29 and 4

Just checking in for my monthly update....James is 29 months (he'll be two and a HALF on the 19th) and Clara is 4 months. Before I get started, I wanted to share a link to the pictures our photographer friend Sarah Sorell took of Clara at three months. I've had the link a while, just hadn't gotten around to sharing! I love them ALL and will never be able to pick some to have prints of. Can't believe how much she's already changed since then! Click on the following link to enjoy: http://www.sorellimages.com/clara3months/

I'm kicking off this set of pictures with a few of just James. I realize it appears that I only spend time taking pictures of Clara. Well, she doesn't move yet. And that's really what it comes down to. And she's fun to dress and accessorize. :) These are the type of pictures I take of James these days. Pictures of cool towers we've built together (note: ambulance balancing and teetering on top of tower). Above is James' 'holding still' face. Below is his 'crashing the tower' excited face. Boys ARE fun!

I took these of Clara on her 4-month birthday. I've been obsessing over this idea of her inside of this bucket I found in the garage last summer. So the following is what resulted.

I am a little sad to note that her signature 'bouffant' hair-do has tamed a good deal in the past week. I think her hair is finally long enough that it is laying down. I kinda miss it sticking up!

Clara has a few new tricks. When she's sitting in her bouncy seat she arches her back to stick her tummy out (like above) when we look at her because she's dying to be picked up!

And she's sitting in the Bumbo chair, too! She doesn't last too long and it nearly always makes her spit up but she's lookin' pretty big there!

We were having a really tough day yesterday (cranky toddler, cloudy rainy day). Thank goodness for homemade playdough. We have plenty of the store-bought stuff, but the homemade kind took a little extra time...so I was all about that! James played with it for an hour!! He still loves the 'hammer' (meat mallet) and mini cookie cutters.

Now this may not look like much, but Clara on her tummy NOT crying about it is a big deal around here. Her little octopus toy is Chiming Charlie and she's always loved him! Look at her grinning at him! Very sweet.

In other news, Clara is also tolerating her car seat a little better. For about two months she had a crying fit every time we drove anywhere! It's so nice to be beyond that stage!
James is still showing little interest in potty training, although I think he's fully capable. He's loving songs, especially ones with actions. There are some GREAT You*Tube resources out there for that, too, but that's an entirely separate post.
I'm ready for spring and warmer weather, but who isn't? Can't wait to go one week without somebody being sick and to get out of the house a little more!!