Great week!

*Note - This didn't get posted over the weekend!

It was a great first week of summer! Kate had VBS this week where she goes to school. I fell in love with Kids Under Construction (KUC) and now I've fallen in love with the Sterling Methodist Church community. They were energetic and absolutely wonderful with the kids. I was worried at first, but by the end of the week, Kate had learned 9 songs (she loves to sing), made lots of friends and of course learned lots about JESUS! Many of her friends from school where there, particularly her best bud, Kellen!

Another delightful thing happened. Went in to get Claire one morning and found this! Silly girl was practically hanging over the edge! Time for the inevitable, lower her mattress. Until you actually have to put a crib together, you don't realize how much of a pain it truly is. After untying the bumper, pulling the mattress out, taking the bed skirt off, lowering the frame and reassembling, life is good. Or until she meets her next goal and figures out how to pull herself up. Then we'll start the process all over again. = )

The week ended with a fabulous weekend! Kate and I had mommy/daughter time Saturday. We survived the "Perils of Sterling" putt putt. Kate had a blast, though it didn't occur that this really cool jungle setting could be a bit scary for a 3 year old. After that we went to check out this house that's been for sale on RT 7. It's this huge house, sitting on some prime property right on the border of Fairfax county and Loudoun County. I've always been so intrigued. Let me tell you, now I'm totally freaked out!!!! I totally got the heeby -jeebies walking around. I later came to find out it survived the Civil War and overlooked many of the weary travelers. CREEPY!!!! It is a great house, but of course needs a ton of work. It's called Holly Knoll! It was built Circa 1858! Check out!

After we speed away quickly, while the ghosts chased us down the long tree cover drive, we met up with Wood and Claire at the mall for a nice lunch. The girls were cute as always, so I captured a couple pics.

Claire is 9 months!

My little Claire Bear turned 9 months on Father's Day! Though my "little" girl is not so little any more! She now weights in at 24 lbs and is 30.5inches long. Yes my friends, she is 3 months shy of a year and only 6inches from being 3 feet tall. Though I don't know why I'm so surprised. Like, duh! We breed them big! = )

The good news though, is we went to a ENT (ear nose throat DR) and he said if we can't clear the fluid in her ear, which has been causing her poor eye to be gunky, then she'll have to get tubes. Well we did the round of antibiotics and I am happy to report no gunky eye! This is definitely a step in the RIGHT direction!

Yes this is incredibly exciting for me, but what's even MORE EXCITING, is that Claire is now able to get from her belly to a sitting position and is moments away from crawling. She currently scoots, some how on her belly, grunting the whole way. If she isn't doing that, than she is spinning in circles. It's almost like her belly button is a pivot point. I think Kate is finally starting to realize that Claire crawling may not be such a great thing for her. Regardless, she still continues to be the best big sister ever!

Claire is also eating solids. Tonight she had rice and it truly ended up EVERYWHERE! Just when I thought I had it all swept off the floor, I felt another grain squish between my toes. Oh yum! She shoves chunks of bananas in her mouth like they are going out of style. Cheerios still remain to be a staple not only for Claire, but apparently Kate too. She has reverted back to "baby food".

At the rate Claire is going, I'm expecting to find her in the kitchen whipping up sticky rice and bananas with a side or pureed mixed veggies.