April's Awesomeness:)

Bzzzz the Bee from Preschool
Clare hanging out in the car before a play date
She has "that look" because she is going to open the door and she knows not to.
Clare playing hockey at the Children's Museum during our play date with my friend Lauren and her adorable son Shane. Shane and Clare are about 2 months apart (ish) and it's really great when we get together! Shane is going to a Big Brother a month before Clare so I anticipate lots of fun play dates for the Speaker/Miller households.
Clare and Shane at the News Desk
Clare trying out the fashionable hard hat in the Construction Zone


Proof that my black thumb can raise a plant. I've been killing flowers and plants since college and haven't attempted anything living (inside) since we bought this house. This flower was a bulb and it sprouted up quickly.
One of Clare's painting from home that we sent for Birthday wishes.
St. Patty's Day before school
Chris took this pic on Sunday morning. Play-doh is an outside toy, which Clare failed to mention to Chris. So, she helped herself and he thought it was funny she had to move my book Parenting a Strong-Willed Child.
Clare checking out her "new" castle. Uncle Steve and Aunt Sherry's family has out grown this outside toy and so they kindly sent it our way! We were thrilled and Clare LOVES the castle. She can see it from her window in her room, so she often asks to go see it after nap!



St. Patty's Day Preschool ARt

More Preschool Art (stained glass shamrocks)
Nana and Pop came to visit and they brought Clare's Easter basket! Clare had just woken up from nap (hence the bed head). She was VERY excited.

Testing a Peep. It was a huge hit and it's really in Clare's best interest to LOVE it. Because Chris and I can't stand Peeps so it's a safe bet we won't steal it from her Easter basket for ourselves:)
Bitty Baby and Clare


A great pic of Clare's Shiner:( Clare got a black eye on Thursday of last week. She bumped her eye into a side table and the result was the bruise seen above.
Aunt Jess and Clare (or "my Jess" as Clare calls her)
More Aunt Jess
Post shower and a milk cup
Clare did this all by herself. I came in to see her on the table centering the tiara on her head in the mirror. She was saying "I wish" and waiving the wand in the mirror.
Watching herself
Mommy finally realizing to stand next to the mirror to get good pics.

Chris and I took Clare to the Children's Museum on Saturday night. Per usual, it was a huge hit!
Daddy and Clare playing hockey
Daddy getting ready to teach Clare how to aim the puck at MOMMY:(
Really trying to hit the puck
Driving the ice cleaner (Zamboni?)
Chatting it up as Daddy aims the camera at her while she plays News Desk. She like seeing herself on TV. Shocker.
Playing Princess in the castle.
Clare loved this game. It involved a pulley (see the rope she's holding) and a bucket to transport the ball back to the top of the series of tubes/path. Chis showed Clare and she figured it out quickly. She even could "trouble shoot" potential issues after seeing it once (if the bucket was perfect, etc).
Ball pit


I thought my Title fit my Cheesy Bulletin Board theme:) Plus April is awesomeness:)

Clare has been receiving bi-weekly speech and we've learned that the gist of her speech is....wait for it...your gonna love it....she speaks too quickly;) LOL. So, perhaps from modeling my speech (just a guess). It is something she would eventually out grow, but therapy will help speed up the time frame and give us tips and such to help her overcome it more quickly. Clare gets frustrated when you can't understand her. Plus, communication is so essential at this stage in the game. Overall, we are so glad that Early Intervention pushed her through (since she passed the eval and wasn't qualified).

Preschool continues to be great. Clare LOVES school still and I think she's only sad she can't go more often:) Two weeks ago, Clare was counting (hidden in the ottoman like any normal child) and kept going after 10. Apparently Clare can count to 15 (or 18 as we've heard a few times). We had no idea. She also can count to 10 in Spanish. Also eye opening, as she did it in the tub the other day. She sings lots of new songs and such. I'm so glad she started "school" early, because she has just continued to blossom.

At home we've started working on shapes and early letters (writing). She has the letter C down and sometimes L, but it's a slow go. She is more interested in telling me what to write or draw.

I think Clare's second ear infection is on the horizon, so I'm sure after our Preschool Early Intervention Meeting tomorrow we'll be heading to the Dr.'s (just a guess).

This Thursday is the big day!!! We *should* find out if Wild Child #2 is a boy or girl:) I'll be sure to post an update if I don't talk to you before Monday:)

Hope everyone is doing GREAT!