9 Months

Claire just had her 9 month well visit yesterday due to crazy scheduling, so technically, as I write this, she is just over 9.5 months.  Here are Claire Bear's stats:

Weight: 19lbs 10.8oz
Length: 27 inches

Jeff took Claire to her appointment, because I was getting over some not-so-awesome food poisoning. He is not a fan of these appointments due to the shots, but luckily, she was all caught up and didn't need any.  When the doc told him no shots were needed, I could hear his screams of relief all the way at home.  As far as her health, all checked out great.  She's hitting all milestones and is one healthy, curvy baby.

Here are some Claire updates:

Sleeping: We have come a long way since our millions of middle of the night wake-ups.  Yahooo!  Claire now sleeps from 6:00 p.m. to anywhere between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m.  When she wakes up, I feed her and 9 times of out 10, she goes back to sleep until 6:30 - 7:00 a.m. depending upon when she woke up.  She takes 2-3 naps a day that usually last 30 minutes.  Her last nap can be up to an hour or just over, but that doesn't always happen.  Sleeping as much as she does through the night, her half hour stretches are plenty to get her through the day.

Loves her lovie.  Check it out on her chest.

Eating: Rockstar.  She eats everything.  Newly added to her list are asparagus, olives and tomatoes.  Her favorite food is bread.  When I start breaking off pieces of bread for her (yes, just like I would for a duck) she yells and squeals with excitement.  I am a bread person myself, so I totally get where she is coming from.  She has learned to feed herself and that is super cute and quite convenient.  I can only give her a few pieces of bread at one time, otherwise, she'll put them ALL in her mouth at the same time.  Oh, Claire.

BREAD!!

Crawling: Hauls major baby tush in this department.  Started officially crawling at 9 months and 1 day.

...baby gates are being installed this weekend.

Now that Claire is crawling, she loves to play chase...and prefers being the chase-ee.  Listen carefully to Claire's laugh in these videos.  She has a great gut laugh!

Other tidbits: She loves the water and has enjoyed a handful of fun pool days this summer.  She loves to swing (although, not as much as Avery - that kid could, and still does, swing forever!).  She is great at copying sounds and movements.  She says "mama" when I get her out of the crib in the morning and at various times throughout the day when she wants me.  She does a very specific yell when trying to get Avery's attention ("aaaaAAAAA!!!!").  She loves her sippy cup of water during meals and immediately throws it on the floor as soon as she is done.  She loves being around other people, especially kids.  She does not care for getting her diaper changed or changing clothes.  She moves around and squirms and sometimes fusses, so it's all hands on deck and we usually end up singing her a song or making funny faces to get her to stay still and calm.  She is funny, chatty, lovable and just oh-so-sweet.  Our Claire.  (The video below is long, but worth a view.  It shows a lot of Claire's personality and just melts my heart.)

Even sick, she is a sweetheart.

Explores everything and anything.

FPT

It was very important to me to teach my kids a range of expressions.  I will pat myself on the back for this one, because we've nailed it.

Avery...

Claire...

Conversations with Avery...and Fashion

Avery: Mom, you know what?
Me: What?
Avery: I like to get messy.
Me: You do?!
Avery: Yes, because I like to change.

Ahhhh.  There it is!

While Avery isn't a stranger to getting messy (she won't say no to making a good old mud pie and she seems to always get covered in street chalk when outside), I wouldn't consider her an overall messy kind of kid.  I would, however, consider her a kid who loves to change clothes 3,756 times a day.  READ: she is really into clothes.

Oh, just to clear the air, we don't let her endlessly change clothes.  We usually cap her changes at twice per day...but, she has been known to "go to the bathroom" or "run inside real quick to get water" only to come back in an entirely new ensemble.  Oy vey.

She started having opinions about clothes at 2.5 years old and has only become more strict in her taste as she has gotten older.  During her first summer as a clothes enthusiast, she only wanted to wear sleeveless tops, preferred green over any other color and really preferred maxi dresses (the maxi dress obsession is still near and dear to us and one of our amazing neighbors made Avery a black maxi skirt last year that she has worn one million times).

As far as where she got this fashion interest from, if from anyone or anything in particular, we are not sure.  Jeff and I are both confidently in the middle of the fashion spectrum between clueless/no care and fashion forward/care a lot.

Long are the days that I could buy her items I thought she would like, because, I'll tell you what, I was wrong 99% of the time.  She now accompanies me shopping and tries things on before we purchase.

Also, I feel I should note that Avery isn't into clothes in a self-absorbed way.  She has an eye for what her idea of fashion is and just really enjoys dressing up and putting outfits together.  She never talks about what anyone else is wearing unless it is to compliment them, which she does often...even to complete strangers.

The other day while I was picking Avery up after dance camp, she said to a little girl in her class, "you always wear the prettiest dresses."  Once she gets a little older, I'll find an avenue for her to further express this interest of hers.

FPT

Looks like we have two fashionistas in this house...and one of them is clearly not thrilled to be a twin.

Recital

Avery's recital was June 28th and the experience was even better than I dreamed it could be!  Avery was excited to perform and the few days prior, talked all about it.  The day-of she was confident, happy and couldn't wait to get going.  This was her first time performing on stage...let alone on a stage with a large audience and bright lights.  She did so well and nailed the routine!  Proud mom right here.

Did I mention that Jeff was in the dance with Avery, too?!  Talk about tear jerker...watching Jeff and Avery perform to a sweet song about a butterfly growing up and flying away made me (and everyone in the audience) reach for the tissues!

The official class photo and professional recital DVD won't be available for another month, so our personal pictures will have to suffice for now.  We weren't permitted to take any pictures or videos during the show, so these are all before and after the performance.  Oh, and we all surprised Avery with a group dinner out after the recital at her favorite restaurant...Souplantation!

Putting makeup on Avery was a little mind blowing and a lot fun.  Stop being 15!

Cherry red kisses!

Dancers ready to go!

Jeff sent me this photo from backstage.  Their routine was #13 out of 20, so there was so downtime.

Okay.  I did take one picture after final bows.  Jeff and Avery are on the left. ;-)

Star performers!

Even Auntie Lindsay, Uncle Pat and cousin Tyler made the show...and Avery's day!

Avery loved performing and we both agree that dancing is in her future for a long, long time!

FPT

Holy s#!t.

Summer Concert

In our backyard.

Performed by Avery.

FVT

The other morning was a little busy.  Jeff was getting ready for work while Avery and I were packing for our day.  We were here, there and everywhere throughout the house.  I left Claire by the front door, so we could all keep an eye on her while running around.  When I was packing our bags, I heard Claire  entertaining herself and caught a little on camera.

8 Months!

8 months, folks.  That's not a joke.  Where the heck has the time gone?  STOP!!!

Claire Bear did some pretty amazing stuff this past month, so let's discuss all that and not the fact that she'll be one year old in just under 4 months.  (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh x 1,000,000!!)

Claire is now a rock star sleeper.  We decided when she was just about 7.5 months that getting up 2-4 times a night was a little much, so we made some adjustments.  Claire she took to these adjustments better than we ever thought and now sleeps through the night.  She goes to bed between 5:00 and 5:30pm and usually gets up in the 4:00pm hour to chat to herself, play with her lovies and move all over the crib.  At this early hour, I ignore her and turn the volume off on the monitor.  She entertains herself entirely.  She usually falls asleep again and then gets up to eat between 5:00 and 6:00am.  If she doesn't fall asleep again, I feed her at 5:00am and put her back to bed until 6:30am.  While this schedule is shifted a little on the early sides all around, we are taking it for what it is and enjoying sleeping through the night!  We will work on pushing the time frame back a little, but for now, it's working great.  Plus, this gives us a few hours a night with just Avery.  

Oh, and we no longer use a sleep sack/suit for her at night.  She enjoys her freedom now and loves sleeping on her side or tummy while snuggling her favorite toy (a cute little worm).

Claire continues to be an excellent eater.  She will eat anything and everything!  Just the other day, she ate lentils and beets (the real things - not baby food) and loved every bite.  I gave her eggs this morning and she couldn't get enough.  There hasn't been one thing yet that she won't eat.  That being said, she made a disgusted face with every bite of cottage cheese the other week, but still ate it no problem.  I will do everything in my power to encourage her vast palate into her toddler years.

She still loves her voice.  Always has, always will.  The video below cut off in the middle of her loud "talk scream," but you can hear her other wonderful noises in their full duration. 

Claire is still so into Avery and I love that they are starting to do things together.  Just the other day, I left Claire in the playroom with Avery while I was folding laundry.  When I was done I walked back to the playroom to take Claire and Avery said, "no, you can leave her here.  She's having fun."  I walked away to do more stuff and snuck this picture...

More sisterly love!

Already obsessed with the phone... oy vey.

Additional tidbits...

Claire loves exploring things with her hands first and then mouth (Avery was definitely the opposite of that!).  She can entertain herself like no one's business and can be enthralled with a simple napkin for minutes on end.  She is still a complete crack up and smiles with ease.  She is also over any stranger anxiety and can be held by anyone.  She gives the best baby hugs!  She's also getting really close to crawling.  She loves the bath (or any body of water, for that matter).  She giggles EVERY time she sees Jeff after being away from him for any amount of time... She loves her Daddy like crazy.

Speaking of loving her daddy, happy Father's Day to Jeff!!  He is a doting, caring, sensitive, funny, playful, strong and generous father to our girls and would move the Earth for them in a heartbeat.  I'm incredibly impressed on how he handles our girls on a daily basis and am blown away at the love and understanding he shows them.  We are all so very lucky.

FPT

Speaking of Dads, I love mine and seeing him as a hands on, sweet Papa just melts my heart!

She loves his mouth and never wants to let go!