disney on ice

in my continued effort to pass along a love for Disney to the next generation we went to see Disney on Ice!!

before the show - can you tell how excited tim was :)

 pigpen got in a fight, and she loves a good straw.

 As soon as we got to our seats sam was locked in - she didn't want to go anywhere - she did not want to miss anything!!

 I suppose I can look at you part way....

 Papa and Clara

The night was a huge hit for Sam - she loved every moment.  It was super cute to see her joy.  She clapped after every song.  She talks everyday about the special show where we got to see Cinderella and Tangled.

latest cuteness

Sam loves hanging out on the counter and helping me bake - here she is waiting for the muffins to cool:

 playing her violin

 and her drums

 woody and jesse ready to go to the church party.  you would never know it but jesse was THRILLED :)

 auntie dee dee the cat and clara the ladybug

 pre-church party book time

 Sam has been over the moon for her bike.  When it is sunny she want to be outside riding.

one year old

Clara Louise - oh child.  In many ways you have changed my life forever.  You are strong and sweet.  You have many needs and have a voice to communicate your needs.  You don't sleep real well, but give great middle of the night smiles and cuddles.  The Lord has used you and your sister in this last year to teach me what is means to grow deeply in the area of patience and greater surrender.

You are super close to walking and taking more and more steps each day.  You love most food.  You love being dirty and have acquired the nickname pigpen.  Baths are mandatory around here for you, but it is ok because you love them.  You want everything your sister has.  You have a tender heart towards babies and love to give others hugs.  You have developed a love for reading and love the book "Brown bear, Brown bear, what do you see?"  You love your sister and she makes you laugh more than anyone.

You are quick to smile.  You are reckless and are constantly throwing your little body around.  You love a party.  You are living up to the meaning of your name - bright warrior.  You are a great delight!!  We love you so much Clara Louise.

one year ago tomorrow

Clara first birthday is tomorrow.  In some ways it is hard to believe it has been a year and yet remembering life without her also feels impossible.  Those first few moments after she was born were certainly a window into her personality and in some ways telling of the journey this year has been.  She cried and cried and cried - showing her strength and her opinion and her desire to be close to me.  Don't get me wrong - she is a great delight but she her high demands have also been a challenge - from nights of endless crying to preferring to spend her days in my arms - she has never ceased to make her desires known.  I know this will serve her well.  

 Watching Clara and Sam together brings us such joy.  These two love each other and it has been such an answer to prayer to see their relationship develop into one of playful friends.  Managing each of their needs has been another challenge, as well as having the patience for two, but the Lord has been endlessly faithful.

 Clara's sweet presence and joyful smile are two of my favorite things.

 Well it is getting late and I hope to reflect more tomorrow - as well as post some current pictures.  I am thankful I will spend the day tomorrow with my one year old.  Marking the end of this first year feels like a big deal.  She is such a gift but it has been a crazy year.

latest pictures

Pancakes on Saturdays are still a favorite tradition of Sams - naturally she is wearing pearls for the occasion.  

 "now take one with my water mama!"

 clara's tea party -

don't be fooled - there is a mischievous side to her, but she is super sweet :)

pictures from the pumpkin patch

Here are some pictures from our recent trip to the pumpkin patch - taken by auntie dee dee

waiting somewhat patiently for the tractor:

 where's the baby?

 good times with auntie

 thirsty baby

skills

clara is now playing peek-a-boo all by herself.  it may be the cutest skill she has up to this point.  that and smiling.  sleep is pretty high up there too but she doesn't do that all too often.  but peek-a-boo - all. day. long.

she also can say da da (not at all yet associated with tim), ma, ba, ga.

she also can give out a nice high pitch scream, this isn't a favorite skill - really for anyone...

she has her eyes (and legs) set on walking, we will see how soon that happens.

spending part of sunday service in the nursery?... not on your life.  (deep sigh).

eating anything.  why not?!

kissing every other baby at moms' group - definitely 

she has discovered books and, like her sister, loves to read.  she has opinions about books, which is pretty funny for an 11 month old.  her favorite book - "Polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear?" - probably in a tie for first is "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?"  and fyi don't try to read her "mr. brown can moo can you?" because she will take the book from you and throw it, with great determination, on the ground.  :)

the week we introduced a shared bedroom

in an effort to encourage better sleep from Clara we thought (as suggested by auntie brooke) to try putting her in the crib.  one minor detail is that the crib is in Sam's room.  we were waiting until Clara slept without interruption to try them sleeping in the same room but well... why not?... what have we to lose?...

night one: Clara asleep at 7.  Sneak Sam in at 8.  Clara wakes up and begins screaming - and very very loud.  I pray quickly for Sam and tell her I will be back in 5 min if Clara is still screaming.  She looks at me reluctantly.  Within moments Sam has pulled the covers over her head - anything to muffle the shrieking.  A few min later Sam sits up and starts repeating in a calm voice, "It's ok Clay-la, mama be back soon.  It's ok Clay-la  mama be back soon.  It's ok Clay-la, mama be back soon."  Thankfully within a few min they both fall asleep.

night two: Clara asleep at 7.  Sneak Sam in at 8.  Clara wakes up and begins screaming.  Thankfully the screaming only lasts 2 min.

night three: Clara asleep at 7.  Sam asks around 8 if Clara is in her room - we tell her she is - Sam begins to cry.  "No mama, no.  Clay-la too loud."  Tim decides to lay next to Sam to be with her in it.  Thankfully Clara simply rolls over and goes back to sleep.  Tim stays just in case.  After 10 min he is able to sneak out and the girls continue to rest.

night four: much the same as night four - with Sam again protesting.  (leaving me to question if this was a mistake).

night five (last night): Clara asleep at 7.  Sneak Sam in at 7:30.  Tim leaves and within moments Clara is standing up and the girls are talking.  For the next half hour the girls interact in a delightful, playful way - with Sam encouraging smiles and giggles from Clara.  We wonder if we will need to say something, but it is too cute to stop.  Thankfully the girls eventually do stop, without needing our intervention, and fall asleep.

Overall Clara's sleeping hasn't improved too much but I am hopeful.  Neither girl is a heavy sleeper so when one is awake they both are - and at some point each night one has awakened the other, at which point we bring Clara back in our room and put her in the pack n' play. But last night Clara made it until 5 am and that is great!

I am excited for this new stage - for sisters sharing a room - my prayer is it fosters a deep, sweet closeness.  Only time will tell.

happy birthday mom!!

(This picture was from last year.  wow.  I need to take some more pictures.)

Thankfully that doesn't change the fact that today is my lovely mother's birthday.  Happy Birthday Mom!!

I am thankful for you for so many reasons.  You are an incredible Nana.  You give generously of your time and self.  You also are a killer gift giver.  You are sweet and quick to listen to me, and really any random person.  You are thoughtful.  You are thoughtful.  You taught me what it means to be an incredible mom who loves with her whole life.  Did I mention you are thoughtful?  You write an amazing birthday card.  You are quick to smile and don't take yourself too seriously.  You make dinner almost everyday.  You believe in Jesus - period.  Your belief in the Lord's faithfulness is a regular encouragement to me.  You would do anything for me or danielle or dad or tim or jacob or sam or clara.  I love you so much!  Happy Birthday.    

Oct 6

one month away from Clara's first birthday.  crazy, crazy.  a few quick updates - like if i was on facebook more this is what would be on my wall:

what is it about the items under the sink that Clara prefers playing with them to actual toys?...

sometimes i feel like i live with a teenager when - Sam goes in her room and closes the door for some "privacy."  (ie. clara has learned to crawl well and sam needs some space).

i am thankful for what tim calls Clara's "invisible leash" that keeps her within 5-10 feet of me at. all. times.

clara hates the nursery.  full stop.

sam always has a reason for a birthday party.

cinderalla couldn't be more popular.

thankful for times with my mom and sis without the girls - pedicures are amazing!!

i am in love with my pumpkin spice candle.

thankful for more dates with tim.

sam is way into airplanes - particularly airplanes that fly to meema and heeho's house (tim's parents).

it is too bad that our camera ate our first family vacation pictures.  oh well.  and by family vacation i probably more meant family "trip" - or sam's ultimate vacation.  motel.  the zoo.  the science center.  eating out.  oh boy!

our epic garden fail of the season - our potato box.  big box.  few potatoes.

happy saturday!

birthday fun

We have celebrated two very special birthdays this month - Sam's dear friend Finley turned three at the beginning of the month and my amazing sister's birthday is today :)  

here are some pictures from two birthday celebrations:

Sam enjoyed her sucker for a long time - they are quite the pair with her boots and his hat.  

 kisses for Clara - precious (Conner is Fin's little bro)

 this picture captures the moment.  Sam has a cold and is so much in Danielle's space.  She is such a good aunt - (not being a fan of germs) but allowing Sam and her sickness to be close while she opened her gifts.  Her first gift - Clorox wipes.  perfect.

Sam has been way into birthday parties and birthdays lately.  She regularly is singing me "happy birthday" and it is almost always one of her toy's birthday party.  We are constantly talking about who's birthday is next and how old Clara will be on her birthday.  So when a birthday party rolls around she is pumped (cold and all).

tooth brushes

Clara loves toothbrushes.  She loves her own toothbrush and she loves my toothbrush.  Whenever I take a shower I put her in the bouncer and give her a toothbrush.  (I realize you aren't supposed to give your children your toothbrush to play with because of bacteria or something like that - you also aren't supposed to kiss them for the same reason... we do both).

Yesterday I heard Clara sucking away and playing with a toothbrush.  I didn't think too much of it as this is typical in our house.  Upon closer look however, there was a problem.  She had a toothbrush in her mouth I didn't recognize.  Not hers, not mine, not sam's, not tim's.  No, thankfully it wasn't a toothbrush I use for cleaning.  but yes, if you haven't guessed by now - Faith dogg's toothbrush.  Gross.

(And yes, there was a small period of time I brushed faith's teeth.  It was shortly after the vet said I needed to brush her teeth or she will need some expensive surgery down the line.  For the record that didn't last long.  Poor faith.)

time with kurtis and erin

kurtis and erin were home for a few weeks this summer for kurtis to teach hebrew at regent.  they came down to bellingham for the weekend of my birthday.  being with them was such a gift!!

 

out by the lake near my parents' house

 dress up with towels :)

 puzzels with kurt

 bonfire in the backyard.  tim was/is very proud of himself for his low-budget fire pit.  i think the most expensive thing was the water tub - $7, everything else was free. 

(i promise clara was also present for the weekend....)

adventures at home

birthday parties with animals

 lots of crawling

 finding a flower for her hair

 and almost everyday we are a cowgirl

swim lessons

are the bomb to samantha jean.  it was such fun seeing her joy and improvement in a few short weeks.  granted she will be in the same level class next time but i was so proud of how she did! 

 

timid at first....

 but not for long... :)

 floating - her favorite part

 learning the "ice cream scooper"