Introducing: CLAIRE ABIGAIL

We definitely felt the luck of the Irish this year!

My little sister, Claire Abigail, was born on St Patrick's Day, March 17th at 9:36am.

She didn't beat my weight of 9lbs, 2oz, but she was close. She did arrive 3 weeks earlier than I did, though, so if she had stayed put longer, she would have beaten me! Claire was 8lbs, 7oz and 21.5 inches long.

Daddy said she gave one little cry when she was born and then was really quiet the whole time she was being checked. She hasn't really said much since!!

After going to my St. Patrick's Day party at school, Nana drove me to the hospital to meet the little baby I'd waited so long for - this was my first meeting! I had a quick talk with her about my job as her big sister.


Minutes after she was born, Claire received her 1st pink fashion accessory - an adorable knit hat given to her by the hospital. While I LOVE pink, I think they should have given her a green one for St. Patty's Day!!










It took Mommy about a day, but she was finally able to stand up and hold my baby sister. Here is one of their first photos together!


Here's Daddy with his two little girls. Start looking for pink karts and racing suits, Daddy!










After three days in the hospital, we were ready to go home!!

Don't let my expression fool you - I was very happy to take my sister home, but spending all morning in the hospital wasn't the most fun activity in the world for me!


The ride home was exhausting for Claire. She decided to take a nap in her new princess throne.











Night night, Claire Bear. Sweet dreams.


Sniff sniff, snort snort.


Let's go Penn State!!

Is it too early to teach her the Penn State fight song?!


Why do you look so scared, Claire? I promise I won't drop you - I learned how to hold you properly in my Big Sister class!




I also promise to snuggle with you and protect you.


I promise not to hijack too many of your photos!


I promise to keep you warm with your blankie, and if you're good, I promise to share my Cinderella dress with you when you're bigger.


I promise to keep your hair looking beautiful, even when you don't really have any.












I promise to teach you all sorts of fun things.


Everyone says that Claire looks like Daddy. We're still not sure about that, but we do know that Claire already has Daddy wrapped around her finger, just like I do!!


Welcome to your world, baby Claire!! We love you and already can't imagine our lives without you!!!!

Big Sister Dinner

Since last night was my final night with Mommy and Daddy as an only child, they decided to take me out for a special Big Sister Dinner. They let me choose the restaurant, and of course I chose Friendly's!!!

I was allowed to order whatever I wanted. My hot dog, fries and strawberry ice cream sundae with strawberry topping were DELICIOUS!!! It definitely got me even more excited to take on the role of big sis :)

Tomorrow is the big day!! Nana is going to take me to school in the morning for the St Patrick's Day party. When she picks me up, we're going to the hospital to meet my little sister. We're going to be very busy, so I don't know when we'll be able to post photos, but we'll try to do it as soon as possible. I know you're all dying to know if she is going to be as cute (and as big) a baby as I was!!!!!

Signing off for the final time as an only child,

Charlotte

Color Me Happy

Greetings from the Crayola Factory!!

Last week Mommy and I drove up to Easton to spend the day at the Crayola Factory with my BFF Avery, my future husband Evan and their mommy, Amy.

Before we got into any serious artwork, we played in the preschool play area. We loved hanging out in the tunnel together.

After the play area, we decided to get to work. First stop was the coloring station. You can't visit the Crayola Factory and NOT create a masterpiece with the millions of crayons at your fingertips!!

When we'd had our fill of crayons, we were off to the painting station to make treasure maps! I once again displayed my freakish ability to stay clean - not one drop of paint landed on my cute outfit!!

Move over, Picasso!

Once our treasure maps were dry and rolled up, we made our way to the clay area. It was difficult choosing which tool to use - there were so many!

Let me get this straight - we're ALLOWED to write on the floor with chalk?!

We have permission to write on the WALLS, too??!! This place is dreamy!!

Do you like my puppet?

We created enough masterpieces that day to fill our own gallery!!

We finally made it to our favorite part of the factory. We danced around the dance floor, and a video camera took our images, distorted the images with all sorts of splashy colors and displayed them on the big screen. Welcome to Kiddie Disco!!!

We danced so long that they started to clean up and close down the other stations while we boogied...

Thanks for driving out to meet us at the Crayola Factory, Avery, Evan and Amy. Mommy and I had a blast!!! We'll definitely have to bring my little sister here when she is older!!

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to the greatest daddy in the world - MINE!!

I hope you liked the cupcakes I made for you, Daddy. I loved bringing you a balloon at work and taking you out for lunch - I didn't want to go home!!

I love you, Daddy!

Pink Ladies

Doesn't Trixie look ready for more pink?! She needs to get used to more - my little sister is scheduled to arrive via c-section on St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Unless she decides to come early on her own, Mommy's doctor is going to take my sister out on March 17th. They have to take her out surgically because it was discovered during an ultrasound last week that my li'l sis is already 7lbs 14oz (and that was 4 weeks away from her due date!!) The doc said that is just too big for Mommy, so they scheduled my sister's birthday for St Patty's Day!


I've been practicing everything I learned in my Big Sister class at home. I love giving bottles to my Baby Chou Chou.


I've been doing a really good job supporting her head, too!















I've also been working on my sharing techniques. I VERY rarely share my blankie or Ninney with anyone, but Trixie looked cold recently.


Then Trixie had to practice her sharing technique!


On another note, last week Mommy and I participated in the fantastic Lancaster County tradition of Fasnacht Day. It is customary around here to eat a yummy, lard-y doughnut on the day before Lent begins.

I could get used to this tradition!!!