Seven Weeks

Big beautiful bright eyes! What color will they be? We think brown or green, but whatever their color they sure are dark!
Sleeping in her swing. The cooler weather has allowed me to pull out some of these soft warm blankets and clothes for her.

For perspective, if you go back and view other pictures of her on this changing pad, you can really see just how very much she has grown.

Her shirt says Super Happy Little Girl.

This picture was taken last weekend during a Saturday afternoon nap on Pop. This is her Saturday outfit. The shirt says Shh... I'm watching the game with dad. I'm pretty sure it was meant to be a boy's shirt, but who says a girl can't watch football?

MILESTONES AT SEVEN WEEKS

Well, these seven weeks have felt like an eternity in some ways. I cannot believe how much she has changed and grown in so many ways. And it is amazing how quickly the recollection of what she used to be like fades and is replaced with what she is becoming. The biggest milestone of the week is not really with her but with me. I have decided for the time being not to return to work. I am hoping to be able to work some from home and we are hoping we will be able to make this work for as long as we feel it is necessary for me to be at home with Claire.

Some Pictures from the Weekend

Angel face
3 Generations of Ladies

All in Blue

Six Week Special

Hard to believe six weeks has flown by already! I mentioned in my last post that I wanted to do something special for her six week picture - and here it is. The dress in the photos below was the dress that I was brought home from the hospital in. As you can see, I was not a four pound baby and it has taken Claire six weeks to fit into this dress. I had intended to bring Claire home in this dress which would have swallowed her at birth. Instead, Nani and Pop went and found her the beautiful premie dress and bonnet that I posted her in several weeks ago.

There is a picture of me in this dress in my grandmother's lap on a blanket that I still have and use with Claire. I want to re-create that photo with Claire an post them side by side for comparison soon.True to form, Claire moved in almost every shot. The pics still turned out pretty good. I've figured out that my camera does a little better without the flash. This picture (above) looked like "Hi Mom!" to me.Here she is from the other day being amazed by her cousin Stone's mobile. As you can see, she has two mobiles in her crib. I consider this the alert time mobile (because it tends to stimulate her) and the Pooh mobile is her sleepy time mobile (although lately we've taken to falling asleep to a Chris Botti CD).

I had thought of a few milestones/updates late last night, but they've slipped my mind. I can say that she holds her head up fairly well now and that we've transitioned her to sleeping in her crib but I have not yet moved back into our room. From the bed in her room I can hear her better when she stirs. We've also established a nighttime routine as far as going to bed is concerned and it seems to help with the nighttime fussy hour. You know how most babies are a little fussy around 5 or 6? Well, Claire had been having that time around 8 or 9. With our routine of bathtime and quiet music time, that fussy hour has turned into about 10 minutes. She really is a very good baby. :)

Getting Back in the Swing

God bless week six, when the new mom starts to get used to waking every three hours and producing an endless supply of nourishment and care to her little one!

Seriously, though, after a little more help from Nani, I got the encouragement I needed to start to handle the day in day out of being a mom. There are still moments, of course, but I feel like I'm getting there.

Okay, so I know today marks six weeks and I have something extra-special planned for our weekly photo, but you'll have to wait for it. I managed a trip to the grocery store and a brief visit by my office this morning and the little one is tuckered out so I'm not going to make her change clothes and sit for a photo. However, I have taken some pictures this week and can go ahead and share them now...Touchdown Auburn! You can't really see this little outfit, but I made it for her and even put her initials on it before I even knew whether or not we were having a girl.

Geoff's cousin Nancy sent us a fun package full of sweet things for our little girl, including this dress (Geoff says she looks like a porcelain doll in this picture) and the blanket she's laying on. We have received so many precious things for her to wear, to be wrapped in and to play with and couldn't be more grateful for the friends and family who have showered us and her with love and gifts.

Time with Daddy

Geoff is already finding ways to share his sense of humor with our little girl. Perhaps this is retribution for me not letting him put a mustache on her in the hospital...

5 Weeks Old and What a Doll!

Doesn't this remind you of E.T.? Of course, my girl looks nothing like an alien, but she certainly could pass for a doll. :)

And now for something completely different/random... When's the last time you saw one of these critters? I snapped the shot this morning. I haven't spotted one since I was a kid.