Claire Grace: 18 months

Claire Grace is one spunky little girl. She amazes us every single day. We never know what she is going to come up with and truly can't believe she is already 18 months old. We are constantly telling her to "get down" because she is always climbing. This has turned into her telling cats, whether in real life or on tv, to "dit down" over and over. We think she's cute and she knows it! Speaking of cats, Claire loves them. All of them! She loves real cats, cats on her socks, her cat necklace, stuffed cats, and animated cats. She talks about her Yaya's cats and asks everyday to watch "cats" (Aristocats). Her favorite part of that movie is when its time for Thomas O'Malley Alley Cat song. She only sings the part about "alley cat" but it is cute and we sing it a lot. We also sing Jesus Loves Me, Up on the House Top, You are my Sunshine, Little Bunny Foo Foo, and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. She knows little parts here and there in each song but I think Judson and I would both agree its the cutest when she asks for the "Mitsubishi spider". We have a hard time not laughing every time she makes that request! We catch her singing all the time. Sometimes it is with music but she also sings all on her own.

                     

This girl knows so many words! She has started putting words together to get what she wants or tell her story. We are always impressed.  I think my favorite phrase is "bess you" when I sneeze. I got this on video once and I could easily watch it on repeat all day long. People often try to talk to her or get her to talk to them but she isn't really into it yet. She is real shy and I kind of love that about her. Her favorite way to stall bedtime is by asking for different songs or asking about every single person she knows. Our constant response is "they went night night" and she continues naming names just to be sure no one is still awake. It is fun to listen to her list off all of her grandparents, cousins, uncles, and all of the animals she knows. Luckily, once we get her to sleep she pretty much stays that way until morning. She still sleeps about half the time in her crib and half the time right between mom and dad. My most recent favorite sleeping habit is when she randomly shouts out words in her sleep like cat and Minnie.

                                                         

       

       

She loves Minnie Mouse. Give her all the Minnie Mouse things and she will match them with her cat things! Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has been something that she watched from pretty early on and she still enjoys it. She can count to ten! We are amazed by this again and again. Claire frequently asks to "callow!" Usually when she decides it is time to color its because she's seen someone else writing or coloring. Her request is loud and persistent. She loves animals. Her Grandad has a baby lamb that is being bottle fed and Claire thinks that she needs to be the one to feed that baby every afternoon. She says "milk bady" over and over and sometimes cries when we can't go because it is too cold. She loves the baby lamb and I love that she calls it "bady". She's honestly getting really good at holding the bottle and the little lamb likes to follow Claire around. They have a really sweet bond. She also loves her puppy Pearl so much and lovingly refers to her as Pearl Girl.

We can't get enough of all of the sweet random kisses and cute ways that Claire mispronounces words. I write them down so I can always remember this time in our life. Sometimes it is complete chaos around our house but I wouldn't have it any other way! My goal for 2018 is to spend as much time as possible with Claire, even if that means holding her during naps or playing in her room while I should be cleaning. She is the sweetest little girl and I am so glad that God gave her to us.