Update

Opening up a present from Nana for Valentines Day! She loved pulling each of the cone shapes out of the bow that was on top. It was really funny. It kept her busy for like 20 minutes!
She felt something inside the box and thought it was funny to keep sticking her hand in and then pulling it out and giggling like she couldn't believe what she felt.
Hanging out with her new pillow, ready for nap.

Breaking out of Aunt Ginny's. Clare can now reach the door handles in our house. This may be her most frightening current achievement. She still can't quite understand how to turn the knob and pull it open, but I'm sure that's soon.
This is picture #1 from our less than successful art project of the day. This was all of the paint I had put in little dollops around the plate in the shape of a color wheel.
This is the future artist's painting.
This is why this particular art activity was "less than successful".

Clare totally ate the paint. I was holding the plate and had her pinned in between me and the easel. She was more excited to paint my thumb holding the plate than the paper, so I got up to wash my hands and turned around to her eating the paint.

And the best part? She totally went back for more. She even dipped her paint brush in and took a second bite, saying "Yummm" as I went for my camera like any good parent would do. It was seriously gross.
At Aunt Ginny's playing with Mr. Potato Head. She really liked him. I'm think the Easter Bunny may put one in her basket.
More Mr. Potato Head.
She is getting "talked to" by me after running down the hallway and being rotten.
Smiling with Aunt Jessica.
She found this piece of twine and was really exploring what kind of trouble she could do with a piece of twine and a hammer. God only knows what she could accomplish with this.
Practicing with her little yogurt cup like a drinking cup. I put milk in it and was working on her drinking like a big girl.

If like a Big Girl, you are mentally picturing her taking after me and spilling the vast majority down the front of her, you would be right. It's actually kinda shocking I manage to "drink" as much as I do.
This was the second table manners project. We are working on my being "patient" and her using a spoon. I've decided, maybe, just maybe, she'll have to master a spoon before college. I'm not sure her roommate will be okay with her still using a paci and only eating finger foods. So, I've heard it's great to give them foods they really like to encourage them to "keep at it" rather than feel discouraged with the spoon.
Thus,
Spoon+Chocolate Pudding+Mommy talking on the phone=This picture above.
And this one.
Her totally signing "more" after I took away the pudding.



These are our most recent antics. Clare has the sniffles (just started yesterday) so we are waiting to see if it's the last incisor or a cold. She seems to be in high spirits, so it's probably a cold. We've also started "family dinner" with a new highchair (YEAH Ikea) so that's been a big chunk of my day (cleaning up the mess).

I can't believe Clare's almost 18 months old. I had to schedule her appt. the other day for her 18 month check up and she's really a toddler. I'm not sure where the time went. It feels like only yesterday she was 4lbs and 13oz and we had her in her little car seat on the way home from the hospital. Not sure if it's because Bec is due so soon, or all of my college roomies having little babies, but I can't get over how big she is and all of the stuff she's doing.

For example:

-Clare has started singing. It's very clear that there is no American Idol in her future (well, maybe on the reject film). She sings her version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with all of the cute hand signs. It's totally cute, never gets old and only remotely entertaining to anyone that's not related to her the first time. But we make her do it over and over again because it's so cute.

-Clare is trying to whistle. I have no idea why or where she learned it, but she sucks air in and whistles in the car all of the time now.

-She is still doing her Aunt Erin game, except instead of a slide, she marches around going "Ready, Set, Go...Weeeeee" over and over again.

-She is still "counting". She says "1, 2" and then makes noises like she can keep counting above that. It's so cute.

-She fake "reads" her books. She'll sit on the floor and read out loud, even using her finger like she's marking her place.

-Still the cutest, is her "talking on the phone". She'll pick up our cells, house phone, remote or anything with buttons and hold it to her ear, walking around, saying "Hello? Hey! Wha Wha you? Good!". It's really funny.

This list could totally go on all day. And I can't get enough of all of it. She's just so cute! And funny! And talkative! And rotten! And smart! And wild!

So, hope all is well. My backside and ego are better from the fall.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!