Birthday Boys!

November 25th was a very important date for two reasons...Baxter turned 21 (he's actually 3 in human years) and Herb turned the BIG 6-0! We tried to fill Herb's cake with that many candles, but Erin and I were not able to obtain the proper fire permits in time, so he had to settle for six candles instead. Baxter got to have his first adult beverage since he was of legal age...he wanted to go bar hopping, but I didn't want to be hung over for work the next day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope all of our family and friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving...especially after a Packer victory! Here are a few pics of Claire's first Thanksgiving which we spent in Milwaukee at Erin's aunt and uncles house (Ed and CC's). We had a very interesting trip home...we decided to go deer hunting. While driving north on 43, and just a few miles south of Manitowoc, we hit 2 deer (yes, 2 of them at the same time). There wasn't any traffic, and by time we saw them in the head lights it was too late. No one was hurt, other than some damage to Herbs company car. But it sure did make for an exciting end to our day!

Someone is moving!

Last week Friday Claire decided that she was sick of only being able to roll around...so she started army crawling! At least we have Baxter to help keep tabs on her.

Basement update

Well, things are really starting to progress downstairs. After framing for the past two months (when I had time on the weekends), I've finally moved on to other stages of the building process...thank god. Last week we had the full bath installed, and last night we started running all of the electrical/cable/phone wires. So, from 6pm - 2am we (myself and two very helpful friends) worked on that...and we still have a few more hours to go. We do have working recessed lights though, which is great! As you can see from the pics, the drywall was delivered today...so sheetrocking will start on Monday (which means plastering should be done no later than Wednesday morning!). My goal is still to have it done (well, at least almost done) by Claire's 1st b-day party on the 15th...so the next few weeks will be busy! As frustrating as this process has been at times, I just keep thinking of the day I'll be able to sit down there with an adult beverage, and watch a Packer game on our new 46" LCD (which should be here in a few weeks!!). More pics to come next week after the plastering is complete...



The 12' sheets of drywall that were delivered today...thankfully they took it downstairs!



Work-out room



Bathroom



View from family room...we'll have a back bar under the stairs...steps to the right go to the garage.

Bath-time...but for who?

Claire isn't too sure if she's taking a bath...or if Baxter is going to jump in before her.

A lot has changed in 10 months!

Last night we had our friends Andy and Jennifer (along with their daughter Marren) over for dinner. Claire and Marren were born about a week apart and were in the NICU at the same time...so the six of us have a pretty special bond. As you can see from the pictures, they both have changed a lot in the past 10 months. The first pic is the day that they were both dischared from the hospital (yes, they both got to leave on the same day!), and the other two are from last night.

Claire's new buddy

Grover was a gift to her from one of our neighbors on Halloween...I think she likes him!

Claire has a twin?

Happy Halloween!

Claire and Baxter decided to dress alike for her first Halloween...so we had two cute skunks at our house. Claire did a little trick-or-treating with Erin by our house, then went to Great-Grandma McVey's to show off her costume. I got to stay home and hand out candy to a bunch of 15 year olds who thought "dressing up" meant wearing their street clothes with a mask on their head.

Picking out my first pumpkin

Erin took Claire to a pumpkin patch after work one night so she could find a pumpkin for her first Halloween.

Grandpa's glasses

Just a cute picture of Claire wearing Grandpa Waymire's glasses last night...

Lazy days...

Yesterday, while Erin was outside cleaning up our landscaping, Claire and Baxter decided to join her (and supervise). As you can see, Baxter fell asleep while Claire had fun looking around and playing with her toys.

Claire's first pancake

Last week Claire was treated to her first pancake. She loved playing with it...and tearing it apart...oh, and the couple pieces she did eat seemed to taste good:)

Baxter has a cousin!

Last week Sunday (14th), Kate and Adam went and picked up the new addition to their family...Oliver. Here is a pick of Erin with him...you can definitely tell that he and Baxter are related!

Sold!

Claire stopped in at Grandpa Waymires office yesterday, and in the short time she was there sold 3 cars...the pouty face gets them everytime!

Now that is some high quality H2O

Claire has mastered something new...drinking water from her cup. Here is a short video of her at Eves yesterday...

No more braces!!

Yesterday, after having them for 18 months, Erin got her braces taken off. Claire went with her and talked to everyone that walked by. Afterwards I met them for lunch at Eves, and took a picture to show off the new and improved chicklets.

My apologies

Yes, it has been since the beginning of August since I have last posted on the blog...and for that, I apologize. The last two months have been busy, and now that I have started working on the basement, the little free time I have is spent down there. So, there are a number of new posts showing what we've been up to since my brothers wedding. I will do my best to keep this updated, as Claire seems to be doing something new on a daily basis:) I hope everyone is doing well, and I hope you enjoy the pics (and video)!

FYI, click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of the page to see all of the new posts...there are two more that are not on this first page.

9 months old!

Its hard to believe, but Claire turned 9 months old last week...that went fast! At her Dr.'s apt, she weighed in at a svelt 16lbs, and is 26 1/2 inches long. She's come a long way since her birth weight of 4lb 12 oz! Here are two pictures showing how much she's grown...we've used her stuffed dog as a size comparison.

Go Packers!

Well, with this being Claire's first official Packer season, Erin and I had to get her something to wear on gamedays...and the obvious choice was a Brett Favre jersey! These are pics from Claire watching the Packer v. Charger game...exciting game (in which Dad got a bit "excited" at the end...4th and goal on the one and they go shot-gun with no running back $#*%)...but Brett pulled it out in dramatic fashion...which must have drained Claire since she took a nice nap once it was over:)

I can sleep anywhere

Basement

As some of you know, I am currently working on finishing our basement. Erin and I have been talking about it for almost 4 years, and a few weeks ago things finally got underway. My goal (which is pretty agressive) it to have it finished before Claire's first birthday (Dec 19th). I'm trying to do as much of it on my own (well, with the help of some very generous and talented friends) to save a few dollars. Here are a few pictures of where we are currently at...I have about 2/3 of it framed. When its all finished, we'll have almost 1,000 square feet of extra space...which will include a family room, workout room, office/scrapbooking room, and a full bathroom. And with all of Claires things...which will only get worse with her birthday and Christmas coming in a few months, we need the space!!

Misc. Claire photo's from the past two months...

So that's where my beer went!

Baxter has really enjoyed sitting outside ever since we purchased the gazeebo...this has also affected my beer supply since he likes to enjoy a cold beverage while sitting on the patio furniture.

Someone's not happy:(

Even though Claire is a very happy baby, she does get upset every once in a while. Erin was able to snap a photo of one of Claire's rare "pouty" faces.

Grandma's cooking tips

Grandma came and visited a few weeks ago and taught Claire how to mix the batter for waffles. Claire has yet to make Erin and I breakfast since this lesson...

Claire's first words...

Let's just say that Erin wasn't too happy...but Daddy (or should I say "Dadda") was:-)

Kate & Adam's new addition

Back in August Erin and I (along with Claire and Baxter) met Kate and Adam's newest addition...Oliver! He was just over a week old in this picture...it's hard to believe that Baxter was that size. They are getting him from the same breeder that we got Baxter from, and the two are actually related:) So, they will pick him up on October 14th...welcome to the family Oliver...Baxter is looking forrward to a new playmate!

More wedding pics...

Sorry for the delay in posting these...enjoy!



Mommy, Claire and "the nanny" :-)


Claire's first dance with Mom and Dad.


The new Mr. & Mrs. Josh Christensen!


Now that is one good looking couple!


Jim, Erin, Mom, Renee and Josh


Erin getting a slow dance with the groom.