Old McDonald

Old McDonald had a farm e i e i o....and Claire loved it! There was a slight drizzle of rain, and mud knee deep because it had been raining for days but there was no way we could miss taking Miss Claire to her First County Fair!! She loved the petting zoo....especially the little black pig! How cute! I don't know what it is about the fair but I have always loved it and I am so excited about starting a new annual fair trip with my Claire!

Claire being silly before school one morning...she looks like she is retro dancing!

Learning to eat our table food, its a new adventure every night!

My Chicken Scratch

When I stopped blogging back in February I was so afraid I was going to forget when Claire hit a milestone or did something new and exciting!! So, I started to make notes in the back of my calender...it looks like a mess! For my record here is my chicken scratch.....

3.1.09 Starting putting pacifier in her mouth by herself
3.3.09 Rolled over for the first time at Grannie and Grandpa Penick's
3.7.09 First ride on a Four-wheeler with her Daddy...going 3 mph around the yard...I
was still saying "be careful" and "don't go to fast"



First baby food was bananas at 4 months but spit up a lot so we stopped for a few weeks, then started back with peaches. At 5 months was eating rice cereal, peaches, pears, squash, and applesauce. Plays in exeasaucer, bouncing up and down. Loves standing up and talking to herself in the mirror. Trying to sit up on her own. Holds things in her hands. Laughs out loud. Recognizes people. Very easy going and only cries when she is hungry, has gas, or is super tired.


She laughs at her daddy when he makes a turkey call. Loves watching Baby Einstein movies. Still loves her bath time. Goes to sleep about 9:00 every night, if not earlier, wakes up between 3-4 am for a snack, then again around 6:30, then its up for the day. She takes cat naps throughout the day. Starting to grow some blonde hair and her eyes are still very blue. Spit up is slowing down but we still have a couple days a week when it is bad. Weighs about 16-17 pounds, on the verge of growing out of size 2 diapers.



3.13.09 Claire has slept the last four nights from 9-7. She is sleeping through the night (not anymore?) She is still sleeping in her bed in our room. She discovered her tongue can make bubbles and she sticks her tongue out and blows. She loves talking to herself in the mirror and if you hold her in front of the mirror she stomps her foot! So funny!

3.13.09 First night in her baby bed...last night in her NWA house. I wanted her to sleep in the nursery we had spent months preparing for her. I slept on the little couch in her room.

3.15.09 First night in Magnolia house...started sleeping in her own room. Her room at our new house is the same color as her nursery was painted in NWA, it was meant to be her room!

3.25.09 Claire spent her first night away from her mommy. She went to Arkadelphia and the night with her Nana a Pepaw. She is starting to hold a sippy cup and loves playing with her toys. She takes her pacifier in and out of her mouth...it is a game to her. Sleeping through the night is becoming more of a pattern (was? what happened?) She is wearing size 3 diapers. Tries to sit up on her own.

4.4.09 Attended her first wedding. She was very good! Started eating sweet peas, green beans, and oatmeal last week.

4.9.09 Six Month doctor visit Height 26 inches, Weight 16lbs. 13oz. Said dada for the first time and hasn't stopped saying it since.

4.20.09 Started sitting up on her own.

5.2.09 Spent first night in Little Rock with Gramie and Pop Pop

5.8.09 Cutting first tooth, very fussy and wants her Momma

5.15.09 Started saying Momma

5.20.09 Started Army Crawling

6.5.09 Stayed home from school for the first time with a fever. Weighs 18.4lbs. (visited doctor) Really moving around on her own. Saying momma, dada, nana and lots of other sounds. Drew blood nursing (ouch!) for the first time this week!

A few of my favorites things at 7 Months: -Weight: 17 pds. 13 ounces; 26 Inches long -You are HAPPY -You say "dadada" but not momma yet -No teeth yet (one day after 7 month birthday, two at once) -sitting up - would love to crawl but not yet - starts fussing if you are unhappy or hungry - eat 4 bottles daily and 2 jars of baby food (fruits and veggies) - love being outside and walking in the stroller - you are a 'people watcher' or some might say 'nosy', you are very aware of your surroundings - have smelly feet...for real - love baby einstein movies - love your dogs - wearing 6-9 month clothes - still breastfeeding - want to play with phones and remotes - LOVES your pacifier - gives the best and biggest wide open mouth kisses - reaches for people and toys - you know your name - your mommy loves you more everyday...you fill my heart with happiness:)

A few of my favorite things...8 Months - Army crawling - about a week away from real crawling - loves playing in the little and big swimming pools - talks a lot, saying dada, momma, nana, and making new sounds everyday - cries on your changing table...have no idea why??? - weighs in at 18.4 lbs. - still breastfeeding - was sick this past week and missed your first day of daycare...running 101 fever, stomach virus - wearing 6 -9 month clothes - started playing patty cake - clapping your hands

Miss Claire at 9 Months..... - 19 lbs. and 27 1/2 inches = 70 percentile...longer than I expected - army crawling at full speed - starting to crawl more on all 4's but why if army crawling gets you there in half the time - pulled up for the time on July 4, 2009 at the lake house - is now pulling up on everything in sight...but can't figure out how to get down once she stands up - STILL not sleeping through the night....why? oh, why? - goes to sleep most nights between 7:30 and 8:30...night time bottle and I am out! - started drinking a little formula for the first time on July 8, 2009 - VERY much a Mommy's girl but says "dadada" all the time - first boat ride July 3, 2009 - 7 months=2 teeth...9 months=2 teeth - eyes are still very blue - hair is very blonde...cotton top...and getting longer everyday - LOVES swimming and taking baths - travels well in the car most of the time; as long as our movie is going...thank you Baby Einstein, Dora, and Wonderpets - opening drawers and cabinets...house gets more and more child proof everyday - cell phones and remote controls make you so happy...you see them and laugh and smile - the world is a better place when we have our passy's...could not live without them - LOVES watching animals...dogs, cats, etc. - always happy outside - 101% SPOILED ROTTEN....at home or daycare!!! Lord, help us!! - I wouldn't change one thing....not even the sleepless nights...every second is priceless and precious!

At 10 Months Baby Claire is: My Daily Purpose Every Baby a Mom could Hope For My Future Best Friend Her Daddy's Future Hunting Buddy The GREATEST GIFT GOD could ever give us!!! - a speed crawler, not army crawling anymore - stands by herself for brief periods of time - walks behind her push toy - sleeps through the nights...sometimes - a good car rider - still nursing - loves feeding herself - foods she has eaten: wheat bread bites, yo-baby yogurt, graduate veggie dip crackers (love these), yogurt bites, puffs, mashed potatoes, green beans, peas - likes veggies better than fruits - likes cranberry juice...starting to like apple juice too - have two top teeth now....and as of today working on a third on the bottom - LOVES dogs - can say a few words....but says "dog" all the time, everything is "dog" Claire- You are waking up from your nap now...better run...love you more and more everyday if that is even possible!!! I can't believe you are 10 Months old and we are planning your 1st Birthday!

8.27.09 Took first step (just one) during a Southern Living party

11 Months. You have 6 teeth, 4 on the bottom and 2 on the top, and are on the verge of getting 2 more- take a couple of steps at a time- LOVEs Graduate Veggie Sticks, would eat a whole can a day if I would let you- eating lots of table foods, want to drink out of a grown-up glass, love drinking water...but only out of a grown-up glass, you say Momma all the time, clearly, and you know that is me!!, everything is still a "dog", you love swinging, you took your first trip to Jonesboro on Labor Day weekend and even went to the Red Wolves tailgate party!- thinks having one passy in your mouth and one in each hand is the funniest thing ever!!- when you stand on your own you start giggling and laughing, your Pepaw is your favorite person, if he is in the room that is where you want to be....we think this is because he takes you to see the dogs- your teacher's at "school" love you and you love them! Happy 11 month birthday...I get teary eyed and start breathing a little faster and my chest tightens up just a little when I think of your next monthly update...One Year...there is no way it can be time for this! Please Lord, help me hold on to all these precious, priceless moments I share with my daughter!