Claire's 13 months old! (well, tomorrow she will be)

When do we stop counting in months? At about 18 months? Seems to make sense. The bar exam is over, and I start my new job March 10th. So I get a week to be with Claire, start looking for daycare, walk the dog, make doc appointments (just checkups for Claire's hip and heart from the newborn stuff, no biggies) and hang out!


Today we had lunch with my friend Jamie and her coworker Amy (who's daughter is part of our little playgroup too) - and Jamie's sister brought Lily, so Claire and Lily hung out a bit.

Claire didn't do her morning nap - for the first time in forever, so she was beat by the time we headed home - and has been konked out for about 2 hours now.

Yesterday we used some of the birthday money that Papaw Harold sent and bought Claire her first big-girl shoes! She pats them when I put them on her, so I think she likes them, and is getting used to walking in them. They have really bendy soles, and treads, so she can get a grip on carpet and stuff. You can see them in this pic, after our lunch today.

Also at the shoe store they had more of the bows on clips that we use to keep Claire's hair out of her face (it can get stuck in her nose, its so long!).

She really likes to try to put them in herself, so yesterday she kept trying to put them all in. I had to help a little, but this was the result....

See? Told you this might be a bit dull, but I'll keep posting pictures, which is mostly the fun part anyway!

Don't expect much more until March

Countdown to Virginia bar: 7 days.

Start new job: March 3.

Have "normal" life....soon thereafter, hopefully!

You say its your birthday....

Claire had a great 1st birthday party! Friends from South Carolina, Richmond, and locally came up to celebrate. Grandma and Grandpa Springsteen came up for the weekend too!

The night of her birthday (Feb. 1) Claire decided to start using the walker Aunt Caldwell and the rest of the Colvins gave her for Christmas! Since then she's been gradually taking more and more steps on her own.

Julia's friend Jamie made Claire a beautiful birthday cake - it was carrot cake with a whipped cream icing - VERY yummy! Claire had little interest in smushing it herself, but did take some bites. Having 20+ people stare at her didn't really help, but that's what she gets for being the birthday girl!

Claire had her 12-month well check up February 6th. She is 26 lbs and 31 inches! Both measurements are approximate because she was not impressed with being at the doc that day, but suffice to say she's staying above the curve on growth. Healthy tall girl!