tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24304076067417176052024-02-07T00:05:25.679-06:00It's Always Sunny in SomervilleVal @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-18322650617003048912013-11-05T16:44:00.000-06:002013-11-05T16:45:13.001-06:00halloween - better late than never<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We started out Halloween evening with a sad little ladybug...</div>
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An ear infection will do that to you.</div>
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But, a little Tylenol, and she warmed right up to her costume. </div>
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And the ensuing trick or treating (one neighbor + Daddy).</div>
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Although <a href="http://itsalwayssunnyinsomerville.blogspot.com/2012/11/trick-or-treat.html">last year</a>'s costume was hard to beat, I think she makes a sweet little ladybug! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oct. 31, 2012</td></tr>
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-12877809722286486972013-10-17T15:53:00.003-05:002013-11-05T16:45:30.123-06:00Claire Talk<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Claire's vocabulary has just exploded lately. I just love her sweet little almost two-year-old voice.</div>
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Some of my favorite things Claire is saying these days...<br />
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<li>"Garaff" - Giraffe. Claire's favorite.</li>
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<li>"I getch you!" - I'm gonna get you! Momma's favorite.</li>
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<li>"Ephan"- Elephant</li>
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<li>"Funneee!" - Pronounced correctly and usually when other people are laughing. "Mama, funneee!"</li>
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<li>"Happee!"- Love this one. Usually a request for "If You're Happy and You Know It."</li>
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<li>"Klay" - Claire</li>
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<li>"Momma sit", followed by "Dadda sit", "klay sit." Claire is nothing if not equal opportunity. Everyone has to do everything every time. (Also interchangeable with "Momma sing" or "Dadda eat".) Sometimes even "Graceeee" and "Tannuh" get turns. </li>
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*No, I'm not going to even acknowledge the lapse in blogging over the last few months. I have a toddler.</div>
Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-15000817111657340842013-03-13T15:18:00.001-05:002013-03-15T11:37:10.567-05:00claire tidbits - 14ish monthsJust a few things I want to remember about Claire at this <strike>exhausting</strike> fun age (14 1/2 months)...<br />
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...<i>Dog</i> is absolutely her favorite word. Although she says it like "Doeg." Precious. And most any creature is a <i>dog</i>. She also says <i>Dada</i> (repeatedly), <i>Uh-oh</i>, <i>Dis </i>(This)<i> </i>and we've heard <i>Duck</i> a few times now. Her daycare teacher says she can say <i>Ball</i> but we haven't heard that. She'll occasionally bust out with a <i>Mama</i>, but usually only when she's upset that I took something away or walked away. Claire also tries to repeat <i>Thank You</i> when we say it first, but I think only we can understand that one.<br />
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...Speaking of school...it took a few weeks for Claire to get used to her new school, but she is loving it now and so are we. She walks in each day like she owns the place! <i>And I think she might...her teacher seems to love her as much as we do!</i> <br />
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...Claire is loving her Loveys these days! Thankfully, she doesn't seem to be attached to any one in particular - she just likes to drag whichever one is nearest (or both of them) around with her and sleeps with one every night. I think I am going to order an extra of my favorite just to have on hand - we already lost one at Kohl's when visiting Grandma and Grandpa. <br />
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<i>...</i>Claire has stayed with Grandma and Grandpa twice this year already, most recently while we went on a cruise for a week. It took her a few days to adjust, but I am100% certain that she missed them when we got her back. In particular, she bonded very well with Grandpa. They loved playing piano together.<br />
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...Claire likes to brush her hair and play with her toothbrush. She's let me "brush" her teeth, but mostly she just plays with it. <br />
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...Reading is So. Much. Fun. Especially the same books over. and. over. again. I could recite <i>Llama Llama Red Pajama </i>in my sleep. Board books are our favorite. We could use a few new ones...and a bookshelf to store them on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicN2iF4tYDEQ6Vh3GC2GNAQbx23fjWcadLg_71HD6MM4a_D0yPdJkT-LRqVFCeWoaKurRAHNCVK2uLQOsjErqwDd3slcaUKOuZtptOvwfYMGsLVh1W5pHOTzlyPk2R85qjb7_mX7klapz/s1600/Picture+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicN2iF4tYDEQ6Vh3GC2GNAQbx23fjWcadLg_71HD6MM4a_D0yPdJkT-LRqVFCeWoaKurRAHNCVK2uLQOsjErqwDd3slcaUKOuZtptOvwfYMGsLVh1W5pHOTzlyPk2R85qjb7_mX7klapz/s320/Picture+002.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I could just eat that little belly up. </i></td></tr>
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...Baby girl weighed 20.5 lbs at her appointment last week. She eats, but she's still so petite. She wears 12 month jammies and 9 or 12 month outfits. I'm not buying any more 9 months, but the 12's are too big still. She definitely grows out of the pants (length) first. Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-41225607582497137542013-02-06T11:07:00.001-06:002013-02-06T11:07:41.341-06:00dear claireDear Claire,<br />
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Sweet baby girl. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sleeping through the night last night for the first time in a while. Please do it again tonight.<br />
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I love you,<br />
Momma<br />
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PS - Also, can you work on not screaming as we approach your classroom door at school? I think you're scaring all the kids that are already there. Please and thank you. Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-51548226711614451572013-02-01T13:20:00.000-06:002013-02-01T13:20:21.504-06:00#15This post is a little belated, but Bob and I had the opportunity to take a little trip to Miami earlier <strike>this</strike> last month. It was much needed.<br />
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The purpose of our trip was a little game called the BCS National Championship. <i>You might have heard about it.</i><br />
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We're very aware that non-Alabama fans are sick of watching us go to that game, but as this was their third time in four years, Bob and I felt like we HAD to go this year or risk not getting to go for a long time. Or ever.<br />
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Thankfully, a good deal on tickets and grandparents willing to play babysitter allowed us to do so.<br />
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It was a short trip. We flew to Orlando to save a little money and rented a Ford Mustang to drive down to Miami.<br />
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We beached. <br />
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We ate.<br />
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We tailgated and ran into old friends.<br />
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And, we won!<br />
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Definitley a trip for the books. Not sure if we'll make it to another National Championship game (we'll see!), but I am SO glad we went.<br />
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-71990657000257391672013-01-28T15:36:00.001-06:002013-01-28T15:36:49.636-06:00the weekendThis weekend was...fun and exhausting.<br />
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Highlights: Drinks with <a href="http://shannonsumrall.blogspot.com/">this girl</a> at a new (to me) <a href="http://bar308.com/">bar in East Nashville</a>. <i>Warning: Drinks are strong. </i><br />
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<a href="http://www.nanarosa.com/">Dinner and dessert</a> with <a href="http://shannonsumrall.blogspot.com/">this girl</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AKChaney">that girl</a> (and their hubbies). You know it's a good night when multiple bottles of wine are consumed, <i>almost </i>everyone cleans their plate and EVERYone orders dessert.<br />
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In between, Claire...<br />
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...stayed up <strike>late</strike> all night to make sure Daddy drank his water...<br />
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..stayed in her jammies all day b/c Mommy was tired (and prayed for springtime)...</div>
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...snuggled in Mommy's bed after Daddy had gone to work b/c Mommy was tired...</div>
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...and tested out Tanner's bed since he wasn't using it...everyone but Claire is tired.<br />
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Oh, and grew two new teeth and refused to sleep. :)Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-22642413908471308592013-01-22T15:03:00.004-06:002013-01-22T15:03:43.405-06:00month by monthHere it is...in hard evidence...the proof that my little baby is no longer a baby. I am so glad I did these. It really is amazing how they change in just a month. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Cross-eyed Claire and new to this photo taking with a bear thing.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">I got it now, Momma.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">I think months 4 and 5 are my personal favorite. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">All of a sudden, she looks like a big girl in month 7. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Too cool to look at the camera in month 9.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">I'm ONE!</span></b></div>
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-80567649979020983702013-01-15T15:13:00.001-06:002013-01-15T15:14:20.534-06:00denialI'm in severe denial. Y'all, my little girl is <i>a whole year old</i>. Twelve months. <i>Actually knocking on the door of thirteen. </i>I feel like I just had her and she is already on the verge of walking...eating like a big girl...forming opinions...and making them known.<br />
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In my mind, it seems like I'm always a few steps behind with her. I think she is doing so good and is <i>so</i> advanced (b/c really, what mom doesn't think their kid is brilliant). Then I visit the cursed hallows of the Internet and find out that other moms have been doing that for months. To <i>me</i>, one year old is still so little to be doing some things. And, trust me, I know that kids do things at different ages. I'm not in the least bit worried about Claire. I'm worried about <i>me!</i><br />
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Case in point right now: the sippy cup. All you non-experienced moms out there or mommas-to-bed, I ask you: At what age do you drop the bottle and switch to a sippy cup? My thought has always been <i>one year. </i>So here we are at one year, and we commenced Operation Sippy Cup this weekend. After a brief meltdown, a skipped meal and a couple of different kinds of sippy cups, we thought Claire had it.<br />
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She finished out the day on Saturday using sippy cups and had no problems on Sunday. Sure, she wasn't drinking as much as she might have out of a bottle, but it was enough.<br />
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Monday came. Refused her morning cup. Refused all cups at daycare until around 3:30. Teachers were worried so they called me, I was worried. She finally gave in around 3:30, but that was it. We gave her a bottle last night and again this morning because we don't want her to get dehydrated. Sent her to school with milk in sippy cups and back up bottles in the diaper bag <i>just in case.</i> <i>Wish us luck.</i><br />
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Back to my point. I'm in denial. As much as I want her to make the switch seamlessly <i>and as much as I can't wait to quit washing bottles</i>, I can't believe she's old enough to do these things.<br />
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<i> </i><br />
Y'all she ate macaroni, meatballs and green beans for dinner the other night. <i>She's not big enough! </i>But she scarfed them down.<br />
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And she's quite the little dancer. <i>If You're Happy and You Know It</i> and <i>The Itsy Bitsy Spider</i> really get her moving.<br />
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I know I'm biased but <i>I love, love, LOVE this kid. <span id="goog_1854606585"></span><span id="goog_1854606586"></span></i> <br />
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-73533243529872451162013-01-14T15:08:00.000-06:002013-01-14T15:08:17.271-06:00claire - twelve months old!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Claire at twelve months - December 24, 2012</i></td></tr>
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<i>Claire's last monthly update. Wow, that was fast.<b> </b></i><br />
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<b>Weight/Height</b>: At her one-year appointment, almost two weeks after her birthday (holidays!), Claire weighed in at 18 lbs, 8 oz and is 28 1/4 inches long. She's lost a little weight since her (unofficial) weigh in at 11 months, but since the Dr. is not worried, I won't be either. She's consistently around the 10 - 25 percentile for height and closer to the 10th percentile for weight. It's official - she's petite.<br />
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<b>Clothes</b>: Claire is still in 9 month sleepers and is pretty solidly in 9 month clothing elsewhere. She can fit in a few 6 month and, likewise, a few 12 month things but I'd call her size 9 months. She'll be switching to 12 month jammies as soon as Mommy can buy some. <i>Let me tell you, Mommy almost had a meltdown at Target and TJ Maxx when I couldn't find any footie jammies in 12 months. Thankfully, I looked online and they still come in size 12 months, because I am NOT ready to put her in 2 piece jammies. </i><br />
<b><br />Eating Habits</b>: Right before her birthday, we made the switch to whole milk. She's tolerated it okay. She won't drink it cold yet, so we're still warming it and it seems to have upset her tummy a bit, but it's hard to tell if it's the milk or other things she's eating. <br />
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We don't feed Claire much baby food anymore b/c she won't let us! She prefers to feed herself, so we try to make things she can eat too. <br />
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<b>Sleep</b>: Claire still sleeps pretty well at home. At school and away from home? Not so much. On a good at home weekend, I can expect her to nap twice during the day from about 1 - 3 hours. She goes to bed around 8 or 8:30 and sleeps til 7:30ish if I don't have to wake her up for school. On school days, she naps a stretch of about 1 - 1 1/2 hours and then, sometimes, for 30 minutes to an hour when we get home. <br />
<b><br />Teeth</b>: Claire finally has her first teeth! The bottom two front ones have come in and her little toothy smile is precious!<br />
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<b>Biggest accomplishment</b>: The day before her first birthday, Claire took a couple of steps. It's a complete fluke, and she hasn't done it since then, but we're still proud!</div>
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<b>Likes</b>: </div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Dancing</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Food, especially bread</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her musical seahorse</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">People watching when we're out</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Bathtime- LOVES bathtime</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her red rubber duckie</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The puppies - and, specifically, patting the puppies. </li>
</ul>
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<b>Dislikes</b><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Having her nose cleaned<i></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The end of bathtime when Mommy pulls the rubber duckie out of her hand and leaves it in the bathtub</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">When Mommy or Daddy leaves the room </li>
</ul>
<b>Favorite Moments</b>: So many this month. Claire's first birthday and party top the list for sure. Visits with family. Time spent together as a family at home.<br />
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<b>Doctor's Orders</b>:At her one-year checkup, we were given instructions on dropping the bottle and switching solely to a sippy cup. Mom and Dad are THRILLED about this. <br />
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<b>Other Tidbits: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>The delay on this post is reprehensible. I'm not sure if it's because I am in disbelief that my baby girl is 1, or if it's that I'm just tired of doing these. A little of both, I do think. I know I will be glad to have them one day though.</li>
</ul>
<b>Comparison</b>:<br />
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-46589104628197136602012-12-21T14:58:00.000-06:002013-01-03T14:47:21.928-06:00winter ONEderlandBefore the big holiday weekend, we celebrated Claire's first birthday with family and friends this weekend.<br />
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The theme was Claire's Winter ONEderland and, although know she has no clue all the work that went into it, I had a good time decorating and planning.<br />
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Word of advice though: Don't try to merge a one-year-old's birthday party with a surprise birthday party for your 30-year-old husband. Not a good idea. Trying to come up with a "theme" was like trying to merge Mickey Mouse with a hunting rifle and a golf club.<br />
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So I rolled with it and managed to throw my husband a surprise 30th birthday party covered in glitter and little kid decorations. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Szf6tmNaXHiQXveeXSejsTDpfR01Gw68YNThUMA3C_X1FFo5T38CboJk0HBdG6kDec1zPrahOozzbHOs8RDn7YMn1kEwjDyNJ5OVV91QYWrGAqm2D3sAXyedcOi6cLTVlcSNFQ_V6gHH/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Szf6tmNaXHiQXveeXSejsTDpfR01Gw68YNThUMA3C_X1FFo5T38CboJk0HBdG6kDec1zPrahOozzbHOs8RDn7YMn1kEwjDyNJ5OVV91QYWrGAqm2D3sAXyedcOi6cLTVlcSNFQ_V6gHH/s320/122.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The birthday girl in the outfit Mommy and Alli made her.</i></td></tr>
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Decorations... <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCI3mRr_iYAOtdZf3lJa1WtjggOV9Ya97vRFlvHEhphe1WAFocU3ZxN4bObo2zp2Oe8mvjGZc-NUhSfD6NEwaI9mTPTw7N3K1EP1_cqaIEaRegwU38qygzvVFFgNKeO4fZCUXGU2g58VV/s1600/Cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCI3mRr_iYAOtdZf3lJa1WtjggOV9Ya97vRFlvHEhphe1WAFocU3ZxN4bObo2zp2Oe8mvjGZc-NUhSfD6NEwaI9mTPTw7N3K1EP1_cqaIEaRegwU38qygzvVFFgNKeO4fZCUXGU2g58VV/s320/Cupcakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Stats" photos for both Bob and Claire. Delicious cupcakes and smash cupcakes from <a href="http://www.thecupcakecollection.com/">Cupcake Collection</a>.</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmp7rRR0MaZXBa-lFmkk0pRlsS7QHkCz6ehLsAFjZegBqTRh2f0wyxYPJgF07cJxiL67tTP8gsemrjE1KOQvJphM8W_togut2HPsefADNuQIOQPQKG10gF-3lrs4r48aXHbCH8qqrTwkL/s1600/Decorations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmp7rRR0MaZXBa-lFmkk0pRlsS7QHkCz6ehLsAFjZegBqTRh2f0wyxYPJgF07cJxiL67tTP8gsemrjE1KOQvJphM8W_togut2HPsefADNuQIOQPQKG10gF-3lrs4r48aXHbCH8qqrTwkL/s320/Decorations.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Decorations: <br />1. Party invitation in clear ornaments<br />2. Banner and Month by Month pictures on the hutch<br />3. Pictures of Bob and Claire pinned to fabric covered corkboards throughout the party</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFiqmYiAmPkBF0HkGiT6kzL8zzsEyqb5PkuK8ykPC-5ss714jQJHvDrbGRqtWTycy02HJLY42idbF9jKzPZ7nIgHY2G0dzrr1wLxzYmilD4Ou8vwdm96IYXtAQgVRDZbnc-zLM5EnjyB8/s1600/Months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFiqmYiAmPkBF0HkGiT6kzL8zzsEyqb5PkuK8ykPC-5ss714jQJHvDrbGRqtWTycy02HJLY42idbF9jKzPZ7nIgHY2G0dzrr1wLxzYmilD4Ou8vwdm96IYXtAQgVRDZbnc-zLM5EnjyB8/s320/Months.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Close up of the monthly pics. One more to add this weekend!</i></td></tr>
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And...the party! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Surprise!" Bob was sent to the store for balloons. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Me and the birthday girl. Who had a good time despite the look she's giving here.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH76o43ERNPh5g6m11Oqw6X7LqBcuwNVbD5q7dnvyKNf0bjn5ui1tSMnL2n93rm_ZAXshfMQiwQ4zx9lzQXL-ah5SD4S5JKUyrXP4hqAmHsMuyp1QhapTiFEt1OxMv24R48UDFbL08Gph/s1600/Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH76o43ERNPh5g6m11Oqw6X7LqBcuwNVbD5q7dnvyKNf0bjn5ui1tSMnL2n93rm_ZAXshfMQiwQ4zx9lzQXL-ah5SD4S5JKUyrXP4hqAmHsMuyp1QhapTiFEt1OxMv24R48UDFbL08Gph/s320/Cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Claire reacted to her cake with exactly the emotion I thought she would: </i>What is on my fingers?!<i> She perked up after she tasted Daddy's chocolate cake though...after it had been smashed in his face. :)</i></td></tr>
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<br />
Cake required an outfit change.<br />
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And a nap not too long after that. When she woke up, it was time to open presents. <i>Which clearly she enjoyed!</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CGAvFl4mvVjow0qjgzZ9kEevKXyCG2EpClxvN8KLHUMmHz9fprue8w12wa35vVwqBvP9MA1o5JDyhpTzgyewz2SI7SpgXaXtD3NiXSZT4c4QVWI2xWWeGrzqtf3lb1hlGU5CL2rXxznf/s1600/Presents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CGAvFl4mvVjow0qjgzZ9kEevKXyCG2EpClxvN8KLHUMmHz9fprue8w12wa35vVwqBvP9MA1o5JDyhpTzgyewz2SI7SpgXaXtD3NiXSZT4c4QVWI2xWWeGrzqtf3lb1hlGU5CL2rXxznf/s320/Presents.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Opening Presents</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Claire with her Alli</i></td></tr>
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Thank you to everyone who came! We had such a good time and appreciate the role each and every one of you plays in our sweet girl's life.Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-58439005778131738532012-12-05T11:26:00.001-06:002012-12-05T11:40:59.341-06:00...and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...<br />
I love Christmas stockings.<br />
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I love Christmas stockings in fun bright patterns.<br />
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I love Christmas stockings that coordinate.<br />
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Since we've added a small child to our family this year, I <i>needed</i> new stockings. The old stockings for Bob and I plus a new one for Claire just wouldn't do.<br />
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I looked around. Online. At Christmas Village. In magazines. I saw a few that I loved. <i>I did not love the price tags.</i><br />
<br />
So my encouraging husband reminded me that I have a sewing machine. And I sort of know how to work it. And that I have a mother-in-law who graciously fixes my mistakes and lets me use her embroidery machine.<br />
<i> </i><br />
So off to Joann's we went, where Bob and I picked out fabric for stockings. And since I don't know how many kids we will have and I want these to be our stockings <i>forever</i>, I decided to make six. <i>Don't get too excited, I'm still trying to figure out the one kid I have. </i><br />
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And I got to work...<br />
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TA-DA!<br />
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I wish I could say it was as easy as pie. Well, it was. At first. I followed this <a href="http://fabricworm.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-stocking-tutorial.html">tutorial</a>. <br />
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I was doing good. I cranked out six stocking feet in an evening!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_wLhTSrM54f11pMGDfEgVzc_1cK1W1E-RgGRStCUHajUlH7t-1P2o5vtJeH2635GAuB7_dZAJJR8t5H21ASiGR0-pFRZk2TESCNQV0vs8Fg3aAsJB9Xu_LDBPWGVfNzS9Y0kN305-0Qn/s640/blogger-image-1358026809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_wLhTSrM54f11pMGDfEgVzc_1cK1W1E-RgGRStCUHajUlH7t-1P2o5vtJeH2635GAuB7_dZAJJR8t5H21ASiGR0-pFRZk2TESCNQV0vs8Fg3aAsJB9Xu_LDBPWGVfNzS9Y0kN305-0Qn/s640/blogger-image-1358026809.jpg" /></a> </div>
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I took a break until we went to the farm for Thanksgiving so that I could embroider our names on them before sewing the cuffs on them.<br />
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Somehow, in the week between making the stockings and trying to embroider them, I lost my mind. <i>I blame the small child. </i><br /><br />Long story short...I embroidered our names upside down on the cuff. <i>Oops. </i>Thankfully my wonderful MIL helped me make it work. And they're adorable. Just slightly longer than the tutorial. <i>Which Bob loves b/c he thinks we can fit more in them. </i><br /><br />
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By the way, when I hung these last night, I looked at Bob and said, "How weird is it that we have Mom and Dad stockings in our house?!" <br />
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Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-80568945130992482862012-11-28T15:14:00.002-06:002012-11-28T15:15:59.248-06:00claire - eleven months old!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Claire at eleven months - November 24, 2012</i></td></tr>
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<i>I can't believe my sweet girl is going to be 1 in less than a month! Enter Mommy denial, pronto...</i><br />
<i> </i><b> </b><br />
<b>Weight/Height</b>: I weighed Claire yesterday on our bathroom scale and she came in at 19lbs 6 oz. I haven't a clue how tall she is, but all of her pants are becoming high waters so I'm thinking a growth spurt has taken place!<br />
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<b>Clothes</b>: 9 month sleepers are still comfortable, and Claire's 6 month pants are rapidly becoming too short. Momma needs to go buy some new 9 month pants, but it seems like I just bought these! Claire can still fit in most 6-9 month onesies and outfits. She's getting taller, but still has the cutest little round belly. I just love that belly!<br />
<b><br />Eating Habits</b>: Mid-month, Claire wasn't eating as well and wasn't finishing most of her bottles. She's made a turnaround now and sucks them all dry! 6-7 oz, 4 times a day. <br />
<br />
Claire mostly eats anything and everything. She eats some homemade and some store bought baby food, along with bits and pieces of anything we can find to give her. She still makes a big mess, but she's learning!<br />
<br />
And, when she's hungry, the kid will eat. But when she's not, she won't touch a thing. Good habit to form, I know. <br />
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<b>Sleep</b>: Still sleeping pretty well. There are spurts of fussy nights but I can attribute those to teething - or a lingering cough. She sleeps from 8 - 8:30 pm til I wake her up at 6:45 am on weekdays. She gets up between 7:30 and 8 on the weekends. Claire will occasionally wake during the night and mostly puts herself back to sleep. If she can't, a quick paci hunt can solve the problem. I've woken up several times to her musical seahorse playing. It's so cute to see her find him in the crib and turn it on.<b><br /><br />Teeth</b>: Sigh...still no teeth. I keep telling Bob that I'm expecting a full mouth of teeth when these babies finally pop through! For all the drooling, sucking, biting and fussing she's doing - more than one better make an appearance. And soon, please!<br />
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<b>Biggest accomplishment</b>: Completely pulling up. Claire is also trying to "walk." She pushes her little car around the kitchen. She only gets a couple of steps before she falls, but she's still trying.<br />
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Claire is also mimicking us. It's fun and funny. She'll echo words that we say in a sing song voice, and she loves to make the "uhhh" noise with her daddy. </div>
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<b>Likes</b>: </div>
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<li class="MsoNormal">Clapping</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Gerber Puffs and Veggie Sticks</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her musical seahorse</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">People watching when we're out</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Bathtime </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her red rubber duckie</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Driving her car around the kitchen</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The puppies - <i>new this month. Claire really has seemed to take notice of Grace and Tanner.</i> </li>
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<b>Dislikes</b><br />
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<li class="MsoNormal">Having her nose cleaned - <i>oh, the fights we have to clean out boogers. </i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The end of bathtime when Mommy pulls the rubber duckie out of her hand and leaves it in the bathtub</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her carseat - <i>I think this has passed. A new carseat seems to have done the trick. But when Claire is ready to get out, she lets you know.</i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">When Mommy or Daddy leaves the room <i>- this has really upped this month. I think a little separation anxiety has set in. Especially with Mommy. Clarire still does fine when we leave her at daycare but if we get out of her sight for a minute at home, she lets us know that she misses us. And loudly. </i> </li>
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<b>Favorite Moments</b>: Claire's first Halloween! She was a <a href="http://shannonsumrall.blogspot.com/2012/10/sumrall-fright-fest.html">marshmallow (as part of our s'more family) </a>and a <a href="http://www.itsalwayssunnyinsomerville.blogspot.com/2012/11/trick-or-treat.html">duck</a>. Visiting with her boyfriend Neil and Mommy's friends, Aunties Chelle and Shannon! Claire's first Thanksgiving on the farm with Alli and Pop. <br />
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<b>Doctor's Orders</b>: No doctor's visits this month! Thank goodness! We've maxed out our coverage for the year and are now paying out of pocket, so we're trying to stay healthy for another month. <br />
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<b>Other Tidbits: </b><br />
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<li>Momma is in party-planning mode! Claire will be celebrating with a "Winter ONEderland" on December 15th. More to come on that...</li>
<li>This little girl has stuck her tongue out from day 1 and is still doing it. It gives me a little complex thinking she's going to go to kindergarten with her tongue stuck out, but it's also pretty adorable.</li>
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<b><br />Comparison</b>:<br />
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Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-31627026181003552012012-11-15T15:15:00.002-06:002012-11-15T15:16:09.282-06:00a thursday videoWatch out, blog world, I've finally figured out how to upload videos. <i>Don't judge me by how long it took me to figure this out!</i><br />
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Without further ado...Claire...driving. <br />
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-50876334724139745922012-11-01T11:07:00.000-05:002012-11-01T11:08:23.929-05:00trick or treat<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We didn't actually trick or treat, but Claire wore her duck costume like a champ for, oh, 10 minutes or so. :)</i></td></tr>
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-42064296932744158142012-10-31T09:18:00.002-05:002012-10-31T09:18:43.450-05:00happy halloween!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S'mores</td></tr>
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-1635903623942288332012-10-30T14:31:00.000-05:002012-10-30T14:31:29.010-05:00urban funk...who me? On another blog I read, <a href="http://www.emyselfandi.com/">E, Myself & I</a>, Elizabeth shared the <a href="http://www.homegoods.com/stylescope/?primary=2&secondary=1">HomeGoods Stylescope</a>...which was featured by Kathi Lee & Hoda recently. <i>Side note: I can not STAND them. Hoda would be okay with KL, but b/c they're together, they drive me nuts. They are all that is wrong with daytime TV. </i><br />
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Anyways, so I thought, "Sure, I could use a lesson in my decorating personality!" b/c, let's face it, I really have no sense of what my style is or should be...or if I even have one.<br />
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Plus I LOVE HomeGoods. <i>Who doesn't? </i> <br />
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The result....<br />
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<i>Urban funk with a touch of boho. </i>Bahaha, yeah right. <i></i>There's three words I would have NEVER used to describe me. Not that I don't like the style, just that it's not really me.<br />
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In all honesty, I had a hard time even picking five images that "spoke to me" (<i>The site uses these to determine your style.)</i>.<br />
<br />Well...that was good for a laugh.<br />
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What's your style?Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-51533337948301593212012-10-29T14:57:00.002-05:002012-10-29T14:58:16.844-05:00a day at the zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This one is a little late, but...while we were in DC last month, we had one full family day between my work conference and Ross and Sarah-Michelle's wedding. Bob and I have both been to DC before and done a lot of the historical things, and neither of us are much of a museum-person. We would have liked to have visited the <a href="http://www.spymuseum.org/">International Spy Museum</a>, but since Claire isn't old enough to participate, that would have meant Bob got to do a <a href="http://www.spymuseum.org/exhibition-experiences/interactive-spy-experiences/">mission</a>, while I waited with her. <i>Not my idea of good family time.</i></div>
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So we decided to hit up the <a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/">National Zoo</a>. Bonus: The zoo is free! <i>Parking is not.</i></div>
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I love the zoo. We went to the <a href="http://www.itsalwayssunnyinsomerville.blogspot.com/2011/02/its-zoo-out-there.html">Nashville Zoo a year or so ago</a> with our nephews and niece, and I want to buy a family pass when Claire is old enough to really see and watch the animals. I think she had a good time regardless.</div>
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Arriving at the zoo. <i>Sleepy from a nap in the car.</i></div>
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First, we saw gorillas! </div>
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Claire perked up when we got her out of her stroller.</div>
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And, we saw zebras...</div>
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...and cheetahs...<br />
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...and orangutangs, oh my! <i>(Doesn't go that way? Oh, well, I tried!)</i></div>
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These guys were awesome. They had these ropes strung across the park and every once in a while, the orangs' would hop on and go on a visit to the other side of the park.<br />
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<i>They've been know to, ahem, do their business up there, so I took these pictures with my zoom lens safely from a distance!</i><br />
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All, in all, it was a fun trip. It was warm, but not hot, so we weren't uncomfortable either. Somebody was worn out by the time we left...<br />
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While we were there, we learned that a little <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/49058008/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/t/cub-born-national-zoos-giant-panda/">giant panda had been born</a> just days before. Sadly, I<br />
read a few weeks ago that the <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/national-zoos-giant-panda-cub-died-from-liver-problems/article/2510436">cub passed away</a> Sept 22, at just six days old from lung and liver problems.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/MeetPandas/images/20040502-219TTandMX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tian Tian and Mei Xiang" border="0" class="rightgivespace" height="248" hspace="0" src="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/MeetPandas/images/20040502-219TTandMX.jpg" vspace="4" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mama and Daddy Panda (<a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/MeetPandas/default.cfm">via</a>)</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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While reading about the little girl panda, I found that panda pregnancy is really interesting. The zookeepers really didn't know whether Mama <span class="BodyCopy">Mei Xiang was pregnant at all and were watching with waited breath during the time she would deliver after being artificially inseminated months prior. Apparently, pandas can exhibit false pregnancy symptoms. Obviously, Mei Xiang was, in fact, pregnant. The cub was born seemingly healthy and the zookeepers allowed Mama to care for her. After her baby's death, which she alerted zookeepers to by honking in distress, she cuddled with a Kong toy for days almost in substitution. Poor Mama. </span><br />
<span class="BodyCopy"> </span><br />
<span class="BodyCopy"><i>And there you go...more than you never knew you wanted to know about panda pregnancy. </i></span><br />
<span id="goog_1129318635"></span><span id="goog_1129318636"></span>Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-43136070730967016762012-10-26T15:53:00.000-05:002012-10-26T15:53:02.331-05:00claire - ten months old!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Claire at ten months - October 24, 2012</i></td></tr>
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<b>Weight/Height</b>: We haven't had a weigh in this month, but if I had to guess, I'd say she's about 17 1/2 lbs now. She seems to be a lot heavier this month. And taller. I really have no idea how tall she is. I'm not good at measuring/weighing her unless we have a doctor's visit. <br />
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<b>Clothes</b>: Still 6 or 6-9 month clothes for most things, but 9 month jammies are the way to go! Thankfully, Ali came at just the right time and saw her little toes being stretched in 6 month jammies and stocked us up on Carter's 9 month sleepers!<br />
<b><br />Eating Habits</b>: Claire is still eating the same, but towards the end of this month, we noticed she was not finishing all her bottles and not seeming as interested in the last one of the day, so we're officially trying to get down to 4 bottles - 7 -8 oz each - per day.<br />
<br />
She's eaten a lot of baby food, too many to name - but clearly prefers when Momma makes homemade baby food so that's what we've been doing. She flat out refused anything with meat and most veggies made by Gerber. I'll probably try a different brand this month to see if she likes it, but honestly, it's not hard to make her food and I like knowing exactly what's in it. So far we've done all veggies, most fruits and compounds like chicken and veggies. She also eats lentils for protein and is really enjoying a blueberry/spinach "recipe" that I found <a href="http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/">here</a>. We supplement with Gerber bananas, corn, sweet potatoes and mangoes. <br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
And Claire eats a bit of what we're eating most nights. Mostly it's just practice and a lot of it winds up in her chair or <strike>in the dogs' mouths</strike> on the floor. <br />
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<b>Sleep</b>: Claire didn't sleep as well this month, but part of it had to do with her being sick, lots of travels and the ever-popular teething. She has, however, gotten really good at putting herself to sleep when we put her down. She doesn't let us rock her anymore, so unless she falls asleep with her last bottle (which is rare now), she plays in her crib and talks to her seahorse til she falls asleep. <br />
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<b>Eye Color</b>: Brown<br />
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<b>Biggest accomplishment</b>:Growing hair! You can really see it in the picture above. Momma's hoping for a bow by Christmas.<br />
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Claire is also pulling up on things now. She can't get all the way up, but she's trying! I went in to check on her during a nap at Grandma's this past weekend and found her peering over the side. We had already lowered the mattresses in her crib, but I broke out the pack and play manual immediately and fixed that one as well!<br />
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We also gave Claire a sippy cup this month. Despite my over-analyzing the 473,000 types of sippy cups in feeding aisle at Target (<i>and asking three nearby mothers what they prefer</i>), Claire does what she always does and adapted to the first kind we gave her. She drinks a bit of water with her meals now. </div>
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<b>Likes</b>: <i>These top two are still among Claire's favorites!</i><br />
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Clapping</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Gerber Puffs and Veggie Sticks</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her musical seahorse</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">People watching when we're out</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Bathtime </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her red rubber duckie</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Driving her car around the kitchen</li>
</ul>
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<b>Dislikes</b><br />
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Having her nose cleaned</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The end of bathtime when Mommy pulls the rubber duckie out of her hand and leaves it in the bathtub</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Being rocked<i> Momma is sad about this one</i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Her carseat</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">When Mommy or Daddy leaves the room </li>
</ul>
<i>The list of dislikes has gotten longer and much more apparent this month. Somebody has found her attitude. </i><br />
<i> </i> <br />
<b>Favorite Moments</b>: Meeting Cousin Will finally! (Oct. 14, 2012) Visiting with both sets of grandparents in the same weekend (<i>thanks to Will making his appearance!). </i>Spending some one-on-one time with Daddy while Mommy worked a few late nights.<br />
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<b>Doctor's Orders</b>: After almost 7 months in daycare, Claire finally caught her first "daycare" illness...hand, foot and mouth. Thankfully it was just a fever and some spots, and appears to have been a mild case, but it still kept her out of school for a day and half and put Mom and Dad in a tough spot! <i>Seriously...51 weeks out of the year, I could stay home at any given moment, but the 1 week I must be there, Claire gets sick and my nephew is born three hours away! Murphy's Law, right?</i><br />
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<b>Comparison</b>:<br />
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Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-66690442712482747112012-10-22T16:30:00.001-05:002012-10-22T16:30:31.449-05:00from my bookshelfI've been reading a few good books lately, so I thought I'd share them in case your bookshelf is lacking.<br />
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I'm not very discriminating on types of books I will read, but if a book doesn't capture me in the first few pages, I'm very easily persuaded to put it down. <i>Hello, </i>Hunger Games<i>. Thank goodness I ran out of things to read on vacation and picked it back up.</i> <br />
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---<br />
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But just like I love a good crime show, I also love a good crime novel. I picked this one up randomly a wild back. I think it was a good price on Barnes and Noble for my Nook or something.<br />
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<a href="http://alafairburke.com/books/212-novel/">212 by Alafair Burke </a><br />
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<i>"When New York University sophomore Megan Gunther finds personal
threats posted to a Web site specializing in campus gossip, she's taken
aback by their menacing tone. Someone knows her daily routine down to
the minute and is watching her — but thanks to the anonymity provided by
the Internet, the police tell her there's nothing they can do. Her
friends are sure it's someone's idea of a joke, but when Megan is
murdered in a vicious attack, NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher is convinced
that the online threats are more than just empty words. With smooth, straight-talking partner J. J. Rogan at her side, Ellie
tries to identify Megan's enemies, but she begins to wonder if the
coed's murder was more than just the culmination of a cyber obsession.
Phone records reveal a link between Megan and a murdered real estate
agent who was living a dangerous double life. The detectives also learn
that the dead real estate agent shared a secret connection to a
celebrity mogul whose bodyguard was mysteriously killed a few months
earlier. And when Megan's roommate suddenly disappears, they know they
have to find her before another young woman dies."</i><br />
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I just finished it this past weekend and thought it to be very good. I think it's the third in the "Ellie Hatcher series," and I'll be reading the others.<br />
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I heard my friends <a href="http://shannonsumrall.blogspot.com/">Shannon</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nicolegaglianophotography.com%2F&ei=WrqFUMavJorm2QXV7IHQBg&usg=AFQjCNH5tLvOsdsZC92c2Y4pDE-3qbzVjA&sig2=RPchz3UOVz0d5iFgNzJG8Q">Nicole</a> discussing this one just before <a href="http://www.itsalwayssunnyinsomerville.blogspot.com/2012/10/september-in-review.html">my trip to DC in September</a>, but just got around to starting it today. And though I wasn't sold on the plot line at first, I read 100 pages at lunch today, so it's safe to say I'm convinced now!<br />
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<a href="http://www.matched-book.com/">Matched by Ally Condie</a><br />
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<i>"In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.</i>
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<i>Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to
pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best
friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete
certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an
instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with
impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s
known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection
and passion."</i><br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
I'm also in the middle of an audio book right now - <i>yes, I know, I am a nerd.</i> I've only been listening to it when I drive long distances or occasionally while I work out so I haven't gotten too far, but I've heard enough to be intrigued.<br />
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<a href="http://gillian-flynn.com/gone-girl/">Gone Girl by Gillian Flynne</a><br />
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<i>"On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and
Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and
reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife
disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River.
Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with
cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head,
but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky
perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting
pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting
parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits,
and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely
bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in
town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With
his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble
is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was
left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?"</i><br />
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<i>---</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
What are you reading? I'm always looking for new books to add to my list!<i> </i><br />
Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-8837685323834800002012-10-17T08:29:00.001-05:002012-10-17T08:30:12.701-05:00wordless wednesday - new cousin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-25843471193442479512012-10-09T20:11:00.000-05:002012-10-09T20:11:13.169-05:00claire - nine months<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWiyS-BH4L3z_ReRWgDGCaGEFhB_KKRJ3upGoo3IOb98aLFQDS-RdH2XnozS7T39SXhZw6Sp5qIlAtMk-87fI-BxShHvKXZM18RNdWdUrubtMPMNVkG7IfF4Z7EMPiOPEWo8J9RHkKwFT/s1600/600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWiyS-BH4L3z_ReRWgDGCaGEFhB_KKRJ3upGoo3IOb98aLFQDS-RdH2XnozS7T39SXhZw6Sp5qIlAtMk-87fI-BxShHvKXZM18RNdWdUrubtMPMNVkG7IfF4Z7EMPiOPEWo8J9RHkKwFT/s320/600.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Claire at nine months - September 24, 2012</em></td></tr>
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<i>Ahhh, I'm so behind. Claire is going to be TEN months if I don't post this soon!<br /></i><b><br />Weight/Height</b>: Little chunker is 16 lbs, 12 oz now. Still so petite, but I love it! Claire is 26 1/4 inches long - short(er) just like her parents.<br />
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<b>Clothes</b>: 6 month jammies (but not for long!) and mostly six months for everything else. We can get away with a few random 3 month dresses, but mostly those have been packed up.<br />
<b><br />Eating Habits</b>: Usually she has a 6 oz bottle first thing in the morning (7ish) and 4 6-7 oz bottles during the day (9-10 am, 12-1 pm, 3-4 pm and 7-8 pm). We've continued to introduce solid foods, including meat, this month. She eats the pureed stuff pretty well, but really likes when we give her bites of things to eat in her highchair while we eat.
<b><br />Sleep</b>: Still sleeping great at night. She goes down between 8 and 9 and sleeps til we get her up arund 6:45. At least once this month, she gave us a treat by sleeping til 8 on a Saturday morning. Napping? Not so much. She gets great naps at home on the weekends, but is way too distracted to sleep at daycare.<br />
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<b>Eye Color</b>: Brown</div>
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<b>Biggest accomplishment</b>: Claire is crawling now! It's fun and scary at the same time. We've had a few more bumps on the head and a couple of topple overs, but she is on the move!</div>
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<b>Likes</b>: </div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Clapping</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Gerber Puffs</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">FOOD! </li>
</ul>
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<b>Dislikes</b><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Being hungry</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Sitting in her high chair for too long...though she does great when we're out to dinner usually. </li>
</ul>
<b>Favorite Moments</b>: This month was really a blur for us with traveling and being sick. Highlights include Pop and Alli's visit, Grandma and Grandpa's visit, Mommy and Daddy's weekend trip and a family trip to DC! Oh, and some Daddy/Claire time while Mommy was traveling for work. It was a big month<br />
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<b>Doctor's Orders</b>: A quick (yeah, right) visit to the doctor this month showed that Claire is healthy as can be. What we thought might be an ear infection was only teething. Her nine month visit went great as well. Claire is right on track and growing. She got a flu shot and orders to keep up the good work!<br />
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<b>Comparison</b>:<br />
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Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-48897544775673738922012-10-01T14:01:00.003-05:002012-10-01T14:03:15.389-05:00september in reviewOctober 1. Yikes.<br />
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Where did September go?<br />
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I'll tell you where. <br />
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There was a trip to Dallas to see the Tide roll.<br />
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(Throw in a trip to the urgent care for Momma. Verdict: Strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. Roll Tide.)<br />
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Claire had a big time at home with Pop and Allie.<br />
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(Finished out the weekend with a little stomach bug for baby girl. Thankfully it passed, but the screaming in the middle of the night did not. So Claire's first doctor visit of the month was scheduled. Verdict: Perfect, as always. No
ear infection, nothing but teething and a worried Momma.)<br />
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Then there was a visit from Uncle Craig. <i>And <a href="http://shannonsumrall.blogspot.com/">Beauford</a>.</i><br />
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(The work week saw Momma's second visit to the doctor for the month of September<i> </i>- Verdict: a persistent bug. Round 2 of antibiotics.)<br />
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Lots of sporting new crimson and white attire to cheer for Bama. 5-0.<br />
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The Somerville's made their first trip to <a href="https://twitter.com/bobbiesdairydip">Bobbie's Dairy Dip</a>. And Claire had her first french fry. <br />
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Then Grandma and Grandpa came for a brief visit. A good time was had by all. And Claire wore her first pair of jeggings!<br />
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Then Momma headed to D.C. for a conference. (And Daddy headed to the doctor for the first time that month. Verdict: A severe sinus infection.)<br />
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Armed with medicine, bottles and a plethora of Puffs (Gerber, not tissues), Claire and Daddy came to meet Momma in D.C. for Ross and Sarah Michelle's big day!<br />
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Upon arrival back in Nashvegas, Daddy took Claire to her second doctor's appointment of the month - this time just a 9-month well baby check up and flu shot.<br />
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And Momma and Daddy went on a date to see Martina McBride perform at the Ryman for the first time in eight years. Love her.<br />
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Oh, and this little man turned 2!<br />
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By month's end, Claire is still teething, but as sweet as ever. Daddy has kicked his sinus infection and is taking care of the house as usual. And I'm on day 32 of not quite feeling myself, but I refuse to go to the doctor again.<i> Post pregnancy has wreaked havoc on my immune system!</i><br />
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Whew! Bring on October! <i>And hopefully a few less doctor's appointments. </i><br />
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<i>(In the interest of getting this posted before, oh, November, these are all iPhone pics. </i></div>
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<i>Thank goodness for the iPhone.</i>)</div>
Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-86544123541573944082012-09-11T15:33:00.000-05:002012-09-11T15:37:32.405-05:00you'll always remember where you were...I'll always remember where I was when Princess Diana died (<i>on the boat with my parents and my high school BFF, Lauren</i>), when Osama Bin Laden was killed (<i>at home with Bob, watching disbelievingly from our bedroom</i>) and, of course, when the attacks of September 11 happened...<br />
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I'm writing this because, eleven years later, my memory is fading slowly. And I don't want to forget. It's important to me to remember every detail because it's the worst thing I've ever seen happen...and hopefully ever will. And because, one day, when Claire is older, I want to be able to tell her everything that happened and my perspective on the day. I want her and my future children to understand the reverence of what happened that day and how it changed the landscape of America.<br />
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<i>This recollection doesn't even begin to cover the emotions and heartache that were felt that day. I don't think I could ever do that justice.</i><br />
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I was a freshman at the University of Alabama. I attended my 8 am class - math, I think. The class ended early, and I went to the Ferguson Center to study. When I entered, a group of students were huddled around the information desk watching those old televisions that teachers rolled into the classroom on carts. I heard someone say something about a bomb. A bomb! I joined the gaggle of students and watched, in shock, as the third plane hit the Pentagon, finally realizing what was happening. <br />
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I went to my 9 am Italian 101 class, thinking it would surely be cancelled. But Signora Gabriella had not heard, did not understand why we were so anxious to leave. When the class ended, I ran back to my dorm and my roommate, Katie - whose birthday coincidentally is 9/11. <br />
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I remember watching the news all day...crying...running out for gasoline b/c her family was panicking...waiting in the gas line FOREVER, only to be told that the credit card machines were down. We scrounged up enough cash to get gas and went back to the news.<br />
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In the days that followed, we watched America pull together to stand behind a common cause. I don't know how you could NOT be proud to be an American at that time.<br />
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I had met Bob already, and though he had joined the ROTC, I had no idea what an impact these events would have on my life. It occurred to me in the days following that he would probably go to war. I had no idea we would be engaged at that time.<br />
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Five years later, he flew out of Ft. Bliss, Texas to Iraq to start what would be the longest 14 months of my life. Thankfully, he returned home to me happy and healthy, and we were married 4 months later. But he'll never forget the friends he lost along the way and the friends that were changed forever. All because of the attacks of September 11.<br />
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I know some people have a problem with all the "Never Forget" symbols flying around, b/c really, how could we forget? But I also think that as time marches on...our memories slowly fade. And as strange as it may be to some of us, there are children out there that have no idea what 9/11 is...they're too young to have been a part of it and it's up to us, their parents, to educate them. For me, this is the first step in educating Claire...documenting my "story."<br />
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I didn't know anyone in the Towers...or the Pentagon...or on Flight 93. Or their families. But I think we all feel part of the story of the September 11 attacks because it changed our lives in every way imaginable. And though we might forget the details of that particular day, we will never forget the lives that were lost, the lives that were changed and the lives that will never be the same. Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-77611962283113737792012-08-30T15:54:00.002-05:002012-10-08T22:24:57.788-05:00claire - eight months old!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7vVG6kPweEw4OBLYKVjnAJIPBloTE_25BjyPVMAdIRzMpmbOoq0Peomf3AKJ2GpQLiKq_x4I83dfq2GbUscJjTWH4DLLotWOYeNCIHc-Cp3YXRMmvCpPCjW6qoVqOn6zI2mFbIekHqIS/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7vVG6kPweEw4OBLYKVjnAJIPBloTE_25BjyPVMAdIRzMpmbOoq0Peomf3AKJ2GpQLiKq_x4I83dfq2GbUscJjTWH4DLLotWOYeNCIHc-Cp3YXRMmvCpPCjW6qoVqOn6zI2mFbIekHqIS/s320/015.JPG" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Claire at eight months - August 24, 2012</i> <i><br /></i></td></tr>
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<b>Weight/Height</b>: We don't have another doctor's appointment til next month, but from my <i>scientific</i> weighing on our bathroom scale, she weighs 16.2 lbs. (<i>Update: 16 lbs 2 oz as of Sept. 5</i>)<br />
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<b>Clothes</b>: Daddy said to stop putting her in the 3 month clothes, so I guess that means we're in 6 months now! But, I think jammies must just run small or shrink b/c it won't be too long until she's in 9 month jammies. To be fair, some 3 month and a lot of 3-6 month things still fit (especially dresses), but onesies and rompers are a struggle now and have been packed up.<b><br /><br />Eating Habits</b>: Claire has pretty much dropped the sixth bottle, unless her feeding times get out of whack and she needs a little bit before bed to tide her over. But usually she has a 6 oz bottle first thing in the morning (7ish) and 4 6-7 oz bottles during the day (9-10 am, 12-1 pm, 3-4 pm and 7-8 pm). She is definitely on board with the solid foods now and has had squash, zucchini, carrots (not a huge fan), peas, avocados, bananas, rice cereal, oatmeal, applesauce, peaches, sweet potatoes, corn and pears. She also tried her first "Puffs" this month and although she was confused at first, she's come to enjoy those as well (especially in her high chair while we eat dinner).<b><br /><br />Sleep</b>: I love this kid. I may not have another one b/c this one sleeps so well. <i>Kidding</i>. But really. She sleeps from 8-8:30 pm til 6:30 -7:30 am. Sometimes she wakes up around 5:45-6am (I think she hears our alarms), but can go back to sleep with her paci and some music from her seahorse. I should add here that we finally stopped using the Woombie to swaddle her. Seems like everyone I know "broke" the swaddle much earlier, but I never saw reason to when she liked it so much. I made a comment to Bob about it, and he decided that since she was rolling over that <i>that was the night. </i>And it was. I was nervous about it, but, like she always does, baby girl did just fine. She now sleeps in a sleep sack. <br />
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<b>Eye Color</b>: Hazleish </div>
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<b>Biggest accomplishment</b>: Little-big girl can sit up! I love it! She sits up for long periods of time til she gets a little top heavy and <i>down she goes</i>.</div>
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<b>How We Spend Our Day</b>: Pretty much the same... <i>I think I'll remove this category next month. Unless something crazy happens, our days are going to remain basically the same. </i></div>
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<b>Likes</b>: </div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Toys</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The song "If you're happy and you know it..."</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - <i>Mickey is on TV! Seriously, the first time we put it on, she squealed and looked at us like, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?!" </i> </li>
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<b>Dislikes</b><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Being left alone (to be fair, we're not leaving her <i>alone</i>, we're just, <i>oh I don't know</i>, using the bathroom or preparing dinner</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Getting a diaper change </li>
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<b>Favorite Moments</b>: So many good moments this month- Claire went to her first baby shower (that wasn't for her!) and celebrated Cousin Will, finally was able to meet Aunt Mary and her other cousins, and spent time with both sets of grandparents. But above all, my favorite moments have been at night, when Bob and I play with her on the floor before she goes to bed. It's so fun to watch her discover all her toys and hear the pure joy in her laugh. <br />
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<b>Doctor's Orders</b>: No doctor's visits for us this month!<br />
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<b>Comparison</b>:<br />
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Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430407606741717605.post-63922321818001678452012-08-22T16:05:00.001-05:002012-08-22T16:05:55.981-05:00(mostly) wordless wednesday with the pups<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHR_LzL8mwZLaekIhJ_NdnTxtpLM2z0N3NzPH5X9aszVguDCHvtaW3XxdDnzugYf4WDG75ePpweptGa2A09Dwpa1J9lZQj-lhRAfwz6qWdqGvD4PSbC7tub1-JDlcRP0Ir-04GSp7EQ1b/s1600/012+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHR_LzL8mwZLaekIhJ_NdnTxtpLM2z0N3NzPH5X9aszVguDCHvtaW3XxdDnzugYf4WDG75ePpweptGa2A09Dwpa1J9lZQj-lhRAfwz6qWdqGvD4PSbC7tub1-JDlcRP0Ir-04GSp7EQ1b/s320/012+edited.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking Grace out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace at her happy place</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snuggled up in Claire's clothes</td></tr>
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<br />Val @ It's Always Sunny in Somervillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355553974437027226noreply@blogger.com1