Please Pray!!

This Wednesday, July 15, Claire will be going to the doctor for her 15 month well check-up.  Normally I look forward to these appointments so that I can see all the progress she's making, how big she's getting, and have all my questions answered.  Unfortunately I am dreading this appointment.  This is the appointment where she receives the MMR vaccine, the most controversial of them all.  Lee and I have discussed immunizations at length and have both decided that she will receive all of her shots according to the CDC recommended time table.  However, I can't help but be a little nervous.  That's why I'm asking for your prayers--more for me than for her!!  I KNOW that God is in control and that He will protect my baby.  After all, she belongs to Him, not me.  But it is my job to do everything in my power to keep her healthy and happy and leave the rest up to Him.  So, I covet your prayers for my peace of mind and for her comfort.  I will certainly update the blog again with all the details of my little goose's progress and milestones.  Thank you for all of your support!

Happy 4th of July!!

We had a fun weekend celebrating the 4th of July.  We spent Friday picking up our new furniture--that is a plural, because Lee managed to talk me into getting his ultimate recliner that he'd had his eye on for months.  I thought he'd come home with our new couch, but ended up making a second trip for the chair.  Oh, well--whatever makes him happy :)  Saturday we were pretty lazy until time for our cookout!  Mom, Dad, and Gretchen came over and we grilled steaks.  Yum!  Lee is really getting good at grilling.  After we stuffed ourselves we met the Mathews' at Big Lots for the annual Woodstock fireworks show.  It was a little disappointing this year, but fun nonetheless.  Claire seemed to really enjoy the bright flashes and sparkles and was not scared by the loud noises.  Hooray for small miracles!!  The weekend came to a close with a trip to OK Cafe and Ikea on Sunday.  What a great way to spend a holiday!!

Papa and the tickle finger!

Hanging out in front of Big Lots--do we look rednceck, or what??

Enjoying the show!

Lunch at OK Cafe.  Claire loved being in a booster instead of a highchair

Hanging with Auntie G at Ikea

Father's Day

Here are a couple of shots from one of our Father's Day luncheons.  Claire had a fun time visiting with her daddy and Papa.  She made Daddy the sweetest handprint picture in the nursery at church.  What a fun day to celebrate our wonderful daddies!!

JACKSONVILLE

Last week was our trip to Jacksonville!!  We visited with Lee's Aunt Janice and Uncle Tommy.  They have a beautiful home that has just been completely remodeled--it was like staying at a beach resort!  We even had a pool just out the back door.  It was wonderful!  

We spent the week lazing around the pool, eating delicious food, and visiting the beach.  The girls also had a great day of shopping.  Claire especially loved the fitting rooms at The Loft--I wonder where she gets that from ??!!??  She LOVED the beach.  She is braver than her mama and got way out with Grandaddy Bill.  Her float kept her floating above the waves (well, most of the time) and she loved the movement of the water.  She also enjoyed the pool.  Her float is perfect for us, but sometimes she wanted more freedom in the water.  SO, we decided to try something else.  She sported a life vest when she wanted to be her own little fish--and loved it.  She even sat back and floated on her own!  

Another highlight of the trip was having dinner with my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Michael.  They took us to a neat restaurant on the beach called Ragtime.  The food was delicious and so was the company!  We wish we could see them more often, but enjoyed hearing all about their good news and visiting with them while we could.  What a treat!!

There are lots of pictures to share, but I picked some of my favorites.  Chances are I'll add some more later.  Enjoy!!

Aunt Debbie and Uncle Michael with Claire

The girls after dinner

Getting ready to hit the beach!!

"Daddy, I don't like all this sunscreen!"

Look at me riding the waves!

Claire was laughing while the adults kept an eye out for big waves.....

Oops!!  Maybe we should have watched closer!  Claire is in the middle of that wave somewhere--but she came out in one piece and wanted to go again!!

Practicing walking in my squeaky shoes and new socks

Hooray for the pool!

Look what Daddy caught :)

Kicking away

Yogaberry during the girls' shopping trip--Claire was much more interested in the yogurt than the picture

"I know my mama is in there!!"

"Ahhhhhh...I love this place!"

Getting ready to go home

What a fun trip!!

Where'd we go??

To Jacksonville!! The blog may not be updated until we return, on the 28th. So, please check back :) I will have lots of fun pictures to share of Claire's first trip to the beach!!!

My Little Cheesehead...

Souvenirs from Daddy's trips are the best!!

Grammy and Grandaddy

We have been so lucky lately to see Grammy and Grandaddy twice in one week!!  They made the trek all the way from Duluth first on Wednesday and then again on Sunday.   Since they just returned home from Hawaii, they had lots of goodies for the 'goose' as well as lots of pictures to share.  We enjoyed dinner at Kayson's Grille and then spent time together at the house.  Claire enjoyed showing off all of her new talents that developed while they were away--pulling up on EVERYTHING, cruising, using a 'walker', conquering the first stair, etc.  What fun!!

Grammy with Claire in her PJs....almost bedtime

Claire LOVES her Grandaddy Bill!! 

 (Oh, and her hibiscus hair clip, too--thanks Grammy!)

Next, we were able to see them on Sunday.  They attended a wedding in Madison and were able to come by our house Sunday afternoon.  We met them at the pool and we all enjoyed a dip.  Claire was able to try out her new float--it was WONDERFUL!!  She loved being able to kick around and splash without one of us constantly holding her.  She managed to paddle all over the place!  She is going to swim like a fish one day soon :)  Unfortunately, it was close to nap time.  She tired of the water much quicker than usual, so Grammy tried to rock her to sleep in the lounge chair.  No luck--there was way too many fun things to watch!  So, our pool fun was cut short.  We still had lots of fun with Grammy and Grandaddy after the nap.  Lee grilled up some yummy hamburgers and we enjoyed cookout fare.  What a wonderful summer day!

Claire enjoying her new float--with a little guidance from Daddy and Kathy

Grammy trying to coax Claire to sleep