Christmas 2008

Of all the presents under the tree, Clare was the best gift of 2008! Ann gave Phil some random "treats" from her recent China trip. There was an assortment of chicken feet, duck neck, aloe juice, flavored seaweed, and much more.

This is the chicken foot.

Trying the first bite...and we all heard it CRUNCH!

The boys grilled our fancy salmon dinner.

Clare looks a bit goofy in this picture.She had fun on her first Christmas!Checking out her stocking...

...and gumming on anything within reach.Christmas morning!

Happy in Grandpa's arms!

"My first Christmas"

All SMILES!!!

This was after our Chirstmas Eve service.

Beautiful Busch Baby

We spent the whole day at Busch Gardens, and it was GREAT! The weather was perfect (low-70's and sunny), the crowds were manageable, and the company was unbeatable! We snapped a few family photos throughout the day.

Auntie Ann loves getting her hands on her niece... ...and Clare loves getting her hands on her Aunt. WATCH OUT!
Grandpa and Grandma in their element!!!We were thrilled to have Mari, a dear family friend, with us for the day at the park! :)

Grandpa has quickly become the new "baby grabber."

Grandma couldn't let Grandpa have all the baby time.This is Phil doing a "Gator Talk." Even though he's done this for YEARS, I loved watching him in his element. I was the proud wifey of the handsome zookeeper. :) Notice the gator in the background.

The Hillary 3

Smiling with the babe!

Some random shots of the week...

We've had a good week down here in The Sunshine State. We certianly don't miss Michigan, or all of the snow, as we've been soaking up temperatures in the low-80's.

Clare is thinking about solids,

but we probably won't start her with Edamame.

Clare enjoyed meeting Mckinze last week. :)Grandma and Auntie Ann (to be featured in upcoming pictures) played dress-up with Clare.

Clare wasn't a fan.

These are a few of her favorite things...

Clare seems to prefer her thumb WITH the index finger. She sucks on the two of them together. It's kind of cute. :)Clare has been having a lot of fun with her feet lately. She attempts to pull off her socks, she sucks on her toes, and she grabs her feet every time we change her diaper. She's working on something serious!
She also likes the Tangiball and Jangles.

But her FAVORITE toy of the last few days is a bag of bread. (Yes, we understand the risks of playing with a plastic bag.) She loves it!
Who needs Discovery Toys when you have Pepperidge Farm?

Little Trooper

Clare had her second round of immunizations today, and she was a little trooper. I'm certain that it was harder on mommy and daddy than it was on her.

Here are her four-month percentages...for those of you who care:

Length = 26 inches = 95th%

Weight = 15 pounds 4 ounces = 95%

Head = 16.5 inches = 75th%

(I'm sure that her head would be in the 95th% if it was measured around her cheeks.)

This is using Auntie Ann's countertop as a changing table. It works!

Papa Loves His Little Lady...

...and she loves him too!!! Clare is always happy on Daddy's lap...
...and on Daddy's back...
...and in Daddy's arms...

...and in Daddy's dreams!!!

4-months-old

Miss Clare Ann is 4-months-old today. WOW! It's hard to believe. She's getting so big, so expressive, and more and more fun every day.

Happy Birthday, Dearest Sister!!!

Today is my sister, Ann's, 25th birthday. As usual, she's in the middle of another adventure (traveling from Korea to China on her birthday), and we are SO EXCITED to celebrate with her next week. Ann climbed the Great Wall of China THIS MORNING! Crazy, huh?!CELEBRATE!!!
PLAY!!!
SMILE!!!Happy Birthday, my dearest sister!!!