Clara's First Birthday Party

A fun day indeed for our little Clara! Our thanks to everyone for coming to the party or sending happy wishes, or giving thoughtful gifts. Thanks especially to Franklin & Martha for the wonderful pictures and vignette below.

Clara's First Birthday Cake

She Is Clara, Hear Her Roar!

Toddler Steps

Clara goes at her own pace. No matter how much we goad her along, she does something when -- and only when -- she's ready to do it. Before introducing us to her latest toddler parlor trick, she prefers to sit back for a while, observe, and ponder her move. Then she strikes when it's on her terms.

Even though Clara showed early promise last month, she has since lost interest in walking on her own. So, as we're on the brink of the first year birthday, we're all excited to see that spark renewed.

Look at her amble through these four baby steps!

Disappear Into the Diaper Genie

Here's a lengthy video for the die hards.

It's a prelude, we think, to the toddler fascination with watching items of all sorts vanish in the vortex of the mysterious flushing toilet. Clara has been intrigued by the diaper genie for several weeks. She watches Kate toss in dirty diapers, which never come back out. Hmmm....

So what happens if she tosses in fresh diapers, too? And butt paste lotion? And the balm we use on her dry skin? And toy balls? And daddy's telephone? And mama's wallet? And...

A few household items have inexplicably disappeared on us. I believe we now understand why. So, don't be surprised to find us rifling through the diaper genie before throwing it in the outside trash.

Eating With a Spoon

Tech Savvy Clara

Clara learned to use the basic functions of the iPod Touch and Google smartphone in less time than it took either of her parents. She loves taking the devices from us, seeing her picture on them, and moving them from side to side with the swipe of her finger. She also flips the phones, constantly, while trying to determine if that image she sees on the front is also on the back. Though she shows no interest in actually talking to someone on the phone, she does enjoy pulling it to her ear and pantomiming a conversation (eerily similar to her parents in both gesture and expression).

Blueberries!

Each morning, upon entering the kitchen, Clara immediately points to the freezer and exclaims "boo-baba!" For the untrained ear, that means blueberries. For months, her breakfast of choice. 

This brings nothing but pleasure to her Papaw to whom we owe gratitude for the 15 or so pounds of berries that made their way to our freezer at the end of last summer. Up in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, Ted enlisted the service of a small army of shoeless Amish children to pick clean a field of blueberry bushes just as they reached optimal ripeness. 

As many of you know, Ted has a special affinity for the Amish culture and its people. He has gone so far as take lessons in Pennsylvania-Dutch, the primary language used within Amish families. His attempts keep this mild-mannered Punxsutawney community amused and among his more modern friends has  earned him the nickname "the Amish Whisperer."

For the North Carolina Drydens it has meant blueberries all winter along, to the delight of parents, child, and shareholders of Proctor & Gamble stock (maker of Tide and Tide stain-stick).

 

 

Uncle Mark Comes to Visit

Uncle Mark came to town for a couple days this weekend. It was a trip extended when, on his way here, he spun out on some ice and became automotively familiar with a roadside ditch. While his car was propped up on the Raleigh Nissan shop's maintenance lift, Clara got a chance to enjoy his doting attention and show off her range of tricks for a new audience member.