My Sweet Claire Bear

My little girl is growing up too fast!  I know she is only 4 months, but she is starting to roll like crazy and pretty soon she will be going to homecoming! This girl loves to smile and laugh, especially at her brother.  She is sleeping like a champ, a momma's girl for sure, and loves to chomp on anything she can get her hands on (or just her hands themselves!).  She doesn't really take a binky like her brother did, which I am fine with.  Although I think instead she likes to use mom as one ;)  Below are a few shots of her over the last couple days.  I just can't get enough.....

Here she is checking out her first purse.

(This is blurry sorry)

She had just rolled over and was soooo excited and proud of herself!  Coop was sitting eating lunch when she did this, and he started frantically yelling "Mom quick, Claire, get her!"  Wait until she starts chasing him around.....

Blowing some bubbles

 

Checking out what her crazy brother is up to.

(Thanks Marie for this adorable outfit, it is precious!)

Hanging out at her first pumpkin patch, rocking the polka dots!

 

Love their expressions in this one! 

 

This usually ends up happening by the end of it, Coop lets me know loud and clear when he is done with the pictures.  He just starts to push Claire off his lap and yells "too heaby (heavy) mom, too heaby!"

 

 

1st Husker Game.

 

Oh Sweet Claire Bear.  Don't get big too fast.

 

Quick Potty Training update: He is doing great!  Poor guy made it to the toilet twice this morning on his own but couldn't get his pants down in time.  I forgot the advice about using easy-to-pull-off pants.  The snap and zipper were way over his head.  "Come on people" (as Coop would say).

 

 

 

 

 

Potty Training and mouse-hunting

It was a busy day in the Richard household. Day 1 of potty training began, and Coop was a rock star!  Don't get me wrong, there were several accidents, mishaps, and pee-pee (and poopy) shenanigans going on, but overall I'd say day one was a success.  I pretty much had to be with him at all times though, because if I left the room at all or he went upstairs by himself, chances were I would find a little puddle left behind.  So obviously he has by no means mastered it, but we definitely hit the ground running!

So he was pretty resistant to putting the underwear on the right end, so we ended up just hanging in this t-shirt all day.  No pants.  Well not true, I tried pants for awhile, but after three pairs and three accidents, decided the naked way was best!

He missed.  Close, but not quite.  Enough said there.  Thanks to my mom for suggesting a towel underneath the potty (which by the way is just sitting in the middle of my living room).

Mid-way through the day I discovered a mouse in our garage.  That soon became our new activity for the day (catching it, that is).  I was terrified of it, but Coop had no fear.  So I would always send him over to it when it crawled out.  We got close to catching it, the poor thing wasn't very fast.  Never got it though.  In  the meantime, Coop took a few bathroom breaks outside.  I watched him one time walk over to our side yard, lift his shirt, and hold his pee-pee out to go.  At this same moment I looked over to realize our two older neighbors were just staring at him with this strange look on their faces.  I apologized and told them we were potty training!  That's probably not quite how they trained their kids back in the day! Haha ;)

 

And this little sweetheart has been so laid back these days.  Just likes to sit on the couch and make faces at anyone and everyone.

 

Pray that Day #2 goes just as well (if not better!!!)  Not quite sure what the next move is here.  We didn't leave the house all day today, probably will be the same for tomorrow too.  We'll see......

 

 

A Quick Quiet Moment

It's hard to get one of these around here these days (a quiet moment, that is), but when I do I am usually scurrying around trying to do a million things around the house.  Laundry, make beds, pick out dried macaroni from the highchair....you get the point.  So in the meantime, there is not a lot of time to catch you all up on the Richard household's happenings.  But a lot has been happening, so here are some pictures to tell you the stories ;)

Hanging with his new neighbor pal Ella. 

A little project with Gamma at the Children's Museum

Watching some 3D football with Uncle John

Jumping in the foam pit on an outing to PE 101

Loving me some dress up, especially being a fireman!

Oh and of course, who can forget about this smiley face?!?

Playdoh with neighbor pal Ollie.  And I think Coop got into some markers right before this picture (check out his red eye!)

Claire is becoming more smiley than ever.  This girl loves the camera (and anyone who will chat with her)

Living up the last few days of summer at the splash park

Cooper sandwich!  Neither kid seems to be enjoying this too much ;(

Claire's first visit to the zoo.  She loved checking out the fish!

And some more Lake Michigan time in Grand Beach.  Coop is trying his hand at surfing (yes, with his tennis shoes I know......not sure what happened there).

Some great swimming time in Papa's pool

Gamma and her sweet Claire Bear

The Fab 4

Playing in Grandpa and Grandma Great's basement.  It's crazy that these are some of the toys in their basement that we used to play with growing up.

My sweet girl.  Look at that grin.

A little blurry.....

The Richard and Eccleston clan

Claire officially  moved into her room.  She was excited to sleep in her own crib and slept 9 hours the first night in it!

But that means this little guy had to transfer into a big bed.  Not going the greatest, but we had some success in this pic.  Last night he was up until 11:30......couldn't get him to stay in his bed.  It's only night 3 tonight though, so hoping each night gets better!

My sweetheart is 3 months already (and actually as I write this we are turning the corner on 4 already!)  She is smiling now (obviously), almost rolling, laughing at her brother, and putting everything in her mouth!



Trying to do the perfect push-up with some coaching form Uncle Bryan

Taking a little break on the frog, sure why not?

My cousin Lauren's wedding (not going to enlarge this one because I think my b**b may be hanging out!)  Modesty goes out the window when you are breastfeeding!

Some serious work is going on here.

 

 That's it in a nutshell.  We are sad summer is coming to an end but love the crisp smell and feel of the fall air.  Fall is my favorite season and I am looking forward to a jam-packed fall full of all things wonderful!