the zoo in April

Easter

We gave Claire Cow for Easter. She looooves snuggling him. 

Claire was collecting Easter eggs. She wanted to hold them all in her hands but she could only manage to hold 2, maybe 3, at a time. 

Grandma and Grandpa Visit

My mom and dad came to Utah in March to come to a Mariners Game. The Mariners played their last Spring Training game in the Bees Stadium in SLC.

Claire thought that the bed we made up for Grandma and Grandpa was the perfect size for her. 

Claire did great at the game! She looked darling in her M's outfit, too. 

We went to Cabella's on our way back from the game. We watched the bass get fed. Claire loved it. 

The fish were so interesting.

When we were at the mall, Claire wanted to hold both of our hands. When we would pass a store with music playing she stopped in her tracks to shake her bum and dance. It was so adorable.

Zoooooooo!

We decided to become zoo members. If we go to the zoo 4 times it will have paid for itself. (It is the end of June. We have been enough times to pay for our membership!)

Claire and the Gorilla were checking each other out. 

This gorilla was chilling inside and Claire was watching. It came over right in front of the window and sat down to look at Claire. She got scared of him and started to cry. It was hilarious. 

This tiger was pacing back and forth as we were walking up the hill to go to the car. We are pretty sure it was dinner time and he smelled a yummy baby named Claire. 

Claire was all tuckered out after her trip to the zoo.

Disney on Ice

We thought we would be the super cool parents and take Claire to Disney on Ice this year. She was more interested in running around out in the hall instead of watching the show. We left early because she wasn't having it. Perhaps we will be daring enough to try again next year?

Mom and Claire before we went inside.

Claire and Daddy

The parts of the show that we got to see were really great!

Why I do it...

Dear Mrs. Hirz,

You are a great teacher! First of all, you are fun and cheerful. That makes ME smile too. Second of all, you are patient and understanding. That means you are a safe teacher who doesn't ever hurt us or yell at us. Last of all, you are fully devoted to our educations. That way you wouldn't ever give up on us. Thank you for being a MAGNIFICENT teacher!

Love,
IT

These kids get to me every time. I'm so thankful for every single one of them.

Twelve Months

Claire is one. 1. Uno. 12 months. Any way that I say it, it still seems unreal. I just can't believe that it has been a year since she joined our family. I can hardly remember a time without her. Anyway...

At 12 months, Claire :

::is so stinking wiggly. It was hard for Brent to get any good pictures of her because she just won't sit still. His stay-at-home-dad-job is getting harder and harder because she is so active.

::will take steps on her own. She is continuously getting better and better. Recently, Brent went into the other room to grab her jacket and he turned around to see her walking across the kitchen floor coming to see him. Go, Claire!

::uses a sippy with a straw and eats lots of people food. When Brent took Claire to the doctor for her 12 month appointment, the doctor recommended that we start getting rid of the bottle. Claire still has a bottle before bed but eats people food and drinks from her sippy all throughout the day. Her new favorite people foods are hot dogs, gold fish crackers, honey nut cheerios, and anything that we are eating. haha

::talks on the phone. She will take one of our phones and hold it up to her head and start chatting away. She holds it way behind her ear with her elbow straight up in the air. It is hilarious.

::says "hi," "uh-oh," "dadadadada," and "mamamama." She has recently started saying "owie" but we think she says that when she is hungry, silly kid. For the last few days she will also say "thank you" if Brent says it first. She is trying to copy the sounds we make and does a really good job of it.

::has a happy personality. She is generally smiling and in a good mood. She enjoys laughing and smiling. Along with that, she doesn't usually cry.

::has lots of bumps and bruises. She thinks she is a better walker than she actually is and she is quite daring. She has taken a few falls into things (like the dresser or chairs) and she ends up with a bruise or two.

::is growing a mullet. It is all business in front and party in back. I was able to put her hair in piggy tails and it was soooo stinking cute. I sometimes will put it in a pony on the top of her head with a hair clippy and that is also darling.

::weighs 23 pounds and is in the 89%.

::30.5 inches tall in the 90%.

::18.25 inch head circumference in the 86%.

Dear Claire,

I love you. I can't believe you are a year old. Where has the time gone? I did a lot of thinking about the past year on your birthday. I have had a wonderful year with you. You have brought me so much joy I never knew possible. It is so much fun to watch you learn new things every day. Right now, you are sitting on your Daddy's lap and he is trying to teaching you colors. He just said, "Okay. It is time to learn some colors." It is tender to watch you interact with your dad. I can't believe how grown up you are and how independent you are already. It makes me so proud of you but also a little sad. Stay my baby forever? Please? I love you, Goose.

Love,
Mamamama

Claire also had a 1st birthday party! Even though she didn't really get that we were celebrating her, she had a good time. Brent made hot dogs and we just hung out here at out place. It wasn't anything big or fancy but we enjoyed it just the same. We had some of our friends over (Chris & Chelsea, Garett and Presley, Ellyne & Jordan, Becky & Noah, Morgan & Hunter) and Claire got lots of cute gifts. Thanks to everyone for coming to celebrate a year with Claire! She also got to dive into a cupcake! (Although, it wasn't her first. She did get to have one on her actual birthday with the kids at school.)