6.29.2012

claire - six months old!


Claire at six months - June 24, 2012 
(Please ignore the dog hair on my furniture. Ugh.)

This month's pictures were by far the hardest to snap. Claire's into everything she can reach now and is constantly putting her hands in her mouth. She is also the Queen of Drool, which explains the shine on her face. After a few minutes of photos, we were both over it. 

Weight/Height: 13 lbs, 1 oz and 24 1/2 inches long. Which puts her in the 5th percentiles. I'm still having trouble with how small she is, but Dr. B is happy, and I keep trying to remind myself that she's healthy - just small.

Clothes
: 0-3 months; however, I'm happy to say that I think she is growing out of some of them. Finally. Dresses are still roomy, but rompers and sleepers and some onesies are starting to get too short. I feel confident that we'll be moving up (at least in the sleepers) in the next couple of weeks. Some 3-6 month outfits are fitting now, especially the little bubble outfits. And Claire is still in Size 1 diapers. Thankfully, since we were lucky enough to be gifted a couple of packages, and I want to use those up!

Eating Habits: Bottles are pretty much the same as last month: 7ish am (4 oz.), 9:30 am (6 oz), 1 pm (6 oz), 4 pm (6 oz), 6:30 pm (6 oz) and 3-4 oz right before bed (usually around 8:30 pm).
The big news is that we've introduced solids this month. Rice cereal first, to mixed reaction and this week we've added squash to the mix. At first, she really liked the rice cereal - even leaning forward and saying what sounds like "Mmm" to us. But she tired of it. We started mixing applesauce in it and that helped. So far the squash is a big hit. Must be b/c Bob grew it in our garden, and I steamed and pureed it. :) Not going to lie...it's a big mess when she eats, but a pretty cute mess!

We have learned, though, that it's best to feed her solids when she's not hungry for a bottle. If we give her the solids before the bottle, we have a ticked off little girl on our hands - especially if she sees the bottle. We're trying to time her meals in between bottles to help with that a little.

Sleep: Claire is still a rockstar in the sleep department. 8:30p to about 6-7a most days. Some weekends, she sleeps longer. Her sleep has been interrupted a little bit lately due to a persistent cough, but she's such a good girl and goes back to sleep as soon as she gets those coughs out.
Eye Color: Blue some days, blue-brown others.

Biggest accomplishment: The aforementioned eating habits are a big step. She's also trying harder to sit up and enjoys her time in the exersaucer now. It's so cute to watch her jump around and really play with the toys.


How We Spend Our Day: Pretty much the same as last month: Momma wakes up at 5:30 and gets ready for work. I wake Claire up around 6:30, she eats and then we head out the door around 7:15. After dropping her at school, I head to work. Depending on the day, Bob or I pick her up around 5:15ish. She usually takes a bottle soon after getting home, before Bob and I eat dinner. She hangs out with us while we eat dinner and then plays or snoozes afterwards. Then it's time for bath, jammies, bedtime snack and bed. Then Momma and Daddy straighten up the house, fix bottles for the next day and pack our lunches. Our time together passes very quickly during the week, but we make up for it on the weekend!

On the weekends - she sometimes sleeps a little later. We run errands, play, and if we're home, she takes a long (3 hours) nap over lunchtime. I think the weekdays wear her out b/c it's hard to sleep with all those babies, so she makes up for it on the weekends.We take Claire anywhere and everywhere and as a result, she's able to nap anywhere.

Likes:
  • Playing with Molly Dolly
  • Being told she's beautiful
  • Laughing at Mommy and Daddy's silly faces
  • Putting anything and everything in her mouth
Dislikes  (funny that these all revolve around eating)
  • Eating solids when she's hungry
  • When the milk doesn't come out fast enough
  • Being interrupted while eating
Favorite Moments: Claire's little personality has really come through this month. Both Bob and I really enjoy the times that we can just lay around and make her laugh. It is the sweetest sound. Everyone tells me that they just get more fun as they get older, but I sure love this stage. We also enjoyed Claire's first trips to the lake and to the pool.

Doctor's Orders: Momma had the stomach flu this month and while it kept me down, it only hit Claire a little bit and she was a real trooper. I was so proud of her for being such a good girl while I was sick and Bob was out of town. She's still having a little trouble with her eye, but Dr. B wants us to keep up the drops and says that it's a clogged duct that will clear up as she gets older. We are also to add a third meal of solids each day in the coming weeks and work with Claire on sitting up more.

Comparison:


6.27.2012

six month photos

So remember my insanely talented photographer friend, Nicole

See Exhibits Maternity Pictures and...well, seems as though I never blogged about the amazing newborn photos she took of Claire. I can't believe that! Ok, see photos in my blog header!

Nicole was sweet enough to take some six month photos of little miss this past weekend. And, let me tell you...I loved my maternity pictures, then I loved Claire's newborn photos even more...but I'm not sure anything could top these sweet pics. I know that I am biased, but isn't my little girl beautiful?


Nicole, you did an amazing job. I can't believe how much you made Claire smile and laugh and what great shots you got. Thank you again.

I had such a hard time narrowing these down to share...so after I had made two pass throughs, I quit. I love them all and want to share them all. They will be even more special to me down the line, and I'm happy to know they'll always be here for me to look at.












6.25.2012

a place to lay her head

This is another post just for Momma. I'm embarrassed that it's taken me this long to get pictures up of Claire's nursery, but I worked hard on it and just love it and don't want to forget this sweet space.

I won't even tell you how behind I am on her baby book (and it's only been 6 months!). Many of you have already seen Claire's room, but I thought it would be fun to look back on.

The overview.

Convertible crib.


Prints over the crib. These were purchased from Etsy, framed by me and hung SECURELY by Bob. They're not coming down, trust me.



This wreath was made by my sweet friend, Chelle. It fits the room perfectly.


We purchased two dressers with the crib. This one has a diaper pull-out storage and we put a removable changing pad on top.

  
I love this lamp. It's parts of two different ones, both from TJ Maxx.


Close-up of the shelves and prints above the dresser (prints also from Etsy).


Second, smaller dresser. I love this mirror, it's from World Market. I do not love my reflection in the mirror!
 

A close-up of the fabric for Claire's bedding. I made the crib skirt, bumpers and curtain for her room. Not sure I'll ever do that again, but it was stressful fun this go around.

I also made this little board for her hairbows/clips. Super easy project inspired by none other than Pinterest!



Claire, I hope you love your room as much as I loved putting it all together. It's probably my favorite room in the house. Daddy and I sat in there while I was pregnant and just dreamed about you laying in the crib. I still get happy when I go in there, mostly b/c of the sweet baby smiling up at me from the crib! 

I know that it will grow and change as you do and as your little personality evolves, but I loved picking all of the little accents and sweet touches that are in there. It's not the biggest space in the house, but it's YOUR space.

6.22.2012

a little of this, a little of that




Clockwise starting upper left:
1. Playing in the exersaucer
2. Tanner with his bone
4. Sick, snuggling with Bunny
5. Catching a nap at the pool
6. Shopping with Mommy is boring!

6.19.2012

grace and tanner go on a roadtrip

A few from our recent (well, Memorial Day) roadtrip to the farm.

Are we there yet?

We LOVE the farm! Pop feeds us everything - including popcorn!

Worn out. Keeping an eye on sister as we drive home.

6.15.2012

Stomach Bug: 2, Somervilles: 0

What does it mean when you go about your day perfectly fine, only to end the night in tears b/c you're so nauseous and despite blankets/sweatshirts, cannot get warm?

You curl up in bed, realize it's a stomach bug and pray that the hubby's business trip suddenly gets cancelled (despite the fact that he's already there and it's obviously. not. cancelled.).

What does it mean when your normally "regular" baby suddenly ups the count?

You try to convince yourself she's just teething, but it's official...you've passed the bug onto your sweet child, but luckily she's handling it much better than you did. (Seriously, I was on the brink of death.)

Mommy isn't this cute when she's sick.

Stomach Bug: 2, Somervilles: 0.  Welcome home, Bob!

6.05.2012

special moments

We've had quite a few special moments this month beginning with Claire's baptism on my birthday, May 5. Family and lots of our sweet friends came and celebrated with us - we are so thankful that they want to witness these moments with us.

With both sets of grandparents and the godparents.
Then, my 90-year old grandpa (who acts much younger than 90-years old) stopped by to visit on his road trip of the Southeast. Long story, but he and my brother spent about a month on the road visiting all of Grandpa's living siblings and my parents (his other children live near him). The highlight of the trip, I'm sure, was stopping in Nashvegas to see our house and meet his only great granddaughter.

They enjoyed lots of conversations while Grandpa was here.
Finally, just a week later, Claire got to meet her other great grandparent, Bob's grandmother. We spent the weekend with Bob's parents at the farm and got in lots of quality snuggles with Great Grandmother. We can't wait til she moves to her new home and will have a comfy rocking chair to rock Claire and all the other great grandbabies!


Not many people get to meet their great grand parents...but Claire met both in the span of two weeks! Lucky girl.