Brinkerhoff Birthdays

Brian and Claire have birthdays 2 days apart, which makes for a week of celebration for us! This post is now about 3 weeks over-due, but I've had problems everytime I've uploaded pictures (most of them end up sideways). I tried again today and only one is sideways...sorry! I absolutely love these two people. Brian is the love of my life, and I feel so blessed to have him for a husband. He is so good to both of us! Claire is our little miracle. Her first birthday was a chance for us to look back on what a wonderful year it has been with her in our family. We looked at the pictures of when she was born and wrote her a little note in a journal we keep just for her. We couldn't imagine our lives without our darling little girl!

We taught Claire to hold up her finger when we asked "how old are you"? It often ends up turned sideways, but we know what she means :) So cute! Twin dolls she got from Mom and Dad.

She now "gets" what opening presents is...a big advancement over Christmas!

Hmmm...to eat or not to eat...

She LOVED this dollar store cell phone!

Multi-tasking already...chat on the phone...feed the babies...busy little girl!

At her 1 year appointment she was in the 94% for height, the 40% for weight, and the 95% for head circumference. Brian says she's basically got a watermelon for a head and is trying to walk on stilts :) I think she's much better looking than that :)

Brian's birthday cake. He outlined the microscope himself!

Claire's cake. My attempt at making something more visually appealing :)

The first taste...

She started gingerly at first, but our friend Marcy helped her really get into it!

A little too much cake perhaps? We decided afterwards that it's a silly tradition really. Let a little kid eat themselves sick on thier first birthday. We'll stick to cupcakes from now on :)

Brian's birthday dinner at Organ Piper Pizza. A really fun place to eat. The have a full organ with various sets of pipes throughout the restaurant. The night we were there, the organist was the same guy who plays at the Milwaukee Brewers baseball games. He was excellent! We loved the stuffed bread sticks and will definately be going back.

Just a couple of Claire candids I like. She's in a dress that she wore at about 4 months. Now, with a long-sleeved onsie underneath, it makes a great shirt!

We broke down and got Claire a Rody with her birthday money (thanks Grandma and Grandpa Low)!