Haircut!

Avery and I decided it was time to change things up with her hair.  What a big change it is and she is loving it!  (She loves the shorter brushing time, fewer hair ties and clips needed, etc.  That being said, the morning after we had it cut, she woke up, looked in the mirror and said, "I look like a boy!"  Ahhh!  She looked absolutely adorable and was okay with her hair again shortly after.)

 

LOVE

FPT

Where did my bald baby go?!

Conversations with Claire

...conversations "baby style."  Claire started cooing recently and it's amazing.  And cute.  And I want to ingrain these chats in my mind forever.

Let's talk, Baby!

Note: 1) a special guest appearance by Miss Belmont Pickles in the background of the first video and 2) Claire ending our conversation in the second video, because it was clearly time to eat.  Ha.

Claire has also been having longer stretches of awake time.  I mean, we're talking 30 minutes here (not including feeding time).  That is a lot for us...and believe you me, if we go over her allotted awake time by one minute she lets us know (including anyone within a 50 yard radius).

So, in this awake time I have noticed a few things... Claire is becoming very interested in her toys.  She smiles and coos at them without hesitation.  She loves interacting with people...smiles are easily forthcoming and what a treat they are!  She has a continued admiration for our downstairs ceiling fan (which we now call her "boyfriend").  She loves her Daddy and finds his beard thrilling.

Mesmerized by this guy.

Smiling at her car seat companion, Miss Butterfly.

Talking to her toys.

 Love this little lady!!

FPT

In the middle of our smile sesh, a sneeze snuck in.  Took us both by surprise!

Videos for Julie and Lola

Avery was really into making videos for Julie and her mom, Lola, after their visit a few weeks ago.  Take a look!

This girl.

FPT

Baby chub: 6 weeks!

One Month Photo

Everyone does their baby's monthly growth photos differently, if they do them at all.  I didn't do them consistently with Avery, so I am making it up to her and will do Claire's monthly growth photo next to her...

I envisioned having their feet at the same bottom marker on the bed and doing an artsy shot from above.  This is what I got.  I'll go with it.

One month!

Claire is a great baby!  She is chill and content.  She has a love affair with ceiling fans.  They don't even have to be on to grab her attention.  As long as they are on the ceiling and are a contrasting color to the ceiling paint, she's good to go for a stare off.

She is still a great eater, but we've had our share of gassy issues.  Getting better each day and she's thankful for that (we all are)!  She is a sleepy kid and doesn't typically stay awake longer than 45 minutes at a time, including feeding time.  She has been doing really well at night and we've seen (and slept through) some six hour stretches!  Every now and then after her 4:00 / 4:30 am-ish feeding she thinks it's morning, which is not that awesome.  But again, thankfully, she needs to go to sleep again shortly thereafter.

Claire is a complete sweetheart and has so much love and life in her eyes.  We are all madly in love with her!  Avery continues to be the best big sister ever.  She is always asking to hold Claire and loves kissing and touching her.  We have been blessed in the new baby-adjustment department, that's for sure!

Oh, and Claire started smiling (actual reactive smiling) at 3.5 weeks.  Jeff was her smile-receiver of choice at first, but now, if she's in the right mood, will crack a grin for anyone she deems smile-receiver worthy.

FPT

This would be a "not so content" face.

This and That

This post is a snapshot into our lives the past month or so.  Birthday parties, Halloween and plenty of family pictures.  A little random, but fulfilling and fun just the same.

Avery's friend, Cameron's, 4th birthday party.  Horses, lots of playing and swimming.  What a fun day!

It's like she was born to ride.

This picture cracks me up.

Halloween!  Unfortunately, Avery got a little cold bug Halloween morning, but she was able to participate in her school's parade before heading home with Claire and me.  We rested all day, gave her plenty of fluids and meds and she was able to go trick or treating that night...for a little while at least.  Avery was tired, not feeling 100% and scared of all the "non-princessy costumes and decorations," so we made it an early night for all of us!

Oh, Avery was a "MOM" for Halloween.  =)  Love her!

I kept telling her she was a pumpkin, but she kept insisting she was a pirate.

Now, a bunch of randoms!

My friend love, Julie and her mom, Loretta (Lola), came to visit a few weeks ago!   This was a jean jacket picture, if you couldn't tell.

Rose and Claire - cousin twins!

Check yourself.

Ha!

Avery and Helen tearing up the culdesac.

The Simpson-side cousins.  We love Tyler!

We went to breakfast at a local hotspot recently.  It was a busy morning, so we had to wait outside for a little while.  During our wait, an elderly couple shuffled out of the restaurant after finishing their meal and the man happened to be wearing an eye patch...  As they were passing us, Avery asked pretty loudly, "mom, is that a pirate??"  OMG!  Everyone in earshot started laughing and thankfully, the elderly man was cool and said with a chuckle "honey, I'm too old to be a pirate."  Ahhhh!  Do I laugh or cringe?  Since it was since an innocent question and not offensive (I hope), I went with laugh (in a polite way, of course).

Sass is an understatement.

 

 

That's a wrap, folks!

FPT

They're going to kill me for posting this picture one day, but it's a risk I'm willing to take...

Avery and Claire look A LOT alike.  You can undoubtedly tell they're sisters.  Major similarities: nose, facial structure and intense baby stare glare.  Minor differences: lips and eyes.
It'll be fun to see the similarities and differences as they grow up.

Claire left; Avery right.

Conversations with Avery

Sometimes Avery has a hard time sitting still...even when watching TV.  She's moving around, climbing on furniture, sitting here, sitting there...you get the drift.  Well, one day last week she was moving all over while watching Clifford the Big Red Dog and this is what happened next...

Me: Avery, you're so antsy.  Can you please sit still?
Avery: What's Antsy?
Me: It's when you can't sit still and you're moving all over the place and fidgeting.
Avery: Oh.  I'll try.

(She tried...to no avail...Ha!)

A little while later...

Avery:  Mom, I've still got ants!

Bhahahaha!!

I have one more notable conversation to share that had my mom and me in stitches.  Avery, Claire and I visited with my parents yesterday afternoon.  When we got there, my mom said she had a fun Halloween treat to make with Avery.  Fun, right?

Danda: Avery, put the pretzel stick in an upside down mini Reese's just like this.
Avery: Like this?  (Does it just the way my mom did.)
Danda: Yes!  Now, what does that look like?
Avery: A toilet plunger.

Boy, did that have us laughing!  Witch's broom, Avery.  We were going for witch's broom!!  =)

FPT

Someone is ready for Halloween!