Claire - 8 Months

Claire, you are 8 months old! How in the world is that possible? Today as you were falling asleep for a nap I sat there and wondered how your birthday, a day that I think about so often and that seems so recent, could possibly be 8 whole months ago. This is the bittersweet part of being a mama...of course I enjoy seeing you grow and change, but I also want you to stay my tiny baby forever.

You are still a chunk...you weigh about 20.5 lbs. We will see the doctor next month and get your other measurements. You still wear size 3 diapers and most of your clothes are in the 6-12 month range. Most of your 9 month Carter's clothes still fit, but I don't think it will be long before you move to 12 month clothes.

Here's what you're doing these days:

- You are all over the place and into everything! You crawl all over the place and get around very fast these days. You are pulling up on everything and cruising around the furniture pretty handily. You're starting to let go a little bit, so I'm sure you'll be standing on your own before long. You have no fear and always, always gravitate to whatever is dangerous. You keep me on my toes for sure! Today I found you eating the cat food...oops! You are such an adorable mess!

- You tried Cheerios last week for the first time and you LOVE them! You like Gerber Puffs too. You've had many different kinds of pureed and mashed foods...most all of them have been a hit, although carrots and peas don't seem to agree with your tummy so we've put those on hold for now. I think your favorites are sweet potatoes and peaches. You eat oatmeal for breakfast and a veggie or fruit for dinner. I've recently started giving you oatmeal at night too (sometimes mixed with your fruit) in hopes that it would help you sleep. Saturday night you and I went to dinner with Pinky & Papaw while Daddy was at the A&M football game...between every bite of food, you were screeching/growling/yelling! It was hilarious and a bit embarrassing...you were causing a ruckus, but luckily you're cute and people seemed to think it was funny! 

 - You have the most adorably chubby legs! Your cheeks are super pinchable...Aunt Lizzie always says they touch your shoulders! Your eyes are striking...they're a beautiful blue pearl color. Your Daddy hoped for a blue-eyed baby girl and you did not disappoint! Your hair has gotten a lot thicker in the last few weeks. We still can't completely figure out the color...at different times/in different lights it can look blonde, brown, or auburn.

- Your top front teeth are finally through...whew! You wear an amber teething necklace and it definitely helps with drooling and pain/fussiness during the day. Nights have been tough...you are usually up three times a night, often to eat. As I mentioned earlier, Mommy and Daddy think back on your newborn days with great fondness, but that doesn't mean we want you to sleep like a newborn. Now that your front teeth have finally broken through, we're restarting the Ferber method tonight. Sigh...here's hoping it works...we really (really, really) need sleep. Thankfully, you're a good napper and if we're home, you'll usually take two consistent naps during the day.

 - You're saying "Dada" and "Mama" and babbling constantly. It's so cute! Hearing you say "Mama" is one of the best feelings ever. Your giggle is infectious...the surefire way to hear it is to shake my head so that my hair moves around. You think that's hilarious! Today I discovered that you crack up if I throw your stuffed animals up in the air...silly girl!

- You love animals. Teddy and Aurora entertain you endlessly! It is so cute to see you get so excited to see them! Teddy loves and sympathizes with you to the point that he howls if you cry. The more he howls, the more you cry, and so it goes! It makes for some very interesting moments at our house. I'm just waiting for the day when the cops show up because of all the commotion! 

 - Hands down, books are your favorite thing in the world. You love to turn the pages! It's super cute and it makes my heart happy to think about you being a book lover.

- Favorite toys: books, plastic Easter eggs, blocks, Gloworm, bouncy balls

- Current nicknames: Bambina, Clairebear, Cubbybear (Papaw's favorite), Pookie, Tootenberg (ridiculous Breaking Bad reference!)

Claire, you are just the most precious thing in the world. When I think of all the fun we're going to have in the next few months celebrating all your first holidays, I can hardly wait! You are our pride and joy and we love you, sweet baby!

Claire - 7 Months

Claire, you are 7 months old! It's still hard to believe we're in the second half of your first year. You're growing and changing so much, but you're also still the same sweet baby I held in my arms 7 months ago. You're definitely looking more and more like your Daddy each day! You've always been a blend of both of us, but you looked a lot like me early on...but these days we see more and more of your Daddy and Gigi's Campbell genes.

I don't have your current weight and height since we don't see the pediatrician this month. You're still in size 3 diapers and 6-12 month clothes for the most part. 

Here's what else you're up to:

- You are officially crawling! You've been so close for so long, but on Wednesday (August 21st) you finally did it. It's very exciting! I know it will make you happy to be able to move around more easily now. I don't think you've figured out that if I walk across the room that you can follow me just yet. I know you will be crawling all over the place before we know it though! We have lots of babyproofing on the agenda this weekend! 

- You've been eating pureed foods for about a month. I've been making your baby food and it's going really well - very easy for me and healthy for you. So far you've had bananas, sweet potatoes, peaches, green beans, pumpkin, and applesauce, and you've liked everything! You have oatmeal each morning and a puree in the evening. You are very serious about food and it cracks us up to watch you bang your hand on the high chair inbetween bites or while I'm preparing your food...it's your way of showing approval for what you're eating and saying "more!"

- We're pretty sure your top front teeth are about to make an appearance. Poor baby! They've completely thrown your sleeping for a loop! We were getting into a routine with sleep training before this, but right now we're in survival mode and just trying to get through the night. It has been rough and we are all exhausted! I know it's toughest for you...it has to be painful! I got you an amber teething necklace last week and it's definitely helping with drooling and fussiness during the day. At night, it's very tough to get you back to sleep once you wake up though. Hopefully those little chompers break through soon!

- Most days you take two good naps if we're home...usually a longer one in the morning and a shorter one in the afternoon. So far we just haven't had much success with napping in your crib, so you nap in your swing. 

- You are pulling up on things to stand and it amazes us how strong you are! Today you moved from standing at the ottoman to your rocker all by yourself! You love to grab our hands and pull up from sitting to standing. I know someday soon you will take off! Daddy walked at 9 months and I think you may follow suit...Mama's not sure she's ready for all that yet! You are a little daredevil...SO ACTIVE and always trying to find a way to get to whatever might be dangerous - haha!

- You LOVE Mickey Mouse! When Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes on TV, you have a fit when you see Mickey! It's seriously one of the cutest things I've ever seen in my life. Mickey has some sort of magical power over babies because your cousin Gracie was the same way about him.

- You've started hollering/growling a lot...in stores, in the car! It's hilarious! Today you've been saying "gah" a lot. You have the sweetest laugh I've ever heard! It honestly doesn't even sound real...it sounds like a babydoll. You have a very sweet disposition and I love seeing your precious little personality come out more and more. 

- Favorite toys: your exersaucer, giraffe teether, stuffed bubblegum bunny, Melissa & Doug picnic basket, stuffed Mickey Mouse, pink rattle ball, toy cell phone teether

- Current nicknames: Bambina, Clairepie, Tootie Bird, Tootie

Claire, you are our sweet tiny tiger and we love you to the moon and back! 

Love, 

Mama

Claire - 6 Months

Claire, you are 6 months old! Happy 1/2 birthday! I can't believe you are growing so quickly. Today we celebrated with lots of playing, trying bananas for the first time, and the purchase of a talking tea set from Target. It's very important that you learn the art of drinking tea since your future husband, the Prince of Cambridge, was born yesterday!

You weigh 19 lb, 4 oz (92nd percentile) and you're 27 inches tall (89th percentile). Your head is 18 inches (99th percentile). You wear size 3 diapers. Your clothing size depends on the brand...9 months in Carter's and 6-12 months in most other things. Today I did put you in a 12 month outfit and it was pretty snug though!

Here's what else you're doing:

- You can sit very well unassisted. You're also very close to crawling...over the last week, you've been getting on your hands and knees and rocking, so I think it won't be long before you take off! You roll all over the place and you constantly lunge forward when sitting. It can make for some scary moments, as you have to be watched very closely! You are the wiggliest, most active baby I've ever been around...I know everyone thinks such things about their own kids, but I'm not the only person to say this about you. You are quick!

- You have 2 teeth! Both are on the bottom front. They are so cute and tiny, like little pearls. Those little pearls were very hard-fought...teething has been tough for you! I'm so glad you're getting a little break before the next round of teeth come in, and I know you are too!

- You started eating rice cereal over a week ago and you really like it! The first time you ate it, you were grabbing the spoon and trying to feed yourself. Today we tried some mashed up bananas...at first you seemed to like them, but after a few bites you were not interested and made some pretty hilarious faces! Maybe you will be like your parents...we both hate bananas, but love banana pudding...weirdos! I'm looking forward to trying new foods with you in the coming weeks!

- You've said "hi" a few times! I keep coaching you to say mama and dada, but it's not happening yet. You have a sweet little voice and an adorable, infectious laugh. You love Aurora and Teddy and almost always laugh when you see them. It makes me so happy that you love our pets and they love you too! Peek-a-boo is also a surefire way to make you giggle. You've started holding the blanket up in front of your face on your own and it's so cute!

- You've had lots of trouble sleeping over the last couple months. We started the Ferber method recently and you're sleeping a lot better, thankfully. Sleep training is something I never thought I would do before I had a baby who didn't sleep well but this is helping to improve our family's quality of life. Sometimes naps are hit or miss, but you've taken great naps the last two days, so maybe you're becoming a better napper!

- The last few weeks have not been without their struggles. You had tummy trouble for several weeks...there were times when you had dirty diapers every hour. I took you to the doctor about it and she initially thought it was a side effect of teething. After it went on for several weeks, she said it was probably a stomach bug. Thankfully it's all better now! You're also experiencing separation anxiety. You don't like to be alone. During the day when you and I are home alone, you almost always cry if I leave the room. The same thing happens with Daddy, too. Most days, a quick breakfast or lunch is usually thrown together to the sounds of you crying in the living room. I know this is a normal thing that all babies go through, plus I think you and I are just very tight. We've been through some things together...I mean, we've even had surgery together! When I'm frustrated about not being able to get things done during the day, I try to remember that there will soon come a day when you don't care if I'm there with you and that will make me sad. Babies don't keep, as they say.

- You are totally taken with your Daddy. You have so much fun playing together! He even taught you how to Moonwalk! Lately, you follow him around the room with your eyes constantly. You're very blessed to have such a kind, loving, and wonderfully fun Dad.

- Favorite toys: plastic Easter eggs, your Easter basket, Binkie bear, toy piano, books, anything you can chew on

- Current nicknames: Claire-Baby, Clairee-doo, Sweet-Sweet, Tooty Bird (this is Daddy's favorite name for you!)

Claire, I love you more than words can say! My heart grew about a thousand times bigger six months ago when I had you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me and your Daddy!

Love,
Mama

A few more pics, since I obviously haven't included enough... ;)

My New Job

I have a new boss...

She is definitely the smallest boss I've ever had.

And certainly the cutest.

She can be demanding at times...

But those moments are quickly forgotten when she smiles and coos...

After finishing up the school year a few weeks ago, I packed up my classroom and left my job to stay home with Claire. I've always hoped I could be a stay-at-home mom, and I'm very thankful to Cam for the opportunity to do so. It's so nice to be able to completely focus my attention on my family. 

We don't know how long I'll be able to stay home, but we're committed to doing whatever we need to in order to make it work. I'll be subbing from time to time to help pay for our health insurance because OMG, it ain't cheap, y'all. Whenever I do go back to working outside the home, I can say with almost complete certainty that I will not be going back to teaching. I value my sanity far too much to do that again.

Big Mama, one of my favorite bloggers, described the decision to stay at home so perfectly in her book Sparkly Green Earrings, "From my perspective, I'm just thankful that if I'm going to spend my days with someone who ignores half of what I say and acts like she knows better than I do, it's my daughter." ;)

In all seriousness, this is the best decision for our family and I'm so happy about it that I'm practically pinching myself in disbelief. Here's to new adventures and dreams coming true!

Claire - 5 Months

Claire, you are 5 months old! Where is the time going? You are growing so fast!

This morning you weighed 19.4 lbs on our scale at home. You are still eating every 2 hours during the day. At your 4 month visit, your pediatrician said that was very often for a baby your age and encouraged us to feed your more at each feeding so that we can space them out a bit. So far, I haven't been able to make that happen. You love to eat often...and I just can't hear you cry out for food and not feed you. So every 2 hours it is. 

You are in size 3 diapers. Most of the clothes you've been wearing are starting to get tight, so we'll be retiring another set of adorable baby girl clothes soon. Sigh...I would love to have a baby boy at some point, but I sure hope we have at least one more girl so we can see all of these sweet clothes again!

Here's what else you're up to:

- You are rolling all over the place! Once you rolled over the first time, you started doing it constantly. If we put you down on your gym mat, you will inevitably roll off or get your legs caught around the bars. I think you'll be crawling before long! You roll around a lot in your crib and sometimes it causes you to wake up. It makes me very nervous because you sometimes sleep on your stomach. Your pediatrician says that as long as are rolling yourself there, it's okay. 

- Over the last couple days you've started sitting up!! You can't sit unassisted for a long time without falling over, but you are definitely getting stronger. This really opens up a whole new world - today you sat in the grocery cart for the first time! Definitely easier than lugging that heavy infant cart seat into a cart! In fact, I just ordered your convertible car seat - I think you will like it a lot better!

- You're starting to mimic sounds we make. You have the sweetest little voice and I absolutely love hearing you talk!

- Lately you've been fussier than usual and your sleeping has been totally erratic. You were sleeping through the night but for the last few weeks, it's just been completely unpredictable. Daddy and I feel a little bit like we have a newborn again! If we lay you back in our arms when we're putting you to sleep, you will try repeatedly to sit up. It amazes me how you are already fighting sleep at such a young age. I think there are several factors at work here: this all started around the time when I stopped working, so your routine changed. Since then we've gone out of town and had company. There's a pretty well-known 4 month sleep regression and you recently went through wonder week #19. You're also showing all the signs of teething. When we saw your pediatrician a few weeks ago, she couldn't see/feel any teeth yet, but I think they're still causing you a lot of pain. We started Orajel this weekend and it seems to help a bit. I am SO BLESSED that I'm not having to get up and go to work every morning...you were such a great sleeper when I was working and I'm very thankful for that.

- You are so interested in food. You watch every bite we take like a little hawk! I'm very excited that we can start rice cereal and regular foods next month! I know you're going to love it!

- Your current nicknames are Claire-Pie, Tiny Tiger and Sweet-Sweet. 

- You got to go on the annual Strutton pilgrimage to Rockport for the first time this month! It was a great trip. While we were there you went in a swimming pool and to the beach for the first time. Since then you've been in the water a couple more times and I think you really like it! At first, you were very nonchalant about the whole thing, but didn't seem to mind it at all. Then this weekend in the baby pool at Pinky & Papaw's house, you kicked your legs and smiled so big in the water. I think you are going to be a water baby! Makes perfect sense, considering you're an Aquarius.

Claire Campbell, you are so precious to us! I love you more than words can say, and look forward to all of the fun adventures to come!

Love,
Mama