Feeding Bear

Clara learned early on where Bear's food and water bowls were kept (I have to admit, we have not babyproofed our home as much as parents should with a toddler). But I have tried to teach Clara what is good and what is bad instead of locking all the cabinets and hiding all the plants, etc. I guess it also helps that I usually stay involved with what she is doing throughout the day and although she is curious, she is good about staying away from stuff after you've told her "no" or "dangerous" etc. And she has never been a very oral baby (she didn't put much in her mouth like other infants do when learning about the world).

So anyway, at first she would just go over to Bear's food and water dishes and point to them. Then she would watch mommy and daddy fill up the dishes for Bear. Then she started to follow us as we poured in the food from the pantry and brought the food bowl back its area. Well, today she actually did it herself (wow a 21 month old is learning how to take care of a dog!). She pointed to the food bowl to let me know it was empty and then picked it up and took it to the pantry. So I lifted her up so she could reach it in the container to scoop up the food. She proceeded to scoop up the food, then I put her down and she walked with the bowl and put it back where it belonged. Then...she took the water bowl and picked it up. So I lifted her up so she could reach the sink and she held the bowl so it could fill up with water. Then I put her down and she took the bowl back to where it belonged.

We are not finished yet. THEN...she went over to Bear and informed her that she had food and water. She "led" Bear over to her dishes and pointed to them to let her know she could eat and drink (she was "talking" to Bear the whole time).

I could not believe it, that she actually performed a "chore."

She is adorable. If only Bear knew how much that girl loves her (since Bear cannot hear, I don't think she really knows that Clara loves her very much. Clara constantly says Bear's name and talks to her and tries to play with her). It is so cute!

Feeding Grandpa

Clara's newest thing is making sure everyone/thing is taken care of. She offers people food and drink. Even her blankie and stuffed animal friends. And earlier I posted a video on facebook of her feeding Bear her snacks.

Here she is feeding Grandpa lunch on Thanksgiving Day.

Marathon mommy

The last marathon I ran was the ING Georgia Marathon in March of 2008 so about 2 1/2 years ago. I attempted to train for the City of Oaks Marathon in the fall of 2009 but my head was not in it. Then I started to train for a new marathon, Tobacco Road, in March 2010 but...I sprained my ankle. So I set out one July morning and said, I am going to run this marathon this fall no matter what. And I did. So I completed my 15 marathon. And my first one as a mom! It was nice to have my daughter added to the fan support. (At one stop she cried because she wanted me to hold her :( .) Some photos from the morning.

The 7am start. It was 30 some degrees, but at least there was sun.

My friends, Jen and Melissa, came and ran some miles with me (through Umstead Park, the lonely and probably most difficult section of the race). Also saw a friend Robert on the sidelines cheering. That was a nice surpise.

Waiting for mommy to run by (around the entrance to Umstead).

Coming up the hill by the art museum.

Cheering for mommy is hard work + the fact I woke up early = I am tired.

The finish. I didn't have a real goal in mind but I kind of wanted to break four hours. I ran 4 hours and 2 minutes. As usual the last six miles were the most difficult. Mile 23, 24, and 25 were about a minute slower than what my pace was the whole race. But I kept the legs going and do feel good about my race.

And at the end, I got a massage. The BEST thing to do after a marathon. And come Monday, I could walk.