Trying to adjust

Alley enjoyed having her Grandpa Alley here and two of her great aunts - Josie and Charlotte. She was thoroughly entertained by all the attention. We even took an outing to Como zoo and she growled at the lions and tigers and got see her favorite the monkeys. But I think all this change with the new little sister and just being an 18 month old is wearing on her. She was obviously tired this afternoon but didn't want to take a nap. She has figured out how to climb out her bed - so we can no longer confine her. After many temper tantrums I left her upstairs in her room with the gate to the stairs closed. A little while later it was quiet, so I went to check what was going on - she was asleep at the top of the stairs - apparently too tired to fight anymore and too tired to go back to her room. I only wish I had a picture.

Alley and her little sis

Alley doesn't quite say Claire yet - but she says baby a lot. She was holding her little sister for the first time here and then was trying to tell her where her nose is. She also told Claire that her ears are actually called eyes - I guess we still have to work on that.

SO EXCITED

I was so excited I danced for joy, becuase I have a new sister Claire. She has her very own blog

http://www.ourclairebear.blogspot.com/

Sleeping Beauty

It took only 2 nights but Alley feel asleep in her new bed. Now we'll see if she stays there!

Bubbles

Alley enjoying the new bubble "gun".

The Finished Product

Big Girl Bed

Alley helped her Dad paint our old guest bedroom which will be Alley's new room. There are a lot of different pinks in the room - with a base of light pink on the walls. It's going to be a bubble or ball theme - the words she said the earliest - with neat bedspread, some free hand bubbles painted on the wall, a paper globe. She'll soon be moving from her crib to a "big girl bed" - basically the old guest bed - which is full size. I'll know she'll want to jump on the bed a lot at first - but hopefully she'll learn to sleep in it.

Summer Fun

I certainly am having a few computer problems - so this post needed to be redone. But I believe I was commenting on how busy of a summer we have had. The top pictures are from a family reunion in Ortonville. Alley got overstimulated by her cousins (Virgil's grandchildren). She was so tired the next day that she bit a couple kids at daycare. At least that is what I am blaming it on. I can't believe I have a kid that bites - I am hoping it is just a phase!

We have been getting together for a lot of BBQ with our ECFE friends - which has been fun to have a little play date and a good meal once a week. Alley has also gone to the splashpad in St Louis Park a few times. As you can see - it is a place mostly for toddlers and young kids - where there are fountains that they can run through. I am surprised how assertive Alley is there and really loves it and seems oblivious to her parents when she is there. She most recently went with Alex on a date there while Rob and Bryant chaperoned. Apparently she was oblivious to Alex too - as he is not in these pictures.