Happy Valentines Day!

Claire is still doing a lot of new things each day and finally loves going to her swimming lessons. Now she asks if we are going to swimming lessons everyday! Claire had a great time at the Midwest Heart Connections Banquet last night. I wanted to share some pictures.

Claire with her heart surgeon Dr. Hammel or as Claire calls him "camel"

This is a friend Joel that we met last night who had his first

 heart surgery in 1969. Total he has had 3 heart surgeries

 and is doing great!

Claire learned how to do the chicken dance

and then she danced all night!

Snow much fun!

 Claire has had a busy holiday season! She can spell her name, count to 14 and identify most of her alphabet. She is still working on potty training but thankfully is almost done with her pacifier. She finally started getting her 2 year molars. We don't have any doctors appointments until she goes to a developmental clinic in March. She is a typical 2 year old and likes to test her boundaries everyday. She just started 2 year old swimming classes where she doesn't swim with Mom anymore but an instructor. It has been a little traumatic but hopefully the next few classes will get better...

Finally some sledding snow! We just got the chance to try out the new sled Grandma & Grandpa Dalrymple got her last year.

 Claire was a champ at opening presents this year! She kept asking, "more presents" ?

 Claire is showing off some of her favorite presents.....

Claire and Grandma McKinney accidentally dressed like each other on New Years. What can we say... great minds think alike!



Holiday Fun!

Chad took Claire to see Santa.. ... Maybe next year will be better :)

We took some time to enjoy the holidays and went ice skating downtown and to The Children's Museum together as a family!

Fall and 2nd Birthday Pictures

Claire had a great 2nd birthday! She is now 23 lbs (8th %) and is 33.75 inches tall (49th %) so she has been busy growing. She is getting better at recognizing her colors and shapes and can count to 5.

The older she gets the more mischievous she is.

Notice all the child locks on the file cabinets in this picture

Claire's Aunts and Cousins

Claire loved to bounce with her cousin Lillie!

My first attempt at making Claire's Birthday Cake.

Elmo Cake take 2....

She could not wait to stick her fingers in the frosting

Finally she wore her costume to trick-or-treat without crying.

She was Mr. Potato Head

Dad was preparing for a rifle class and Claire decided to help organize bullets.

She thought that they were some pretty cool new toys.

Happy 2nd Birthday Claire!

Wow, you are two already! You have grown into such a beautiful little girl! You still continue to amaze us and your doctors! You make us proud "Smarty Pants"! Happy Birthday!

We love you very much! Mom and Dad

Claire in Colorado

We just got back from a trip to Estes Park with some family. It was great weather and we had a lot of fun! Claire was an excellent traveler thanks to the DVD player that constantly had her favorite "Baby Songs" DVD's on. She is getting really good at talking and forming sentences, just don't ask her to say socks. :) You might be surprised as what it comes out sounding like. She will say things like "get it mom" and "Daddy play oh oh" (Which is her favorite song). We are starting to focus more on potty training and transitioning to a toddler bed. Claire had great checkups from her annual Cardiologist and Neurologist visits in September and I can never get tired of them telling me how great she is developing!





Claire "rock climbing"

 We had to stop our walk for a juice break

 Wow look at Dad holding up that big rock!.......

Claire that is not so convincing.... :)

Apple Festival

We went down to Kimmel Orchard in Nebraska City for the Apple Jack Festival last weekend and had a good time!


Claire says,"How do you like these apples?"






















Claire and her friend Addy at The Children's Museum