A look back

This time a year ago I thought Claire was never coming out!! We had gone 4 days over my due date which felt like an eternity. I thought I was going into labor for about 2 weeks so it really felt like forever. Thinking about where we were a year ago is crazy! We were dying to see this little person. I was dying to get this 8lb baby out of my body! She was moving and grooving in there. Finally....I went into labor at 12:30am the 29th. My water never broke but the contractions were real and were coming every 5 mintues like clockwork. We went to the hospital around 4am. I tried to labor at home but it was getting too painful. I was in labor for 22 hours. At 9:50pm on a Sat night she arrived. The most beautiful little girl...okay, the most smooshed looking little girl! We were all exhausted. My mom and Eric's family were waiting anxiously in the waiting area...all exhausted as well!

It has been sentimental looking back as I plan and prepare Claire's birthday parties. She had a wonderful family party yesterday and tomorrow on her actual birthday all of her friends will be coming over. It has been a fun celebration weekend. All the Cox siblings arrived last week and we have been enjoying their company. She got lots of goodies to play with and unique gifts from the heart. Of course...she got shoes for her new walking feet!

Happy Birthday Claire! It's all about you baby!

Tummy Troubles

First...Claire has had some yucky poops for the past 5 days now. TMI, I know! This has been her first illness. I am thankful it hasn't been any worse but changing super smelly diapers every hour is getting pretty old! Her butt is so red and I know she is tired of everything going right through her. Doc says it's pretty much got to be viral. I did oticed today that one of her upper teeth has finally popped through. YAH! I hope it will give her some relief.

Second...my stomach dropped and I just had an ache today after reading about a young woman who lost her husband yesterday while he was serving in Afghanistan. I read about the loss on my friend's blog and I just felt a hurt for this woman even though I don't know her. My friend Stephanie's husband and this man were in the same troop. I was sad for her and for their daughter. She won't have a dad now. I had my dad for 22 yrs and it wasn't enough. I can't imagine what any less would feel like. The pain of sudden loss is something I understand. Losing a husband and the father of my child....that is a pain I don't want to understand. Sometimes I don't think saying a prayer is enough but it's all I can do for someone I don't know.

On a happier note....Claire is getting better each day at walking. You would think she had been doing it for weeks now. She is everywhere. Unfortunately so is everything else. We are currently looking for the TV remote. HELP!

She walks

She is walking! It's official. With every day she has improved and tonight she was just toddling around. She will still crawl here and there which I expect for awhile but I think crawling is soon to be a memory. Our little girl is leaving babyland and in only 7 more days it will be official. It is bittersweet when I think about it but every time I see her walk I just light up with pride!

(yes, she is in her sunday gear...cardinals jersey watching the game with dad. i am working on a bow so she will be girly!!)

TGIF

There hasn't been much to blog about lately. Last weekend the hurricane occupied our time...watching the TV relentlessly as if we still lived in Houston. It was hard to watch all the damage from afar. Luckily, all of our loved ones are ok.

Claire took some steps last night on her own. She is on her way to being a walker in no time! It is so exciting!

Here are some fun pics of Claire:

oh these curls...

9/11

Happy Birthday Pacey Joy!! 10 years old today! On a day of sadness and remembrance for our nation, I have a bright spot. My sweet cat and companion for the past 8 years. Pacey was adopted at 2 1/2 yrs old from a shelter in Houston. I didn't know her birthday so I added 6 months to the day I got her and it was September. Since I was born on the 11th of May I made hers September 11. At the time it was early 2001 still so I didn't know what the day would come to mean to us all. Eric's best friend's birthday is also today as are many others. They cannot change their birthdate just because tragedy struck nor did I change the chosen birthday for Pacey. Oh Pacers...you are loved.

Today always makes me lose my breath for a moment remembering that awful morning. I will always know where I was and how I felt. It's amazing to have lived through something that Claire will only read about in a history book someday. I never thought in my day and age that I would witness war or tragedy of this magnitude. To all the men and women who lost their lives...I pray for your families. For all the service people...troops, firemen, policemen and women....who risked their lives and still do everyday to protect us...thank you.

All done!!!

We did it! We finished the living room curtains and pillows. If I may say so myself...we did a great job! I purchased the gold colored pillows but everything else was custom created. I seriously can't thank Liz enough for all her hard work. She sewed her brains out this week! She has lots of babysitting coming her way in return! :) I am kind of sad our project is over because we had so much fun together!

BEFORE/AFTER:

Crafting

Thanks to some good advice from a friend I picked up some new hobbies outside of Claire. I am not normally a crafty person or patient enough to craft but it's been fun and kept my mind busy.

Here are some results of the recent crafting. I have been using pictures of more expensive items as my inspiration for some projects or pics of decorating to copy:

1st project, ribbon picture board for Claire's room:


















inspiration birthday tee $34:






















my handmade tee $7 (i laid the rhinestones myself so they aren't perfect but it's cute!):























inspiration picture for decorating our shelves:























our newly decorated shelves & coordinating frame collage: