Claire Turned the Big 1!

 My sweet baby Claire turned 1 year old yesterday! Wow, the time sure has flown by! Here we are the night before...we had just bought the balloons home for her party. Claire absolutely LOVED these balloons, and was so gentle and loving with them. Happy birthday, baby girl!

 I have watched as Claire got bigger...and bigger...and bigger...and bigger. She is still very little, but now I can teach her to hold up her pointer finger for one year old!

 Claire can walk (run, but you only notice if you're the one chasing after her, haha!), and she has started feeding herself with a spoon. She can say "mama" and "brmm", but I know she understands a lot more. She especially understands the words "no" (that one gets practiced a lot when she is trying to get into electrical outlets and such!), as well as the word "shoes" and "bellybutton" (she just recently learned about where her bellybutton is). She also learned to blow kisses and has been waving "bye-bye" for a few months now.

 Claire's birthday party was a success! Claire was still asleep when everyone arrived in the afternoon, so she was a bit surprised when she woke up and saw a bunch of cousins there to celebrate her birthday! Overall, she was a bit overwhelmed, but was very happy. :) We had some snack food and punch at the party, and then played a couple of games--pin the candle on the cupcake, and the standard, good ol' penny toss. Next we opened presents, and then came the cake! Above was Claire's reaction to the cake. She really wanted to touch it, but we were trying to keep it nice for everyone else.

 Happy birthday, Claire!

 Claire was NOT sure about the cake. We cut her a little piece, put it on a princess plate, and gave it to her...and she threw it on the ground! I think it was more a reaction to everyone watching her, since we gave her a piece today and she loved it. :) Less pressure, I guess. :)

 "I think I will just watch everyone else eat cake. I don't wanna eat it..." says Claire.

 "This cake looks prettier on the floor, don't you think? I don't really have to eat it, do I?"

 "No thanks!"

 "I'd much rather eat this carrot than eat that cake," says Claire. What a silly girl! :)

 This picture was taken this afternoon after we got back from church. Claire loves this big toy from Uncle Michael and Aunt Heather, and we both really love this sweet, pink dress from Aunt Kristie and Uncle Barth!!! :)

 Claire, I hope you feel like the birthday princess, because you are the princess in this house! :)

 And what a wonderful birthday princess she is.

 I love that cheesy smile, baby girl. I have loved every minute of your first year (those dirty diapers don't count, right?). :) I am so blessed to be your mother.

My silly girl. One year older and wiser too, happy birthday to you!

Claire Can Walk!

Claire took her first real steps today all on her own! She was standing up, and took 5 or 6 steps towards Austin a little while after he got home from work. I'm so proud of my big girl. :)

My Very First Produce!

Now, I have never been a gardener before...unless you count the time I tried to grow a tomato plant when I was younger, and forgot to water the plant. Needless to say, I don't really count that time, because the tomato plant died. BUT, this time the story is different. (Unless the bugs or birds eat everything that grows. At least the bunnies can't get in.) :) In my garden I'm growing this year I have basil, lavender, peppers, green beans, peas, and carrots. I also got a topsy-turvy hanging pot that you can grow strawberries in. I planted four strawberry plants in there...three of them are growing berries so far. :) This is my very first produce of the summer...my very first homegrown strawberry! :) It is pretty tiny, but was quite delicious! :) A mouthful of tart yumminess! :)

Hello!

"Hello!" Claire says. "I love my new home, especially now that almost everything is settled in, and all the decorations are up. I love to crawl everywhere, and I especially love to snuggle my mommy and daddy."

"All these rainy days are making me grumpy, because then mommy and I miss our walks in the afternoons. But that's okay, because I will sleep almost all through the night in my own crib at night, and I go to sleep all on my own now. I think mommy and daddy like that." :)

*(More pictures from today on the other blog)

Linen Closet A La Palmer

How do you like our extra closet in our bedroom? Since our house lacked a linen closet, Austin and I decided to do a little magic trick -- and bibbidi bopidi boo! (and a little muscle work and power tool usage on Austin's part), and ta da! A linen closet! :) Now we are almost completely settled in...and loving our home sweet home! :)

WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!

Austin and I went in and signed an offer last night for the house we have had our eye on...today the sellers counter-offered. We counter-offered again back, and asked for the fridge to be thrown in as well. They agreed! The only difference is they asked $75 for the fridge--a great bargain for a nice fridge! :) I'm so happy, this is probably the best Christmas present ever!!! :) We are closing January 30.

Here's a link to the house we are buying:

http://ebby.com/property/13914106/2017_Arles_Lane_Carrollton_TX_75007-2206

Take a look if you like. :) It's right next to a park, and all the schools it is listed to go to, and close to the library, the pool, and close to the building where the ward is for that area. Yay!!!

Christmas Cookies

Last night for family home evening, Austin and I made and decorated our Christmas cookies. I had been wanting to do this sooner, but we have been busy with house-looking, and our little Claire. We had a lot of fun decorating and cutting cookies with some new cookie cutters we got a few weeks ago at Aldi, listening to our Christmas music! :)

Daddy and Claire being so silly. :)

Austin and his cookies!!! We each did a cookie sheet full of cookies.

Claire--pretending to help!

"Mommy and Daddy, these cookies are YUMMY!"

Claire sat and watched us decorate cookies for part of the time. She was cute as always, and so of course pictures needed to be taken! :)

"Um...I think I'm getting sleepy."

Of course we had to let Claire take a nibble to taste! :) Just kidding...but maybe she got a crumb or two during the pictures. :) Merry Christmas--only 4 more days!