Summertime

This summer and last are about as different as can be. Last summer we went on walks, spent time at the lake, and hung around the house, just like this summer. The difference, however, is in the Claranator. This is what Clara looked like during most activities last summer (think calm, serene, napping...)

This summer it's go go go from the second she wakes up. Usually, I get a nice "mama" and smile before she signs for food, asks for books, and then tries to grab anything interesting within reach. And then she's off to explore the world around her. My friend's little four year old pretty much summed it up when he commented on Clara's behavior (trying to get everyone's calzone, watermelon, salad, grapes, plate, napkins, sodas, shoes, hats, jewelry, etc.) at a picnic this past week. He said something like "mom, Clara likes getting into everything".

Some of the developments in the last couple weeks have been...

*New foods topping the charts recently: grapes, peanut butter on Dave's good seed bread. We're still working on loving vegetables in this household but are happy to say she's tried and tolerated, if not liked, many new foods in the past few weeks.

*The one year molars are popping through. And probably taking energy away from her side hair growth.

*Vocabulary is being accumulation at a rapid pace! Some of my new favorites include: hellooo (think Frank from Father of the Bride), Elmo, yo yo, bike, and Ella (which sounds a lot like Alla)

*Saying animal noises on command. Her repertoire has grown to: cat, dog, monkey, sheep, duck, cow and horse. By far, horse is the best sound. You have to get up right next to her in order to hear her inner-throat "neigh". Hysterical.

*Walking!!! Horray. She has come a long way in the last two weeks. These days she is walking almost everywhere. And getting back up on her feet when she falls.

*Obsessing over her Elmo sing-along book (thanks, Rhiannon), and participating in the "blanket dance" with enthusiasm.

*Stairs, stairs, stairs! The girl can climb & descend them all day long. She's finally mastered the backwards technique of descent and I am quite relieved.

*She's a waterbug! The girl cannot get enough water. Big pools. Little pools. Lakes. Splash pads. Fountains. She loves them all.

*Finding bellybuttons is a new source of enjoyment. I'll tell her, "find daddy's belly button" and she'll proceed to lift up Jono's shirt and stick her finger in his belly hole, then laugh with glee.

She's at such a fun stage right now. Here's a bit of what we've been up to lately. In pictures...