Play Day

Claire had some friends over today for a play day. Here are some pictures.

Tummy time for all.

They all found the triangle very interesting.

Then Claire headed up a game of Simon Says. Simon says lay on your belly! These little guys are good.

After lunch we went to play in the sun room.

Excuse me, my Mommy is trying to take a picture of us.

Quick, everyone look up and look cute!

Ben's shirt was so cute. He did some shipping and receiving while he was over.


Saying goodbye to her friends. Clearly, Claire does not want them to leave since she is holding onto Ben's car seat.

Cross Country

Isaac made the cross country team and they had the divisional races today at Earl Bales Park. Claire and I went to cheer him on. The course was about 2 kms with some pretty muddy conditions from the overnight rain. Here are some photos.

Claire and Isaac at the start of the day.

All the grade 5 boys walking over to the starting line.

Isaac getting pumped up to run.

On your mark, get set, GO!

Isaac looking strong at the halfway mark.

The last sprint.

Crossing the finish line - what a trooper!

Claiming his participation ribbon. He came in 30th place out of 72 boys in his grade. He was 8 spots shy of making the city finals, but we are proud of him nonetheless!

A Taste of Daycare

Claire and I started a new program with the Ontario Early Years Centre today called Nobody's Perfect. The centre was very nice and Claire was very excited to be there. When we were about to start one of the workers came over to me and said, "OK, I'll take your daughter, you go on now." I was like WHAT??? No one told me that the course was only for Mom's and that the babies were taken care of by the workers at the centre. Well, as hesitant as I was, I let them take her (I was only in the next room and within ear shot). She had such a good time with the other babies and I didn't hear her cry the entire time. It was really reassuring to know that Claire could hold her own without Mommy. Here are some pictures of her at the centre.

Having fun in this foam circle activity centre. At one point, they put another baby in the circle with her and Claire got so excited. She just started babbling away and was telling this little boy all about herself.

She was so curious about all the new toys.

Looking up with wonder at one of the caregivers. They said that she was such a good baby.

Suffice it to say she will do just fine when she starts daycare in the fall. Let's hope Mommy and Daddy feel the same way!

My Pearls

Everyone knows I'm a lover of pearls and it seems that Claire is also following suit. She really liked the necklace I had on and wanted to wear one too so I let her put on my pretty pink necklace Isaac got me for Mother's Day a few years ago. Doesn't she look pretty?

This made me think of my first grade school picture. I wore a pink pearl necklace and I remember the school secretary commenting on how lovely they were with the whole ensemble. I was very proud!

I post this because I think it's important to laugh at yourself. Do we see a resemeblance between Claire and I?

Happy Easter

The holidays are just so much more fun when you can dress your baby up in a pink, fuzzy bunny costume! Claire was happy to play the Easter Bunny this year. Here she is getting ready to surprise her cousins. She even has a carrot just to pull off the look.

Check out the fuzzy cotton ball tail.

Some shots frolicking on the floor.

Pink is totally her colour.

I wonder if this carrot is organic?

Time for the Easter Egg hunt.

Daddy helping Claire pick up some eggs.

Thaiana collecting her share.

Mya showing off the big blue egg she scored.

And Isaac and Claire Bunny.

8 Month Milestone

Claire is 8 months today! Grandma summed up Claire best when she said it's criminal how cute she is. She is 18 lbs and growing. There seems to be nothing she won't eat at this point. Here are some new pictures of her and the bear.

Practicing her serious face.

And her silly face. She is enjoying experimenting with her tongue these days. She will be talking in no time!

And the latest slideshow of months past:

About Time

We finally convinced Isaac to cut his hair. I wasn't very happy with his hair cut but both Anthony and Isaac say he looks fine. Here are the results:



Anthony says he looks sixteen now. I say don't think so!

What do you think? Long or short?

Little Hitch Hiker

Upon my cleaning travels today I saw the cutest little girl waiting for a ride....so I picked her up! Wow, vacuuming should be an olympic sport when you have an 18 pounder strapped to your back! She had so much fun!

She kept tapping my shoulders telling me to go faster.

Hey Mommy, how much do I owe you?

Grocery Shopper

I got Claire this cool mat to put in the grocery cart when we go shopping. Here's a picture of it.

We tested it out today and she just loves it! She was the envy of all the other tiny little shoppers.



It can also be converted as a cover for restaurant high chairs.

A Day of 1sts

It's been a pretty exciting day for Claire. This morning we took her to her first swimming lesson. Daddy was very hesitant to put her in the water because he thought it was too cold for her. It took us about 10 minutes to finally convince him to put her toes in. (Note this was only a 30 minute lesson....Next time, I'll be taking her in the water for sure.) Claire really enjoyed watching all of the other kids and kicking her legs in the water. We weren't allowed to take any photos but here's an old photo with her in her suit.

After lunch we took Claire to get her very first hair cut. After the pony tails we decided it was time to even out her scaggly hair. We went to a place called cuttie cuts. She was so excited and well mannered the whole time. She was the best customer of the day. Here are some photos:

The before shot. Note the double chin.

The first spritz of water.

The first snip. She loved the little dune buggy she was riding. She kept trying to honk the horn while the hairdresser was cutting.

And, the after shot. She's looks like she's lost about a pound now.

Posing with Mommy and Daddy.

After her appointment they gave Claire a certificate to commemorate the day. They took a photo of her and included her first locks.

My Green Chair

Claire lived in her green bouncy chair when we first brought her home. Since she has learned to sit up on her own, she hasn't really sat in it in awhile. I put her in it the other day and pulled up an older photo just to compare.

Border Crossing

So tell me, would you let this person across the border?

I took Claire to get her passport photo done today and I couldn't believe that they said her skin was too fair so she needed to have a black and white photo.

There was another little girl having her photo done and she wouldn't close her mouth. Claire was up next and the photographer said she's got the perfect passport face. Given her facial expression I think it's pretty funny that her onsie says "Cute and Cuddly".