Big verses small

A great way to teach Clara opposites. Small doggie is on the left, big doggie is on the right. :)

Valentine's Day 2011

As I sit here on Valentine's Day, I want to remember all the reasons why I love my husband.

1. he is a dedicated person

2. he is sensitive

3. he is loyal

4. he is cute

5. he is funny

6. I appreciate that he has watched Clara so I can run 800s on the track

7. he is supportive

8. he gives great hugs

9. he loves our daughter

10. he is the BEST!

And I love everything about him, seriously I do. I remember my former officemate, Monique, asking me if there was anything I would change about him and my answer was no. Mike is one guy who I wouldn't change a thing about. Yes, he may have annoying habits and I let him know it but that is what makes him Mike. Never would have thought there would be someone out there who I would love unconditionally (and as much as I do) but there is. And I found true love.

Jocelyn's first photo

Jocelyn's first photo.

I think she did a pretty good job.

Jocelyn's second photo, me :) .

Jocelyn

When Jocelyn and Jessica were here in December, I let the girls "play" with the camera. These are Clara's first photos. I call it the "Jocelyn Series." (a few selected ones from the whole series.)

See how Clara tried different angels and how she changed the framing of Jocelyn (trying to sound technical). A budding photographer.

Ok, so I am a bad mom...

...well maybe I am not a bad mom. I am the bestest mom, my little girl loves me to pieces because I bought...

THIS... So I am just a plain bad person. I shouldn't be splurging away our money on frivolous things like this and I had a feeling Mike would not be pleased. But you should have seen how cute Clara was with it in the store. And, it was over 50% off so I got it for a pretty good price.

We were heading to Hallmark to buy some cards and as we drove past the stores' windows Clara starts saying "tiger, grrr." I parked the car, we got out, I wondered where this tiger was. I didn't see one in any stores. So we walked in to Hallmark and immediately Clara goes over to this stuffed animal and gives it a huge hug and says "tiger." I laughed. And said "Clara it is a dog, isn't it cute." Clara just squealed like she does when she is in love with something and gave it lots of hugs. I had a hard time pulling her away from it to look at cards but I got her away from it. She would have been fine had I not bought it but she kept going over and giving it hugs. She just looked so cute. And I just could not pass up that huge, cute, husky stuffed dog. So it came home with us.

And here is Clara with her new best friend.

Clara's first snowman

The day after 6 inches of snow were dumped on us, it was sunny outside. We headed out back to enjoy the snow and sun.


The husky in Bear comes out in the winter weather. She loves the snow.


The snow is up to Clara's knees!


Helping daddy build a snowman.


Posing with the finished snowman.

Photos from December 2010

Photos from December 2010

Our Christmas tree and advent wreath.

Sad story about our tree. We bought it from the Lion's Club. It took us forever to pick up just the right tree. Three days before Christmas we notice these black dots appearing all over our carpet. Our tree was full of bugs. Sad, we had to get rid of our live tree. So we put up one of our fake ones. Still looked really pretty.

Trying to get a photo of Mike with some of the kids. Clara, Jocelyn, and Matthew are in his lap.

The Meyer grandchildren. From left: Peter, Susan-holding Daniel the newest grandbaby, Matthew, Jocelyn, and Clara.

Jocelyn is tired after a long day of playing and opening presents.

Jocelyn and Clara looking out the window. Maybe they are looking for Santa's sleigh.

Cousins enjoying a snack together.

Clara's third snow (the first snow was on the day she was born). 6 inches fell in the area the day after Christmas. It was just enough to make the place look pretty, yet we were not stuck inside.

Up next, Clara's first snowman....

Clara visits Santa

There is a new interactive toy store in the area called PB&J Fun Factory. Santa was there in December seeing all the good little boys and girls. So we headed that way so Clara could sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. And they were allowing folks to take photos with their own cameras so...have to take advantage of that opportunity (and not pay the outrageous prices they charge for one photo at the mall).

Clara did quite well with Santa. The first time on his lap she cried but that was because she saw a giant stuffed giraffe and she wanted to hug that instead of sit on Santa's lap. So we let her have a moment and tried again. She then was fine.

Clara asked for toys, games, puzzles, books, and candy for Christmas.

Site note: For some reason she doesn't have that stranger fear, which can be good (when you want to get photos of your child not crying on Santa's lap) but can also not be so good. She puts her arms around other moms' legs when we are at playdates or something and she says hi to everyone she sees. It is actually quite cute. I still remember the first time she said hi to everyone in the grocery store. Luckily most said hi back and they thought she was real cute.

Family photo with Santa

We took Bear to see Santa at Petsmart this past December and had a family photo taken.

Bear asked for a bone, a squeeky toy, and candy for Christmas.

Christmas 2010

We celebrated Christmas three times. It was a relaxing and happy time.

First all my side of the family came to Chapel Hill before Christmas. Mike and I were lucky to host my sister Jessica and her daughter Jocelyn. Clara and Jocelyn had so much fun together. Jocelyn cracks me up (but that is for another post).

Second, we celebrated Christmas day at our house, just the three of us together. I made my first turkey. Of course it was just a turkey breast but I marinated it overnight and cooked it and it tasted juicy and good. Pretty impressive.

Third, we headed up to the Grandparents Biasi's house after Christmas. It was a little iffy because the day after Christmas the whole east coast was slammed with a snow storm. Here in our area we got around 6 inches. The further north one traveled, the more snow one saw. Mike's family up in Virginia got around a foot to 14 inches. But by Wednesday the main roads were fine so we made the trip. It was fun. We saw Raymond, Preston, and Lila Anne too (Melissa was sick :( ). Clara enjoys her cousins. After they left, she asked for them all the time.

Here are some photos from our three Christmas celebrations:


Opening presents at Grandparents Meyer's house.


Christmas Day: Clara is lovin her new chair from Santa. And the Santa in the photo reads to her the story Twas the Night Before Christmas.


Opening presents at Grandparents Biasi's house.