Happy Birthday, Clara

One year ago today our family was blessed with a brand new arrival.  Clara Catherine was born right around 8:30 in the morning.  She was our 20th grandchild and our 8th granddaughter.

 
She was beautiful from the beginning and a perfect little sleeper - even while posing in a fancy new hat.

A very few days later she was home checking out her three older siblings.

And still sleeping like an angel.

During this first month she became acquainted with a lot of people including her Aunts Lori and Teresa who came from hundreds of miles away to help out for a few days.

She practiced her cutest poses

and got ready for Halloween when she dressed up as a one-month-old baby.

During her second month of life she was even busier, still practicing her cute poses.
getting introduced to her second cousin who was born just three weeks after her (they were both so excited),

and figuring out how to get on her Grandpa's good side.  She not only acted excited to see him but she very obviously talked to him.

In her 3rd month she still posed cutely but now she was usually awake when she did it.

 And she got really great at smiling almost anytime we wanted her to.

During her 4th month she discovered interesting toys on the ends of her arms.

And she didn't just smile, she laughed!

Her 5th month found her hanging out with her closest brother although a little nervously.

And discovering toys on the end of her legs.  Nothing excited her like removing those pesky covers that hid her feet from her.

On her 6 month birthday I took this picture of her sitting at the table to eat solids - a brand new experience for her.

And during the month she continued to explore her toys, smile always, and

she even joined her family in the March for Babies (although she did find the whole event a little confusing what with all those matching shirts and all).

Her 7th month was spent growing beautiful eyelashes and checking out toys that had fascinated her older siblings when they were her age.

It was during her 8th month of life that she got all dressed up for her baptism.

 And afterwards posed for pictures.

During her 9th month she had completely mastered cute poses.

  

And once during the end of the month, she even got to hang out with her second cousin on the swing set.

 

During her 10th month she started to ENJOY hanging out with her brother.

And during her 11th month she was playing ball - actually rolling it back and forth appropriately,

discovering the joys of a remote control,

and she even thrilled her grandma by turning around and saying cheese when she heard the click of camera's shutter.

And today this beautiful, sweet natured, smart, loving little girl turned one year old.

So happy birthday, Clara!  We love you and can't wait to see what the next year brings!!