By the Numbers

Mara had her four month doctor's visit which yielded as encouraging news as ever.  Mara has grown 4 INCHES in 4 MONTHS!!  Her doctor couldn't be more thrilled, although the downside of her bionic growth is a condition our doctor has never seen before:  her toes have actually outgrown her own toenails!  Poor thing:  her nails are growing in at the right size but at the top are too narrow for the size of her toe.  It obviously hurts but we just have to wait for them to grow out. 

Clare had to travel to Detroit & Calgary for her work, so she was able to bring Nick and Mara along to visit her grandparents, Aunt & Uncles and cousins.   Here Mara at the airport checking in her baggage.  She is quite the explorer:  loving the airports and airplanes.  All of the passengers and crew commented on how well behaved she is on the plane!

Mara loved seeing her family, and it was particularly touching to see her with new cousins, Alex and John.  Here at her Grandparents and Uncle Ed's house in Detroit.

Cousin John worked at a camp with special needs kids and was really good with her.  John said he loved her smile, said she smiled from the inside.

Another shot with John in her cute winter clothes!

Mara absolutely adores her Auntie Linda, always wanting to talk and play with her.  She took a bath at her Nona's house and ran through the house naked - if only I had captured that to use for future ammunition to embarrass her!

While we were in Detroit, we got to see Clare's first University of Michigan game while Uncle Dan, Cousin John, Nona & Grandpa babysat (and as always Mara behaved like an angel, loving the attention from everyone and playing with the ipad).  To say that Michigan's stadium is impressive is an understatement!

Even while miserably losing to Nebraska, the crowds were insane.

It was fun to tailgate before the game with our rockstar parking space right next to the stadium and thankfully it wasn't too cold.  Clare even tried Alex's wheat free beer!

Here the crew at the game!

After leaving Detroit, Nick and Mara traveled back home (and again, Mara was an angel although her Mommy missed her terribly) and Clare traveled to Calgary.  Calgary was a beautiful charming little town and of course Nick gave Clare fabulous restaurant recommendations.  Clare enjoyed a brisk walk down to the river to enjoy a fabulous meal at the River Cafe.  First squid from Vancouver.

And then smoked ahi with boar proscuitto.

Even being gone for a day, Clare was so happy to be back home with her family and to see Mara.  The first day back Clare and Mara were inseparable.  Here Mara cooking with her Momma making soup in her chef costume, cooktop and utensils that her Auntie Maia, Emily and Sarah gave her - as Mara says "so much fun"!!!

Of course her Granny missed her terribly so the first thing we had to do this past weekend was to visit.  Here Mara and Granny playing the piano together.