Record LOW temperature!

We woke up this morning to temperatures in the high 30's. YIKES! It feels like Michigan. The morning news reported that these were record-breaking low temperatures for this date. The good news is that it will still be a nice day, and we'll be back in the 80's by Friday. Since we JUST turned off the AC on Monday, we refused to turn on the heat. Therefore, Miss Clare needed to be all bundled up to say warm.

Pretty not Princess

We think that our little squirt is awfully cute, and it's fun getting her all dressed up. You should know, however, that we are hoping to avoid the pretty princess phase. I've never been much of a girly girl, and Phil grew up in a home with all boys. We're hoping that she will steer more towards nature, adventure, and athletics rather than the alternative. We've quickly learned that she has her own personality, and every day is a new adventure.

Either way, our little Clare Ann is as precious as they come. We're not even biased. :)

New Landscaping???

Not quite! Our pool has a leak, and Phil spent Saturday evening looking for it. After LOTS of digging, my exasperated husband threw in the shovel. He couldn't find the leak, and that leaves us with holes in the ground and a rapidly declining pool. What next?

What do you think, Miss Clare? What should daddy do next?

GREAT, Fun, Going, Going, GONE!

We introduced a new gadget this week. We found it for $8 at a yard sale (which definitely beats the $89 at Babies 'R' Us), and Clare seemed to really enjoy it...for the first few minutes. She was still having a good time at this point,

and she especially loved staring at the sun.She started losing interest and found more excitement in her hand.Going...

Going...

GONE!!!

Miss Clare's Death Grip

Phil loves cuddling with Clare. Within moments of getting home from work, he takes off his zoo clothes and snuggles her up in his arms. Within the past couple of weeks, Clare has started a dirty little trick of pulling Phil's leg hair between her sticky toes. Perhaps she thinks it's funny to hear him screech, but he doesn't think it's so funny. I'm kind of with Clare on this one. :)

Yes, Mandy...we do love our little Peanut. Sorry that we haven't made that clear. :)

Big, Bigger, Biggest!

The morning is by far Clare's most cheerful time of day.

Here was a big smile... then a bigger one...

then the BIGGEST one!!!
Gotta love it!!!

(Redneck Parenting Handbook - Chapter #7:

For big smiles, place knives within reach of your newborn)

Oh How We Love Our Little Girl!!!!

It goes without saying, but we love Miss Clare Ann more than we ever knew possible. She makes us laugh, she makes us do silly things that we never imagined, she melts out hearts, and she adds endless joy to our home. Here are a few random pictures from the last few days.

Napping with Mommy

Bath time with Daddy

Journaling with Mommy

Looking at Jupiter with Daddy

Staring at Daddy (the photogrpaher)

Play time with Papa

Happy Girl!!!

If you need a smile...

You can't help but smile when you look at these pictures.

What a babe!
Wearing "Baby Safari" for Daddy!
How does she do that???AMEN, Sister!
A future conductor?

THE ANSWER...

Thanks to those of you who played our little guessing game. Here are the answers:

* The bottle (in pictures one and two) is breastmilk mixed with prune juice. Our little squirt was all bound up after a week of traveling, so our pediatrician recommended this solution. Doesn't it look horrible? Clare didn't seem to mind, and everything was released within 24-hours of drinking the magic solution. She made up for lost time. :)

* Picture number three reminds me of my mom...Clare's Grandma Durham. A number of people (Heidi H., Sally D., Aunt Margaret Anne, Jamie N., etc.) have said that Clare looks like my mom, but I just couldn't see it...until this picture. WHOA! Phil, on the other hand, sees a bit of Adam (his younger brother), and his dad...Clare's Grandpa Hillary.

It was fun reading your different reactions. :)

BUDDHA BABY

BUMPKIN BABY

BOXER BABY

Guessing Game???

We're issuing a little game on our blog. Please submit your answers/guesses on the comment page. WHAT DO YOU THINK CLARE IS DRINKING FROM THIS BOTTLE?
WHO DO YOU THINK CLARE REALLY LOOKS LIKE IN THIS PICTURE? Think of both of our families while considering your answer.

9 Weeks and NEW things...

Our little Clare Bear is 9 weeks old, and she is changing so quickly. Within the last couple of weeks, she has started lifting her head to look all around the room... ...making funny faces and pulling in her bottom lip. I think she knows that it makes us laugh, so she puts on a show for us.
She can sit up all by herself, and the Bumbo is a new favorite of hers.

We recently moved her from the bassinet to the crib. Her body was getting too long for the bassinet, and she was usually smashed into the top corner when we found her in the morning.
She grabs onto anything within reach: fingers, blankets, Boomering Links, Mommy's hair, burp cloth, etc.
This is just another shot of one of her funny faces. She is our daily entertainment. Who needs television, movies, or anything like that when you have a little ham like Clare Ann?
Clare was chillin' on her "throne" and fell asleep while looking at different pictures. Rough life.

Silly Time

Clare woke up with VERY cold hands while we were in Michigan. This was Phil's creative solution.
Yet another adorable photo with Phil asleep and Clare wide awake.
You wonder why her hands get cold? She refuses to keep them under anything.
This was Aunt Elissa's idea for a portable bassinet. Nice work!!!

Two months old...and immunizations today

Our Little Bundle of Joy is two months old today. We "celebrated" with a trip to the pediatrician. Miss Clare Ann weighed in at 11 lbs 2 oz. (50th percentile) and 23.75 inches (90th percentile). The doctor said that everything looked great, and we were proud parents. :) Notice the bandaids on Clare's thighs. They hide the war wounds of her first immunizations. She was a trooper!!! I think it was easier for her than it was for mommy.
She took a long nap after we got home from the doctor. Phil had the day off, and we were able to enjoy a nice lunch and watch a movie as Clare Bear slept for a few hours.
Here's another shot of Phil catching a little snooze with his little girl.