Clare Bear – belated update!

While the blog didn’t recognize the 18- and 19-month marks, they didn’t go unnoticed around here. Clare has really grown into her own the past couple of months.

At 18, she was walking quite well, manuevering steps and using a fork like a pro. She definitely takes possession of what’s hers (or what she wants) and stands her ground. It’s part of the 4th child DNA, I think. She has this cute little personality and ducks her chin when she gets embarrassed. Seriously, kids should not be this cute.

Her second Christmas was way more fun than the first (see picture for proof). And, she’s taken a new interest in dancing. Anytime she hears music – Mass, car, TV, toy – she starts shaking her hips and bouncing her knees. We have a new family song that starts the dance, but if I post it, I promise it will get lost in translation. That, and you’ll think we have way too much time on our hands.

At 19, she’s discovered the thrill of climbing (sidenote: NONE of my children were into this, but Clare has broken the mold.) Just yesterday, I heard the chair moving which is my signal to high tail it to wherever she may be. When I got there, she was standing on the kitchen table. Yep, just standing there, DANCING and screeching. Obviously I wasn’t fast enough. I’ve gotta start working out. We joked early on that she was the female version of John Paul. Be careful what you joke about folks.

My favorite thing about this age is definitely the talking. She’s like a parrot. Most van rides, I hear this conversation between the girls:

ALG: Clare, say nose.

Clare: Nose.

ALG: Say, Sisty.

Clare: Sissee.

ALG: Clare, shake your booty.

Clare: (dancing)

Clearly, she understands way more than we give her credit for…

Clare Bear, you’re a total joy. You make us laugh, you give great kisses and squeezes and you make my heart pound a little faster. There just aren’t enough kisses in the world to bestow upon you. We love you munchkin.