Statistics and Weekend Things

Clare had her 6-month well-baby check on Friday. She is not in as high a percentile for height or weight as she has been (which could just be the measurement - it is not very accurate.) She is in the 86th percentile for length and 51st for weight. The doctor said she is the size of a 9-month-old. She was very busy at the appointment, and destroyed the paper they put down on the table by trying to EAT IT. Because paper is SO GOOD.

Also, Clare does not like apples. And they do not like her, apparently, because she was up all last night with stomach issues. On to the next food - rice cereal, anyone?

Oh, and since we are updating numbers here, I will mention that Clare has 5 teeth now, with a 6th one coming in. Also: the girl is a biter.

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Ben took Clare shopping on Saturday - the mall wore her out. While they were busy doing that, I was at the Nutcracker in Milwaukee with my mom, sister-in-law, aunt, grandma and cousins. We had a lovely time. Whenever I see a performance like that, I always come away jealous of the talent of the performers - I wish I had that kind of skill.

Shopping is hard.

Clare got some early Christmas presents - a few lovely knitted things from her family in England. Isn't that bonnet the cutest thing ever?

I will chew on anything, even sweaters.

Six Months

"Hi, Mom! I see you've got that camera out again."

"I am sorry, this dinosaur is way more interesting than you."

"Wait. What's going on back here?"

Last weekend, Clare was playing in her floor activity gym while I prepared bottles for daycare. Suddenly, I heard WAILING coming from the living room (which is really the same room as the kitchen – it is all one big room). I went running over, and found she had managed to roll herself at least three feet away from the gym, and was underneath the coffee table. I don’t think she was hurt, just scared, but apparently the days of setting her on the floor to do chores are over. She is not staying put. She has also been rolling herself onto her stomach at night, which of course has me running in there every so often to turn her over – because you know, BACK IS BEST and if she sleeps on her stomach I fail at motherhood.

We gave her solid food for the first time last weekend – organic pureed butternut squash. She didn’t love it.

She did, however, love the spoon.

Her sleep schedule has been screwed up for the past 5 days or so – she seems extra gassy and fussy, and I don’t know if it is the squash, or something I ate (Taco dip? Lasagna? Steak?), or if it is yet another tooth…..yeah, it can be a tad overwhelming figuring out what is bothering baby.

Clare is finally sleeping in her own room, a transition that was a lot harder for me than it was for her. In fact, aside from the past few days, I admit she is sleeping better in her crib than she did in the bassinet. She has plenty of room to roll around and turn over. The first few nights she was in there, I had a lot of trouble falling asleep. I am used to it now, although I still check on her right before I go to bed to make sure she is okay.

She discovered the cat last month, and now she just lights up every time she sees her. She loves petting her. I think I’ve made my feelings on the cat known, but it is cute to watch Clare get excited about her.

Back to this solid food thing -  I am really stressed out about it for some reason. How do you know what to give her? How much to give her? What if she is allergic to something? (Given my food allergies, this is not an unreasonable concern.) I know I’ll figure it out like I’ve figured out everything else, but right now I am obsessing.

But enough worrying, it is Christmas time! Clare is loving all the Christmas decorations, especially anything with lights – and I am looking forward to all the fun holiday events coming up this month. Mom and Dad are even going to two holiday parties (thanks to my parents and lovely friend Christina.) Now, if only I can get Clare to sleep a little better, I will be ready to enjoy the season. Which will likely include eating a lot more taco dip.

For Sale

Does anyone want a 16-year-old cat? No? Are you sure? She is deaf and mostly blind. She meows at the top of her voice each morning at 4 a.m. - and really, who doesn't want that? I know I enjoy hearing her beautiful meows between Clare's 3 a.m. feeding and my 5:30 a.m. alarm. What, you want to sleep through the night? No, you don't. You want this lovely cat. Here is a picture to help convince you.

I am cute. And not loud at all.

That didn't make you change your mind? Okay, what if I give you the cat and $100?

Seriously. $100. Any takers?

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.