Clara - 1 year old!

Dear Clara,

You're 1!  I'm teary at that realization!

You are full of life!  You are incredibly smart (of course your mama and daddy thinks so).  You are a total doll, and you have a little bit of the dickens in you, too!

Things you love.
Your singing lantern toy
Sneaking up the stairs
Rolling balls with Ella and Gabe
Drinking out of Ella & Gabe's water glasses
Hugging dollies and stuffed animals and saying "awww"
Being wrapped in your pink fleece wrap to sleep
Teasing Gabe by playing with his toys
Reading books, especially the peek-a-boo ones and the puppet ones
The birthday cake toy - blowing out the candles & listening to the "happy birthday" song!

Words you say.
Mama, Da, Ella, Hankie, pretty (especially while brushing your hair), baba (bottle), puff (the gerber snack), up, num num, all done, more, WOW, brat (definitely repeated after the first cookout of the year), cheese, bread, buh bye, uh oh!

You wear size 4 diapers, 18 month clothes, and size 5 shoes.
You eat almost every kind of pureed food, bread, cheese, puffs, melts, mac & cheese
You have four teeth, and the top two eye teeth are so close...they were bothering you on your birthday, causing a runny nose and cough and making you a little out of sorts :(
You have really started "playing" with your toys.  It is so fun to see!  You especially love sorting things and taking things in and out of bins.
You are pulling up and cruising on everything.  You walk great holding on to our hands - you just have to get your balance and you'll be off to the races!
You have stayed in the nursery a total of once in your first year - the weekend in February that we were in Nebraska for daddy to preach.  You like to flirt with strangers, but don't want to be left with them!!

Clar Bear, we love you so much!  When you fall asleep most nights, I hold you and your daddy and I talk about how blessed we are to have such a sweet baby girl.

… what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move.You may become a Shakespeare, a Michaelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel…. -Pablo Casals

Clara is 10 months!

Sweet baby girl,

You are 10 months old!

You're eating baby food at breakfast (oatmeal w/ fruit), lunch (fruit), and dinner (pureed meat & veggies)!  You're also loving bread, puffs, melts, and all of the junk food your brother & sister never got away with (little tastes of whip cream, ice cream, cookie bars).  Sometimes it does pay to be the 3rd child :)

You're crawling like crazy, pulling up to a stand, and sitting back down again.  You don't like to be contained by the jumper or the pack & play anymore.  You like to be chased!  You love knocking down towers and anything with music.

You're wearing 18 month clothes and size 4 diapers.

You say "Da Da," "Na Na," (for Mama) "MaMa" (for Mama), "Ella," "Hankie," & "Uh oh." I'm sure you are saying more - you babble all of the time!  You definitely talk to & recognize Gabe, just haven't heard the word yet.

You got to go on a solo trip with Mommy and Daddy this month to visit Nebraska.  We were supposed to fly, but our flight got cancelled and we made a last-minute decision to drive instead.  You did great on the 8 hour drive, and your cheeks charmed the pastoral search team at Papio Creek.  No one could believe how laid back you were.  You experienced almost the whole interview process, and we enjoyed spending some two-on-one time with you at the Embassy Suites!

You have survived one of the harshest Chicago winters ever, mostly from the comfort of our warm house!  A few days this month were -30 degrees windchill, and the snowfall has been record-breaking.  The weather people have called it to the "Polar Vortex" and "Chi-beria"!  You have spent many days standing at the back door watching Ella and Gabe make snow angels and snow forts.  One day we got you out on the sled for a photo opp, but other than that you have been homebound for most of your 9th month.  We are looking forward to warmer temps so we can get you out to discover the world!  

Clara - 9 months

Dear Clara Ann,

You are on the move!  You have mastered the art of crawling this month, and even started pulling up!  You have also mastered grabbing every little toy, piece of dog hair, and lint off the floor and putting it in your mouth!  We are trying to keep the floor clean and open for you to explore... it is sure hard these days!

You continue to amaze us with your calm and smiley demeanor.  You LIGHT UP when you see Ella, Gabe, Mommy, Daddy, and Hank.  You're starting to recognize Grandma and Grandpa Vroom and Uncle Dan!  Sometimes you give a huge smile to a stranger!  We have tried to put you in the church nursery twice lately - once at Grandma's cantata, where you lasted until the sermon and the nursery workers had to call me to rescue you, and once at Parkview where they called us during the second song because you hadn't stopped crying.  You do great in church, though!  You like to sing along.  I hope that your stranger danger is starting to end.

Naps continue to be a challenge, but you're sleeping through the night or waking up once for a 6 oz snack, so I can't complain!  You have napped a few times in your crib for 30-45 minutes...progress!!  You start humming really loud before bed - that means that you want someone to sing to you.  You also love to hold onto something when you go to sleep, whether it is a blanket or hoodie string or finger.

You are wearing 12 and 18 month clothes and size 4 dipes.  Your cheeks and thighs are so kissable!  You are eating stage 2 foods twice a day.

You had a great first Christmas!  You had a great time shredding wrapping paper and trying to take a taste of it.  Your favorite toys are the Disney Klip Klop Stable and the Fisher price lantern.  You had a great time with your Parrish aunties right before Christmas - Aunt Julie & Aunt Mandie.

You were 23 lbs 6 oz at your 9 month checkup (99%) and 100%ile for height.  Dr. Diamond said you are perfect!  That didn't seem to effect your opinion of him - you cried the whole time :)

We love you, pumpkin pie!  I'm excited to see you grow and change, but wish it wasn't happening so fast!

Gabe is 3!

At 3......

Gabe loves

....construction zones

....pancakes and sausage!

....hotwheels

....Jake and the Neverland Pirates

....Nonny

....his sisters (except when Clara tries to touch his toys)

....playing in the snow

....switch & go dinos

....chocolate cake

....apple juice

....Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

....the yellow park

....baths

....goldfish

....McDonald's and Chickfila playlands

....monster trucks

....Finding Nemo

Gabe had a construction party!  We celebrated his birthday several times, complete with singing and candles!  The day of his birthday he woke up and said "time to make the cake!" He relished the whole experience.  

Gabe was 37 pounds at his check up (91%ile), and 94%ile for height.  He was nervous about talking to Dr. Diamond, but he eventually warmed up and talked a little bit.    

Gabe hates nicknames.  If we call him "Buzz" or "buddy" or "Goo," he gets mad!  "I'm not _____, I'm GABEY!"  

Gabe is wearing 3T and 4T clothes and size 6 dipes.  We are working on the potty training... making some progress.  We are also working on getting rid of the "guk"/pacifier since our second visit to Dr. Tatel's office revealed it is affecting his teeth.

My favorite Gabe times are when he still will snuggle with me or ask me to watch something on TV with him.  He loves to sing before bedtime - "Gabey Gabe", "Nonny Na", "Mighty to Save" without the bridge (no "Shine a light", mommy!), "Angels Watching Over Me," and recently, "This Little Light of Mine".  

Gabey, we love you so much!  You're growing into the sweetest little boy!  So glad you're 3!

Clara ~ 8 months

Dear Clara,

You are the sweetest 8 month old around!  You have really grown  and changed a lot this month!  You are eating solids like a pro, complete with getting excited before each new bite!  You are also sitting and playing well by yourself, and you just started inching forward on your tummy!

You entertain yourself and us, by giggling and "talking" to yourself and us.  You're starting to recognize Grandma & Grandpa Vroom & Dan, and getting excited to see them (this is a big step!)

You're back to sleeping through the night for the most part.  You still sleep in your fleece swaddle, but you have managed to roll yourself over in that, so I'm going to have to start leaving your arms out at least!

You're taking better naps in your car seat (I think because you're eating solids better), but *never* in your crib!  We have to remedy that, since you are now too big for your infant car seat :)

You had a rough week this month with Mommy out of town for a few days and then having a skin infection.  You were at urgent care and then Dr. Diamond 3x.  You were a tough cookie, but we were so glad when you were feeling better!

You "trick-or-treated" for the first time as a sweet dragon.  It was miserable weather, so we went to three houses in the neighborhood, Grandma & Grandpa's, and then the Orland Mall.  You slept in the stroller the whole time, nice and toasty in your costume.

Pretty soon you're going to take off crawling!  Love you, our little nugget!!!!!!

Clara - 7 months

Clara Ann is 7 months old!

Here's what she's up to:
*Rolling tummy to back
*Trying some fruits and veggies, slowly but surely!  First up, pears, prunes, peas, squash, apples.
*Wearing 12 mo. clothes
*Wearing size 4 dipes
*Loves to hold toys and shake them
*Loves to nap on someone's lap :)
*Back to waking up for a 6 oz bottle during the night!  Growth spurt!
*Can sit a bit before leaning over to the side
*Loves cell phones & TV remote controls
*Loves when Mommy wears scarves & necklaces
*Loves to watch Ella & Gabe play!  Can't wait to get into the action!

Love you, kiddo!

Clara - 6 months

Clara is 6 months old!

Happy half birthday to our sweetie pea!  You are wearing 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers, but will grow out of both soon!

You still would rather stand with support than sit, but you've done a little sitting and playing with support.  We put you in the jumper recently and you loved it!  You have grown out of the papisan chair and the swing.  The straps don't fit anymore and you are ready to get moving!  You can roll back to front, and are starting to want to inch forward on your haunches.  When you are on your play mat and your music stops, you try to reach the star and turn it back on.

You are eating cereal pretty well.  It took you a while to get the hang of it.  You get so excited when we get out the bottles to feed you formula.  Soon you will start eating fruits and veggies.  I'm sure you will have fun!

You are in the 95th% for weight and 100% for height.  Dr. Diamond said at your well-baby check up that you are perfect & strong!  You had 4 vaccines and an oral vaccine, but you bounced back right away.  You got lots of snuggles and love that day!  Ella and Gabe felt bad for you with all of your bandaids!

I'm pretty sure you've said your first words, although it is very early.  You LOVE Hank, and every time he comes around you smile!  You say "Hank" in kind of a "goo" voice.  It is so sweet!  I think you've also said "gukie" for your guk!  Maybe also Ella, Gabe, Daddy and Mommy... or maybe we're just hearing things!!

You are not napping much at all, but you are sleeping at night really well!!!  Sometimes you still wake up for a bottle, but most nights we just wake up once to put your guk back in and that's it!!  The 5 minute naps during the day are a little trying on our nerves, but it is so nice to sleep at night!!

We celebrated your half birthday with Grandma & Grandpa Vroom, Uncle Dan, and Uncle Andy & Aunt Joyce.  We had half a cake and cupcakes.  Ella & Gabe sang "Happy birthday" to you the whole day.  We love having you are part of our family!