Halloween

Clara was a kitty cat for Halloween.  Fortunately for us she loved her costume and could not WAIT to put it on each time she needed to wear it.  Here she is trick-or-treating at my office.  Actual Halloween was rainy and miserable, so we only took her to the neighbors on each side.  I have a bunch of pictures, but this one is my favorite.

It's a Mom Blog, Y'all.

I haven't blogged since October, a lot has happened since then.  But this is a Mom Blog, and what you want is pictures, so here you go:

We went to Walt Disney World in early October to hang with Mickey.  What?  Take a toddler to Disney?  Oh yes we did and she had a great time!  I don't think she had a preference between the hotel pool and the parks, but it was a fabulous family vacay.

As a little background, Quincy had a big job going in Orlando and needed to drive down there to be on site for the first few days.  He drove down early in the week with all of our gear and Clara and I flew down on Thursday.  My first experience flying with Clara was made much easier because all I really had was Clara, a diaper bag and a bag of toys and snacks.

These are out of order, but I can't fix them without starting over, so please use your imagination.

And one day it rained and we went to the Orlando Science Center.  Those pics are in here too!

More Disney Food



Waiting in Line



Minnie.  Clara walked right up to her and kissed her on the nose.  No fear with this one!

Napping during the big performance at Magic Kingdom.

Clara and me at Magic Kingdom.

Clara as we walked into Downtown Disney.  Not thrilled.

Clara getting the hang of things.

Clara excited that the Disney Kids Meal includes a smoothie.

Clara picking flowers in Florida.  Big surprise.

Water Play at the Orlando Science Center.

Playing in the kitchen at the Orlando Science Center.

During the Parade.  Skeptical.

On the Safari.  What does a Lion say?  ROOOAR!

Family Photo.

If anyone out there with a toddler is considering visiting Disney and wants tips, I have a few.  Get in touch!

Pictures of Clara at School

When certain people in our lives talk about daycare, I think they picture some scandalous place that's really dirty, where the kids are thrown in a big room and everyone is crying.  Well not Bright Horizons.  Bright Horizons is an answer to my prayers when it comes to Clara's development and my piece of mind while I can't be with her.  Clara is always excited to go to school and learns so much while she is there.  The teachers communicate both in person, through daily reports, and online through a website where they can post pictures and document her development.  Here are a couple of the pictures I've gotten recently:

Clara dancing with Charlotte (Charlotte is only a couple of months older than Clara--she is big!)

Clara reading

Clara playing outside.

Clara telling her teachers what a DOG says.

It's a great place for childhood and a great place for families!

Clara got to bring the class pet, Pup, home with her a couple of weekends ago.  Pup teaches the children about friendship and sharing.  Each child gets to bring him home, play with him and write in his journal.  Then all of the children read the journal at circle time.  Here they are having a good time:

Climbing into the big chair!

Eating breakfast together!

Picking flowers (Clara's favorite activity).

Riding on her favorite riding toy (that I trash picked from a neighbor in my parent's neighborhood).

Playing on the deck!

Playing in the monkey grass.

Thanks for coming, Pup!  I hope you had as good of a time as we did!

Mondays are the Worst!

How could you not miss this sweet face?!?

Picking Flowers

Clara spends a lot of time in the front yard picking flowers.  I have two beds in which I plant annuals, usually just mums in the fall and begonias in the spring.  This year I did put in some vinkas, and I might even plant pansies after the frost so that we'll have something all year. 

Clara's favorite thing to do is to pick the flowers and hand them to me.  I am hoping she will know that the little seedlings I plant in the spring are more fragile than the overgrown vinkas, but I'm not optimistic. 

Here she is in action.

Her second favorite activity is to steal my keys (see picture immediately above).  Every toddler seems to love keys.  My mom got her a special set of toddler keys, but no, she wants mine. 

I feel like I should explain the pearls.  My mom found that strand of fake pearls that I've had since--I don't know--1991? in my desk at home.  Clara loves to pull at my jewelry, so I thought maybe some jewelry of her own would distract her.  And even though those pearls are fake, they are individually knotted so they are toddler safe-ish.  She loves to wear them, even though they do look a little ridiculous!  I do get her to take them off before we go anywhere.

A Baby and a Spigot

I just love this little bathing suit from Carleigh Wofford.