I lost Claire's baby book. It's around somewhere, of course, but I haven't seen it since Christmas. I also have a "Mommy Journal" where I write down random things I don't want to forget, but... I seem to forget to write in it much. So... I want to take a moment to record on our blog what Claire is doing these days. Thankfully, I can't lose a blog. (And my parents won't let me neglect it.) :)
The photo above was taken yesterday in the backyard. Claire is 9 1/2 months old and at our recent trip to the doctor's office our peanut weighed in at 16lbs, 1 oz, and she's just over 27 inches long. I didn't ask for what percentile that puts her in (quite low, I'm sure), but I do know that she's a healthy little girl who is doing all the right things for her age. Well... she's not crawling yet. But she's close. She scoots around on her tummy, usually backwards or doing 180's. It won't be long before I'll have to move our floor plants and remove every Polly Pocket shoe from the house.
As you can see, Claire has teeth! Just two on the bottom that started poking through a month ago. This has opened up a whole new world to Claire... teething biscuits, pizza crust, pita chips. She loves tons of pureed veggies and fruits (even with turkey or chicken), but she's learning it's fun to eat finger foods too. Her recent favorites include Cheerios-type cereal, crumbled egg yolk, kidney beans, and yes... bacon (just a little). :)
Of course, any baby update must include a note on sleep. We are sleeping!!! Claire had been a great sleeper until she got her first cold in January, followed by a season of stranger anxiety that led to major mommy clinginess, which lead to waking every two hours, followed by a vacation (which always ruins any good sleep patterns) and then teething. It's been a long three months of nighttime inconsistency and increased morning caffeine, but (KNOCK ON WOOD) I think we've turned a corner. Last night Claire slept 12 straight hours without waking. In fact, I woke up before she did. I had a half hour of quiet this morning while everyone slept. So refreshing.
Claire takes two naps a day, morning and afternoon. They're never too long, usually less than an hour, but they always make for a happier baby. Sometimes she fights falling asleep, despite how tired I know she is. I hate to hear her fuss, but I really want a good schedule for her and for her to be comfortable in her bed and able to fall asleep on her own. We're making great progress, so I'm sticking with it.
Records of weight measurements, diet and sleep progress are interesting (I know I'll enjoy reading this post months/years from now), but what I really want to remember from this time is Claire's sweet personality and her fun interactions with Elise. Already those two are creating quite a bond. Claire has the sweetest smile and cute little laugh. Her eyes get so big and bright when we sing to her or do nursery rhymes. She loves "pat-a-cake" and "twinkle twinkle little star." She's totally disruptive at church, not because she cries (she doesn't) but because she flirts with everyone around her. Elise loves to play "peek-a-boo" with Claire (who she calls "Claire Bear Nonie") and cuddle with her (when Claire isn't too squirmy). Elise also loves to gently wrestle with Claire. I often say, "Elise! Be gentle!" But then I realize Claire is thrilled with the interaction and doesn't want Elise to stop.
It's fascinating to watch my girls develop their bond as sisters. And, I can't help but wonder, if we'll be adding another girl to the mix or really mixing things up with the addition of a boy. For now, we're thinking it's a girl, but the official announcement will come after the ultrasound with my OB on May 26th. Either way we are very excited (and nervous!) about adding another baby to the mix in October, regardless if baby's a he or a she. We'll all know soon enough!
