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

4 Month Stats

Claire had her 4 month visit with the pediatrician today. Here are her stats:

Weight: 18 lbs - 95th percentile
Height: 25.5 in - 82nd percentile
Head: 17.5 in - 99th percentile

Dr. Spellings said Claire might be a little "rotund", but she's not worried that she's overfeeding or anything like that, especially since percentile-wise, her weight isn't too far ahead of her height. Dr. Spellings was very pleased with how Claire's doing and said she's ahead on her milestones! Speaking of milestones, she rolled over for the first time on Memorial Day, May 27th.  

Now if this info could just magically make it's way into Claire's baby book, then we'd have it made...

I love this little tiger so much!

One Year

Today is an anniversary I will never forget. It was one year ago today that we found out we were expecting this little angel! 

It was late in the evening on Memorial Day, and I remember we were very excited and a little scared and in disbelief. We didn't think there was much possibility that we could already be pregnant.

Everyday since, my thoughts have been filled with this sweet baby. She changed our lives immediately and I'm so glad she is ours!

We love you Claire Campbell! You are the best little surprise ever!

Claire - 4 Months Old

Claire, you are 4 months old! It seems like you're growing and changing so rapidly these days! Sometimes I get sad because you aren't a tiny newborn anymore, but you are so much fun right now that I can't get too sad. 

We go to the pediatrician week after next once Mommy's done with school, so I will update your stats then. Right now, you weigh between 16-17 lbs. You wear mostly 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers.

Here's the other exciting things you're doing:

- You are SO close to rolling over. You basically do it, but can't get completely flat on your belly because of that pesky arm. Tonight we thought for sure it was going to happen...you were working so hard to get over your arm and getting very frustrated. It will happen soon!

- You don't like to be held like a little baby anymore unless you're going to sleep. If we put you in that position, you will do little crunches and try to sit up. You much prefer to be held upright where you can look over our shoulder.

- You talk constantly! It's the cutest thing ever. You wake up very happy in the morning! You like to shriek, squeal, and jabber. We have some of our best conversations when you're on your changing pad. 

- You still love to eat. Usually you eat every 2 hours and you have the chunk to prove it. Your thighs are so adorably chubby! If I remember correctly, the pediatrician wants us to hold off until 6 months to introduce foods, but I'll get more info about that at your appointment.

- You're such a good sleeper! Every since Mommy went back to work, you go to sleep at 8:30-9 and have been sleeping until around 4, then eating and going back to sleep until 7. BUT this week you've started sleeping straight through to sometime between 5:30-7. We've been using the miracle blanket, but tonight we're trying out the sleep sack for the first time. So far, so good! You've become very easy to put to bed at night...your Daddy has a special walk that he does with you to help you wind down for the night. He calls it "the dinosaur" and it's pretty darn cute. Your Daddy is so taken with you! I don't think there's anything cuter than Dads with their baby girls. 

- You're spitting up a lot more, usually at least once after you eat. It worries me, especially when it comes out of your nose, but honestly it seems to bother me more than it does you. Reflux is for the birds.

- You're drooling up a storm lately! Between that and spitting up, burp rags are never far away these days.

- We're doing lots of tummy time! You're lunging forward, almost like you want to do a somersault. Once your arms are stronger, I think you'll be crawling in no time.

- Your current favorite things: your Sophie teether, your stuffed pig "Hammy", your gym, musical ladybug, "Charlie & Lola" on Disney Junior, and when someone blows raspberries on your tummy, legs, or feet! 

-  You came to visit Mommy's work after school on Tuesday and you were quite a hit! Everyone was so sweet and just made over you! Then you went to your first happy hour - Mom had a coke - ha! You were so good and I am always so proud to show you off to people. 

- In just over a week, school will be over and Mommy will be free to spend all her time with you again! I can't wait to do so many fun things together. I'm proud of us for doing so well since I went back to work. It's not easy to be apart, but we've made it work. I couldn't have done it without Daddy and Pinky. I'm so glad you've gotten this special time with your Pinky! She takes such good care of you!

- You got to meet Mommy's grandmother, Mammawie, and Aunt Dian this month. You cozied right up to your great-grandmother and took a nice, long nap in her arms. It was very special to have all 4 generations together!

We love you, Beautybear, and we're so proud that you are ours! I feel so blessed and privileged that I get to be your Mama and watch you grow up. Your sweet little snores when you sleep are my favorite sound ever. You are my little angel. 

I love you,

Mama

First Mother's Day

I had a wonderful first Mother's Day. We spent the weekend in Sugar Land visiting Cam's family. On Sunday morning when I checked email on my phone, I had a link to this waiting for me:




I am so thankful that I get to be the mother to this precious baby girl, and that I get to experience this adventure with my wonderful husband. 

I love you Claire and Cam, thank you for making me a mommy! 

Life Update

I feel so behind in updating! Let's play catch up! 

• Cam had his gallbladder removed a few weeks ago. Just when we were starting to think it might not be an issue anymore, he had another attack and they decided to do surgery. He's feeling almost 100% now and we're glad it's all taken care of. The whole thing was definitely God's timing because if it had happened a few weeks earlier, I wouldn't have been walking as well as I was when I needed to be on my feet taking care of him and Claire. And if it had happened a few weeks later, I'd have been back at work and unable to be at home with him. I feel like I got to repay him in a very small way for all of the months he took care of me recently. If you'd told me a year ago that both of us would have to have surgery during the first half of 2013 while we were having/taking care of our first child, I would have laughed so hard. We plan, God laughs...and I've learned to accept it.

• My ankle is much better and life is much more normal now, thankfully. I "graduated" from physical therapy recently and continue to do it at home each day on my own. I don't quite know how to explain it, but I feel like every new thing I've been able to do since my injury has been part of the process of "waking up" to my normal life again. I know there was lots of medical care, science, and physical therapy involved in my recovery...but to me, the fact that I can walk again truly feels like a miracle. Anyone who saw me in the first few weeks after I broke my ankle would probably agree. Some of it all feels like it happened to someone else, and yet I don't ever want to forget it. It changed my perspective on everything and I don't want to forget how grateful I am for the simple things in life, like being able to walk around with Claire or stroll her to the mailbox. It's still painful at times, and likely will be for awhile. But I am so, so thankful to God for my healing and my renewed perspective on life.

• I went back to work last week. It's hard to leave Claire, but luckily I only have to do it for a few more weeks and then it will be summer! We are so lucky that my Mom keeps her for us. It's the next best thing to me being there and it gives Claire a chance to hang out with her Pinky (and Papaw, who comes home most days for lunch now)! Working is proving to be pretty painful on my ankle, and by the end of most days, I'm hobbling around. I wasn't in nearly this much pain in the few weeks before I came back to work, so I'm hopeful it will calm down again once school ends. I'm busy and exhausted, but happy to get to come home to my Claire and Cam each day. I feel like all I do at school when I'm not teaching and after Claire goes to sleep at night is pump...or clean and sterilize pump parts! Pumping enough milk for a baby that eats every 2 hours is serious stuff, but we're getting into a routine.

• Claire is in such a cute phase right now! She is so smiley and happy! All it takes it a little talking to her and she will break out in the cutest gummy grin. She's definitely found her voice and loves to "talk" to us! One of her happiest and loudest times is always when she gets up to eat around 4 or 5 in the morning. It is the dead of night and totally quiet and she is just gurgling away, happy as a lark. It's hard not to smile, even if we're half asleep! She is also a chunk supreme! She's growing like a weed. Poor thing has two outfits that she only got to wear once because her head has gotten too big to even get them on!

More soon! Happy Friday!