sentences

Claire has started speaking in sentences more often. Some recent ones included:
"Mommy said no ripping books," and also: "Mommy said no biting."
Others:
Are you cranky?
Where is kitty cat?
Get out of the car.
Need a drink.
Get a banana.
Need a blanket. (One time I replied, "here's your blanket." But she insisted, "need another blanket!")

This last one she said as we walked into the store with her. I was glad she reminded me.

But our favorite is, "I'll be back."

Hectic

Do you ever find yourself trying to finish making dinner, unload the dishwasher, sweep the floor under the highchair and set the table all at the same time?
I made my grandma's Hawaiian Shrimp recipe tonight and opened a new jar of homemade chutney for the occasion. Mark's on his way home and his dad who is visiting is in the shower. Claire went to sleep earlier than usual tonight and without a fuss so I actually have time to sit and blog for a few minutes in spite of a hectic evening. A lot of the time I feel too queasy to cook. Last weekend I picked up some frozen food at Trader Joe's (including the shrimp we are about to eat). Oh, I guess I haven't yet mentioned we are expecting our second child in October.
Claire loves the outdoors and especially swinging at the park. She is getting better at being able to walk all the way there, and most of the way back.

progress

Claire can go up and down our front steps without help now. The physical therapist had showed her how to hold on to the edge of the porch to climb up while standing...yesterday she did it all by herself. She knows how to use the magna-doodle now and was just trying to write on her tummy with the magnetic pen that goes with it.

New photos

There are some new photos on Flickr.

We had fun at the beach yesterday afternoon. Claire is becoming more and more interested in the sand.

anectode

Claire just finished eating some oatmeal and applesauce. I asked her if she was all done. She replied, "More". I asked, "More what?" Claire says, "More kisses." Or course I complied. :)

finally a new post

When you're busy running after a toddler and trying to catch up on sleep there isn't much time for blogging.
Claire is using some 3-4 word sentences that she hears a lot like: What do you see? Read a book. I'll be back. She is making good progress with Spanish and knows a few three syllable words like cabeza (head) and cabello (hair). She loves songs and rhymes that have hand motions and will try to do dome of the motions after practice. She still likes cleaning up messes and took my napkin after breakfast and started dusting all over the house.