DISNEYWORLD!!!!!! (Part 1)

Okay, we've been back for 2 days now and I still haven't gotten pictures up. I know, I'm a slacker. I will do my best to have pics up within the week. It's hard returning and unpacking from a trip, caring for a toddler, and keeping your house spotless all at the same time!! Please keep checking back and I promise I will have pictures up....probably more than you'd care to see :) And probably a few videos, too!!

BOWS galore!!

WWW.BABYBELLSBOWTIQUE.BLOGSPOT.COM

Take a look at my new hobby! I have started making bows. I've been looking for a creative outlet for a while, and with our upcoming move, I've also been looking for ways to save money. So, I decided to marry the two and make Claire's hairbows. It's been a lot of fun--plus, I can make whatever colors or combinations I need to go perfectly with her clothes! Most of these bows would have cost me AT LEAST $4-5 at a boutique. I make them for a fraction of that and have fun doing it! My little goose will have the best dressed hair in the neighborhood :)

Basic boutique bows in some of my favorite colors

These are for specific outfits, of course :)

This one goes with the shirt below!

Beautiful Minnie Mouse shirt that my friend MaryBeth made for Claire

(Mom and I did, however, make the bow!)

Blackmail material...

BIG Boo-Boo!!

Well, I knew it would happen sooner or later. Unfortunately, it was sooner. Claire had her first trip to the emergency room. Yep, my little girl got stitches. And believe it or not, we both survived.

It was Wednesday afternoon. We had been spending a very lazy day around the house as I have been battling a sinus infection for over a month. We had just returned to the living room for an afternoon showing of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse when she decided to go into her "playroom" and get some toys. As she walked across the floor, she tripped on her own feet and fell headfirst into the corner of the wall. I immediately knew she was hurt. She started screaming and then I saw it----blood. Of course any wound on the head bleeds much more than anywhere else, so the sight of even a minor injury can scare you to death. This one did just that. Luckily I was able to get the bleeding stopped rather quickly and get Claire calmed down. Actually, I'm pretty sure she got ME calmed down! I phoned my dad and he quickly came to my rescue. After calling the pediatrician, I found out the best place to go to have her seen quickly. We headed to Scottish Rite Immediate Care.

Upon arrival, she was quickly triaged and a HUGE bandage was placed on her head to hold the anesthetic in place over the cut. She didn't seem to mind. In fact, the nurse allowed us back into the waiting room so she could play while they waited for it to take effect. The ladies out front teased her for being the happiest head wound patient they had seen!

Claire taking a break from playing to enjoy a cookie

Back to playing!

Finally it was our turn for the doctor and the dreaded stitches. The nurse had mentioned using a sedative to make it easier on everyone. The doctor didn't seem to be in favor of it (she said it wouldn't really make a difference and Claire would scream anyway), but I said I'd rather have it than not. So, Claire got a little baby Valium. This was the best part--she quickly became SUPER happy. She was loopy and thick-tongued and in a very loving mood :) When the doctor put the stitches in, Claire even gave a couple of good belly laughs! The doctor admitted that she would have to re-think not recommending the sedative to parents now that she'd seen what a great effect it could have. 3 stitches later, we were getting dressed and heading out.

Claire and her babydolls on the ride home (no, I wasn't driving)

Claire and her toes :)

On the way home, Claire was still extremely loopy. She hugged her babydolls (both of them), kissed her babydolls, and made her babydolls kiss. Finally she began singing about her toes. It was quite a sight! Once at home, she ate a little dinner and quickly drifted off to sleep.

This episode turned out to be minor, easily fixable, and even a little comical. But don't think that the seriousness of what could have happened was lost on me. Those moments when I was holding her in the bathroom trying to stop the bleeding were the most terrifying of my life. To think that my precious baby girl was hurting--and could be in real danger--made me sick to my stomach. I'm thankful that the Lord gave me presence of mind to call for help and stay calm until we could get her to a doctor. I replay her fall over and over again in my mind, cringing every time I see her slip. It just goes to show that accidents can happen any time, anywhere, even when your precious child is within your reach. If this accident did anything for me, it made me more diligent in my prayer life--remembering to always thank the Lord for the wonderful gift her has given me and praying for His continued hand of protection on her life. What a beautiful, precious blessing she is to me.

Superbowl Fun

This year we decided to have a little party for the Superbowl. Lee loves it because he has guys to enjoy the game with. I love it because I have girls to ignore the game with :)

I am blessed with great friends. In fact, some of our very closest friends live right here in our neighborhood. It's so nice to have them so close. I have been fortunate the last few months to have some great new friends come into my life. One of them has actually been a dear friend of mine for years and years and just moved to Canton. I love that we have reconnected! The other has moved in next door. She has been a Godsend and is so much fun. We have tons in common and hit it off from the start. It doesn't hurt that she has two sweet daughters, one of which is Claire's age. We have a great time together!

Lee and I decided to invite our friends, new and old, over for the game. We had pizza and delicious appetizers (thanks to my guests!) and lots of yummy sweets. The guys enjoyed the game and commercials and the girls gossiped, got to know each other, and traded baby stories. The daughters, all 4 of them, played so well together--it was like a mini-vacation for the moms! What a great way to spend a Sunday evening. Thank the Lord for good friends!!

The girls playing school in Claire's room

Claire and Grandaddy

Claire and Daddy--the twins!!

This is Claire with her friend Mikayla (not at the Superbowl party). What a sweet baby!!

More of Claire's new obsession---SHOES!!! Like mother, like daughter :)

Miscellaneous Claire Antics

Here are a few fun shots from the long, cold, boring month of January. Enjoy!!

She has discovered Mama's shoes

First pigtails!!

Getting bundled up

"C'mon, Dad!"

Playing in the snow

Claire and her buddy Alaina

She's not too sure about all this white stuff...

She loves to wear her daddy's hats!

Like father, like daughter

She stole Daddy's hat again!

Okay, Okay....I'm a slacker!!

So, it's bee a while since I've posted anything new. I know this. You can stop telling me :) Things have been a little busy around the Arledge household since Thanksgiving and I just didn't get around to blogging. Well, you asked for it, so here it is!! Settle in, this is going to take a while :) In fact, I am posting the pictures as a separate entry because there are so many! Enjoy!!

Christmas this year was wonderful! Claire really got into things. She especially love all of the Christmas lights she saw as we drove around. She squealed and squealed every time she saw some. She also began to recognize Santa. She would wave to him at the mall and any time she saw pictures of his likeness. She also started saying 'ho,ho,ho' if asked. It was very cute!! We were fortunate to have Bill and Debbie stay with us Christmas Eve and enjoy seeing Claire open her 'Santa' gifts. I think Santa's sleigh tipped over in our living room! We had to open gifts in shifts just to get them all in. She was very cute--she did not want the wrapping paper messed up and often tried to put it back on the gifts as it ripped. Needless to say, Lee and I did most of the unwrapping, and Claire did the playing. All in all, Christmas was perfect!!!

New Years was also a lot of fun. We enjoyed having our friends over to celebrate and ring in 2010. We know we are getting older as no one stayed til midnight!! Of course, Lee and I barely stayed awake anyway :) Claire tried her best to see the ball drop and then she dropped, too!

Our holidays were wonderful. There is nothing like this time of year, especially when you're able to experience it with a child. I loved every minute of it and am already counting down til next year. I know it will only get better!!