Her Baby

She hauls him around like he's a feather when he's almost as big as she is!  Look at that chub a goo in her skinny little arms!  She takes such good care of him.  One morning a little while ago I had just put Graham down for his morning nap and then went and got in the tub.  I had the baby monitor on and just as I slipped down into my bubbly water Graham started to cry.  Soon I could hear Clara's voice too - trying to sooth her little brother.  I hurried fast and the whole time could hear Clara singing "I am a child of God" to him - in between verses saying, "it's okay, Mamma will be hear soon, it's okay".  She was up in his crib with him, like usual, just rocking him back and forth waiting for me to come and rescue them both.  She will be a good little Mamma one day.  

 I don't know why, but for some reason I think leaving my kids shirts on their heads when I go to take them off is really really funny.  Graham looks like he finds it pretty funny too.  I also really like balancing his little nuke binki on his forhead like he has a little horn.  Two binki's is even funnier.

She's a big fan of dressing him up too.  She was calling him her little hula baby here.

 A few things about miss Clara.  She is growing up soo fast.  I'm sure most people would guess she was at least 6 and not just 4 years old.  She is learning to read and so excited about it.  She loves pre-shchool and her teacher always says what a good girl she is.  Clara is a dreamer - always pretending and creating and could sit and craft all day long.  She is never ever ever in a hurry - that's kind of tricky sometimes.  She is very tenderhearted and life is often a little more difficult for her than it should be.  But she's teaching me a lot - mostly that I really need to chill a little more.  I think she's gonna give me a run for my money in the patience department - but the fact that she is just so darn sweet sure helps her cause a lot.  She loves friends and people and the sound of little neighbors outside playing makes her happier than about anything else - hurray for spring!!!  She's gotten a lot more confident skiing this year - and while she's not as daring as Gray she has a lot more control.  She'd just taken a pretty hard little spill right before this picture (holy cow am I grateful for helmets) but Brandon still got her to give a little grin.  Although she'd never say it, I think she definitely prefers her Daddy to me - she could honestly sit in his lap all day if he'd let her.  She loves him to bits and I can't blame her - Brandon is a lot more calm than me and Clara really thrives when things are calm.  She's decided lately she doesn't like me calling her tootie anymore and I'm kind of bummed about it!  It still just pops out sometimes but I'm working on it.  She is the best little friend to Gray and I am so happy every single minute of my life that they are so close in age and can be such good friends - this girl sure needs him!