Clara's first birthday!

Today we celebrated Clara's first birthday with both sets of her grandparents at her Oma and Opa's in Stralsund, Germany! Clara is usually the center of everyone's attention, but today she seemed to know from as soon as she woke up that something extra special was going on. She sure seems to be enjoying herself in this photo!


Clara's grandparents from Canada have been visiting us in Berlin for the last two weeks. We took the train up to Stralsund on Friday afternoon, and came back this evening. Here is Clara with Grandpa on the train.


On Saturday we toured around the area where Clara's Oma and Opa live. We stopped for a walk in Schlemmin, where Tanja and I were married just over three years ago. I hope to post a few more photos from Schlemmin when I get copies from our parents in a few days, for now here's one from our camera showing Clara and Tanja in front of a federally protected oak tree that's over 700 years old.


Today we had beautiful weather, and after opening her presents we went for a walk around the village and to the playground. Here is Clara with her Oma on the swings.


We spent lots of time reminiscing over Clara's first few days. From everyone's thoughts that "this can't be happening while Chris is in Hawaii" to Clara's first days at home with the difficult two hour feeding schedule. She did amazing over the past year, we're so lucky to have such a healthy, happy, friendly little girl! As a final photo, here is Clara showing how old she is now, with an overlay of her a few days after she came home.