A Texas summer

Just a few pics of our TX trip. We had a great week.

Saw the family,
saw friends,
went to a great wedding,
ate popsicles,
ran through the sprinkler,
had a fun dinner at Benihanas,
and enjoyed it all!

Traveling with Claire wasn't nearly the drama I was expecting. I packed well and had lots of new goodies! It was smooth flying for us. We had lots of fun at Grandma's house. We were able to go out 2 nights in a row while Grandma babysat for us. Very nice! Although I don't miss the Houston weather it is always bittersweet to come home from seeing my family and friends.

Olympic hopeful?

I really hope the heart attack she gives me everytime she does this will make me a stronger mom for when I am sitting in the stands of the Olympics someday rivaling the likes of Michael Phelp's mom! It's actually quite fun to see how ambitous she is with swimming but scary when both parents aren't there to help her jump off the side. She would prefer to jump about a foot back from the edge. That's the scary part. We just keeping working on "toes on the edge" like we did in swim school.

Have mercy!

It's been awhile

I have been so consumed it seems with Stella & Dot....online shopping, playing with the jewelry, preparing for my first party, having my first 911 scare with Claire....that I haven't even sat down to blog anything. It was an eventful week though. While cleaning the house the other day I had left a bottle of cleaner on the kitchen counter. I went upstairs and left Claire downstairs playing for a minute. She pushed a chair over to the counter and climbed up and grabbed the cleaner. She then came upstairs to tell me she was "all wet!". I went downstairs to find the empty bottle. My heart just dropped. I called 911...calmly...and asked what I should do. I spoke with Poison Control and they reassured me that she would be fine (the product was very mild and did not contain harsh chemicals). The paramedics had already been alerted and even though Poison Control canceled the call to the EMT's they came over anyway just to make sure we were okay. Go Gilbert Fire Dept! What nice guys (and not ugly either!). Note to self....do not look like crap when cleaning the house. You never know when accidents may happen! Just kidding. I was so relieved that the product I left out was gentle and not the other stuff I had out only moments earlier. God had his hand on us. On a lighter note, I had a great first party and sold lots of fun stuff! Looking forward to sharing more of the jewelry with friends and hosting more parties. I am ready!

Contrary to the picture, Claire is not potty trained or even trying really. The trainer toilet is a novelty at the moment. She seems to like it though. I dreaded the purchase of a trainer potty more than I dreaded the ABC floor in my living room. I would prefer she sit on the regular toilet. Then I read that when they have their feet on the ground it can help them go potty better. So I gave in. I think she is starting to show me that she is ready and after our trip to Houston I think I may get serious with her. We have had to move on to pull-ups during the day because diaper changes are too hard. If we can get a regular diaper on her we will but the fight is too much for us anymore. All part of her independence I am sure! If she can't put her own shoes on, her own diaper, her shorts and shirts...she's not happy!

Claire made herself a little crafty project and she was quite pleased with her new crown. I think it's time we start doing more arts and crafts in the afternoons. Pre-dinner can be a tricky time with moods around here and having a project the other day sure did make our whole evening happier!

Cheese face

Biscuit has a new "cheese" face. My still photo was not the best so I captured a video of her new smile. I would say I don't know where it came from but Eric and I have a long running little inside joke that involves a similar cheesy smile. We about died when she just turned to us this weekend and was smiling like a goose with all her might!












Claire also loves the phone a great deal. What girl doesn't after all? She found this cute little phone in the Pottery Barn Kids store and it was love at first sight!

























Daddy went to help Uncle Gordon move into his new house this weekend. She thought it would be funny to try on Dad's work boots! NICE! We can't wait for Gordon to relocate for good soon! I woke up Saturday and came downstairs to find Unkie G and Claire having tea and toast at the kitchen table. Too stinkin cute!

Today was ballet class. She made it all the way through dance class today. She did cry but she was so brave and managed to stick it out. When class was over she came out of the room with lollipop in hand. She bawled when she saw me of course. I was so proud of her though. She told everyone that...."I MADE IT!". She can now buy the t-shirt that says..."I survived ballet class!!". Maybe next week she'll actually have some fun!

What's new in my world

I got inspired recently. A friend of mine started selling jewelry by doing in home trunk shows and other fun events. It is called Stella & Dot. I absolutely love this jewelry and I am not a big jewelry person. So I decided to follow in her footsteps and sell the product myself. I have never done anything like this in my life. I don't see this as some get rich quick scheme. Just a fun way of making money and having something for me to enjoy. Sales has never really been my thing but my goal right now is to just have fun and see what happens (and maybe break even! ha!). And of course get some great jewelry in the meantime. I am anxiously awaiting the jewelry I ordered to start my collection!

I even have a website:



www.stelladot.com/kristencox

Trainwreck in tights

Don't get me wrong here. Claire was adorable as could be in her ballet outfit. She was grinning from ear to ear when we got to the dance studio today. It was after the door opened to the dance room and the teacher called everyone into class that the trainwreck began. She was petrified to go in without me as she watched another little girl sobbing in the teachers arms. Not a good start. I know she is young but this really is an age appropriate class...minus mom though! They play dress up and listen to fun music while tip toeing across the floor. We are going to try again next week so wish us luck that things will get better. Claire has some serious stamina when it comes to crying and wanting her mama back. Whew...it can wear anyone out!

If she looks a little tired in the first pic it's because she partied hard last night with her aunt and uncles. She couldn't be any more excited or wound up than when she's around her "fan club" (which is everyone in our families and that's a lot of people!). She slept in til 8 today. I actually had to wake her up. She lifted her little head and the first word out of her mouth was...."Carolyn". Her Aunt Carolyn was the last face she saw last night and she was ever so hopeful that she was still around. She was halfway back to Chicago though.

Happy Daddy Day

We had a nice low key Dad's day. A little lunch at Gordon Biersch. A little playground time. Some steaks for dinner so Dad could be grill master or "Patio Dadio". We are such lucky girls to have a great man in our life. We don't tell him often enough but he is pretty darn special!