Sunday, February 28, 2010

Pony Tails

So as I start this post, I realize that many of my recent pictures of Claire are of her in her high chair. I think this is just because that is when she actually sits still. She is so fast and energetic, I am hardly able to get a good picture of her anywhere else. Oh well...

Anyway, Claire got her own brush and pony tail holders for Christmas. It was about time because our girl has a lot of hair and it was always falling in her eyes, thanks to a well placed cowlick. For a few months she was letting me put either a single pony tail on top of her head or pig tails in so that she could have her hair up. Of course that phase is over and she pulls anything I put in her hair out. Ah, one year-olds!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

PB&J

Now that Claire that Claire has passed the one year mark, there are a few new things that she is allowed to eat. She made the switch to whole milk pretty seamlessly. She also can eat eggs, which she loves, in many different forms! The last thing we exposed her to was peanut butter. She had a great time munching on her first PB&J! We are delighted that she continues to be a pretty well rounded eater (though we do hear "no" often) and enjoys trying new things.

Claire also continues to amaze us with her progress... nope, not ready to let go and walk yet. She does, however, push her lion toy all over the first floor chasing the cats. Her vocabulary continues to grow and includes: mama, daddy, hi, bye, baby, ball, baa, moo, no, yes, night night, more, all done, kitty, down and many things we just don't understand. She now will hold a phone to her ear and say "hi, hi, hi" which is hilarious. She can use a spoon to feed herself and the bottles are gone, just big girl cups. She now helps with dressing and undressing, brushing her teeth, and brushing her hair. What a big girl!!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

A Day at the Children's Museum

On Martin Luther King Day, Ari and I were both miraculously off so we (along with most people in Cincinnati with children) decided to take Claire to the Children's Museum for the first time. I wasn't really sure how much there would be for a 13 month-old and I was pleasantly surprised. They actually had a very large area separate and monitored by museum staff to keep big kids out. There were areas to play in water and sand as well as places to climb. Claire had a great time. The worst part of it was that we didn't time it right so she missed her afternoon nap and had a melt down after we left. Bad mommy and daddy! I can't wait to take her back (at a better time of course)!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Christmas

Christmas rounded out our winter celebrations. We started the festivities when we were in Chicago for Thanksgiving and took Claire to see Santa at the Macy's on State Street. We had lunch in the walnut room next to the beautiful tree and then were off to see Santa. We entered the Christmas village and I was confused because the line was moving really fast and I couldn't see Santa. Then it hit me, the people at Macy's are geniuses! When you got to the front of the line you were escorted down a hallway to a room where Santa was... you see, there were many, many Santas but the kids couldn't tell! I was already worried because Claire has stranger anxiety and is not a fan of facial hair, but our Santa was great. They put Claire on his lap facing out and he talked in this very calm, soothing voice so she did great!

Christmas day we celebrated at our house with my mom and eventually Kristen and Larry. As you can see by the tree, despite the presents she received for Hanukkah and her birthday, Claire was not short changed on Christmas. I am sure the people who own stock in Toys R Us will be sending us their thank you card any day. I have to say, however, the most popular toy Claire received was from my dad... a princess mobile. Claire loves getting on it and either daddy or I pushing her all over the playroom or running really fast down the hall. She screams with delight! She also enjoys all of her other toys and if you have seen our play room you would know that they all get used and abused.

Claire's First Birthday

Claire's first birthday fell right in between Hanukkah and Christmas... boy are we going to be doing a lot of celebrating from Thanksgiving to the New Year for the rest of our lives!! We first went and got professional one year photos taken complete with pics of Claire and her first cake. I am a very bad mother so I haven't ordered any yet. You will just have to take my word that Claire was a complete charmer. The cake photos were hilarious because she really is never exposed to cake. She sat there daintily eating with her pincer grasp, picking off all the icing and keeping one hand clean. Uh oh, I think we have a pretty, pretty, princess on our hands! Shocking that she would be such a girly girl! Then we had a party/dinner for the birthday girl the next day. You can see by the present table it looked more like a wedding than a birthday party, boy was she spoiled! She opened all her gifts and then we ate. The food was delicious if I do say so myself; I made stuffed shells with homemade bolognese, fontina and artichoke lasagna, and a chopped salad. By the time we got to cake, she had totally lost her sense of humor and the only way we could get her to eat any was sitting on my lap and eating with a spoon. Poor girl! Don't you love her birthday hat? That is a creation by my sister. I think she could totally go into business making personalized hats!! Hats off to our one year-old!!

Hanukkah

More catch up... Claire really enjoyed her second Hanukkah. She has two dreidels that she loves to spin and watch daddy spinning. She also somewhat understood the idea of presents. Playing with the wrapping paper and ribbons was really fun. She got great gifts from all of her Jewish family and is so thankful!!

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

ASH in New Orleans

Right after Thanksgiving but before all the December festivities, I went to New Orleans for the annual American Society of Hematology meeting. I was really conflicted about going, it is a wonderful meeting in an exciting city that I had never seen, yet this would be the longest I have ever been away from Claire. I went and it was well worth it. It is amazing to be surrounded by the leaders in your field, definitely motivational. My co-fellows and I enjoyed the meeting and all New Orleans had to offer. The food was amazing. I loved everything from the shrimp and grits to the gumbo to the bacon sundae... yep, bacon and ice cream are a winning combination. We ate at Emeril's Delmonico and I ate the best oysters I have ever eaten. The scenery was also beautiful, I loved the gas lamps that lit the walkways and the amazing architecture. We also wandered around a cemetery. We also did enjoy the local beverages, making it to Bourbon Streets' Pat O'Brien's for a hurricane. Some people I know learned that it is best to stop after just one! It really was an excellent trip but I was glad to come home to my wonderful family!!