A new phase of parenting.........

So as you well know, Brian and I are quite new at this whole parenting thing. Claire started a new behavior this week, it is heartbreakingly cute and very hard not to just scoop her up and hold her close(which I do.....can't help it)
It started around Saturday. We have been telling Claire "No" in a stern voice whenever she was doing something she shouldn't be. Since she has started to crawl and get into things, we have been saying it MUCH more. Her reaction would usually be to look at us quizzically and then move on to something else. Lately, she has been jutting out her lower or "Bompa" lip, it quivers mind you, and her eyes well up with tears. Then to make it even more heartbreaking she buries her head in her arms or on the floor and sobs. It is heartbreaking!! I have been a preschool/kindergarten teacher for 8 years and trust me, I have made MANY children cry but nothing compares to this. I guess we(I, really) need to grow a thicker skin when it comes to our punky's tears or we(I) am going to be in big trouble!

This evening Claire decided that she wanted to feed herself spaghetti for dinner. Here are a few shots of the action and a video of Claire discussing her thoughts on feeding herself.

She did pretty well finding her mouth with the spoon.

Claire did also prefer to check out her dinner with her hands :-)

Being her cute self!

After a bit of clean-up. Thank goodness it was bath night!

Random Bits of Cuteness!

Daddy, the newest easy chair!

Hurricane Claire: Leaving a toy disaster in her wake.

Claire looks so OLD in this shot. Maybe because you can see all those teeth!

Better get this kid in ballet or gymnastics quick, check out those legs, that balance!

Giving kisses to Uncle Steve

"What do you mean I must wait to open this. I think not!"

Rockin' a soapy faux hawk

Playing with Lizzie

Christmas Part Two!!

After a very wet and foggy trip up, the family finally made it to Uncle Jim and Aunt Jami's house to celebrate Christmas. Despite the fact that Claire was still running a fever, she had a great time. We had a lovely family dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. Claire even sampled her first mashed potatoes and gravy which she loved! Here are a few pictures from our great holiday celebration!

Grams and Poppy with their grandchildren!

Mommom hanging with her GREAT-grandchildren!

Claire's first Christmas cookie, a cut-out Scottie dog cookie. YUMMY!

Rhys opening a gift from Santa!

Gotta love babies,

Claire had more fun playing with wrapping paper than opening gifts.

Cousin Rhys helping Claire open a gift from Aunt Jami and Uncle Jim.

He was a great help to his cousin Claire!

Opening some books!

We LOVE books!

Claire felt the tree had one to many candy canes, so she decided to remove one.

A cute shot of Claire and Rhys soaking up the sun.

An awesome singing animal piano!

Thanks Grams and Poppy!

Rhys helping Claire open a purse set.

Claire loves to put things in and take things out so this is a perfect gift!

Claire and Rhys looking cute in a snow saucer!

A Christmas kiss from Mommom.

Christmas Part One!

Since the Stahl family will be traveling to Pa for Christmas, we decided to that Santa would visit Claire a bit early(Mostly because "Santa" did not want to cart anymore than necessary up to Pa). Plus Claire is sick, she has a nasty virus of some sort(not sure what sort since all she has right now is a pesky fever), so we thought we would try to distract her from feeling yucky with her presents!

Here she is studying a new electronic book that sings, reads and lights up! Three thumbs up there! Plus you will notice a Hippo sitting on Daddy's lap(THANK YOU SO MUCH, Auntie Beth)

Gotta love kids, here she is playing with the packaging for her new bath toys!

Santa also brought Claire a Cabbage Patch doll which she LOVES. I have tons more pictures of her touching, playing and smiling at her but these two are the CUTEST!

Stay tuned for Christmas Part Two!!

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!!

Tonight we had the pleasure of heading down to Grandma and Grandpa's to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah! Celebrating with us was Aunt Ally, Uncle Steve, and Uncle Harold! We visited, ate awesome Latkes(thanks Grandpa!) and lite the Menorah. Oh, there were presents too! Here are a few shots of our celebration. ENJOY!

Smiling with Aunt Ally!

Claire opening her first gift: A Hanukkah bear that sings AND dances.

At first, Claire couldn't figure out what to make of him,

later she was dancing along with him as he sang

A remote control from Mommy and Daddy, a sad attempt to take Claire's attention off of theirs.

Claire inspecting a beautiful dress from her Grandparents

Claire's Taggie Ball!!

(Mommy may be a bit more excited about this than Claire)

An animal train for Claire to chase after!

Thanks Aunt Ally and Uncle Steve

Claire and her awesome Great Uncle Harold

Chasing her new train!

A quiet moment with Uncle Steve

Checking out Grandpa's new GPS!

Lighting the Menorah!

Happy Hanukkah!

Random Bits of Cuteness

Claire the self-proclaimed hat-hater attempting to wear her diaper cover......as yes, a hat.

Post-dinner sweet potato hair.

No witty caption.....her eyes just look amazing in this shot.

Don't ask.....we have stopped.

In honor of the season and the 24 hour marathon beginning on Wed.

"I can't put my arms down!!!!"

The Negotiator

The following is a daycare story that is just too cute not to share. Claire and Mason are experts at wanting to play with whatever toy the other has. Well one afternoon this week, Mason had a book that Claire REALLY wanted so she kept taking the book from Mason, who would then freak out(I would too if you took something that was mine :-) So Grandma Barbara would take the book back from Claire and tell her that she had to wait for Mason to finish with it before she could have it. I believe, according to Grandma Barbara Claire repeated this several times, each time Mason freaking out and the book was then returned. Finally, Claire decided that just maybe if she gave Mason another toy, he would let her have the book. So she picked up a toy and handed it to him then took the book back. I forget how the story ended, whether Mason fell for her trick or not but you have to admit that was some pretty good negotiating on Claire's part!

Claire said HI to Daddy

This evening while hanging out in Claire's room, Brian and I folding laundry and Claire "helping". She was sitting facing me and I asked her where Daddy was(he was sitting behind her), she immediately turned, looked at her father and smiled. So we took one step further and told her to wave hi to Daddy and again she turned, looked at Daddy, smiled and waved!!!!!

Yeah Claire!! She knows who "Daddy" is!

Have no fear, we also did a Mommy test and she passed with flying colors as well!

Claire and the Christmas Tree

This weekend we finally got a few Holiday things done. I got to bake some cookies(with Claire curiously looking on), we FINALLY got a photo for our Holiday card(at the printers now, may be a smidge late.) and we got our family tree up and decorated. Complete with our many Hanukkah ornaments!! Here are a few shots from the weekend.

The Stahl Family Christmas Tree

Claire, with Bear looking on, discovering what a Douglas Fur feels like.

Claire hanging her first ornament

Her adorable first Christmas ornament.