Little Pinky

Rhys now affectionately calls Claudia -- "Little Pinky." Where this came from, we aren't sure. Pinky wants to do everything Rhys does and has now, for example, decided that she doesn't belong in a high chair - but instead right next to Rhys at the children's table. Below you will find that Rhys wants to be where Claudia is when there is something exciting happening -- like birthdays.

Rhys helping Claudia open her birthday present.

Oh little Pinky -- you have many more years of being the little sister.

Claudia trying on Rhys' shoes.

Claudie Bear

Unlike Rhys at this age, Claudia has been showing a preference for her male relatives. Well, at least it isn't an aversion.
Over her birthday, she was happy to spend a bit of time with Zhou Zhou and her uncles -- but is still very much about  cruising and crawling.

Happy First Birthday Claudia

Cake from Whole Foods

Claudia had a host of visitors for her first -- Aunt Laura from Chicago, Zhou Zhou from LA and family and friends from St Louis. We missed all of our good friends from Chicago and family from afar - but it was a lovely weekend of celebrating Claudia.

Claudia is a very sweet, go-with-the-flow girl with a developing mind of her own. Thankfully, after her 12 weeks of colic were over, she was a really easy baby, who just didn't want to take a bottle or sleep through the night. She loves to zoom cars around, pull books out of shelves, dance to music, and, now, crawl and cruise around. We will see what the next 12 months bring.

In terms of language, she is saying mama, dada, and no, no, no....and using lots of hand gestures to get what she wants. The great thing about the second time is that we can relax a bit and enjoy the development as we know it is coming.

We adore her and our big boy tiger fish, black bear, fire fighting hero. A few pics from the weekend.

Aunt Laura and Rhys on the way to the zoo

Carousel with Zhou Zhou (Rhys)

Yum - I know how to do this after my cupcake yesterday

Much more fun to play with Rhys' stuff than my presents

Claudia's First Year

A few pictures from Claudia's first year of life...

Birth - 3-18-10

Going home

Mama and Claudia

Sleeping in the swing

Visiting Uncle Chris and Aunt J and Dax

Visiting Nanny in Mass.

Happy girl in St Louis

Fire fighting with Rhys

With Dad at the holidays

Bath time

One year old

Happy Almost First Birthday Claudia

Claudia - six weeks old

Our sweet girl is under the weather with an ear infection and cold - let's hope she is feeling better for her big day on Friday and party on Saturday.

36X Days of Claudia

It was quite the surprise when we found out we were expecting another baby. The news came while on vacation in Michiana Shores - the most exciting thing to happen all week, well, along with the escaped convicts running around nearby. We had just gotten in the groove of having a baby/toddler around the house. Everyone was sleeping relatively well - and Dom was still in search for a job after being laid off from Chase. Not the most opportune time to think about expanding our family...but the best things in life can happen when you least expect them.

Tired Mommy but getting her groove back...Rhys is about 18 months here.

Rhys showing Millie his signs for "All Done" in Michiana - soon he would learn the Big Brother sign..."No Claudia".

My pregnancy with Claudia was a bit different...I was much sicker with C than with Rhys, following the old wives' tale that girl pregnancies can make you sicker than boys'... and it was true in our case.

Rhys in LA announcing his news that he will be a big brother!

Dom found not one - but two - jobs while we are expecting Claudia, and, with sadness, we turned our sights down South to St Louis in order to provide for our growing family. We were still able to celebrate Rhys' second birthday in our condo and plan to have our baby at Northwestern with our Dr. Wise.

Happy 2nd Birthday Rhys

All during this time, Claudia was just growing...and moving. She was much more active than Rhys in utero and was always a happy presence. We debated names for days on end -- and many were put into the mix -- Blythe from Dad, Elinor from Mom -- we both agreed on Claudia (our girl's name for Rhys). Jane is Aunt Kate's middle name -- and also in honor of our friend John Patrick Byrne, who died one year before Claudia's birth.

9 months pregnant with Claudia

And that brings us almost to March 18, 2010.

Spring into action

Rhys shows off his new size 11.5 shoes and his spring jacket while riding his beloved scooter from Nanny. We knew he had big feet the day he was born (surprising even the doctor) and continues to hold true to form.

March is one of my favorite months and we are looking forward to celebrating Claudia's first birthday in less than two weeks. She is standing and crawling up on everything -- even making it up on Rhys' chairs (to his displeasure).

Up and so proud

And down

Race car shopping

Claudia: "Rhys, whatever you do is funny and cool to me! You are amazing -- look at how you can launch yourself out of the seat. Wow - we even get to sit next to each other and pretend to drive cars...what a treat. It makes it much easier to touch your hair, face and laugh when you pretend to bonk me on the head."
Rhys: "No Claudia.."
I feel for the second (and third) borns now - I really do!