full of personality and always greeting people when we are out in public. She thinks she needs to go to preschool too and really wants to join in on Wyatt's class (let's see if she's as excited about it when her time comes.)

She has had a small burst in her vocabulary which now includes: shoes, duck, bus, car, hi, mama, woof woof, ball, quack, uh oh...and probably a few more. She is full of ideas and opinions though and resorts to a lot of pointing and grunting to tell us what she wants.

She loves playing outside which includes putting lots of rocks, sand and mulch in her mouth (still!) She loves the swings and the slides too.

Like her big brother lovey is #1 in her world. Followed closely by mom, dad and Wyatt. It's hard to tell if she has a favorite. She is always happy to see the one who has been gone. We are immediately greeted with a smile and giggle and a demand to be held. This one is a cuddler. We really don't mind that.

It is so amazing to watch the gender differences develop. She plays with Wyatt's trucks and trains and sat fascinated at the window watching the garbage truck the other day. But she also is into a world of things that Wyatt never was. She loves to dress herself. If she sees a hat or sweater (regardless of who it is supposed to belong to) she wants to wear it. She is also into babies. She takes them in and out of things, hugs them, and then tosses them on the ground.

Did we mention she's a climber? This must be a second child thing based on watching her brother. She is always on top of the train table. I let it go as it seems she knows how to get down. Emphasis on SEEMS.

I discovered by accident the other day that she can identify her eyes, nose, mouth and tummy. She is also pretty good at following instructions like give me a hug or kiss, give that to Daddy, etc. She is not good at following instructions like "no no Claire." Funny how that works.

She kind of has us wrapped around her fingers though. Can you tell?

++Mish Mash++

So behind. So needing to catch up. Where to start? How about a brain dump of life these days.

This is the scene nightly in our house. Sometimes it's oranges, sometimes it's cuties. Wyatt looks forward to this time with his dad. Man can he eat the fruit. Like father, like son. (And, I laugh as I keep finding the need to say that Wyatt usually does wear pants. I promise).
We were super excited about Ruby the robin who made a nest over the light right outside our back door. We saw her sitting on her nest a lot so Mark reached the camera up there and took this shot. We were like proud parents to see the eggs. The next day we stopped seeing her and I saw some bright blue eggshells in the yard. We put the camera up there again and there was nothing in the nest. We mourned a bit for good ol' Ruby.

This is Claire's favorite "strut" these days. If only this shot could also capture the smirk on her face. She is such a goofball.

We are onto our second child who is enamored with the cast-off car. We vowed we will buy her a nicer model. Maybe.

I've often referred to the weird situation of where our house is located. I almost refused to even look at the house because of it. Living in someone's backyard takes a bit of getting used to. We don't have this kind of stuff in Minnesota but I find myself happy every time I see another house like this here. And it is often. See us back there? Just wait until the leaves come in...and you won't!

The nice part is that we live in a quiet cul de sac down a hill. In other words: the ball just rolls right back!

We've been outside a lot. Spring peeks in on us every once in a while and then goes back into hiding. My favorite time outside is when Claire is napping. Wyatt just does his thing and we can get some yard work done. We have lots of yard work to be done. Mowing? not so much.

More soon. I promise.

++It's about time++

I finally got around to doing a one-year photo shoot with the littlest one. I mean, it would be a shame if her first year went by and we didn't have any photos to document it--right? Ha ha. I did my best to get something frame-able. She did her best to stay so busy it was hard to capture anything but her rear end as she was walking away. I laughed when we were done as I told Mark my method is quality through quantity. That means take TONS of shots and hope that a couple work out.
Here is one. Not necessarily my favorite, just the first one I got around to editing. This was the best smile we got out of her all day. What was she smiling at? The stranger who walked up behind me. That is our Claire!
On another note. The sicky bug was passed to Wyatt. He got a doozie of an ear infection and he still isn't better. We're on day 5 of meds. I think this may be his first ear infection. Not fun.

Here's hoping we are healthy and can welcome spring (if it ever gets here) in style.

++Hear that?++

That's right. Either do we. Our house is as quiet as a house with two kids 3 and under can be. Wyatt was so excited to help Don pull up the paper on the floors. I quickly realized why people have wood floors not craft paper floors. It's amazing what a difference just that makes!

So here is the new room. Minus a few cabinet doors and shelves. Oh, and all the stuff that is sure to make this hard-working room less pristine.

Here's the other side. Minus the treadmill that will make this room seem so much smaller.
I doubt anyone would ever design a laundry room with a window this large. It does make for a nice view though!

The hallway view. Funny to imagine that two months ago that was just a railing open to the room below.

The new mudroom. Obviously minus the light. We figured out after everything was installed that the old lights were too close to the cabinets so we moved them at the last minute. We've been using this room already and LOVE it.
The new dining room. The table is on the way. After over two years of living in houses with empty dining rooms we are finally going to fill the space with something other than toys. This is the view from our front door.
Now back to life as usual. We think we know what that means.

++Easter++

Look at those two happy dapper cuties. Jelly beans have that effect on kids, it seems.
For whatever reason, as a child I do not recall ever attending a single "egg hunt" other than the one that took place in my living room on Easter morning. Now I could probably take the kiddos to about ten of them and by the time Easter rolls around they are burnt out. We did three this year.

First was a fun little play date with my MOPS table friends. Claire had much more fun that what this photo shows. She is just not a fan of being told where to stand (or what to do at all, ever.)

Next, we had a fun egg hunt in our neighborhood. We were super excited about this as we're all about neighborly gatherings. That's why we live out in the burbs after all. Claire was so cute, she took off running with the rest of the kids. (oh---did I mention that Seattle was the only city that didn't get the memo about warming up for Easter this year? brrrr...)

Wyatt had the hunt concept down this year. Although he is not the strongest hunter. I have known this all along based on our daily lovey hunts in the house--if he doesn't trip over it, he doesn't see it.

Claire found three eggs. She was thrilled.

And generally just looked cute (have we given Grandma props for the hat yet? If not, thanks Grandma!)

Wyatt and his neighbor buddy Cooper. Can you tell they are the same age? They have the same "model" of Easter basket! (Pottery Barn Kids '07 for those of you wondering)

Claire jumped the gun and found the first Egg before we officially started the hunt Easter morning. In an effort to merge family traditions the kids find their Easter baskets first, and then find the eggs to fill it up. Don't you love the lovely brown paper on the floors?

With some encouragement, Wyatt found his rather quickly.

He was thrilled to see the Imagination Movers CD in the basket. Along with all sorts of other goodies.

Claire sporting some of her loot.

Wyatt tracking down his eggs. Note: he does have pajamas that fit him, these are just his favorites. The control freak in me almost didn't let him wear them knowing that they would show up in the Easter photos. I also think they were in last year's Easter photos. Notice how Claire is appropriately dressed for Easter morning? I can still control her, sort of.

I must say Easter morning was a fun mom moment for me now that I have a little girl. It was pretty fun to get her all dolled up in her dress. She liked it too. She didn't want to cooperate for a picture though, she was looking for more jelly beans.

And my handsome little dude.

Finally, our best attempt at a mom and kids shot. Just to prove to them that I was there.