I love Claire's little curls.  I'm hoping she'll have curly (but not too curly!) hair.  Anthony has curly hair and so does my mom so maybe just maybe she will too.  I can't get enough of those little teeth!  She still only has just the two.

Have you ever seen a Jedi in a tutu?

World's smallest Jedi

She's swimming!  She took swimming lessons and never learned to swim.  We got a pool and she learned in two weeks on her own! 

She can walk using her walker or the couch.  She doesn't go too far or too fast but it's just the beginning!

Look ma no hands!

Sisterly love

So little in the already little rocker

And one more because I love it

Her personality is getting so cute

Trying to stand.  That's all she does these days.  Well, she either stands or eats.

I loved this one too

Us

Cute little ponytail

Our buggy turned ten months old today

At ten months Claire Avery:

*pulls herself up, on everything!

*starting to cruise on the furniture but only a couple or a few steps every now and then

*becoming a little less shy

*eats only table food, no more baby food

*loves ALL food she's tried, all veggies, meats, fruits, yogurt, beans, the list is endless

*nurses four times a day

*signs 'more', learning the signs for water, eat, thank you and please

*knows who dad, Connor, Charlotte and Sable are.  Won't point to me if asked where mommy is.  Does that mean she doesn't understand I'm mommy?

*takes two one-one and a half hour naps each day

*still goes to bed at 6:30 and sleeps until 7:00

*wears 6-9/6-12 month clothing but still has some 3-6 mo summer stuff that fits

*I'm not sure of her weight, guessing about 17 1/2 lbs, she seems skinny but tall to me

*loves, loves, loves to be outside

*points at everything, or nothing, but is always pointing

*two little teeth on the bottom

What is this picture you ask?  It's a picture of my knees of course.  I bet your next question is why did I post a picture of my knees?  I started running again recently and my knees have really begun hurting.  I'm incredibly frustrated because back in the day I used to run 10, 12 miles runs.  Never a bit of pain, ever.  Now if I go on a 2 or 3 mile run my knees hurt, bad.  And not just during the run, but all the time.  I went to a running shoe store and had my gait evaluated and got the perfect shoes for the way I run.  So far I've done two runs with them.  I'm really really hoping they solve the issue.  I just don't get it.  I really want to keep running so I hope the correct shoes are all I need.  Although the funny thing is, right now my knees feel really good.  Here's hoping the worst is behind me! 

The kids after their afternoon swim.  I remember doing this when I was little.  It felt so good to lay in the warm sunshine after getting out of the pool.

*On a side note: Charlotte is actually not allowed to wear bikinis.  She did today because my sister gave her this suit and she tries to wear it at any opportunity she can.  I mention this because of a conversation several of us had recently about kids and bikinis.  I meant what I said, no bikinis allowed; unless you get me on a I don't want to argue kind of day, like today :)

The first time in the tub together.  Claire LOVED it!

This morning Connor thought it would be a good idea to encourage Claire to climb the stairs.  I told him it wasn't a good idea but of course he doesn't always listen very well.  When I went into the laundry room he was with her, I walked out of the laundry room and he's in the family room and Claire is no where to be found.  I asked Connor where she was, he replies that she's near the stairs, keep in mind he JUST taught her how to climb them.  I ran over and this is how I found her:

It may only be the bottom step but it's something that could turn out very bad, very quickly.  Anthony put the gate back on today, which is where it's going to stay for a long time!

The little bugger trying to climb the stairs.  Better get that gate back on!  (Oh, and notice only one sock!)

Anthony is teaching Connor "man" stuff.  Now Connor pumps the gas for me. 

Clean little girl trying to escape from getting dressed

Claire got a new walker and Connor loves to push her on it

She's standing at the top of the stairs.  I'm SO glad we have this gate!

I think she wants to ask, "Hey, can you open this gate for me?".

Claire has figured out she can drop her food and the dog will happily eat it

"Hey doggie, did you get those black beans I dropped?"

I don't think Sable likes Claire on her back, probably because she was pounding on it.  She's such a good dog, she just sat there and endured the torture.

Connor has started running this week.  So far he ran 1.5 miles with Anthony and 2 miles with me.  I'm so excited to have a little running buddy!  I'm really hoping he'll join the track team at school next year.  I can't wait to go out with him again!

"Helping" me unload the dishwasher

I love those two little teeth!

Claire learned to drink from a straw! 

Claire tried out the pool today in her new floaty.  She didn't like the cold water very much!

Picture of the day

Can you see the happiness on her face?

The pool wasn't quite all the way filled up yet in these pictures but the kids couldn't wait to get swimming.  I don't blame them, it was hot today!

Pulling herself up on EVERYTHING!  This is one determined girl!

Before Claire plays:

After Claire plays:

I love the little messes she makes.  She does it all by herself.

I bought the kids a slip and slide today.  I couldn't pass it up, it was only $5!  There I go again, sounding cheap!  Anyway, they had a great time with it.  I'm not so sure Claire loved it as much though.

And bonus picture of the day:

She got a bath before her morning nap today and this is what happened when she went to sleep with wet hair!  Hee hee.

I couldn't decide which to chose so I choose both

We had a block party yesterday.  There was over 100 people in our cul-de-sac!  It was really fun.  We bbq'd and watched fireworks.  I think the kids had more fun then they've ever had!  I was happy because somehow the baby slept through the incredibly loud (over three hours!) fireworks.

I love, love, love this one

I really love this one too

Connor finally got to light some of the 'safer' fireworks this year.  I guess he's growing up.

My nephew Colsen

Justin, Colsen, me, Claire, Lisa, Amanda and Amanda

Amanda and me

Charlotte and Hunter