Update Update Update... of Claire, of Course!

I have to say, it's hard to just take pictures of Claire. She is just so fun and so talkative, I want to take video ALL the time! Caution: SUPER long post... seems like I've been doing huge not-as-frequent posts lately...ahhhh....

Here's a little summary of some funny things she's been doing lately:

And here's her first time at the McDonald's play area:

And finally, here she is on this makeshift "slide" Jordan devised in our living room one day (it's a shelf). She had a BLAST.

Other funny things she's been doing:

* Lots of times when we wake Jordan up for work (since he sleeps during the day), it's hilarious because she insists that he put on his "whap-tee" first thing. Those are his "glasses." Haha! It's like he isn't Daddy unless he has his glasses on, so she'll keep saying "whaptee, whaptee, whaptee" until he concedes.

* Claire is a master of animal sounds. In fact, the other day, I'm on speaker phone with my mom and she won't say "hi" to Grandma, but when I ask her what a tiger says, she has no problem growling for Grandma. It was really funny. She also growls for bear and lion. She calls Elephant "Ellie" and does the "sssss" sound for snakes (which she LOVES to see at the zoo!). She also of course, continues to make the appropriate sounds for pigs, cows, ducks, horses, sheep, and birds. Grandpa Taylor also thinks it's fun to get her to say "baboon." She says it so cute :)

* Claire loves reading books. Seriously, I want to get more books just because I AM so sick of them!! She gets upset when we're done reading books and need to brush her teeth.

* When I put her to bed, I sing her a couple of songs... if she's upset about the fact we aren't reading books still, "Baby Beluga" and "Going to the Zoo" songs (Raffi) totally make her happy :)

* Every night we say prayers. That also always makes her happy if she's upset about going to bed. I sit beside her crib, put my hand through the bars, and hold her hand. She repeats a lot of the things I pray for, like "thank thee for grandma and grandpa, mama and daddy, Jesus, etc." She is soooooo cute.

* Jordan taught her to say "uh-oh" when she drops something. Now, she says it all the time, and it's ADORABLE. She'll repeat it over and over again until she can pick it up or someone picks it up for her.

* Jordan also taught her what it "sounds like" when you go nigh-night :) She now is a pro at making SNORING noises!! It's so funny. I'll have to get that one on video--and uh oh too!

The beginning of the terrible 2's:

So, apparently, they begin at 15 months, according to my Toddler 411 book. Good thing...I thought Claire was just jumping the gun!!

* Notice how I said "if she's upset" at like every transition point in her routine? Haha... yeah, kids this age have a hard time with transitions. It's a fact, and Claire is definitely no stranger to it :)

* It's tantrums a plenty at our house... she freaks out when I put her pants on--pants, skirts, shorts, etc. Even when I give her options, like they say in Love & Logic. Any suggestions?

* Things she used to eat...well, it just depends on the day!

* Playing with other kids...she's still trying to get the sharing thing down. When a kid is smaller than she is, she bullies them, and when that kid is bigger, they generally bully her. Guess it's the age!

* Claire used to like to brush her teeth...now it's like I have to pry her mouth open! Ah! But you know, it's just one of those non-negotiable things!

Well, I needed to record her "terrible" behavior so I have her gratitude one day for putting up with it, haha...jk. Just keepin' it real!!

She really is SUCH a sweetie though...despite any tantrums or "bad" behavior...she is loved 100% and every time we say prayers at night, I just can't help but think about how grateful I am for her.