Claire's 9 month pictures!

Here are Claire's 9 month pictures (even though she is 10 months today)! She did such a good job and cooperated so well. I cannot believe how fast she is growing. Only 2 more months until her birthday. This year has definitely flown by and it has been full of such happiness for our family. We are truely blessed!!

Aren't I just too stinkin' cute???? When I smile like this, Daddy will give me whatever I want!!!! Look how big I am!!!! SO BIG!!!

My favorite thing to do...read, read, read!!!

Claire is getting better and faster at crawling and she has no problem pulling herself up on whatever she can find. She can get down by herself pretty easily too. She is starting to make even more new sounds everyday, so I don't think it will be long until we hear her first real words. Still no teeth though, but we count that as a blessing since we don't have to worry about her falling and knocking one out or chipping one or biting her tongue, etc.

I am now into my second trimester (yeah)!! I have a doctor's appointment today. So, it will be nice to hear the heartbeat just to know there our new little one is still doing alright. I am feeling alright, evenings seem to be the worst time, just like last time. I haven't felt nearly as sick though. I haven't decided if that is because I have done this before, I am just too busy to worry about it, or I really am not as sick. I am very tired though. Last night I only made it to 9 PM. Claire went to bed at 8:30.

My official due date is August 16. Since Claire was breech and I had to have a C-section, unless I want to go to Lima or Columbus to deliver, this baby will be by C-section also. So, the doc said we would pick a day about 10 days before my due date to schedule the surgery. That would make it around August 6, but Claire came 12 days early. So, we will see what happens.

I have started another class towards my Master's degree. It is Monday nights from 6-8:40 in Columbus. So, Mondays stink because I only really get to see Claire for about an hour in the morning. But, my class is really interesting and I think it will help me a lot with my teaching. Only ONE more class after this until I am officially licensed to teach as an intervention specialist. Then I have a few more to complete my Master's.

Ryan is doing well. He still loves his job in Urbana. He also can't wait to have another little one in the house. It is so much fun to watch him with Claire! He is a wonderful daddy! In the mornings, when he goes out to warm the car up before he leaves for work, Claire gets upset when he walks out the door! Daddy, don't leave me!!! He takes her to daycare, which she really likes. She has a few girls there she really enjoys playing with.

Anyway, I think I have rambled on long enough. Enjoy the pictures and check back soon!

Alright, so I am catching up on some pictures and they are not in the correct order, but anyway, I hope you enjoy them.

The Grandstaff Christmas

Sherry, Tyson, Riley, and Hayden opening their gifts.

Claire in a walker getting ready to open her gift.

This is the Runyon Christmas on Christmas morning.

We spent Christmas eve and Christmas morning with my parents and brother and sisters.

Jared opening his Dragonology game from me

Claire playing with her toy and me opening the food dehydrator mom got Ryan and I.

Katie opening her stocking!

A Care Bear for our Claire Bear!

Mom opening her scrapbook from Ryan, Claire and I.

Dad is in the background with a Bah Humbug Santa Hat on.

Our family Christmas

Ryan opening his remote control helicopter I got him.

Ryan got me some silicon bakeware.

A BOOK, MY FAVORITE!!

I wonder what this is??? It looks like fun though.

Here is Claire all decked out in her Christmas dress!

More presents!!

Sassy and Maverick opening their presents!

Claire all worn out after all the holiday festivities!

Claire getting ready for daycare.

I love bathtime! I was a lion for Halloween, my mommy made it for me all by herself!

And finally, a picture of our newest addition, who will be joining us at the beginning of August sometime!

One last note, Claire is FINALLY crawling! So, now we really have to babyproof our house!

New Computer and High speed internet!!

FINALLY!!!!!!! We bought a new computer and we upgraded our internet, so now I will be able to update the pictures!! I am so excited! So, my plans are to put some new pics on Sunday sometime!! There will probably be a lot, if I have time! I also started another Master's class this Monday (ugh). So, I am going to be busy, busy for the next 4 months! But, I only have one more class after that until I will be licensed to teach Special Education!! Then I have a few more to complete my Master's Degree. Anyway, Erica is here this weekend and we are going bridesmaid dress shopping tomorrow! What fun! It will be Erica, Leigh Ann, Miranda, and me! Girls day out! I am really looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it goes. Erica is getting married next October!! Fun stuff!

Happy Holidays!!

Well, I hope everyone has had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We sure did. Claire was a little overwhelmed with all the activity, but all in all she handled the season well. She got tons of toys and clothes, so she should be set for awhile. Ryan and I enjoyed visiting with friends and family and we even got a little time to just relax! We also have some BIG news to share! We found out on Ryan's birthday that Claire will be a big sister in August! Yes, we are pregnant! We are thrilled even though it was unexpected! So, check back for updates soon!!!

Thanksgiving Update

Wow, Thanksgiving was a whirlwind of activity. Ryan and I didn't feel like we even got a chance to sit down and relax. It was filled with family, friends, food, and, of course, shopping. It was nice to get to see a lot of our family over the holiday. It had been quite awhile since we had seen some of them. We also got a little bit of Christmas shopping done. Now the rush is on until after Christmas. It seems we have every weekend until then filled with things to do with family and friends. Claire is doing great! We think she may be crawling by Christmas. She is really wanting to get mobile, but she is mostly just scooting backwards right now. She will also probably be pulling herself up pretty soon. Ryan and I think she is working on her first teeth (yes, more than one), but we will have to see. We have thought this before and nothing came of it. I also want to send a big CONGRATULATIONS out to Leigh Ann and Patrick! I just found out they are expecting! How exciting is that! They have wanted this for so long. Leigh Ann, if you are reading this, I am truely thrilled for you!! Well, happy holidays everybody! Hopefully I'll update again soon!

Remodeling the Bathroom

Ryan and I have been working on totally remodeling our bathroom for the past few weeks. We are finally done!!! It is so nice! It was a lot of work though, but it really needed it. We are hoping friends and family can come by and see it soon. You won't even recognize it! Claire is doing great still. We think she may be getting her first tooth. She is also getting closer to being mobile everyday. She scoots backwards, but hasn't gotten the hang of going forward yet. Once she does though, our doggies better watch out! She just loves them! Well, that's all for now!

Well, I know I promised more pictures soon, but there have been some hiccups in the plan. Our laptop at home quit working, so I tried to upload at work. The webmarshall at work blocked me from doing that. So, I thought I would try our desktop computer at home, but it isn't working right either. So, it may be awhile before I can post more pictures unless I find someplace to do it. Sorry about that. Claire is almost 7 months old now! At her 6 month check-up she was 16 lbs. and 25 inches long. She also had to get 6 shots :-( She didn't do too bad though. She is now rolling over in both directions, sitting up on her own, clapping her hands, and babbling! Ryan and I think she will be crawling by Christmas. We'll see. She truely brings joy to our lives!! Until next time.....