See you later hospital!

Thanks Welke's for decorating our home, both inside and out!
Claire wondering, "What is she doing here?"

Welcome home Allie Susan!

Dad and Allie a few minutes before we left Lutheran General.

Kristine stopped in to meet Allie!

Our darlings! We feel so fortunate to have two beautiful, healthy baby girls. Life is good!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving...hospital style!

Lisa, Grandpa Dennis and Pam stopped by

Aunt Jill, Grammie and Papo, and Claire stopped by and we took a girl photo.

Our first Thanksgiving as a foursome!

Claire and I gobbling up our turkey cookies! She left a trail and housekeeping had to pick up all of her crumbs!

Aunt Kristie feeling better and meeting Allie for the first time.

Walking the halls

Allie's Bella Baby Photos

Thanksgiving Day started early with a photo shoot. Thanks Pamma for allowing us to share these photos and getting us the CD. That was so nice!

Claire can say BABY!

Hospital Visitors Day 1 and 2

Uncle Matt came to see Allie at night

Grammie meeting Allie

Papo meeting Allie Claire having fun at the hospital! She is clearly thrilled to become a big sister!

Matt showing Allie to Claire for the first time.

Pamma and Grandpa Dennis came to meet Allie on the day that she was born. They watched Claire on Tuesday and came to the hospital after Grammie and Papo picked Claire up. I was still pretty out of it!

Here she is!! Welcome Allie Susan!

Poor Allie! Getting all cleaned up and ready to be presented to us!

Still feeling good in recovery...though the feeling didn't last. I was wheeled to room 11209 and my dad was the first visitor! He came on his lunch break but Allie wasn't ready yet so he had to see her from the nursery. At that time, the nausea became unbearable and I was sick for the next few hours. Then came Grammie, and she also had to see Allie from the nursery. The RN's didn't want to bring her into her sick mommie room :(

At 9:28 am, Allie Susan was born. I was so happy to hear the news! A healthy little girl! Only 6# 4 oz. and 19.5 inches long. I thought it was going to be a 7# 7 oz. boy!

Last pic of the belly! We left the house at 6:45 am on Tuesday, Nov. 23rd. The c-section was scheduled at 9:00 am at Lutheran General in Park Ridge and we were told to be there at 7 am!

Thanksgiving

Nerd alert! Claire actually loves these things and hates taking them off. She wore them for at least 30 minutes and it is quite comical!
The girls modeling their cute bibs before the delicious feast!

Grammie and Claire

The family of three, right before we became a family of four!

Getting ready to head to Grammie and Papo's house for a pre-Thanksgiving feast! Claire loves wearing her hat and long coat and she looks super cute in them too!

15 Month Stats

Weight: 24# 4 oz. (75th %tile)
Length: 32 3/4" (95th %tile)
Head Circ: 18.5" (75th %tile)

Claire's words

So far, she's up to about 25 words! Here they are:
Dog, cat, duck, up, bottle, momma, dadda, elmo, on, off, ball, blue, bib, eat, all done, no, yes, hello, hi, bye bye, papo, pamma, airplane, hat, outside, uh-oh.

Grandparents

Max, Papo, and Claire cuddling on the couch. Grandpa Dennis playing with Claire.

Happy early Birthday Matt!
Pamma and Grandpa Dennis babysat Claire on Friday night, so she got to see them two days in a row!

Claire had such a fun weekend with Pamma and Grandpa Dennis on Friday and Saturday and with Grammie and Papo on Sunday!

Claire's Likes

Dogs, bananas, babies, applesauce, bottles (still, I know!), Elmo, fish, books-especially ones with flaps and things to feel, the park-mostly walking up and down the structures and bridges, the swings, and the slide, collecting leaves, singing songs ("If you're happy and you know it", "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and "How much is that doggie in the window"), going up and down stairs, her shopping cart, phones, turning the lights on and off and being with her family!

Princesses!

Claire, Maddie, and Addison were dressed up in princess outfits. Claire reminds me of a bohemian princess with her shoes and hat, she is funny! Claire just adores her hat, which was given to her by the Cesta's!

Happy Halloween Claire Bear!

Trick-or-Treating with the Welkes. We only went to 4 houses as it was pretty chilly! Claire loves the decorations. Everytime we walk by this house she gets very excited!

Claire bear with Daddy!

Lady bug Maddie trying to get to her Tootsie Roll pop!

Claire Bear and Momma at the kiddo Halloween Party.

St. Louis and U of I

Claire strolling the Quad at U of I. Claire and Papo marching with the band, which she loved!

Curtis Apple Orchard in Champaign. We picked some delicious apples.

Claire picked this one! So cute.

CHIEF!

Doesn't she look like a doll?

Feeding the goats...well pretending actually!

Claire watching the ponies with Papo.

Saying goodbye to Great Grandparents after a quick trip to see them. Claire was such a good girl!

Ugh I look puffy, but I am 9 months along!!