Clara's funny book, Chapter 2

Some more funny Clara moments...

"Heeewwo?" (Hello, for all of you that don't speak Clara's language)

3/08- (This one is old, but funny, so when I remembered it I had to include it). At Kindermusik, we all sit in a circle...moms with their babies in their laps. Clara has started making the rounds, taking turns sitting on each and every mom's lap. She stops about 5 feet in front of them, turns around, and walks balkwards wtih her bum out until she reaches the chosen lap.

7/5/08- While on vacation in Vancouver, Clara figured out how to climb out of her pack-n-play. I was on the other side of the wall (I think she forgot I was there). She was so excited to be free that she ran around to my side of the room, saw me... pretended she didn't see me... hoped that I didn't see her... and ran right back to her side, giggling all the while.

7/11/08- Clara loves to pick tomatoes out of our garden. One time I told her "no" because she was picking green tomatoes, so she said "back" and tried to put the tomato back on the plant. I have given up trying to stop her. Now she proudly brings me handfuls of green tomatoes (she calls them apples -or her version of tomato "ah-be-do") and mini green peppers. I also find them stashed in her favorite places around the backyard.

The harvester at work

Green tomatoes in the trunk of her car

... in the drink holder of a lawn chair

...and green peppers on the ledge of our porch.

7/20/08: Clara likes to sing... she makes up songs and the syllables are always "baaa-dooo-wa" or some combination like that.

7/23/08: Clara talks in her sleep. Today, Greg was leaving for a business trip at 3am and heard her softly and sweetly saying, "Mommmmy, Da-Da, Mommmmy, Da-da" while fully asleep.

7/25/08- Clara has started calling me "Mommina"- I have no idea why... doesn't it mean "little mother" in Italian? Maybe she picked up a few words in utero while we were in Italy.

7/29/08: She is getting more mischevious as she gets older. Today she found a loose piece of molding in our dining room and played with it. I asked her not to and I put it back. Fast forward 5 minutes... Clara noticed I was busy doing something, so she sneakily ran back to the dining room and pulled it down, again. When I followed her, she dropped the molding and ran. When I picked it up she shrugged her shoulders and said "Oh No"- (How did that happen, Mom?!?)

8/4/08: Clara LOVES to jump. Today when I left the room after putting her down for a nap she was jumping in her crib... she loves that bouncy mattress. I peaked in and she was so tired that her eyes were halfway closed, but she was saying "jump, jump, jump" and jumping as fast as she could (probably to keep herself awake). She would dive down face first to lie down and take a little break, then jump up and start over again... "jump, jump, jump."

8/7/08: She loves talking to her Daddy on the phone... here is their typical conversation.

8/15/08: We've been watching the women's gymnastics on the Olympics. Clara tried to copy some of their moves, and would hold her arms up like they do at the end of a routine. She even tried going down into the splits.

I am glad Tim Dagget is not my dad

I have been watching the Olympics this week and there is one thing that really bugs me. That thing is Tim Dagget. He is the announcer in gymnastics, and he is a gymnastic divo (male form of diva). Whenever there is something good going on or someone is having a olympic moment, there is Tim "Debbie Downer" Dagget to tell everyone what is wrong with the performance and how it could have been better.

Here is a perfect example:

Nastia Liukin just finished a great uneven bars.

2 other commentators: "Brilliant", "You will not see a higher score this Olympics"

Tim Dagget: "But it is not enough"

Thanks Tim.

Hey Tim, if I wanted to hear about the details of gymnastics, and how one should have .02 points deducted from their score because they did not point their pinky in the right place, then I would watch gymnastics more than just once every four years.

I would hate to be this guys son. Imagine coming home from school in first grade:

Son: "Dad, Dad, I just got A in my History test, the teacher has never given an A before."

Tim "I would have never won a gold in the team event had the Russians not boycotted the 84 games" Dagget: WHAT, YOU MISSED A QUESTION?!? HOW COULD YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO WAS THE LAST CREDITABLE FEDERALIST CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1816 (answer is Rufus King)???

Here are a couple of Dagget moments from the olympics:

• The Romanian women are struggling and their coach is trying to comfort them. Tim Dagget says: "The old coach would never hug the girls after such a horrible performance."


• When a guy was doing a move that he was almost paralized doing a couple weeks before, Tim Dagget says: "He is not going to do it, He is not going to do it. (He does the move) I can't believe he did it, he has not been able to do that move for a long time. He has either messed up or chickened out the last couple times."

It makes me wish John Tesh was still doing the olympics.

Summer of Sports

This summer I played on a YMCA soccer team with some friends. The league was supposed to be "co-ed," but most teams had zero girls on the field. I found myself running in circles and not being able to keep up with the stronger and faster men on the opposing teams. Since I wasn't contributing with my playing, at the end of the season I decided to contribute my husband, Greg, who scored 3 goals in the first game he played. Way to redeem our family, honey. Clara liked watching the games and by the end of the season had learned to say "soccer ball."

But... my other summer sport has been SO MUCH FUN!!!

I have been taking Tennis clinics... they are a blast and I hope to start playing in some beginner leagues this fall.

P.S. I am loving the Beijing Olympics... wasn't the opening ceremony awesome? Greg had to drag me away from the TV at midnight last night, while I was saying, "But they are about to talk about the US gymnasts with Bela Karolyi."

Slowly figuring out how to be a Mom to a toddler...

A lot of things about raising a toddler probably seem like common sense to those of you with more experience than me, but some things are taking me a little while to figure out. This stage is lots of fun, but very different from taking care of a baby.

18 months old... a full- fledged toddler. (She was 25 1/2 lbs (( 65%)) and 33 inches tall ((80%)) at her 18 month check-up). After her recent growth spurt, all of her shirts are officially too short.

For instance...

A couple of weeks ago, Clara asked for juice after her nap. I gave some to her and while I was preparing the rest of her snack, she downed the whole cup and asked for more. She ended up only drinking the juice and not eating anything. A couple of hours later, she was sooooo grumpy! I rarely give Clara refined sugar, and even juice is something she only gets once in a while, since it has so much natural sugar. I do this for health reasons... I have my own blood sugar issues that I don't want to pass on to her, and also I don't want her to develop a taste for only sugary foods. What I didn't think about is how much sugar (or the fast rise and drop of her blood sugar) would affect her moods. Duh! Of course it makes sense now, but it took me a while to figure it out.

the guilty juice lover with her best girlfriend... (not on the moody day mentioned above)

What I haven't figured out is how in the world to keep my kitchen floor clean. Clara spills all sorts of things of gooey things off of her high chair 5 times a day. Help... do any of you know how to combat this?... besides mopping the floor everyday, of course? And please don't say to get a dog... Clara is perfectly fine playing with dog statues, thank you!

Water Park

Clara and I had a great time at the water park with her Uncle Sean, Aunt Suzanne, and cousisns Rex, Evan, Anna, Chloe, and Luke. Clara learned how to say Anna (while Anna was playing with her all over the baby section of the water park) and has been asking for her ever since.


Anna, Chloe, and Clara

Trip to the West Coast

Last week we took Clara on a trip across the US and back again. It was great to see family from both Nicolle and Greg's side. Clara did great on the airplane (a word which she now can say).

We first went to Vancouver to visit Nicolle's brother Luke, his wife Siliva, and Nicolle's Grandfather.

While in Vancouver we visited Stanley Park and Clara found two potential careers for herself.

A Fire(wo)man

or a Farmer

Nicolle is hoping that she chooses a fireman because Nicolle would not last an hour on a farm with all the chickens, roosters and rats.

We also went to a fish hatchery that had some beautiful scenery.

We met up with Nicolle's grandfather, and Clara was excited to see him and his butterscotch candies.

Clara also was excited to see Luke and Silvia's dog Spike.

After Vancouver we went down to Pacific Beach on the WA state coast. It was fun to see all of Greg's family (All 50 or so). Between the beach and the slide next to our house, Clara had a blast.

Remind you of anyone? Heil Clara

It was all fun and games until the tide came and Greg left his neice Tacy stuck in the sand

Just a little muddy and windy

Just watch this video 1000 times and you have just relived our vacation minus the flying and driving.

This was where we stayed at Pacific Beach. Greg's brother is in the navy and got us a great deal on this military housing. Doesn't this look like the other's compound from Lost???

Is that Indiana Jones or Greg with some Kelp?

Clara got to know her cousins better and it was really great to see them interact.

It was a fun trip and great to see everyone... hope to do it again, soon.

Amazing Race Results

Check out the story of Greg's amazing race.

Greg's hobby

Many of you know about Greg's yard-sale habit. What you probably don't know is that it transferrs over to a desire to buy every car he sees for sale in our neighborhood. Something about not buying it at used car lot makes him think he is getting a fantastic deal. And sometimes he is. His first purchase was this lovely '92 white Camry. He bought it for $500 from our neighbors across the street. We had just moved to NC and had left one of our cars behind. It got us through until we could get a more reliable car. It lasted almost one year, and died about 1/2 mile from Greg's office... he coasted the rest of the way in and we donated it right from there.

Next, he purchased this '88 Ford Ranger for $1,200 from another neighbor. He has had it for 3 years and it is still running strong.

Especially for this last purchase, I have to say "Way to go, Greg!" Lately, however, my patience for his nieghborhood car fetish has worn thin. Every car for sale, no matter how badly worn or uneeded, is a consideration for him. But I've been thinking... what if I've been too hard on him? Perhaps 6 + years of marriage have made me more understanding . Orrrrr... perhaps I saw this black Mercedes for sale in the neighborhood this week...

What do you think, honey? It is probably a really great deal... we shouldn't pass it up!

Clara's Funny Book

When we were young, my Mom kept a notebook where she would write down some of the funny things we said. She brought it out at a family home evening, one time, when we were older, and read us the entries. It was hilarious. We loved it. Well, all of us except for my youngest sister, Nathalie, who was still young enough to be saying some pretty funny things. From then on, whenever she said something silly and we laughed, she would start crying and say "Don't write it in my funny book!" So... for your sake, Nathalie, I am starting this funny book for Clara. Now all of the pressure is on her and we can stop recording your funny blunders. :)

Really, we are writing this so that we have these fun memories recorded for us and for Clara. Since she is already almost a year and a half old, we are playing catch-up with this first one. It is a bit lengthy, so casual Sherwood blog readers, feel free to pass.

February, 2008: We don't give Clara sugar very often... in fact, hardly ever. She has a very big appetite and I am afraid if I give her some, she won't want to stop. Today she saw me eating a cookie, so I let her have a little bit and then put the last bite in my mouth. She saw that, pulled my mouth open, and jammed her little fist in all the way to the back of my throat trying to pull that cookie out!

Easter Sunday, March, 2008: Today Clara walked to the shelf next to the piano and pulled out one my vocal exercise books. She sat down and started singing to herself while she turned the pages.

April, 2008: Whenever Clara gets ahold of a phone (or anything that resembles a phone), she holds it to her ear (backwards) and says "Hewo?"

May, 2008: When we sing "old macdonald had a farm," Clara will follow up with "e-i-e-i-o." Not on pitch, yet, but still very cute. If she hears the melody or one like it on a musical toy or something, she'll chime in with "e-i-e-i-o."

May, 2008: Clara has a happy dance. Every time she gets excited she runs in place really fast, waves her arms, and laughs.

June, 2008: Clara is loving books... her attention span is getting longer so sometimes she'll sit through longer portions of the story. She has favorite pages in lots of her books. In "The Berenstein's B Book" it is at the end, when the baby birds balloon breaks. She says, in a REALLY high voice, "Oh Nooooo!" In "Inside Outside Upsidedown" she loves the page with the Mama bear on it. The words to the story are..."Mama, Mama, I went to town, inside, outside, upside down." Always, after we read a couple of pages at the beginning of the book, Clara will skip forward to that page and say, "Mama, Mama" then look at us to finish the words on the page. We wish we could catch these moments on video (we've tried), because her voice and expressions are just so cute.

June 18, 2008: Today Clara and I met Greg at his office for lunch. We ate at a picnic table outside. After lunch, we saw her step aside and "do some business" in her daiper. She walked to my diaper bag, pulled out the diapers and wipes, handed them to Greg, said "poo-poo" and then laid down ready for a diaper change. The funny thing is that she had never done any of these things before... never said poo-poo, never acknowledged a dirty diaper, never stopped doing what she was doing for a diaper change, and today she did them all at once.

June 29th, 2008: Clara doesn't like to ride in the trailer behind our bikes, so we have just started putting her in a seat on the back of my bike. She loves it and now often requests a "wide" (ride). Today we were in the car and Clara saw a motorcycle driving by. She got very excited and said "Wide!" "Wee!" Also, a few days ago, she saw some street sweepers in a parking garage downtown and said the same thing about those.

June 30, 2008: The other day Clara wanted me to put on a funny hat. I did so and then made a silly face, gave two thumbs up, and said "Alriiiight!" Today, while Greg and I were in the kitchen finishing dinner, she quickly ran out of the room, then ran back in with a pair of sunglasses on (upside down) and her two pointer fingers in the air (her version of two thumbs up) shouting "Alright" (in Clara's dialect Aw-wiiiiit). So hilarious.

June 30th, 2008: Clara can't wait to go in the nursery at church. Today, she sneaked in there 3 times... the first time she knocked on the door and they openened it and she ran in. The last 2 times the door was cracked and she pushed it open and ran in. By the 3rd time, the nursery leader said she could just stay. She and Greg spent the last 30 minutes of church in there and Clara had a blast... stealing snacks, singing songs, playing with toys, and chasing bubbles.

Local Amazing Race

Greg will be competing with a teammate in this "Amazing Race" next Saturday. Check it out and join them, if you are interested... should be lots of fun!

winston-salem scavenger hunt

P.S. When is the next season of CBS's Amazing Race going to happen???

Summertime

Some random photos and facts about Clara...

Even in the hot weather, Clara loves to be outside. She'll grab our hands and pull us to the door saying "walk" or "a-side" (outside). She loves riding in her car. She climbs in, shuts the door, says "bye-bye" and waves. We think her wave is very cute... she holds her arm straight out, relaxes her hand, and flips her wrist while cocking her head to the side and smiling.
Clara loves playing with big kids. Here we are with our friends, the Bosch's. We spent Memorial Day with them.Clara got her first haircut... this is a "before" photo... she was getting a major rat tail, so I finally got brave and snipped it off. (I don't have a photo from after the haircut, but- I promise- her hair looks much better, now).

Other things Clara loves...

-"smelling" flowers

-pretending to go to sleep (she lies down on the floor or sofa and says "nigh-nigh")

-DANCING!

-listening to her Kindermusik CD in the car... she says"bub-bub- bubbles" to request her bubbles song or "e-i-e-i-oh" for Old Macdonald.

-She still loves playing peek-a-boo and is finding more creative ways to play it.

-Muppets videos from You-Tube... whenever she sees Greg's laptop she requests her favorite..."manamana,"

-drinking out of big girl cups,w ter bottles, or straws and playing with dishes and utensils

-Playing with Daddy... he is always finding new ways to make her crack up!

We love her!

Dinner By Nicolle

Hi Friends,
I love to cook, and just came up with this idea to add a little excitement to my kitchen. I'm offering the meals I make at home to friends and neighbors. A lady in our neighborhood in AZ did this, and Greg and I ordered it a lot... we were busy working and going to school and didn't have time to cook, and we loved it. So... I say I came up with the idea, but really I just copied our old friend, Debbie. If you are interested, check out my new blog. June is the pilot program... I'm starting out with one meal a week (Monday nights).
http://dinnerbynicolle.blogspot.com/

The Beach

We just had a GREAT vacation at the beach. We went to Topsail Island for the first time. Many people had recommended it, and we were not disappointed. I have never seen a beach this empty, meaning un-crowded. We went with our good friends, the Aagards and stayed in a little house right on the beach. Here is a photo I took from our deck... Clara and Greg throwing the football in the sand.



Clara thought it was really fun to go right up to the water, then lift up her legs just before it reached her. Sometimes she wasn't quick enough and the water got her, and she thought that was hilarious!
Here she is destroying sand castles.
Clara and Shaelyn had so much fun together. We really didn't pose this picture... they loved following each other around to do things together.

Hooray! We can't wait to go back in September!

Greg's Big Race

Triathlon Pop Quiz:

Q1- How much did Greg train?
a) 5 days/wk, 2 hours/day for 6 months
b)just enough to say he ran more during training than during the actual race
c) the same amount he trained before his marathon in 2000... 40 miles over a period of 4 weeks.

Answer- b, but only if you count the times he walked up and down the street with Clara


She made a cute spectator, don't you think?

Q2- Why does Greg participate in triathlons?
a) the endorphines are addictive
b) the cool T-shirts
c) free food at the end of the race
d) both b and c

Answer: d, (endorphins???... c'mon, they aren't THAT great.)

Q3- Greg's favorite part of the race was...

a) getting passed by a 10 year old girl during the swim

b) seeing Clara at every transition, holding a sign that said "Go Da-Da"

c) running/riding up the hills

Answer- b, of course

Q4- How long did it take Greg to swim 400meters, bike 20K, and run 5K?
a) 59 minutes and 43 seconds
b) around 1 hour and 42 minutes
c) the clock is still running... after the bike, he saw the Moe's Southwest Grill tent and got sidetracked by their nachos.

Answer... give us your best guess in the comments section.

Way to go, Greg!!!

April Showers

In April/May, we had 3 sets of visitors. We haven't always been this popular... we think it might have something to do with our sweet Clara.


First in April, Greg's Grandparents, Forest and Mary Jensen visited from Colorado. It was great to see them. We even conviced Greg's Grandad, who is a youthful 89, to do a yahoo to Clara(see video below).

Nicolle's brother, Luke, and his wife, Silvia visited from Vancouver, B.C. We had fun eating, talking, and playing with their dog, Spike.
Last, but not least, Greg's parents visited from Colorado. They helped fix up our treehouse, to make it safe for Clara- she has been having fun in it ever since.

Total miles traveled- 16,000. Don't we feel special???

The Reviews are In!

A review of some products I tried, recently.

First...

YEAH!

We had a "baby shower" for one of my friends, recently. This is her 3rd baby, so we didn't want to do a traditional shower, but we wanted to celebrate with her and do something to help her out at the same time. This is what we came up with...

Super Suppers

We all forgot our cameras... so this generic photo will have to give you the idea. We went to Super Suppers' beautiful kitchen to prepare meals for the mom-to-be. She went away with a freezer full of meals and we had a great time putting them together. I highly recommend it.


Next...

BOO!

We got this Bissell Spot Bot to clean our upholstery. It's promotional material boasted some pretty great features, but all it was was a spray mechanism and a weak wet/dry vacuum. Luckily we were able to return it.