Saturday, January 29, 2011

January Happenings

Claire has had so much going on these last few weeks!  She can now wave and clap her hands with just vocal prompts from us.  It's very cute.  She seems to really enjoy showing off for an audience and will often do something (like shake a rattle) and then look to someone for praise and approval.

She still loves playing in the childcare at church while I'm teaching.  The teachers say that she just stays so busy the whole time.  One minute she'll be in one place and the next minute she'll be across the room, exploring everything!  While I was at MOPS this week, Claire was moved up into the room with other crawlers and young walkers.  They get a snack in this room, and she had some goldfish crackers for the first time.  According to the teachers, she not only enjoyed eating her goldfish, but she went around and finished everyone else's goldfish after they left the table!  I wish I could have witnessed this.  No question that she likes to eat!

Speaking of eating, we're working on trying new finger foods.  Recently, we've tried sliced cooked squash, sliced cooked zucchini, banana, cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, Gerber meat sticks (she DID NOT like these at all), hard boiled egg whites, shredded cheese, and bread.  Most of the time, more ends up on her than in her, but it's fun to see her working and learning how to feed herself.

Claire is still wearing size 12 month clothes (though she's getting too tall for some) and size 3 diapers.  She usually naps for one hour in the morning around 10:00, one hour in the afternoon around 1:30, and about 30 minutes around 4:30.  Bedtime is between 7:30 and 8:00 and she usually wakes up around 7:30.

She still enjoys her toys--especially her activity table and "Mr. Starman"--but she usually perfers to play with something that is not a toy.  She is so fascinated by new things and just turns them over and over in her hands.  She LOVES bathtime and now will crawl to the bathroom in the evening without us even mentioning what we are going to do.  We make an effort to read with her every day, but most of the time she would much rather be up and about. 

Here is Claire playing at her activity table



Here is a picture and video from lunch the other day.  It was her first time trying the watermelon and cantelopue pieces and she ended up a big, sticky mess!



Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Headed Home

We enjoyed a few more days visiting with friends and family in Michigan and flew home last night.  There was a fun children's play area in the waiting room of the Grand Rapids airport where Claire enjoyed a few more minutes of play time with Bamma and Dabbo. 


















Claire stayed awake for the entire flight home.  Matt and I were nervous about this because we knew that she had to be exhausted, but we managed to keep her entertained with snacks and toys.  She had some periods where she was noisy, but they were happy noises and not crying, so I guess it could have been worse.  Our flight attendant even said that she was just the best baby ever.  I don't know about that, but all things considered, she did a great ob with the entire trip! 

Sunday in Michigan

Sunday morning we went to church with Grandma Weller and then to the Weller coffee--the weekly gathering of members of the Weller family.  Everyone drinks coffee and the men talk in one room while the women talk in another.  Grandma Weller came over to Bamma and Dabo's house for lunch and play time with Claire.






Please no pictures!  We're busy practicing, Daddy!


We went to Grand Rapids Sunday afternoon to celebrate Grandma Huyser's 85th birthday.  Aunt Michelle, Jeremy, Marci, Ben, and Madelynn joined us for the celebration.




Saturday in Michigan

Saturday morning we enjoyed brunch with the Weller family.  Later that afternoon, we went to Grand Rapids to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Huyser.





The three Cla[i]re Huysers 






On the way home from Grand Rapids, Matt took Claire on her first sled ride.







Friday in Michigan

Friday morning we took Claire to get some wooden shoe "klompen" slippers to match Matt's (they're really just fuzzy slippers shaped like wooden shoes).  At the store, we found some large wooden shoes sized just for Claire... not her feet, but all of her!


That evening we all enjoyed dinner with Matt's cousins Jodi, her husband Elliott and their 4 month old daughter Sadie; and Jeremy and his 10 month old daughter Madelynn (wife Marci and son Benjamin were at home).

Sadie and Claire sharing toys


 Both looking a little awe-struck 

Babies on the couch

L to R: Sadie, Claire, Madelynn



Bear, the cat, was very patient as well


Awe...putting their hands on each other




Claire lights up thinking everyone is paying attention to her!


Claire and Madelynn had a big time drumming on the coffee table together