Shopaholic

Claire and I are in Tulsa this week spending time with my family.

Yesterday, Steve, Claire, Aunt Shannon, Cousin Analise and I all went to JBF and out to lunch. We also stopped by the mall for a little while. Claire is getting very good at this shopping thing. She found some great bargains! :)

When we lived in town, Mom and I would usually spend at least one Saturday a month together, just the two of us, shopping and going out to lunch and possibly to the movies. We haven't really done this since I moved away. But today, we shopped. It was Claire's first Girl Day, and she did great! We left the house at 10:30 a.m. this morning and didn't come back until 8:00 p.m. this evening. What a fabulous day!

Tomorrow we are going to church in the morning, followed by lunch with Grandpa, Grandma, Nanny, Aunt Frances, Pop Pop and MiMi. Pictures to follow soon.

We're having a great time in Tulsa. We're just missing our Steve/Daddy who had to go back home to work. Hurry back to see us! We love you!!!

Places to Go and People to See

First things first - Claire is now three months old. She weighs 13 lbs and is 25 1/2" long. She has had many milestones this month. She can roll over from her back to her tummy and back again. She can lift her head while lying on her back. She can hold her head at a 90 degree angle while lying on her tummy. She can scoot herself across the floor. She holds her head straight when you pick her up. She coos a lot and has started making many new sounds, including a sort of gurgling noise in the back of her throat that she thinks is so funny. (We do too!) She has leared to scream just to hear herself, and she laughs out loud. She reaches for her toys and grabs onto them. She loves her playmat and her Minnie Mouse lovey. She has started putting things in her mouth as well. She has also taken to sleeping on her tummy. The pediatrician told me to turn her over every time I catch her trying to sleep on her tummy, but I would get no sleep. As soon as I walk out of her room, she flips. As my mother put it, "When you were little, we used to think you were going to die if you slept on your back. You survived. Now they want everyone to sleep on their back. She'll survive." And she's right. Claire slept all night on her tummy last night and awoke after 12 hours cooing and having a great time. (And yes, I said after 12 hours of sleep! What a wonderful night we both had!)

Sleeping Beauty - Claire's new sleeping position - hiney in the air

Definitely a "morning person" - especially after 12 hours of sleep!!!Enjoying her favorite toy - her playmat - and grabbing onto one of the birds. She can actually disconnect the links herself and will continue to hold onto the toy that she has "freed." She's so smart! Now about our trip - We have safely returned from a wonderful 11-day adventure. We flew into Portland, OR and drove up to Kelso, WA. From there we went to Ocean Park, WA and then on to Camano Island, WA. After a brief visit there, we left the country and toured Canada, staying in Whistler, B.C. Then we returned to Kelso, WA and came home via Portland, OR. Here's our trip in pictures (of Claire, that is - scenery pictures are on the other blog):

KELSO, WA:

Great Grandma O (Robin's mom) and Claire

Grandma Robin (Steve's mom) and Claire

Aunt Kalei (Steve's sister) and Claire

Grandma Robin reading Claire her bedtime story - a book that Robin bought her - I'm Glad I'm Your Grandma - so sweet!

Claire with Aunt Emily (Steve's sister)

Claire with Great Grandpa O (Robin's dad)

Great Grandma O, Great Grandpa O, Steve, Claire and Robin - four generations

Grandpa LeRoy (Lee's dad) and Claire

Grandpa LeRoy, Claire and Faye

Great Grandpa LeRoy, Claire and Steve - another four-generational picture (missing Lee who had to work)

Aunt Kasey (Steve's sister) and Claire

Claire and Aunt Dawn (Steve's sister)

Grandpa Lee (Steve's dad) and Claire

Claire with Granny Jan

OCEAN PARK, WA - RICE FAMILY REUNION:

At the reunion, Claire was the center of attention. Here she is with Aunt Lori being adored by Cousin Jean, Auntie Esther and Cousin Terri.

Cousin Toni playing with Claire on her playmat. So much fun!

Claire with her daddy

"The Kids" - Aunt Dawn, Cousin Caleb, Aunt Kasey, Claire, Cousin Jordan, Cousin Jacob, Cousin Griffen, Cousin Austin

Aunt Dawn playing on the playmat with ClaireGreat Grandma Jan a/k/a Granny (Lee's mom) and Claire

Great Grandpa Art and Claire

Grandpa Lee, Great Grandma Jan, Steve and Claire - four generations

Our family at the beach

Playing in the Pacific

Saying goodbye to Grandpa Art and Granny

CAMANO ISLAND, WA: Visit Jill's blog for more pics

Meeting the cousins - Amy and Claire, Cousin Lucas, Cousin Dahlia, Cousin Baby Autumn, Great Aunt Jill and Cousin Sarah

Great Uncle Tom, Claire and Cousin Dylan

Claire and Cousin Autumn playing on the playmat together

Cousins Autumn and Sarah with Claire and Great Aunt Tamara

Aunt Jill and Claire relaxing after a busy day

Dahlia, Amy, Lucas and Keegan

WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA: Visit our blog for more pics

Our drive through Canada was gorgeous!

view of the village from the gondola

Steve and Claire on the top of Whistler Mountain

Steve on the top of Whistler Mountain with Ilanaaq the Inukshuk, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Logo statue

Our family boarding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola which travels between the top of Whistler Mountain to the top of Blackcomb Mountain

En route on Peak 2 Peak

View from Peak 2 Peak

Ready for an evening stroll through the Village

Back from our evening stroll

Immediately following Claire's first roll-over - taken August 18, 2009, in Whistler, British Columbia, CANADA

While in Portland, we spent time with Aunt Lori and Uncle Clay. Unfortunately, we failed to take any pictures during our visit with them. We will take double next time.

There are several videos of Claire and of our vacation. We'll try to get those uploaded soon.

To everyone we spent time with - We had a wonderful time with you. Thank for you being so sweet to us and for doting on our little girl. She's wonderful, and we consider ourselves so very blessed to have her in our lives. It is a joy to be able to share her with you.

Let's Roll

So we are here in Canada minding our own business -- I remove Claire from her carriage (as we Canadians call it) and put her on her play mat (yes we even packed that for the cross country journey) for a little play time. I heard her squeal with delight and looked to notice that she had rolled over!


Yeah Claire!! Her first complete un-assisted roll -- I had a hunch today was the day when in her travel bed (yes, that was also packed, complete with inflatable mattress) this morning she was found having rotated herself 270 degrees, with her socks near where her head was when she was put to bed.

Here are some pictures to hold you over.

Amazing Scenery

Cute Girl

Just after the roll-over!

~Claire's Daddy