Month 6

Dear Claire,

Today you are six months old. You are getting so very big, and you have a mind all your own. Determined, I think they call it, and I have no idea where you got it from. You are almost sitting, but generally find that there is somewhere you have to go before you sit still for very long.

You roll everywhere, and you have started creeping backwards on your tummy. You're going to start crawling any day now, you get up on your knees and elbows and launch yourself into a faceplant, then scream your frustrations into the carpet.

You still don't sleep through the night. But don't you worry. I'll get you back, when you least expect it.
You should probably not be sleeping in the bassinet anymore, since you're bigger than it is and all. Although you spend most of the night co-sleeping.

Your dad put the crib back up to baby-level, and it's all ready for you, and you will share a room with Sophie.

Except I don't want your 2am shenanigans to wake up your sister, because I don't need two of you up at that unholy hour.

You have started eating solids. You are very skeptical about the actual food, and you spit out more then you actually eat. You really enjoy getting a mouth full of bananas or squash and then blowing a raspberry to get it all over the room. I know you enjoy this because it makes you laugh.

You are quite enamoured with the spoon though.

You have four teeth, two on the bottom and two on the top. Although the two top teeth are, oddly enough, your canines instead of your middle two teeth. Therefore, we've decided that you're a vampire.

You aren't a fan of the carseat. You do like sitting in your jumperoo, and your highchair. You ride around for hours in the Baby Bjorn, looking at everything and everyone.

You are starting to enjoy swinging. We bought you a special baby swing for the swingset in the backyard, and spray you down with DEET before plopping you inside.

You are such a happy baby, you smile at everyone and everything. You're my little cuddler.

Love,

Mama

Claire Amanda, 27 1/4", 18 lbs 4 oz.

Dance Recital

Sophie was not a fan of her costume. It pinched in a couple places, and itched in a couple others. I put band-aids on her back so she woudn't get stabbed by cording, and cut the sides of her tights so she wouldn't get sqeezed to death. It still wasn't a very comfortable time for her.

The show itself went very well - Sophie walked right up to where she was to stand, and did about half of the dance while looking out at the crowd for the other half. It was adorable. She really loved that class, especially her teacher. Unfortunately, Miss Christine is moving and her replacement isn't very good with the little ones. Miss Christine, you will be missed!

Toddlers and Tiaras.

Sophie had her pictures for her dance recital earlier this month.

She got to wear lipstick and eye make-up, but that was probably not the best idea I've ever had, since she kept rubbing her eyes and getting mascara all over her face.

Hanging out in our baby soups.

Mama's shoes.

3 years

Dear Sophie,

Today you turned 3 years old. We had a party for you a few days ago, and all of our friends came over for a cook-out to celebrate. We had hot dogs, chorizo and hamburgers, and a bunch of other things. Everyone had a lot of fun playing, we had animal masks, bubbles and temporary tattoos to keep everyone occupied.

This has been a big year for you. You finalized the potty training (yay!) and started sleeping in your very own big girl bed. You are getting so big, and every day you look less like my baby and more like a little girl. Although you'll always be my baby.

You love stickers, and when given the option between coloring and stickers you always choose the stickers. You love books, and will want one book read over and over until you have it memorized, and only then will you move onto the next book. You love all things Dr. Suess, and adore the Cat in the Hat. You like to watch movies, and right now you are in love with the Princess and the Frog, all of the Toy Story movies, and Tangled.

Your favorite food right now is probably potato chips. But you'll tolerate salad, hot dogs, chicken and pasta. You'll eat pork chops, but only if we tell you it's chicken. I have been known to bribe you with lettuce to get you to try new things. You love pretty much everything salty, including different kinds of olives and feta cheese. You are a chocolate monster, but only chocolate candy peices (like kisses), you won't eat cake or cookies. Which means that there is more for me.

We joined the neighborhood pool this year, and you have been several times. You don't know how to swim, but you love jumping off of the side of the pool, and it's pretty amazing how you have absolutely no fear. You wear your "baby soup", and your sister wears her "diaper soup".

You still call me Mama, and you call Daddy "Da-ee" unless you call him "Dad-dy" with an English accent you picked up from watching too much TV. Your Abuelita is "Weeta", which I think is absolutely charming. And Claire? Clairt.

You talk so much now, it wears me out just thinking about it. You can spell your name, and now we're working on writing it. You're so smart and outgoing. We signed you up to start pre-school in the fall at St. Philip's, which is right down the street. You talk to everyone, and are not shy at all.

Happy birthday, baby.

Love,

Mama

Sophie Gloria, 3 years old

39 1/4 inches tall, 40.8 pounds

5 Months

Dear Claire,


Today you are 5 months old. What a ride it's been. You are such a happy baby, smiling at everyone you see and even some people you don't. You're an easy baby for me, content to ride around in the baby carrier and chill out most of the time.

Your two teeth are getting so very big, and next week we are going to start you on solids. I've already bought cereal and some beginning foods.

I can tell you're going to be a blast to be around. You love making faces and clowning around, and I just know you're going to be an outrageous person.

You have started rolling over in earnest. As in, to get places. You're on a mission. You're going to take over the world, and you're going to roll to get there. Which has also pretty much ruined my life, since I can't leave you anywhere anymore. You're not there anymore when I turn back around.

I think you look like your Daddy, but he thinks you look like me. Regardless, you're a beautiful baby, you get attention from everyone everywhere. Strangers stop on the street to get a better look at you. I know I may be biased, but only a little bit.

It's getting warm outside, and we're bracing for the DC humidity. You love to be outside, and we've had some good times hanging out on the deck and in the backyard. We've joined the neighborhood pool this summer, and we're going to have so much fun.

You and your sister are going to be two peas in a pod. It's great watching the two of you together. You watch her do everything, and laugh at everything she does.

And I love you, my baby Bear, my little Claire, with such completeness it's scary. You're still my little nuzzler, my cuddly, giggly, laughing baby, and you always will be.

Love,

Mama

Sugar and spice and everything nice... until somebody grabs someone else's panyo, then it's WAR.

It's too bad they didn't show up for the second round.

Just hanging around.

Jumping jumpers jumping.

It's raining, it's pouring