Barefoot baby!

As I said Claire has started walking. These past few days she has really started walking more and more. She is now split between 50% walking and 50% crawling. I love watching her walk across a room. She constantly jabbers and is usually holding something. Half the time I think she forgets where she is heading. I know being barefoot is the best for a new walker and she isn't really fond of shoes anyway, but she has such a small foot that finding actual walking shoes is a challenge. We went to Stride Right the other week since they are apparently the know alls in walking shoes to get her foot sized. Well, the lady said, "you will have to look online for her size because we don't carry walking shoes that small." Great, now I have to find a 2.5 for a "new walker". After doing some searching and finding most of the small selection of size 2.5 is ugly and extremely expensive. I decided to wait to buy shoes. My little baby will just have to be barefoot in the meantime. Not that she is complaining. Luckily she is barely in a 2.5 and most of her 2's still fit and the few 2's I do have will work in the meantime since we are mostly indoors. 

I absolutely cannot believe in almost 2 weeks she will be a year! How is this possible? It's like when you become a Mom time is suddenly going in warp speed. It is the weirdest thing. Before you become a Mom time goes "normal".  A year feels like, well a year. After having a baby a year feels more like 3 months. It is rather scary and exciting all at the same time.

At Claire's 9 month check up the doctor took her off her reflux meds. I was excited. Yay no more scheduling! Well I noticed over the past several months she has gotten increasingly fussy. I attributed most of this to cutting her molar teeth (which I know part of it has been due to the teeth). Everyone told me between 6-9 months they outgrow their reflux. In my head of course she has out grown it. Well, after really paying attention to her the last few weeks I started noticing she may not have actually outgrown it. The spitting up isn't there, but like once a week, but when I listen I can hear her swallowing back stuff and fussing. She has also wanted to nurse more like when she was a month old and it was bothering her. We were down to only 4 times of nursing a day and over the past few weeks she has been wanting to nurse nearly every hour. This is with eating 3 solid meals a day and having snacks. I know she wasn't hungry every hour. I finally got out of my denial and put all the signs together and called the doctor. She agreed it sounded like her reflux was still bothering her. She has been back on one of her meds (Zantac) for almost a week now and I cannot tell you how much of a difference it has made.  She still has her fussy moments, but she is finally the happy girl I know! This proves to me there is only a "normal" for your baby and "normal" does not apply to all  babies.

I know I am 2 weeks late in posting this, but here is the 11 month picture I took of her.

Walking!

Little bit is walking! She has been cruising for about 3 months and I was beginning to think she might just cruise forever. Eric and I have been encouraging her for weeks to let go, but her confidence just hasn't quite been there. I finally decided I would take a few weeks off from pushing her and realized just to let her do it in her time. She shocked the crap out of me and actually did it in her time when I was least expecting it. She took her first steps Tuesday August 9, exactly 1 week shy of 11 months. We are by no means a pro walker right now and still choose crawling as our main mode of transportation, but every day we walk a little more and a little further. She loves to practice standing on her own and when she gets fixated on practicing it she will not rest! When she really gets to going usually she gets over excited and tries to go faster and falls down. Luckily we never cry and usually giggle when we fall down. It's an exciting thing to watch her wobbly steps. I'm sure in a few weeks when she is sprinting I may have a different opinion, lol.

I also discovered 2 more teeth tonight for a grand total of 10!! I thought she was cutting her bottom canines, but when I actually looked in her mouth she cut 2 back molars! God knows the child loves her meat so that must be why he is giving her molars early. Unfortunately they are not all the way in yet so I am sure there are still some fussy days ahead. Luckily she hasn't been too fussy cutting them she just has had a few rough moments.
I leave you with a short video of her walking!

Nakey Baby Time

No this post doesn't include any nakey baby pictures, but nakey baby time sure is good for the baby 's and mommy and daddy's soul. Little one is always hyper and on the move, but omigosh take all her clothes off and she is on overdrive. About 15 minutes before bath time little bit decided to take a massive poo (TMI I know). Since Eric hadn't changed a diaper all day I told him this one was his. With only 15 minutes before bath time I didn't want to waste another diaper so Claire got to enjoy some naked time. We laughed non stop at her. We kept her contained to her room so we didn't have to clean pee up all over the house. I told Eric she hardly ever pees this late in the day and when she does she waits to do it in the bath tub (which is why I have been putting her on the toilet before every bath and 9 out of 10 times she actually pees). Of course she proves me wrong and pees, lol. Anyway she loves I mean loves nakey baby time.

I mentioned the other day a blog I was following that really impacted me. If anyone is interested in reading it here is the link. I highly recommend that you read the first entry in June first. It is nearly a month to catch up on and long, but please read the story from beginning to today's entry. Their journey is amazing and you will be touched by their story even more if you read every entry in order.
http://jamescamdensikes.blogspot.com/

Love my little girl

I sure do love my little girl and my little family. Each day I stand amazed at the blessings God has given to me. I somehow have stumbled across several blogs of people I don't know in real life. One I came across on a parenting board I like to read on. I now find myself reading their blog every few days. This one in particular lost her little girl to SIDS in February at only 4 months old. They live somewhere in Houston and their little girl was only a month younger than Claire. Reading about their family, lifestyle, hopes, dreams etc. hits home for me at how similar our families core values are.  They are Christians and their strength amazes me. They are able to praise God through it all. Yes they have terrible horrible days and try to make sense of their terrible loss, but they never cease to know God needed their little girl more than they did and has a plan far greater than they could have imagined.  

The second blog I have started following only a few days ago. They too are close to home, live in Dallas,are fellow Baylor grads and Christians. Only 20 something days ago they took their almost 8 month old son in because he had been vomiting for several days they were sent home told it was only a virus. Several days later and still vomiting they finally admitted him to do further testing. Long story short he has a very aggressive brain tumor. They were able to do surgery and remove most of the tumor. They were told he would need aggressive chemo for the next year and were given a 50/50 chance of survival. Less than 2 short weeks after removing the tumor they discover the tumor has grown back bigger than it was 2 weeks before. Given the option to start chemo immediately with little hope or bring their sweet boy home for his last few days or weeks they opted to bring him home and show him as much love as they can. They too amaze me at reminding themselves God has a plan and praising God for giving them 8 months with their sweet boy.

Why do I insist on reading these blogs I dunno. I end up in tears almost every time I read them. I pray for these 2 families who I have never met daily. It reminds me how precious life is. It reminds me to hug my precious baby girl a little longer and to cherish every moment even when I want to pull my hair out. It's only 2 months away from her first birthday. I have been having a really hard time coming to terms my "baby" is almost a year old. I don't know why. I guess I feel like my "baby" is no longer a baby after she turns one. Of course she still is. For some reason I never thought much beyond her first year. I prayed for so long for a child that when I got her my focus was on growing her both in my tummy and out. Now that she is almost a year I know I will still have to "grow" her, but it will no longer come from my body. I know just because she turns a year I don't have to stop nursing her, but I do know it is the natural progression of things. I will miss our morning cuddles when I feed her in bed with me and I get a little extra sleep while she eats her breakfast and the way I can sneak off with her for a few minutes no questions asked because only I can feed her her milk. After reading and following these 2 blogs I am feeling much better about Claire turning one. I feel so blessed that God willing I will get to see her first birthday and hopefully many more. Something these 2 families would give anything to see. That I get to watch her grow into a little giggling girl. I am excited for the next stage in our little family. I will miss my little baby, but I have come to learn that every stage has been my "favorite" stage. I know that trend will only continue. These stories also remind me to be thankful for everything God has given me. To not worry about tomorrow that God will take care of us. So hug your babies a little tighter and a little longer and look for the miracles in your everyday life. I promise there are so many every day we take for granted.

Time with family!

This week I am spending time back home with my family. My poor Mommy fell and broke her arm last weekend and there just isn't much you can do one armed. Eric is working all week due to some employees on vacation so Claire, Cooper, and I are hanging out in the country. Claire and Cooper have the best time at Nana and Pappaw's house. Claire loves crawling all over their big front porch and Cooper explores all 15 acres discovering new scents. Both of them are so worn out by the end of the day.

2 weeks ago was Claire's first VBS and my first time actually teaching VBS. Those children were such a blessing and so were the other teachers. Claire has a bit of a Mommy attachment and VBS did her so good. The other ladies loved and played with her and she really has been a much more secure and happy baby since then. I just hope she will keep up her feeling of security because it is a much happier Mommy too without a screaming baby whenever Mommy walks two feet away. Don't get me wrong we still have our moments, but I can actually get a few things accomplished during the day.

Speaking of Claire Bear she had her 9 month check up on the 20th. She weighed 15 pounds 11 ounces which dropped her to the 5%. Doctor wasn't all that concerned about her drop in % since she has always been between the 10-25%, but did tell me to work on feeding her more fattening foods. She suggested adding butter to her food, but I just don't think getting her used to butter on her food is the best idea so I am just upping her cheese, avacado and "good fat" foods. Her length % hasn't changed any she was 27.25 inches long and between the 25-50%. I told the doctor she truly does eat all the time she is just so darn busy she doesn't have a chance to gain weight. She had a cold which moved to her chest I also found out at her appointment so the doc put her on a nebulizer with albuterol. That albuterol is like baby speed! Her already busy self turned into super fast baby! We cracked up at her every day she was on it. On Friday the 1st I took her back for a lung recheck and everything was clear. She even appeared to have growth spurt and had gained 7 ounces.

Since Mom is down with her arm Daddy is having to actually do some cooking and cleaning. He cracked me up the other night showing Claire how to vacuum. So here is a picture you won't see very often Daddy vacuuming and explaining to Claire how the vacuum works. She was less than impressed.

9 Months!

Holy Moly, I cannot believe how fast time has flown and how long it has been since I blogged! Pretty Princess just turned 9 months! She has officially been out longer than she was in. It makes me sad. Being pregnant certainly did not fly by like these past 9 months with Claire has flown by. She has gotten sillier than ever. She jabbers non stop! She learned to wave now everytime she waves she sticks her hand up to her mouth and sounds like an indian. She crawls everywhere. It amazes me how fast she can get away from me! She is into everything! Forget the toys she wants everything she shouldn't have. We are working on our 8th tooth! She is my little Pirhanna! We are working on not biting. I apologize to anyone who has gotten bitten lately.  We are also cruising everywhere. She loves to pull up on things then get on her tip toes and reach things she shouldn't.

Claire and I took a trip to see the grandparents last week. She has soooo much fun! She went swimming loved the big pool. Her favorite thing was to crawl up and down my parents big porch. Being outside was so fun! Of course she was spoiled rotten. New clothes, new toys, and of course lots of love! While we were there I took a shot at taking Claire's 9 month photos. We had a lot of fun taking them. Poor Nana was the entertainment and I think we exhausted her, lol.

Next week will be Claire's first Vacation Bible School. She is very excited. I am very nervous because it's my first time teaching a VBS class even if it is the baby class.

Here are a few of the 9 month photos.

Easter and other things

I know I'm a little behind as always, but wanted to share a little about Claire's first Easter and other things going on in our life. For Easter my parents (Nana and Papaw) came in to share in Claire's first Easter. She had such a fun time with her grandparents! She shopped with Nana and her and Papaw swung in the swing a lot! I remember when I was pregnant thinking of her first Easter and how far away it seemed to me. I bought several possible dress choices because I knew if I waited until the last minute I would never be able to choose.  and thought wow she will be a little over 7 months when Easter comes. Interestingly enough I found her dress at a consignment shop when I was about 8 months pregnant for $2! Smocking, boutique brand, and all! Time sure has flown. Pretty Princess is now almost 8 months! Where does the time go? Claire had a blast helping make a bunny cake. When my brother and I were little Mom always made us a bunny cake for Easter and I wanted Claire to experience the same tradition so me, Claire and Momma (Nana) made a bunny cake! Claire also had her first Easter egg hunt at church and thought colorful eggs sure were fun to pick up. We also dyed Easter eggs. I actually thought this project out and did it in her diaper right before bath time. She spilled more dye than anything and wanted to play in the mess, but she had fun dying eggs.

                       With her Bunny Cake                          Making cake with Mommy and Nana

                                                                  Hunting Eggs!

                                                          Hunting Eggs!

                                                                 Dying Eggs!

                                                                  Dying eggs!

                                                                     Checking out what the Easter bunny brought!

                                                                      Easter with Daddy!

                                                                         Easter with Mommy!

In other Claire news today she decided she had mastered the art of pulling up by herself at no other time than naptime! I put her down for a nap to hear her fuss and squirm and when I looked on the monitor she had pulled herself up to stand and was trying to escape the crib! Needless to say Eric now has the project of lowering the crib mattress! Since she did that early afternoon she has spent the rest of the practicing her new talent and trying to pull up on everything including toys that can't quite withstand her 15 or so pounds and topple on top of her. Last week she decided army crawling was a lot of fun. She holds herself up on all 4s and rocks back and forth takes one crawl and decides army crawling is better. It's never a dull day and I love it!