Mr. 'Tato Head

One of Claire's best "spuds," oops, I mean buds, is Mr. Potato Head, or "Mr. 'Tato Head" as Claire calls him. She loves dressing him up in all sorts of different ways. It's a lot of fun for me, too, because I can reminisce back to my own Mr. Potato Head playing days. Today, she decided to dress him up with some beautiful red earrings (even though Mr. 'Tato Head is a boy) and purple bunny slippers. She even fixed him something to eat for lunch - hot dogs! Here is a picture of Claire and her beloved friend.

I'm Back

Due to a hard drive crash and other unfortunate events, I have been unable to update my blog for quite a while. Thanks for your patience, bloggers.

As I start back up again, I want to post a short section of Scripture that is on my heart a lot lately. Part of it is that I am currently teaching this one to Claire, but I also need these verses every moment of every day.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

My sinful heart is not bent toward obeying these verses. In fact, I have lately found myself complaining regularly, neglecting to pray, and wishing my circumstances were different. But this is the exact opposite of what God has called me to do. His will for my life is to follow these verses. How on earth am I to do them?

Three simple and beautiful words, "in Christ Jesus" is where I find my answer. It is only because of the cross of Christ that I can find God's grace to obey his word. I could never bring myself to rejoice in God and truly praise him if it weren't for Jesus dying on the cross and being raised. I could never approach God with my prayers without Christ's costly sacrifice. Any expression of thanks to God from my lips or heart leads straight back to Calvary.

"Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!"

Claire's A

This morning, Claire called out to me, "Mommy, I made an A!" She's been really into her letters lately. She knows all of the upper case letters, and has just started asking about the lower case letters, too. I told her to bring me her A, and here it is. Pretty good for a 2-year old, I think.

"What 'Cuz?"

Ah, yes. The "why" questions began today, or the Claire version, "what 'cuz?"
As in, "Can we watch Sesame Street after I take a bath?"
"No," replies Mommy, "Sesame Street isn't on tonight because it's Sunday."
Claire asks, "What 'cuz?"
"Do you mean, "Why?" asks Mommy.
"Yeah," replies Claire.
Yes, the dreaded day has arrived. Now I will be searching for answers as I am questioned on probably everything I say. On the plus side, it is amazing to see Claire's mind growing and learning as she searches for the answers of the universe - or at least why PBS doesn't air Sesame Street seven days a week.

More Silly Claire Sayings and A Trip to the Zoo

The other day I was getting ready to go to a baby shower, and I decided to spend a little more time on my hair than usual. I usually straighten it and curl it under, but I curled it a little more this time. As soon as I was finished, Claire looked up at me and said, "Mommy, your hair is all messy."

Just this morning, Claire came walking out of the bathroom with a book in her hand saying, "Mommy, my book is all wet." Since she was walking out of the bathroom, I was a little concerned. Looking at the book and seeing that in fact, the cover of the book was very wet, I asked, "How did the book get all wet?" Claire's response was, "I got 'bless-yous' all over it." I asked, "Do you mean you sneezed on it?" "Yeah, I sneezed on it." I was quite relieved that the book didn't come in contact with any toilet water, but still pretty amazed that she had that big of a sneeze - it was really wet!

Later, Claire declared out of the blue, "I'm so glad!" "What are you so glad about?" I asked. Claire exclaimed, "Your hair!" (Maybe she was glad I didn't curl it the way I did the other day.)

We also took advantage of the nice weather today and took a trip to the zoo. We packed a picnic lunch to eat while we were there. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Claire eating her lunch...

Tom Turkey...

Claire and a Goose hiding under the bridge...

Prairie Dog...

Adventure in the Snow

Claire and I set out on an adventure today to Turkey Hill! I know, very exciting. It is much more exciting when you're two and think that the only reason to go to Turkey Hill is for gummi bears. Knowing that Claire is not very fond of snow, I talked to her first to see whether we should just drive the two blocks or if she would be brave enough to walk. I knew she'd get pretty heavy in all of her snow gear. But, she seemed really excited about walking in the snow to Turkey Hill. So, we geared up (which took a good amount of time).



Okay, all set to go. As I'm openning the back door, Claire starts saying, "I don't like the snow. I'm scared to walk in the snow!" Hmmm.....maybe I should have just drove. So, we set out and I try to encourage her to walk since there wasn't much snow on the sidewalk, but she insists on my carrying her. It went fine on the way there (although my arms were getting pretty tired), but I was really concerned about the way back since the real reason for going to Turkey Hill was to get some milk. I'm trying to picture myself carrying Claire in one hand and milk in the other, and getting more and more tired by the second. Well, we arrived at Turkey Hill, and I convinced Claire to walk in the parking lot. I think she was so excited to be there that it didn't matter to her anymore that she was walking. We picked up a 1/2 gallon of milk (I was going to buy a whole gallon, but I thought I'd give myself a break) and the all important bag of gummi bears, and set off for home again. After about a half block, I had a little talk with Claire, explaining that walking on the sidewalk was just like walking in the parking lot at Turkey Hill. That didn't convince her. Then I resorted to bribery and told her that she could have some chocolate milk if she walked the rest of the way home. That did it!



She walked the rest of the way home, and enjoyed a cup of warm chocolate milk when we got there!! Here's the real prize, though...

Here's another good snow picture...

Happy Birthday, Jimmy!

Today is the birthday of a very special guy. We hope you have a great day, Jimmy!

My Little "Helper"

As Claire and I were getting ready to go somewhere today, Claire noticed that I didn't have my socks on yet. I asked her if she would like to pick out a pair for me. I told her to pick out a brown pair. After a few incorrect attempts to find the sock drawer, she finally found some. She came back with a black pair, however. Finally, she (with a little help) found a brown pair that would work. Then she asked me if she could help me put on my socks. Here is a picture of Claire "helping me put my socks on."

A Glimpse into the Mind of Claire Bear

My daughter says and does some of the most interesting things sometimes. I know a lot of it has to do with the fact that she is a 2-year old. Every day I'm excited to hear what she'll come up with next.

A week or so ago, I was vacumming the bedrooms in our home, and since Claire is not a fan of the vacuum cleaner, she decided to stay in her room with the door closed while I worked in the other rooms. I can almost always predict what she will say when she hears that the vacuum is turned off - "You all done, Mommy?" Not this time. She came out of her room as soon as I was finished and said, "Hi...I missed you." The inflection in her voice made her sound like a good friend I hadn't seen in years.

Another time I thought I could predict what she would say was when she asked me for a snack shortly after we had just finished eating. I told her that it wasn't time for a snack right now, and braced myself for the outburst of tears and anger. Her only reply was, "I just had a banana, silly!" like she realized she didn't need a snack and it was ridiculous to her that she had asked for one in the first place.

Just today, Claire told me, "I smell like popcorn." She doesn't like popcorn, and hasn't been around any for quite some time. I asked her why she smelled like popcorn, and her reply was, "Because I'm going to BE popcorn." Oh...okay

Last night, I was organizing some things while she was playing in her room. She came up to me and asked, "Mommy, what would you like to have for Christmas?" I replied, "I don't know." She asked, "A doggie?" I replied, "No, not really." She insisted, "Yeah, you want a doggie." She handed me her Pound Puppy and said, "Here's your doggie!"

Lastly, the other day I was putting makeup on in the bathroom, and Claire had found some chapstick (which she loves to put on herself). She was liberally applying her chapstick to her lips when she said, "If we put this on our eyes, we can see a hawk!" She is somewhat of a birdwatcher, by the way. I just laughed and made sure that she didn't actually put chapstick in her eyes.

Well, that's all for now. I'm sure there will be more silliness to come from my little creative wonder.

Christmas and Snow Fun

Okay, I honestly didn't mean to forget about my blog for this long. Sorry, for those who were checking for an update only to be disappointed again and again. Hopefully you haven't given up on me altogether.

Christmas was a very busy time, as it is every year. But there's something unique about Christmas with a 2-year old. It was definitely a lot of fun, but it means not quite being able to do all that I could have before. Or at least what I do looks a lot different - baking cookies, for example, and decorating cookies especially, comes with the artistic flare of my Claire bear. One cookie she decorated I refer to as the "Ruby Pig." It was obviously shaped like a pig (not a typical shape we use this time of year, but it came with her new baking set so we had to use it), and she tried to shake the red sugar container but ended up holding it in mid-air as the sugar poured out onto the cookie in a mound. Trying to shake most of it into the trash, the entire pig was coated in red sugar. Thus we have the Ruby Pig. Nobody wanted to eat that one.

Here is Claire decorating cookies after we changed the method...

Christmas Day was good - we spent the day itself in four different homes, which made for a bit of a hectic day, but it was still good. I always joke that we run around like chickens with our heads cut off on Christmas day, but I am so thankful that we have family so close by and that we can see them all in one day. It is a blessing. It just makes you need your rest when the day is done. :)

Claire when she first came down the stairs and saw the presents under the tree...

Claire enjoying a chocolate lollipop from her stocking and Mommy in the background...

Claire, anxiously waiting for Daddy to take her new baby doll out of her packaging. By the way, she named her "Barbecue Sauce." And after naming her new doll, she decided to name her old baby doll "Ketchup," since she hadn't named her yet.

Claire, sitting in front of the tree at my parents' house...

Snow Day...

One day between Christmas and New Years (all of those days ran together for me) we got some snow. It wasn't a lot, but it gave us a chance to use Claire's new snow boots that she got for Christmas. At least, that's what I thought. She screamed and screamed when it came time for her to stand on her own two feet in the snow. I've never seen a child so afraid of the snow!! We got her sled out so she wouldn't have to walk in the snow, and that calmed her down a bit.

Then I asked her if she wanted to help Mommy make a snowman. Her reply was, "Mommy do it." So, Frosty was created by Mommy while Claire sat on the front porch step where she wasn't in any danger of coming in contact with the snow. Finally, when Frosty was complete, I asked Claire if she would like to stand - not walk - in the snow right next to Frosty so I could take a picture of her. She replied a quiet, "Yeah."

The One Who Holds Everything in His Hands

"who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him." - 1 Peter 3:22

This verse is obviously speaking of Jesus. The one of whom it is said, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. " Recently I have been in fear for my future - not knowing what it holds for me, and not wanting hardship for myself but especially not for Claire. The truth is that none of know what tomorrow holds, but I can cling to the word of God, and the fact that ALL of my days (and Claire's days) have been planned by him. If hardship does come, which is entirely plausible in this life, it is because he has allowed it to come. If angels, authorties, and powers are all subjected to him, then NOTHING can reach me that he hasn't pre-ordained. And because I know his love for me is sure, steadfast, and unchanging, everything I face in life - even the most difficult trial - is laced with love from above.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." This is the truth on which I stand. I have no reason to fear anything in this life when God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, who has planned every single one of my days, can in his infinite power and might cause all my trouble and pain, and even my own foolish choices and failures, to result in good. This verse also says that I am called "according to his purpose." He has a purpose for me, and he will do all he must to fulfill it.

My heart sings in praises to him for his unfailing love and sovereign power over his creation.

But I Don't Want To Go To Bed!!

Last night Claire and I went to stay with her cousins, Gabi and Isabella, so their mommy and daddy could go out on a date. We had a lot of fun playing, singing, dancing, giggling, and so forth. She was very tired after playing so hard and we were going to make it home just in time for bed. What Claire didn't know was that I had plans after we got home (and she went to bed) to watch Ratatouille with both my sisters and parents. It isn't every day that both my sisters are at the same place at the same time for Claire to enjoy, including my younger sister's boyfriend and very large dog. So when we pulled up at the house and she saw their cars, she got VERY excited. I was a little concerned for how bedtime was going to go. I mean think about it, how would you feel if you got home right at bed time with a house full of people you love to have around but don't see very often who are all sitting down to watch what looks like a really fun movie and you have to go RIGHT to bed??!!??!! I felt really bad for her. So after several attempts to lay down and several cries for more water, and other such bedtime stalling ploys, I finally let her snuggle on my lap while we watched one of the "shorts" before we started the movie itself. After the short, we had to actually turn the TV off and pretend the movie was over so she would agree to go to bed. I hear from onlookers that the look on her face while she was sitting on my lap read something like, "He he, look at me, I got Mommy to let me watch the movie with all the grownups."

A Refuge in the Day of My Distress

"But I will sing of your strength;I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love." - Psalm 59: 16-17

Claire & Bella

Claire's cousin, Isabella, came to stay with us for two days this week so her mommy and daddy could get away for their anniversary. Claire and Bella had so much fun playing with each other. It was so nice for Claire to have a playmate since she is usually left to playing with her much less imaginative and energized mom. These two make such a cute little pair!!

Trick-or-Treat!

I thought this year for Halloween Claire could dress up as a butterfly since she LOVES butterflies. I asked her about a month or so ago if she'd like to be a butterfly, and she said, "Yeah." However, whenever anyone else asked her what she was going to be for Halloween, she'd say, "A ladybug." I have no idea where she came up with this ladybug idea, but I asked her if she'd rather be a ladybug or a butterfly, and she said, "ladybug." So, I made her a ladybug costume. Last Thursday morning (we were going Trick-or Treating Thursday night) she started crying and saying, "I want to be a butterfly!" After working hard on a ladybug costume, I tried to appease her by saying that she'll have to be a ladybug tonight, but if she wanted to, she could be a butterfly tomorrow. That seemed to calm her down, and I didn't hear anything about a butterfly after that. Here are some pictures of my little ladybug...

Going through her loot with Mimi...

Playing a balloon relay race with Daddy...

Gummi worm eating contest: Everyone's a winner!

Get Ready, Get Set...

Go!!!

I can't post Halloween pictures without including this picture of my adorable nieces, Gabi and Isabella, or should I say Cookie Monster and Elmo...

Our Trip to Stone Harbor

Claire and I went to Stone Harbor, N.J. with our family this past weekend. The beach is so beautiful this time of year. Here is a picture of Claire and Pap on the beach.

We saw a lot of beautiful birds including a great blue heron, snowy white egrets, even bald eagles! Thanks to my parents, we know what we're looking at. :) There were also tons of beautiful butterflies flying around. It was so relaxing and refreshing. My sister and her boyfriend found an awesome playground for Claire to enjoy. Here are some picture of her at the playground.

It's Pumpkin Time!

Even though it doesn't feel like it these days, fall is finally here! I love fall - apple cider, pumpkins, baking pies, beautiful autumn leaves. It is by far my favorite season of the year. We went to an orchard the other day to pick out a pumpkin for Claire. Here is a picture of her by the biggest pumpkin they had. (No, we didn't buy this one for her. )

Ephesians 6:1

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." -Ephesians 6:1

Random Comments by Claire

Today we were riding home from the store, and Claire and I had a few very interesting conversations. They went like this:

Claire: There's a brown bus
Allie: Where? (Didn't see any other cars, trucks, or buses on the road)
Claire: There's a brown bus in the tree

Claire: I want to sit in the back seat
Allie: You are sitting in the back seat.
Claire: No, I want to sit in the back seat (pointing to the front seat).
Allie: Oh, you mean you want to sit in the front seat?
Claire: Yeah.
Allie: Well, you can't sit in the the front seat while Mommy's driving because it's against the law.
Claire: (trying to repeat Mommy) I can't sit next to the law.
Allie: laughing, No, you can't sit next to the law.
Claire: Where's the law?
Allie: speechless

Claire: (grabbing at her ear) I want to hold my ear.
Allie: Okay, you can hold your ear.
Claire: I want to take it off.
Allie: You can't take your ear off, sweetie.
Claire: I want to hold my ear.
Allie: You can hold it while it's on your head, but you can't take it off.
Claire: smiling and apparently satisfied with my answer

Reasoning with a 2-year old is quite interesting. I recommend it to everyone.

Pony Ride

Claire, Justin, and I went to an apple festival on Saturday, and they had pony rides. We weren't sure if Claire would be scared or not, but we tried it anyway. She loved it!! We actually did it twice! We didn't get any good pictures from the front, which is unfortunate, because she was beaming the entire time!

Justin took her by himself the first time, and I stayed back and watched. We both decided to go along the second time, and Justin warned me to watch where I step. Well...I tried to do that, but I got so caught up in the moment of Claire enjoying the ride that ~~~SQUISH~~~ yep, you guessed it, I stepped in a HUGE pile of pony poop! Fortunately, my shoes didn't have too much of a tread, and it worked its way out pretty quickly.