Claire is 3

We can't pass up the opportunity to say how stunned we are that our baby is growing up so fast. You'd think we would get used to it. Claire is the baby we might never have had after the complications with Audrey's birth, but we knew our family would not be complete without a fourth. She is a joy and a blessing and a force to be reckoned with.

Claire has a strong will and a soft heart. She is generally obedient, but quick to do what she wants before anyone can stop her and tell her it's against the rules. She takes gentle instruction well, but rebels at any directions that sound like an order. Even if those directions are "Put your shoes on so we can go to the park." She doesn't need much discipline, but when she gets in trouble it's just as hard for me to deliver as it is for her to receive. She cries and says she is so sad and she is sorry and be happy mommy. Claire gets even more charming when she is in trouble and it's hard to resist.

Claire has a hilarious sense of humor. One day she was playing at the table and farted. She quickly blamed it on the fly that had just landed next to her. My mom went to put her to bed one night and Claire said "Nanie, my feet are talking to you." My mom asked what are they saying? Claire said, "We need socks." Once the socks were on Claire said "My feet say 'thank you.'" It's hard to convey the irony in her tone when she says these things, but she is amusing herself and the rest of us.

Claire has an adorable little three-year-old voice. "Wook! Wook!" she is always saying to me when she wants me to see what she is doing. When people ask her name she says "I'm Cwaire Macy." I am enjoying it and not trying to correct her at all. We have sort of potty trained her. I say sort of because the accidents equal the successes and the process is ongoing.

Audrey is a good big sister to Claire, occasionally impatient and often bossy. Claire is occasionally accommodating and often ignores the bossing completely unless she decides to make Audrey cry by teasing her or blatantly disregarding everything Audrey says. Claire used to hit Audrey for no reason, but one day when they thought I wasn't watching, Audrey finally got fed up and punched her a good one. Claire did not cry but looked shocked and rubbed her arm. I have not seen her hit Audrey since. I did not mention it to either of them and hoped that as sisters they will teach each other these kinds of lessons when needed and then move forward without holding a grudge. So far, so good. The fighting is extremely aggravating, but we couldn't ask for sweeter girls. Hours go by when the play happily and it is a wonderful thing to watch.

Claire is still our little fruitarion. She eats her fruits and vegetables first, before everything else and sometimes to the exclusion of everything else. Yogurt is her other consistent favorite, however, sweets are becoming more and more exciting. We love this healthy preference but do wish she'd eat a little more protein because she is hungry all the time. After Claire had pneumonia in January she lost several pounds. Between the steroids, Albuterol and a major growth spurt she got really slim and I could feel the difference picking her up. She was lighter and scrawny. She's regained the weight and with the added height is looking less and less babyish. Thankfully, she has not had any further complications from that illness and we are hoping that's the end of it. We are so grateful she came out of it allright.

These days Claire is enjoying her art class and Mommy and Me. She has become more coordinated and can run without looking like she's about to lose all control of her limbs. She loves to help in the kitchen. She enjoys her sandbox and any of her sister's toys. She still takes a nap most days and loses her head around 6pm on the days she doesn't.

If we don't spoil her completely, I expect Claire to become an independent, intelligent, and determined person who is kind to all and confident in her abilities. Not to mention entertaining and beautiful. Either way, she makes her family happy every day and already knows how to follow her heart. We should all be so lucky.

I could just go on and on and I guess I already have. I don't want to forget a thing. Happy birthday, Claire.

Claire's birthday smorgasbord.


Helping mommy make her birthday cake.



The actual size of the cake.



A day at Disneyland while she was still free.

What happened to March?

I guess we were too busy to post during March, so here are a few of the highlights:

Our annual late winter heat wave hit in March. It was 80 degrees outside so we pulled out the sprinklers.





Audrey had her dance recital. These are a few of the girls from her class. Audrey's teacher, a woman who likes acid yellow on 6 year olds, but is otherwise very sweet, is trying out for the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance."





The Goodyear Blimp flew right over our house. It's always buzzing around, but we were right under its flight path for a few days and it was fun to see it so close overhead.