Does it really need a caption?

Here's Claire helping herself to some homemade yogurt. I was in the bathroom just steps away and heard "yum, ummmmmmmmmmm, yum yum." Good thing I had the camera handy, this was too funny a shot to pass up.

Caption ideas:

"At least she used a spoon"

"Why you need to supervise your toddler"

"Attack of the munchies"

"Now serving, Strawberry Claire Surprise "

Here are some photos of Claire enjoying yogurt in her high chair before she resorted to thievery.

Join us for lunch!

Here's a peek into what lunch with Claire looks like everyday!

This is from Friday's "pizza" day - what can I say, I was a student for 16 years and a teacher for 5, so old habits like pizza Friday die hard. Claire will usually join me in the kitchen to "help." She has the choice of the pots and pans cabinet to play in or the tupperware one. I'm still up in arms about which is the better choice. The pots and pans can be played deafeningly loud, but the tupperware means a big cleanup. Fridge magnets seem to keep her pretty busy nowadays too.

Once the food comes out all playing stops and on our pizza days she'll beg for bits of mozzarella just like Daddy. At least she's not sneaky about it - ahem!

Tortilla, sauce, cheese and lots of "don't touch HOT!" comments later, 10 minutes have passed and our

pizza is done! Claire picks off the cheese and then puts the tortilla bit into her mouth to suck off the tomato sauce. Only then will she eat the melted cheese. She'll sign for some water and out comes the sippy cup. Claire is drinking from a glass with a bit of help but I have to confess my love for the leak proof straw cup, especially when I'm trying to eat as well!

Lunch ends when Claire announces she's finished by scattering her food all over the kitchen. She'll look whoever is feeding her right in the eye, reach down and drop a piece of food on the floor. Of course you chalk the first one up as an accident. Then comes the double-armed swipe and you realize you weren't quick enough getting her out and the entire kitchen floor is covered once-licked tortilla shells and half eaten cheese. Yep, lunch is so over.

This "all done" method is something we're working on...and the reason all family meals have moved into the kitchen.

If you have a case of the Mondays (hi Auntie Laurie!) or just haven't met your daily quota of cute - there are even MORE photos in the slideshow below. Click on it twice to view full screen.

Caught Ya!

Dan stealing kisses in an attempt to distract Claire from her reading:

Scenes from a Saturday

You can tell by this previous post, that Claire is really starting to mimic things she sees Mommy and Daddy doing. Here are some hilarious photos of Claire dressing herself in the laundry we were folding. Dan was wearing the hat and she kept swiping it from him to wear it herself. It was really cute. I love the photo where Claire is sucking in her little gut - Dan had just asked her where her belly-button was and it appears she was trying to hide it so Daddy couldn't tickle her!

Eat Baby, Eat!

You might recognize this doll as one of Claire's Christmas presents from Grandma Caca. If you look carefully, you'll see Claire has added her own "embellishments" to baby. Yes, that is food shoved into baby's mouth...little Claire is such a toddler now.

           

Introducing my sous chef

I was going to write a nice long entry about Claire helping me out in the kitchen while making pizza dough, but she woke up ruining my plans. I'll just share the photos instead - her flour covered nose tells the story perfectly. Click on the slide show again for larger photos, you'll want to see these close up for sure!

Ok You Claire Blog Addicts :-)

                         

We've been working on a little something here so you have to cut us some slack! SOMEONE is learning to use the potty and it's a bit time consuming, but we've gone almost a week without a dirty diaper. And by dirty I mean poo...sorry no way around that one! Claire signs "potty" even when she's farting and runs over to sit on the john. Other than an accident when Dan was on "duty" <hehe> she's been doing great.

Let's hope for a diaper free baby come summer! Oh, these photos? Yes, I will be using them as her high school yearbook ad. It will be full page and absolutely fantastic.

Mealtime Musings

We installed the suet feeders next to the dining room window this year so Claire and I could enjoy the birds during meals. I'm not sure what Claire likes better, having Gecko so close or watching the squirrel navigate the slippery pole to steal some food.

Writing this reminded me of a similar entry last year - how funny! I guess I need some new material ideas!

http://rcherill.blogspot.com/2008/01/these-are-few-of-her-favorite-things.html

Holy "Mol-E"

                      

Well, vole to be precise. Cut me some slack here :-)

Dan's little garage buddy took a header into the salt bucket and lucky for him (or her) Dan heard the frantic scratching as the vole tried to escape.

Before setting the little guy free, Dan dropped the squirmy critter off at the back door for a little show and tell time with Claire. She was totally mesmerized and kept signing "more, more, more!" 

Gecko looked pretty intrigued too, I'll bet he was planning his next meal. The voles stick to the garage so unless he gets out, Gecko shouldn't see another one of these anytime soon!

Hooray for living in the country and all the wildlife we get to see!

Copy Cat!

Claire liked the clothes cousin Amy passed along to us so much that she unpacked them all herself! Gecko (our brown tabby) was so excited about all the new smells that he had to make himself a new bed right on the dining room floor. Of course Claire had to join in, who doesn't love an impromptu snuggle with their favorite kitty? The two of them rolled around in the clothes for about 20 minutes together, it was so hysterical! Claire is obsessed with the snow boots, the pink ones trimmed in fur are her favorite and she's stomping around in them as I write this.

Speaking of fur, have I mentioned what a patient, sweet cat Gecko is? He tolerates all of Claire's well intentioned tail pulling and eye poking with grace you wouldn't believe. Ray on the other hand, just seems to keep his distance until Claire falls asleep. Then he's happy to come up and sniff at her before curling himself up next to our little furnace baby.