Happy Leap Day!

8 Months Old

Sweet Clare Anne is 8 months old today!

Time is seriously flying. With all the moving and grooving this child is doing these days, I'm kind of missing the tiny infant stage. She has a sweet disposition and is my little cuddler. I'm loving her different little stages ... this is a great age.

Some things about Clare Anne:

1. Her eating and sleeping schedule is about the same as last month. She's doing a bit better about picking up her puffs, and she's working out the texture of the yogurty things. She's getting pretty good with her sippy cup of water, but she usually ends up drenched.

2. She continues to be everywhere and this month she's getting into more and more. I find myself saying "no, no" more and more.

3. She still pulls up really well, but hasn't done much more in the walking area. She will step from the couch to the table and moves a little bit around her tables, but that's it.

4. She's a mama's girl.

5. She's talking more. She'll say "da-da" and "ma-ma." She calls her bath "ba."

6. She's started bouncing a little bit when we tell her to dance. She does this sitting or standing.

7. She'll hold her arms out now to go to someone, or if she doesn't want to go to someone she'll bury her head in your shoulder.

8. At church, she's now out of the nursery and in the Bible class that she'll be in till she's 2. She's doing great.

9. She LOVES her bath. We've braved it a time or two with Lila, and Clare splashes all over and has a ball. If she disappears, that's the room you're most likely to find her in. While Lila bathes, Clare loves to stand on the side of the tub and watch.

She's getting to be a big girl, and I'm having a hard time getting used to that!

3 Can Be Tough

For the most part, I blog about our firsts, our fun outings, our birthdays, and our happy smiles. Those are the nice things :), but we're crazy busy around here. Josh and I both work full time, plus he is also a full time student, so that leaves me alone with the girls some. Most afternoons we're busy from right after school till bedtime, and that's okay. We make it work because it's life right now and there's no sense in complaining because that doesn't make it better or different. Plus, it's just not that bad.

However , my sweet 3 year old has entered a phase that is difficult...very difficult. I find my patience being tested; I take a lot of deep breaths. I truly believe she's trying to find her place. Clare is more mobile and making more of a splash in our family life. Lila's working really hard to figure out where she fits in so in doing that there are quite a few assertive moments in our day. Bedtime is by far the worse part of the day ... from bath to bed. I came up with this sticker/incentive chart today, and we're hoping that it works. It didn't tonight, but there is always tomorrow.

 I'm praying this phase passes quickly (just to be followed by another I'm sure). I'm ready to spend our busy evenings together laughing and smiling again.

Sisters

Things are getting interesting around here. With Clare getting bigger and stronger, the girls are interacting more and playing more. It's sweet to hear their laughter and watch them play ... even if we have to interject a few times for Lila to be careful and not be so rough. :-)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sister!!

Thank you so much for being so great -- we love you, adore you, admire you!

Hope your day has been fabulous!!

Birthday Fun

We went to two birthday parties today, and the girls had a great time at each one. Raleigh's was first, and the highlight for Lila was the face painting. I was pretty sure she wouldn't go for it, but she did and it turned out pretty cute. She insisted on being a happy clown ... and that's what she became!

Lila's BFF, Emory, has a birthday tomorrow so we headed over to celebrate with her after R's party.

Clare did a great job of hanging out at both parties ... love how go with the flow she is!

Happy Birthday to both of our little buddies!!

Daddy/Daughter Date Night

Josh and Lila headed over to the Sportsplex tonight for the Dandy Dads Dinner and Dance. I might have been a bit more excited and gung-ho about it than they were ... maybe just a bit :) I was so excited to get Lila dressed up, and I thought she looked like a doll. She loved her pink dress and her sparkly shoes. Josh looked pretty dapper himself. I'm so glad Lila and Clare have a daddy that is willing and excited to do things like this with them. I will say though -- I wish I could be a fly on the wall!!

My Sweet Girl

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from these little sweethearts!!

Happy 1st Valentine's Day, Clare Anne!

My big girl

The girls with their loot ... They each got a book, plus Lila got a little kit with a play hair dryer, curling iron, etc. She has played with it all night! She's even been my hair dresser. :) Clare got a new toy too, but she wasn't too interested in all the hoopla. She's too busy moving!

I even got a little surprise at school today ... I would say my Valentine did pretty well!

Very blessed to have spent the evening with three of the best Valentine's ever.

Hope your Valentine's Day was full of hugs and kisses too!

Love Me Some Home Sweet Home

We headed to Madison this past weekend. I was ready ... it had been since Christmas and after six weeks, I was aching to be in my home. We didn't do much of anything -- in fact, it was so cold (for once this winter), we barely left the house!! I did manage to snap a few pictures...

The girls were of course loaded down with some Valentine loot, and Lila was all about digging into the cards and presents.

On Saturday, we got to meet this little sweetie. Sweet Emma came to visit us, and she was the just about the cuddliest baby I've held in awhile. Much more snugglier than my wiggle worm!!

Clare was everywhere and her sister wasn't far behind ... Lila is determined to make sure that Clare isn't into anything she's not supposed to be in.

This one was a total mess all weekend ... she's such a stinker!

So enjoyed hanging out with Aunt Casey, Grammy, and Papa too...

The weekend went quickly ... they always do! At least we get another dose of Aunt Casey this coming weekend!! Lucky us!

Hangin' Out

Just a few random pictures from this afternoon.

Lila insisted on putting her "comfy" clothes like Mama this afternoon. She picked it all out herself and even drug out her slippers.

Clare is pulling up and standing all over the house ... only thing is that once she's up, she can't get down. She just stands around and fusses till you come rescue her.

Had a photo-op with each lovely lady ... Lila has been into taking pictures here lately. She took the one of Clarebear and me. Pretty good I say. :)

Headed to Madison this weekend ... very excited for a weekend at home.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday to a great hubby and a great daddy! We love you very much and are super proud of you! Happy # 33! ;-)

Every daddy loves a present decorated with purple glitter and an assortment of princess stickers.

Lila and Clare were super helpful in helping with the cards and the present.

After a delicioius dinner at Shogun's (ahh the memories at that place!), we headed home to blow out the candlesticks as Lila called them.

Sunday, Sunday

It's been a slow picture taking week at the Cook's. We've been busy ... just not with anything besides work and school.

I did snap a few pictures of the girls today for posterity's sake. Lila's doing her favorite thing of late ... watching a movie in Mommy and Daddy's bed, and Clare is standing and playing and getting into everything! I guarantee there will be a post about walking soon!!