#ClaireOliviaWasHere

We all know that life with toddlers is messy.  Very fun, but very messy.  Claire is getting more curious by the day and is figuring out how to get into everything.  Yesterday she was pushing her doll pram around the kitchen and I left for a few seconds to go put some dishtowels in the laundry hamper.  I came back to find she had pulled the oatmeal canister off the shelf in the pantry and spilled it all over the kitchen floor.  When I came in she looked at me and squealed "Oh!" and kept pointing excitedly at the oatmeal all over the floor.  Her reaction was so cute I couldn't help but laugh.  I grabbed my camera and snapped a few pictures to show Bryce later then I let Claire help me sweep up the mess and we went about our day.  Afterwards, I thought about how taking a few pictures of the little mishap helped me not lose my patience over a small mess.  I decided to start a little series on my blog and a hashtag on Instagram, #ClaireOliviaWasHere, to document the unavoidable mishaps and silly events that go along with raising a toddler.  This way I can use something I love (photography) to help me find amusement in what could be some bothersome situations.  Patience hasn't always been something that comes easily to me but I'm hoping this new project and perspective will help!

Portrait 15.52

Claire's portrait this week is one of my favorites from our surprise snow day.  
Her face=pure happiness.

"A portrait of my daughter once a week, every week, in 2015."

April Snow Storm

Yesterday mother nature decided to give us a little surprise.  We woke up to snow in the middle of April, lots and lots of it!  I absolutely love snow, and I was bummed we hardly got any this past winter, so I was thrilled with the crazy snow storm we got, even if it was in April!  I pulled our boots & coats out of storage and we took Claire outside to play around in it for a while.  She started squealing and bouncing up and down as soon as we got outside.  She loved it!  (Just as long as she didn't have to touch it haha!)
Knowing it would melt in a day or two we tried to to stay outside and enjoy the snow as long as we could.  Then we stayed cozy and warm inside and watched the snow fall out the window while I made homemade bread and taco soup for dinner.  It couldn't have been more perfect.  It felt like we got to live in a snow globe just for a day.  And it made up for the disappointing winter we had, just a little.

Watching & Waiting

Claire and I watched the storm blow in out the window yesterday while we waited for Bryce to get home from work.  It was gray, cloudy, and very windy which made for good watching.  Leaves and petals from our blossomed fruit trees swirled around and around in miniature cyclones.  Claire kept saying "Oh!" and "Wassat?" every time something blew past the window.  After we had watched the oncoming storm for a while we played hide and seek in the curtains, one of Claire's favorite games.  Finally we heard Bryce come home and Claire ran as fast as she could to greet him in the kitchen.  I love these quiet and calm days.  I know they won't always be like this, especially once we have more children, but for now I am soaking them all up as much as I can. 

Matching

There's a short window of opportunity where you can get away with matching your daughter and I am taking full advantage of it as long as I can.  Claire & I both wore striped shirts and our matching saltwater sandals today.  Then we spent our day eating peanut butter and honey sandwiches outside in the sunshine and blowing bubbles to our heart's content.  It was a good day with my little sidekick.

Cloudy Days are for tea parties and cuddling

Yesterday was a cold & cloudy day that called for a tea party to keep us entertained.  We introduced Claire's new bunny "Juliette Rabbit" to her other animals and had a tea party where we served mini-cadburry eggs and pretend tea.  After a sufficient amount of candy & pretend tea had been consumed Claire decided all of her animals need a good dose of cuddling.  Life with a little girl is the very best.  

Portrait 14.52

Claire's portrait this week is from pictures I took of her on Easter in her new Easter dress.  Bryce taught her how to make this face a few months ago and I haven't been able to get a picture of it until now.  She makes this face and says "Oh" excitedly whenever she is surprised by something (I think a car drove by when I took this picture).  It is my favorite face of hers.  I am so glad I was able to finally capture it.

"A portrait of my daughter once a week, every week, in 2015."