Random November Pictures

Whew, where did that month go? I hope December goes by a little more slowly. I want some time to enjoy my Christmas decorations, if  I ever find time to put them out.

We had a fun month - Clare celebrated her first Thanksgiving. I think she was especially excited about the fact that the Packers beat the Lions. I guess the Packers are having a pretty good season. I think I heard something about them being 11-0. (I am sorry, Vikings fans, I can't help it. It really isn't as fun with the Vikings having the season they are having, though. Win some games so I can taunt you!)

Enough about football...on to pictures!

Daddy styled Clare's hair after a bath. I think a mohawk is a good look for her, don't you?

Relaxing in Grandpa Steve's chair.

The whole family on Thanksgiving.

She is okay with not eating turkey - she has frog legs!

Bundled up for a walk in the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Apparently Daddy should not be left alone with Clare. I was assured that she was not actually shot in the face with the Nerf Dart, but it sure looks suspicious, doesn't it? I think it is Brian's bad influence. Of course, I wasn't there because I was drinking adult beverages before seeing the latest Twilight movie, so I guess I shouldn't talk. Do you think this caption could be any longer? Okay, I'll stop now.

Thursday Night Fever

Last Thursday, Clare came home from daycare with a temperature of 100.3. Not that high, really, but she promptly passed the fever, along with the accompanying cough, on to me. We have both been fighting the crud since, and it is tiring. The worst part about having a cough is you just want to sleep it off, but you are constantly awakened by, well, coughing. And when your baby is also coughing, it makes for some very long nights.

I feel bad when Clare coughs. She is just so little, and the cough seems to take over her whole body. She, however, is proving to be just as laid back when sick as she is the rest of the time. I hope I am not speaking too soon here, but look at this face.

Granted, this is a minor illness. And I know it is the first of many that will be brought home from the petri dish that is daycare.  I can't think about those future illnesses right now, though. I just want this one to run its course and get out of here.

Hey, I guess at least one of us is resting. I wish I was a baby sometimes. Or at least, I wish I could sleep like one.

Five Months

This has been a big month for our little Clare. I already posted about some of it it here, so I'll recap: Teeth. Rolling over. She rolls over all the time now, but once she is on her stomach, she can't seem to roll back over. She gets kind of mad about that, and I have to go rescue her.  She also noticed our ancient, deaf, nearly blind cat the other day. I was sitting with her in our recliner, and the cat was on the arm of the couch. The cat moved, and Clare did a double take. "What?!?! That thing is alive??" (Sometimes I am surprised she is still alive, too.) Now Clare will "pet" the cat, which basically consists of beating the cat with one of her toys. The cat tolerates it. Clare has also recognized anything shaped like a cylinder with liquid in it as "something to eat." If whoever is holding her is taking a drink out of a water glass or beer bottle or whatever, she reaches for it and tries to pull it towards her mouth. She is also showing a lot of interest in food, and was thrilled the other day when my Dad ate a pork chop with his hand, and she got to gnaw on his fingers afterward.

My favorite part of the day on my days off is when Ben gets home from work. Clare is always THRILLED to see him, which is adorable. Also, the two of them have a conversation about their day. Clare squeaks, and Ben squeaks back. This can go on for quite some time.  I love watching them "talk." Clare is quite the verbal little baby. Oh, and did I mention she took her SATs and scored a 1530?

Ready for college.

 Clare's Minnesota grandparents came to visit last weekend. We had a nice visit - she was very happy and charming with them. Clare is happy most of the time, except when shopping. She is a very serious shopper, and refuses to smile at any of the old ladies or Piggly Wiggly cashiers who coo at her and try to coax a smile out of her. Not happening ladies. Sorry.

We went on a hike in the Janesville School Forest with Grandpa Steve and Grandma Mary Theresa - I am trying to soak up as much nice weather as I can before winter gets here. It was a beautiful day, and Clare fell asleep in her carrier. I wish I could be carried around like that.

We are looking forward to the upcoming holidays. I am sure Clare will be after that turkey on Thanksgiving. Sadly, she will have to settle for having it secondhand.

Hiking in the Janesville School Forest.

I Love

The other day I was thinking about how I used to spend Sundays in the fall before Clare was born. I'd start something cooking on the stove, and then settle onto the couch with a huge stack of magazines in my lap and the Packer game on TV. Now the Packer game might be on TV, but I am constantly up and down, changing diapers, entertaining Clare. I started thinking about all the things I used to do before Clare, and how I really don't do most of them anymore. And I wouldn't trade it for the world, but sometimes I miss those things, you know? Then my friend A. posted a list of things she loves on her blog, and I decided to copy her and do that here. I think it will be good to touch base with those things I love that are separate from Clare and Ben.

And since it is fall, I think I'll start there: I love fall. I love the crunch of the leaves under my feet. I love pumpkins. I love squash and apple crisp. And apples. I love cooking. I love my Le Creuset dutch oven. I love the sound onions make when I toss them into melted butter. I love wine, both red and white. I love the sound of wine being poured into a glass. I love my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I love baking. I love the smell of chocolate chip cookies in the oven. I love eating that first cookie, still warm. I love food. I love going out for long, luxurious dinners, including dessert. I love books. I love libraries and bookstores, big and small. I love how my mom and sister and I can spend hours talking on the phone about nothing. I love that I still have all four of my grandparents. I love tailgating before Brewers games, especially if my brother is there to eat chips off his shirt.  I love that I love my brothers and sister-in-law. I love the Argylian Goddesses and all the friends I've made through them. I love the Lillie Crew. I love the Packers. I love it that the Packers are 7-0. I love the feel of grass on my bare feet. I love the ocean. I love New York and Paris and London and Minneapolis. I love driving in the country at dusk during summer. I love hot air balloons. I love holiday decorations. I love Christmas. I love sleeping in, especially on a cold winter day. I love Parks and Recreation and Chuck. I love Harry Potter. I love seeing movies in the theater. I love Adele and Arcade Fire. I love the Boundary Waters. I love chocolate.  I love Happy Hour. I love french fries. And beer. Lots of beer.