Beach Babe

We arrived at Myrtle Beach yesterday with enough time to walk down and say "hi" to the waves. We planned on getting here much earlier, but my Grammy became very ill.

It was this exact week a year ago that my Poppy (her husband) passed away while we were on this same beach trip. My Grammy had a corrective surgery this week and then was not recovering very well. My Dad rushed up there on Friday, because things were not looking good. Since I have been pregnant with Bradley our family has lost four close relatives and I wasn't ready to let go of any more.

We decided to wait at home for news from my Dad on Saturday morning. He visited her in the ICU late Friday night and she wasn't well. Saturday morning she was able to get off of the ventilator and said, "I love you" to my Dad. It was such wonderful news when my Dad called that I burst into tears. Bradley was so sweet about it, he ran over and hugged me and said "sorry mommy." We decided to head to the beach as planned and my parents met us here today.

When I get back I will be going up to PA to visit her, hold her hand, and spend some time with her. I am so glad that we were able to see her in July when she was feeling well. She got to visit with Bradley too, even though he was so sick. She is out of the ICU and slowly getting better! We are so happy!

Back to the beach...sun, sandcastles, sea gulls, and sand!

Doggy, Bloggy Love

I have been a little slack this week with reading blogs and checking in with all my favorite Mommies! I have been busy in the basement trying to practice my body stepping moves before we head to the beach (we are leaving on Saturday!!!) My audition is right when I get home so I won't have too much time to practice once we get back.

I have also been busy on the computer playing with my new Adobe Premiere Elements Program!! I have managed to download all of the video of Bradley since he has been born. We have a DV video camcorder and it has been a PROCESS trying to get the right software to upload our videos. I used to use it at school with my imac and it was super easy. Does anyone have Adobe? Any helpful suggestions?

Well, as I was going through all of the video, which I am so thankful I have. Because I feel like I don't remember half of that first year?? Not sure if it just went by so quickly or I was so tired!? It also made me so sad for how grown up Bradley is now. He knows so many words and almost talks in sentences. It is just amazing that he was only making 'cooing' sounds last summer. It is just so quick! Anyway, I found this video of Chris throwing a toy for our lab Hershey, and Bradley thinking it was hysterical. Bradley and I were laughing so hard by the end of it...so enjoy! Bradley is about 5 months old in this video...

My friend Kristen from La Dolce Vita sent me some bloggy love the other day and I wanted to pass it on!


My sis' Lindsay at The Whitcomb Family, because she is the greatest and designed my whole blog for me. Can't wait to see you at the beach and let the boys play together!!

Jen from Cheaper than Therapy, because her blog is so fun and addicting to read!

Heather from A Big Boy, A Baby Girl, and a Precious Pug because I love you and I love your blog, and we are all cheering for you!!

The Mrs. from One Fabulous Mom, because I love her style and her little Landon is just so cute!!

Lauren from Homesick, who is a wonderful friend and her blog is ALWAYS inspiring!

Amanda from Lifelong Playdate because beans is so adorable and you always want to see what they are up to!!

All By Myself Continued

Gotta Love that Face!!!

A few weeks ago I posted about Bradley's new interest in dressing himself. It has gotten even cuter over here. The other night we were getting ready to go up to bed, and Bradley took off his shorts. This is what he decided to do with them. I got out the camera, and he sat right down on the steps and posed for some pictures. He even turned to the side for the picture below...too cute! Can you tell we are still in love with "Melmo" over here too! Thank you Grandma for the shirt!

Here Mom take a picture on my good side!

I can't get out of this thing!

OK, enough of this I am heading to bed. Night, night!

Come On Girls, You're Crowding Me

This week has been HOT, dry and busy. We rushed around for part of the week with chores and trips to the grocery store. I also had a goal to make it back into the gym everyday (which I have been doing!). We have been at the pool a few days with friends and last night with Daddy. Bradley is getting so brave and will even jump off the side!

After passing the BodyStep Certifcation I talked to some of the directors at the local gym. I am going to "audition" in a few weeks. All I have to do is learn FOUR. NEW. SONGS.!!!! Come on people!!! It took me 2 months to learn 13 songs, so I know I can do it. I just am so sick of memorizing this stuff. Hopefully it will come a little bit more quickly! Instead of reading blogs at nap time, I have been back down in the basement watching new videos and yelling at the TV again.

Here are some photos from a trip to the park. We went before the wedding last week, and I love the two little chickadees with Bradley so sweet!


I love this sequence of events...first Bradley was playing on the latter, and then the girls come closing in. It almost looks like they are discussing how to get him, doesn't it?

This is how they ended up after some negotiation!

Little Miss "Woowee"

I love this picture of Larken!!

So Proud (of Lindsay and myself)

Way to Go Lindsay!!

My sister had her first client...Jenny from Happenings of a Little Bubba asked Lindsay to update her blog look with a fun header. Here is what Lindsay came up with...isn't it great??

My sister is the total opposite of me in many ways...but the most glaring is her prow less with the computer and my inability to even attach a document. She already works part time doing IT work, but she has helped me create my blog look. I really encouraged her to try to come up with a blog business that she could help others update their blogs. Well, she started Whitty Design, and I think it is SUCH a GREAT idea! First real customer under her belt (luckily she updates my blog for free:) now she should be on a role. If you want to check it out, click on the link on my side bar!

Tooting my Own Horn...

Right before I left to go out of town this weekend I got an IMPORTANT email~

Dear Clare,

Kia Ora.
Congratulations on passing your Certification Assessment Video and becoming a Les Mills Certified BODYSTEP® Instructor. This certificate means that you have passed the baseline requirements for this program. Please find attached to this email your Instructor Certificate. Congratulations on your achievement!


Kia Kaha

Les Mills Mid Atlantic Assessment Team

My heart was beating so fast when I opened it, but I PASSED PEOPLE!!!! (It has the funny words kia ora because the company is from Australia and that means "hello") Yeah, tons of hard work, lots of hours on my stepper at home screaming to my imaginary class and it is all over.

Now I just need to find a job doing this crazy thing...

Here Comes the Bride, All Dressed in White...

We had an amazing weekend!!! I took a TON of pictures...these are just a small few from the ceremony and reception. Slide show will be coming soon!!!

We made it safely to Rhode Island and back home. Thank you for all of your kind words about leaving Bradley. He was so great for my parents! They bought him a bunch of toys. One of them being an Elmo Lunch Box. Well that was a big hit! He has been carrying it around all day. We HAD to take it to the park this morning. Thank you Mom and Dad (Gigi and Grandpat!) Bradley was asking where they were yesterday when he got up from his nap.

Steph's wedding was amazing and beautiful! We had a great time getting ready with Steph, hair and nails and make up. She was so excited and giddy about the BIG day. Everything went off without a hitch. (no missing rings or bee stings which are part of my own wedding bloopers...) The reception was a blast and the dance floor was packed. Andre is from Brazil so we got a lot of lessons on the "Zomba" dance style. It was really great! The flowers were so bright and beautiful. They looked great with our chocolate brown dresses. It was wonderful time spent hanging out with my girls and dancing with Chris. We got to read magazines and relax on the plane rides. Really it was a great trip! Here are a few pictures...more to come!

Steph and her Dad

Steph and Andre coming into the reception. Isn't her dress beautiful?

The first dance

Steph's brother, Ed, his wife Kirsten and little Alec.

They sat next to us at dinner. Aren't they the cutest family?

Janna and Peter, awwww!

Steph dancing with her Dad. We all got a little teary eyed! The baby of the family...

Cutting the cake!


Aren't all of the colors beautiful? I LOVED her cake!

Our flowers!


Janna and Peter hitting the dance floor!


Steph and Ed!

Aaron, Steph and Jill

My girls!! Lori, Steph and Karen!

Lori and Chris cheesing it up for the camera!

The gang; Peter, Lori, Chris and Janna!

KD Ladies, me, Amber and Lori

Scott and Peter checking out the dance floor!

Too Cute!!

Gotta have a tie on by the end of the night!!

The three amigos getting into trouble!

Karen and Scott

The rings!

Closing out the party!

Sarah, me, Kirsten, and Janna hanging out on the dance floor!

Yes, I Said Three WHOLE Days!!

We are packing the bags right now (well not right now, I am writing this post:) Tomorrow we fly up to Rhode Island for my best friend Stephanie's wedding. You may remember the bachelorette party that I went to here. I can't believe we are leaving the Bradley Boo for three days. I know, I know he will be fine, but how is Mommy going to do?? Is it always this hard to leave your kiddos, or am I the only one? I know he will be LOVED while I am gone, but still I am going to miss him like crazy. Especially when he is really into "mine." And right now I am "my Mama." Too cute!

I wish that I could say that it will be a weekend of relaxing. Sleeping in and long meals shared between the hubby and I. Without a screaming toddler throwing food. But, I will be busy getting hair and nails and pictures taken. Ya' know, hard work! Chris has already gotten "talked" into going to a casino on Saturday all day with the boys. Hmmm how did they find that?

We know we will be busy, but it will be an amazing weekend with a bunch of life long friends. I am looking forward to some wine and a couple of spins around the dance floor. Maybe even an chicken dance or two? I think Steph said that won't be played...darn!

It should be a wonderful time. Yes, I can't believe it, THREE WHOLE DAYS!!!

Picture Perfect

Don't worry I'm not usually this sappy but...

a few months ago Chris and I just ran into this wonderful family at church in town we were trying out for the first time. Carly was funny and sweet, Garrett was great and of course little miss Mary Reese was adorable. You know when you just have that feeling that someone is supposed to be your friend? You were meant to run into them THAT day for a certain reason!

See long story short we have been living in our small town for almost two and a half years. Half of that time I was working, the other half staying home. I am still finding my place, looking for the friends to fill our life with memories and playmates for our kids. This is not such an easy task as one would imagine. Our lives are busy now, no more living in sorority houses spending endless hours chatting about boys and parties. No, now we meet at parks and run between screaming kids trying to get in a sentence of conversation here and there. Making friends has always been easy for me. I have made amazing friends through each "phase" of my life, a big group of them are meeting this weekend to watch our best friend get married, (can't wait for that). But, the whole motherhood thing has made this a little more difficult. So, for right now I will take the great friends as they pop along in my life.

Carly was that friend I was looking for, fun, witty, easy going and very caring. Many emails and blog comments were sent back and forth. Our children were meeting to play and our families were sitting down to dinner together. Everything was seeming picture perfect...

Then she writes, "We are moving..." I was crushed. The second friend in a few short weeks to leave our little town for the big city. Carly you will be missed! I hope that the moving and packing finish smoothly and you make it to your big city without a hitch!! We met together on Monday with the babies for a little good bye session. I think there is a road trip in the near future!

Get ready Carly, G, and MR we are coming to visit!

BTW, Carly I stole this picture from your blog!! Love it!

Just had to include this pictures of cousin cuteness!

Bradley and Sammy playing together at the park.

Isn't Sammy adorable? Sammy you are getting SO big!

Bradley, I love your little bum:)

Chick Magnet

This picture just makes me laugh! Bradley is two months old, Febuary 07!

Luv the shirt, my little chick magnet!

Bradley what kind of face are you giving all the girls?

It is amazing how scared Hershey is of Bradley. She was still

adjusting to the little guy in the house.