Matters of the Heart and Other Random Things

Clare had her 1-year check-up yesterday. During the visit, the doctor asked me, “Have I ever said anything to you about Clare having a heart murmur?” Um, no. She heard a slight murmur, and wants Clare to have an ultrasound to make sure everything is normal. She made it VERY CLEAR that this is very common, and in all likelihood she is FINE and that I am NOT to worry about it. So of course I have been worrying about it ever since. I don’t want to hear that my baby has a heart murmur! I want to hear that she is perfect in every way. She doesn’t go in for the Echo until July 11, so I am trying hard not to obssess about it. I did stand over her crib for several minutes listening to her breathe last night, though. I am not crazy or anything!

The good news is the rest of the check up went well, aside from those nasty shots, which she held against Ben for awhile because he was down by her legs when they were given to her. She was NOT happy with him. She has not grown much since her last appointment – she is a mere 20 pounds and 30 inches long – which is 33rd percentile for weight and 67th percentile for length. She has a big head, though. 91st percentile there. No baseball caps for her! (I have a large head myself, and look ridiculous in ball caps.) ANYWAY. The doctor said she is growing just fine.

Last weekend we went to Duluth for Grandma’s Marathon. (My heart goes out to that town now, dealing with that awful flooding - especially to my sister and brother-in-law, whose car may or may not be underwater right now.) Ben ran the FULL MARATHON, because he is a crazy person. Clare found it to be a great location for napping.

Race? What race?

My sister ran the half – they both did a great job. It is so interesting to watch those races – some people look like they are just out for a jog, while others look like they are about to collapse in a heap of sweat and tears. One of my goals in life is to never run a marathon – so hey, I’ve accomplished it. I do admire those that can do it, though.

Note Ben's grimace. Katie looks fine.

On Sunday we went to watch the Brewers play the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis. It rained. The whole time I was wondering why they didn’t put a roof on that stadium. Target Field is quite nice, though, on a sunny day.

Clare has her own homemade poncho. Appropriate, yes?

Even though Ben had to stand under the upperdeck with Clare for most of the game (she took a nap, of course), it was still a lovely Father’s Day weekend. And Clare even reached another important milestone: eating her first deep fried cheese curds. She loved them, of course. But who wouldn’t?

I do not know what is happening here.

The Yoop

Clare is excited to stay in her first hotel room.

I wanted to post these pictures last week, but housework, work-work, and this whole taking care of a 3-month-old thing kind of got in the way. Over Labor Day weekend, we attended the wedding of a lifelong friend in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Clare got to visit her third state (after Wisconsin and Minnesota), and we got to have our first family vacation.

We stayed at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, near Copper Harbor, MI. I love the smell of pine in the north, and when we stepped out of the car in Michigan we were hit with that wonderful sent. The day of the wedding was sunny and warm. Clare had to be taken away from the wedding due to crying. Hopefully she will not repeat that performance during Aunt Katie's wedding in a few weeks!

On Sunday, we went on a scenic drive with views of Lake Superior, saw the start of a mountain bike race, and ate pasties. It was a fun trip, except for our incredibly loud and drunken neighbors. We didn't get much sleep. Clare did great on the 8 hour car trip, even when her parents' discovered they couldn't follow simple directions and ended up driving the wrong way. On the bright side, we drove home through Green Bay and I got to see Lambeau Field in person for the first time. Just driving by on the Interstate, but still, there it was. On to the pictures!

Her majesty sleeps while her parents scramble to get ready on the morning of the wedding.

The view from our hotel room in Hancock, Michigan.

Clare and Daddy and a beautiful sunset. Of course, this picture does not do the sunset justice.

The beautiful bride and me. We have known each other since we were 3 years old.

Yeah, the weather was not so nice the next day. Clare did not like the wind.

Lake Superior. Brrrrr....

Grandma Jo, Daddy and Clare waiting for our pasties.

Clare lounges by the fire in Grandma and Grandpa's cabin at the end of the day. The rest of us drank wine.

August

Edited to add: CAPTIONS!

At Concert on the Square in Madison.

Yummy, brats are good!

Very interested in the Brewer game.

Clare at her Baptism, with Godmother Aunt Katie.

Happy Clare in her Baptismal gown.

With Aunt Katie - Uncle Robby is there, too.

Clare is very excited to be at her first zoo.

Clare staring in dismay at the empty ice cream cup. "But I didn't get any!"

Sporting her Gopher's shirt during her first trip to the Minnesota State Fair.

With Daddy at the Fair. She did pretty well at the Fair - at least until the bus ride home.  Then she was pretty mad.

On Vacation

We drove up to the Twin Cities last Friday. Clare did well in the car - the normally 5 hour trip took an extra hour - but that doesn't seem so bad. We have had a busy week!

On Saturday, Clare got to go to a ladies lunch with her two grandmas and two aunts. There was almost a fight about who got to hold her, but luckily everyone remained calm. Except Clare, who had a very poopy diaper, and was changed on the floor of the bathroom at Psycho Suzi's. I told her she might spend some time in this bathroom talking to her friends about boys someday, but that she should wait until she was 21. She was unimpressed. She was, however, enthralled by the enormous fake plant that was right above her head.

On Saturday night, Grandpa and Grandma kindly babysat so I could go out to eat with my mom, sister, and sister-in-law. While I walked to the restaurant after parking in downtown Minneapolis, breathing in the diesel fumes, I actually felt like a real adult doing a real adult thing. It felt good. And dinner was amazing. Especially since I didn't have to inhale it or eat it cold. Clare slept through the night that night - and we both slept in the next morning. That felt good, too.

I am dumb and can't seem to rotate this picture.

On Sunday Clare got to meet some of her second cousins (or second cousins once removed? Or first cousins once removed? Anyway, Ben's cousins' kids) at a graduation party. Then - the best thing ever happened. Ben and I got to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 while Grandma and Grandpa babysat. It was glorious. And can I just say - I am so sad that the Harry Potter era has ended. I loved the books and the movies. I am looking forward to the day when I can read them to Clare.

I also got to see lots of good friends - and Clare got to meet her future BFFs/Possible boyfriends Gavin, Parker, Will, Claire, Alice, Carter, Archer, Adam and Ben. We had a picnic, a get together at a friend's house where we all sat around with our nursing covers on while the infants took turns eating, crying, and passing gas, and we took turns at the kitchen table snacking; and a backyard BBQ. It was so fun to see everyone. I miss you all, and wish we could see you more.

Now, we are off to the Fair where I intend to eat my weight in fried food. And then give up fried food.

Clare at her first Caribou Coffee. Mom used to work there back in the day.

At the zoo in Oxbow Park near Rochester. "Mom, can you put that camera away already?"

Road Trip, Part Two

Grandma Jo and I took Clare to meet my paternal grandparents in La Crosse last week. Again, she proved to be a good little traveler when we were on the road.  She started to meltdown when we got close to Madison on the drive home. She'll cry for a few minutes, and then suck on her hands or fall back to sleep. Then she wakes up and cries some more. She did pretty well, though. She was a little worked up during our visit, but I think she was just hot. I get crabby when I am hot, too, so I don't really blame her.

Clare with her Great-Grandpa Bob

Clare with her Great-Grandma and namesake, Clara.

During our visit, my grandfather pulled out a birthday card he sent my grandma in 1944, addressed to Miss Clare Radtke. He wanted to show me that he frequently called my grandmother Clare, rather than by her full name. I think it is great that she saved that card.

I have always been close to my grandparents. My grandma was my confirmation sponsor. I nursed Clare in the room my sister and I used to sleep in when we were kids. I was reflecting on how long ago that seems now. I told Clare about the room and that we used to sleep in there. She seemed unimpressed. It will be fun when she is older and will actually listen to my stories! And, I hope Clare has the same great memories of her grandparents that I do of mine.

Road Trip, Part One

We've taken Clare on two longer road trips over the past few weeks. We went to a wedding shower for my sister in Wausau, and then yesterday my mom and I took Clare to meet her great-grandparents. She did pretty well, except for the occasional meltdown, which is great, because we have family and friends who live far away who we will hopefully visit SOON!

On the way home from Wausau, she decided she had enough of being in the car seat when we were about 45 minutes from home. She woke up, started crying HARD, which is rare for her. (At least until the last two days, when she has been really fussy.) She'd carry on for a few minutes, and then drop back off to sleep. Ten minutes would go by, and she'd wake up and realize SHE WAS STILL IN HER CAR SEAT WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!?!? And then fall asleep again. It was hard to hear her cry and not be able to do anything while we were on the Interstate, but it was amusing how quickly she'd give up when she wasn't getting a response. I don't know if that is good or bad.

Our trip to Oostburg went better - she slept the whole way there and back. Her great-grandparents were thrilled - absolutely thrilled - to meet their first great-grandchild. My grandfather has been struggling with illness for years, and is not always aware of who is who, but he had a good day yesterday. He has said for some time now that he wanted a great-granddaughter, and I was so happy that he was able to hold her and that he knew who she was. It was a really special moment.

Clare with Great-Grandpa Jerry.

Clare with Great-Grandma Jean aka Short J.

According to Jean, Clare has her big toe. She said that she won't be too happy about it when she is older. I think that is great.  I am so grateful that all four of my grandparents are still living, and that I get to introduce Clare to them.