9 Month Photo Shoot with Aunt Kathy

We had a photo session with wonderful and talented Aunt Kathy! Here are some of our favorites...

Outfit #1: The Workout Outfit (Thanks Uncle Tim)

Such a BIG girl

Walking to Mommy's arms

Outfit #2: The Studious Outfit (from Miss Lorie)

Look at all of those teeth!

A little off balanced... she fell IMMEDIATELY after the photo was taken :)

Seriously studying "The Big Book of Knowledge"

Little Miss Mozart

Strike-a-pose

Outfit #3: Playful outfit (Thanks Mike & Anne)

Unsure about walking this time

Fresh out of smiles by outfit #3!

Thanks for the lovely pictures, Aunt Kathy!!

Claire - 9 Months Old!!

We can hardly believe that Claire is 9 months old! We went to the doctor yesterday and she weighs 22 lbs. She is in the 90th percentile for height and weight - a very proportional, very big girl!! She has learned some new tricks this month... she likes to climb the stairs now, walk along furniture, and even ventures to take 4-5 steps on her own! She has 7 teeth now and got her two front teeth just in time for Christmas. She likes to babble and is very close to her first words. Here are some pictures from this last month...

This Christmas decoration was her favorite at Oma and Opa's - she practically tried to scale the bookshelf to get to it!

Our family before mom and dad went out for New Year's Eve

Her new favorite, silly face

She had her first play date with Korbin

Mom tries VERY hard to get bows in her hair

Here she is taking a few steps on her own

Here she is climbing the stairs

SOO happy grandpa is out of the hospital

Thanks for the blocks, Jackson...

...but I prefer the tissue paper for now! :)

She got to spend time with her Godparents, Mike & Anne

She LOVES bubble baths

She has weekly play dates with Jackson

Still has those baby blue eyes!

Daddy loves to make her hair look crazy

Such a pretty smile...

Having fun with blocks

Helping us decorate for Christmas

We started brushing her teeth - she seems to like to EAT the toothpaste more than anything

More soon to come from her 9 month photo shoot with Aunt Kathy!

Michigan Christmas

The day after Christmas we drove up to Michigan to spend a couple days with Pete's immediate and extended family. It was a wonderful visit and great to be able to spend time with all of the amazing people in Holland.

A Vandervaart family photo

Spending time with great grandpa

Playing with great grandma

Claire in a gift bag :)

Loving her new toy from great grandma and grandpa

Thanks for the ride, Oma! :)

Lovely hairdo thanks to Uncle Tim

Curious Claire Bear

Vandervaarts starting Claire off early with soccer

Claire loved playing and roaming around in Michigan

Merry Christmas to all!

Indiana Christmas

We spend Christmas day with Laura's family after Laura worked the night of Christmas Eve. We had a great day with lots of wonderful memories and laughs. Here are some pictures from Claire's first Christmas.

Here is our little family before Christmas Eve Mass.

One of Claire's new favorite toys.

Here is what Santa brought Claire in her stocking.

She loves to dance and play with this toy.

Eating Christmas dinner with daddy

Grandma and Claire playing with the musical Christmas bear

Thanksgiving 2008

Happy Belated Thanksgiving! The Vandervaarts came to spend the holiday with us in Indianapolis and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here are some photos from our Turkey Day...
Every holiday - my family shoots free throws and as a group, we must make 50% before we can eat. My dad was able to shoot from a little closer and make 1 out of 2. After a few attempts as a group - we were successful!

Pete, Mike, Kathy, and Laura went shopping on Black Friday starting at 5 am! We had a great time and were able to get a lot of Christmas shopping done.

Claire sure did enjoy her turkey!