claire - two months old!

Claire at two months - Feb. 24, 2012

Weight/Height: At her two month appointment last week, Claire was 8 lbs, 6 oz and 21 1/4 inches long. We're working on getting her weight up a bit. Little girl is petite and will probably stay that way, but we'd like her to be tipping the scales a little more!

Clothes: Still in newborn...probably for a while yet. I'm glad to get my money's worth out of the newborn clothes, but she has so many cute 0-3 month outfits in her dresser and in the closet, and right now they're all baggy on her! She's also still in the newborn diapers.

Eating Habits: Claire is eating every 3-4 hours and sometimes a small bottle in between to help her grow.

Sleep: In the past week, Claire has started sleeping for 6 hour stretches - hallelujah! She still has occasional bad nights, but we are mostly feeling a little more rested.

Eye Color: Still blue - if they stay that way, I think they will be a steel blue color. But I won't be surprised if she turns into a brown-eyed girl like her Mommy and Daddy.

Biggest accomplishment: Claire has rolled over several times now. Mostly when she has gotten sick of being on her tummy, but we're proud of her! We're also very proud of her for sleeping longer at night. Claire has also started grabbing onto toys that in her line of vision, like the monkey on her activity mat.

How We Spend Our Day: Claire and I usually wake around 7 for breakfast, then snuggle in the bed for a little while if we don't have anywhere to be. She is still eating every 3-4 hours. We have started going to the YMCA in the mornings to walk the track (Claire sleeps in a carrier on my chest). She usually takes a long nap around lunch time and then hangs out on her activity mat with Momma til Daddy comes home.

Likes:

• Claire still really likes her baths. She has taken a couple of tub baths with Momma and enjoys the warm water on her belly.
• Conversations with Mommy and Daddy. Claire is giggling and smiling and cooing when we talk to her. She is really happy after she eats and is changed, and we are loving these times

Dislikes

• When her pacifier falls out of her mouth. Baby girl hates this! We all can't wait til she's able to put it back in her mouth herself.

Favorite Moments: Definitely the giggly, smiley time after feedings. Our baby girl is so happy and it is so amazing to see her smile and laugh. It's also been wonderful to be able to get out more this month. She's joined Momma for lunches with the girls, dinner at friends, dates with Daddy and a co-worker's birthday lunch.

A Little Comparison:

we will be friends until forever, just you wait and see

~ Winnie the Pooh

Since Claire has arrived, we've been reminded again what fabulous friends and family we have. Aside from the grandparents and aunts and uncles, we've had a stream of friends come by to meet our new love.

We've really enjoyed these visits - and the delicious food that has accompanied many of them!

Thank you all for being so wonderful to us!

Amanda and Dave came to visit us on Christmas Day in the hospital! Claire was so honored :)

Shannon and Adam came by the house to see sweet Claire.

The Cherrys have had to squeeze in a couple of visits before the big move. :(

My Memphis buds - Aaron and Lauren!

Scott and Leigh - our pups were excited to see these two!

Claire feels so lucky that Scott even held her!

A few people have slipped through without having their picture taken with Claire :), but thanks to everyone who has come to visit! Come by anytime!

my favorite things - maternity leave edition

These are a few of my favorite things...

Ellen - the best thing on daytime television. A few of my recent favorites:

       Sophia Grace and Rosie - Precious!

 

         Snooki and the girls of Jersey Shore play Know or Go:

Little Debbie Valentines Day cakes - almost as good as Christmas Tree cakes!

This sweet face (of course!)

Chopped - lets face it, I watch a lot of TV. DVRed episodes of Chopped are among the best right now.

Ditto for Glee

Footie pajamas. For the babe. I mean, could they be any cuter?

Thanks, Amanda!

Spending time with the second most adorable faces in our house (ok, third, Bob!)

Suffice to say, I'm enjoying my time off...but if anyone has any recommendations for daytime programming, please, please let me know!

introducing...

claire - one month old!

Claire at one month - Jan. 24, 2012

Weight/Height: Claire hasn’t been weighed or measured since her two-week appointment, at which she was 7.1 lbs – up 4 oz from birth – and 19 ½ inches. I’m guessing she’s hovering around 8 lbs right now based on my attempts to way her on our not-so-accurate scale. She seems a little longer now, though still petite.

Clothes: Definitely newborn, and I’m guessing we will be in the same size for at least another month. Little girl is just that…little. I’m anxious to put her in some of her cute, bigger outfits but also love how little she is and am glad I am getting good use out of those newborn sizes! We love the long-sleeved Gerber onesies with built-in mittens and sleepers with footies. We have a lot of “jammie” days around here. The newborn Pampers Swaddlers fit her great, but the Newborn Huggies Little Snugglers are too big.

Eating Habits: Claire is eating about every 3 hours and will go between 3 and 5 hours at night. She successfully took her first bottle, and now Daddy is feeding her one bottle a day, usually right after work.

Sleep: Claire sleeps pretty well. When she first came home, she’d sleep one stretch of six hours each night, and Bob and I rejoiced! It’s cut back a little, but she’s only a month old so that is to be expected. I will be THRILLED when she decides to sleep through the night though. Sleep is much better when she is swaddled, so I’ve been swaddling her during the day as well. We’re currently working on figuring out a bedtime routine so that will hopefully help her to know that it’s time to go to bed.

Eye Color: Still blue – and I’m still holding out hope for a little blue-eyed baby, though it would be miraculous. But her Grandma would be thrilled!

Biggest accomplishment: Claire is starting to get control of her head and neck muscles, though she still has a ways to go. She is focusing more on things, especially her Mommy and Daddy – which we LOVE!

How We Spend Our Day: We are working on hammering out a schedule, so at this point we are flying by the seat of our pants! We do a lot of eating, napping and spending time on the activity mat or in the swing. On these rare nice days we’ve had, we’ve taken a few walks around the neighborhood, which Claire seems to enjoy. J She usually takes one nap a day in her crib and one in the swing. At night she’s in her bassinet in our room.

Likes:

• Bathtime. Although she’ll cry at first because she is cold, she really likes the warm water. She must take after her Momma.
• Claire also loves her pacifier, and Momma would love it if she would learn to put it back in soon.
• She loves music and is content to lie in her crib and watch her mobile turn until the music turns off – then she howls til we reset it.
• Snuggling with her Daddy is a big pleaser too!

 Dislikes:

• Being dirty – who can blame her? I wouldn’t want to sit in a wet/dirty diaper either!
• Waiting for food. Sorry about this, baby girl, but Mommy can only go so fast!

Just keeping it real. But, let's face it, she's even cute when she cries. :)

Favorite Moments: Well, since this is month one, I’d say that Claire’s birth on Christmas Eve is the top moment right now. I’ve also really enjoyed watching her with our families and friends. There is not much sweeter than seeing your dad hold his first grandchild. We’ve also had a few smiles or grins and those are just priceless. I’m not sure they’re on purpose yet, but I’ll take them anyway I can get them!

See you next month, friends!