This?

While we were at my parents’ house on Sunday, Clare was looking at some small, framed photos of  my siblings and me that my mom has on display. She pointed at the picture of me, and said “This?” Clear as day. Then she pointed at Aunt Katie, “This?” and Uncle Robby, “This?” What a weird first word. (Besides Dada, which she says all the time.) I thought I heard her say it before, but I was never quite sure. But last night my mom heard it too. Every time she encounters something new: “This?”

When we were back home, she was trying to get some coasters off the coffee table. They were just out of her reach, but being the determined girl that she is, she kept trying to get them. She was getting pretty frustrated, and ignored my suggestion to move to the other side of the table where she would be able to reach them. Then, she took one of our remote controls and used it to pull the coaster to her. I swear to God. She must be taking after her engineer-minded father, because I never would have thought to do that.

Last week she was chewing on her sock after taking it off her foot (as you do). I said, “Clare, where does your sock go?” And she set it on her foot. Okay, maybe it was just a fluke, so I tried it again. And she set it on her foot again! Harvard, here we come.

Oh, and food update: Clare is not allergic to eggs. Huzzah! In celebration, I stocked up on ravioli (the perfect finger food!) and on Sunday we whipped up a bunch of these pancakes. I had my doubts, but they were delicious. We added blueberries, and Clare just chowed down. I think she is growing, too, because on Saturday she ate a plate of scrambled egg whites, a cup of yogurt with oatmeal, some banana and blueberry puree, a handful of cheerios, and a rice cracker – all in one sitting. Sometimes it is all I can do to get her to eat anything, although she did enjoy the 4-year aged cheddar that she had on Sunday. She is such a cheese snob. I think Gouda is next on the list. After all, it is an important cheese in her mother’s life.

Also: I am just joking about the Harvard thing. We’ll never be able to afford the tuition. And, if state schools were good enough for her parents and all that…

Random video time: Clare in her high chair, deciding whether or not she wants to eat. Happy Tuesday.