I didn’t realize it had been so long since I last posted an entry. My intention has been to remain more or less up-to-date mostly because I don’t want to forget anything about this first year, and I know I will if I don’t write it down. And yet, when is there time? Oh, to be sure, I could certainly find a bit of time here and there to post something, but when Claire goes down for a nap or Neal is home and spending time with her, I’m usually busy with other things, such as cleaning, laundry, making supper, and even curling up on the couch and reading for a few minutes.
Alas, all I can do is try.
So what has been going on? Claire has become more and more alert and attentive to her surroundings, which makes our time together even more fun. She reaches out for things and can grasp most of her toys with ease. Everything, of course, goes into her mouth which means I have to remember to clean them up every once in awhile.
Last weekend Claire had her first road trip when we went to Saint John, New Brunswick to introduce her to more of Neal’s family. The drive up to Saint John was awesome because Claire fell asleep half-an-hour into the drive and slept soundly until we stopped to use the washrooms at the Irving Big Stop in Salisbury. We changed and fed her and then got back on the road, at which point she fell asleep again until we got off the highway near my in-laws’.
It was a busy few days, and I know that Claire was exhausted by the end of it. She’s not accustomed to a lot of visiting, but I think she did rather well considering. She has started to freak out a little if someone other than myself or Neal hold her soon after going into a place, but generally she calms down after a little while and will allow someone else to hold her. Suffice it to say, she was very easy to get to sleep at night!
The best part of that weekend, however, was when we gave her a bath at my in-laws’ place. She is always so happy when she’s having a bath; if I wasn’t worried about her skin drying out, I would probably give her a bath every night before bed because she enjoys it so much. She kicks her legs and runs her toes along the back part of her tub because it makes a squeaking sound and she gives us a lot of smiles. Because of her awesome mood, Neal and I brought his parents in to witness Claire having her bath, but we were all treated to a surprise: all of a sudden, Claire started to giggle, and giggle, and giggle some more! It was the most amazing sound I have ever heard, and I just kept laughing with her to keep her going. For days, I thought about that giggle and it never stopped warming my heart.
When we brought her to Brian and Jaime’s for a visit, we were treated to some more giggles when Jaime picked her up and made her “fly” towards their son. There was drool flying, but no one cared because she just kept giggling and giggling. My own stomach ached by the end of it from laughing so hard!
Unfortunately, what will make her laugh one day will only elicit a smile the next. And sometimes not even a smile. I guess we have to keep our creative hats on to continue finding things that will make her laugh!
Four generations - Neal, his mom Cathy, his grandmother Vivian and Claire
Meeting her Great-Nan Guthrie
Meeting her Great-Gramp McCarthy
Hanging out with Daddy at Brian and Roberta's camp
Nan and Gramp brought Claire down to the see the water (Saint John River)
It was really a great trip and I was so happy that Claire was able to meet more of her family!
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When we got home, Neal and I found and bought a high chair for Claire. It’s one that straps onto one of your chairs, and has an adjustable seat determined by how old your baby is and how good her head control is. Claire really seems to enjoy sitting at the table with us!
We also picked up some Connect-a-Mats, which work much better for playing on the floor than a blanket: whenever she spits up or drools a lot (both of which are pretty common occurrences!), I have to throw the blanket in the laundry – and I have quite enough laundry these days, thankyouverymuch! With the connect-a-mats, I just have to do a quick wipe and it’s clean again!
And here’s a purely random picture, but I include it because it’s now my absolute favourite picture of Claire (and is now printed and framed in my living room!):
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