Clara girl. This little lady gets me. She is full of smiles and silly dances. She wakes up so happy in the morning (and in the middle of the night). The past month has gone so quickly. She is now incredibly mobile, rolling all over our living room. She loves to play and LOVES to watch her sister. Shes developed such a little personality. Too much of the past month was spent sick with the respiratory flu. We are so in love with our sweet baby and SO grateful she is on the mend.
Clara is becoming increasingly mobile. She can sit very well, unassisted. She has practiced and perfected the transition from sitting to all fours. She rocks like a crazy woman and moves her arms/hands forward, as if shes crawling (but not going anywhere). She is trying so hard to move forward. When shes on the hard wood floors, she can scoot herself backwards (although still more accidental then intentional). She recently has started rolling to get herself from place to place.
Clara LOVES to stand and can pull herself up onto her knees. She often does this in her crib. We've been meaning to move it to a lower position, so if she does pull to standing she does not fall out! She can also (very proudly) get herself into a plank position. The only time she has pulled herself entirely to standing is using the laundry basket. She loves reaching into her boxes of toys, proudly even knocking the whole thing over.
Facial expressions are endless. She makes the best pouty, sad face, but her grin lights up the room. She cries when we leave the room and stares intensely at me when shes hungry. Clara has very recently begun to babble, mostly saying "ma-ma-ma" and "ga-ga."
Clara LOVES her sister more than words. Its unbelievable how bonded these two are already. Nora loves to help feed her sister and bring her toys (the ones Nora usually doesn't want...). She is very, very helpful. However, when Clara can keep up with Nora (in the near future), let the battles begin!
S L E E P
Sleep has been a challenge still this month. We have tried to let her "cry it out." At least, a slightly more gentle version (or your parents are WEAK version...). We haven't had much success. Thankfully, we have a sleep expert seminar coming up! She currently wakes up 2-4 times per night and usually doesn't nap more than 30 min-1 hour at a time. Our routine is bath time, lotion, sleep machine (rain sounds), rock for a few minutes and lay her down. She usually fusses for 5-10 minutes. She wakes up the second we lay her down (HUGE BROWN EYES staring up at you...). She usually rolls to her side, but ultimately sleeps on both her back and her tummy. She sleeps longer stretches when she ends up on her stomach.
Clara's ideal schedule (if we are LUCKY):
7 am: wake
8 am: solids
9 am: nap
11 am: nurse
noon: solids
1:30 pm nap
3 pm nurse
4 pm (sometimes nap)
5:30 pm solids
7 pm bed
(she wakes 2-3 times to nurse typically overnight).
This is a work in progress and I've been reading a fun blog recently with a baby born the same day...she has some ideas worth trying...
E A T S
We are struggling a bit in this department. Clara always struggled to breastfeed well. Once we really had the hang of it and growth had improved, it was time to start solids. Little lady LOVED solids. SO much so, that she began to nurse poorly hoping for something better (sounds a little like her older sister...). Since she has been sick, she gags on all solid foods. We are having to slowly integrate them back into her diet. Her favorite food by a mile is still oat cereal. She still HATES carrots (...at least she got something from me :-))
I am a skeptic with regards to baby led weaning (BLW) because there is limited research related to oral motor development with baby led weaning versus traditional introduction. Also, there is an increased risk of choking. That being said, there are many positives. The one I love the most is the baby being in control of how much/if they are interested in eating. With purees, it requires parents to feed the baby. Unless cues are carefully observed, force feeding can happen. Once Clara starts to eat solids better again, I think I'm ready to try a more modified BLW approach... I'll keep you posted!
F A V O R I T E S
Clara's favorite game is peek-a-boo. Nora plays it with her endlessly. Clara's favorite place is to sleep is still Daddy's chest. While she was sick, she was a permanent fixture there. She still LOVES her bath and sucks away on her wash cloth. Nora has decided she loves to take baths with Clara also. Nora enjoys helping to wash Clara, but typically requires some gentle reminding NOT to pour water over her face. Clara has gotten really good at holding toys with both hands, so small balls have become favorite toys. She also loves to teethe on Nora's foam bath toys. She still loves her sit/stand play area from Santa the MOST. She pulls up to her knees and rocks back and forth to the music. She bangs to make it light up. We place all of her toys in the middle of it, which makes for a nice play area in the living room. She also loves to stand up against the couch (she still needs help getting there). She looks over the edge proudly (usually at her sister).
T H E S T A T S
Clara had the respiratory flu for over a week and lost a significant amount of weight. At the doctor she was 14 lb 8 oz with clothes on...(last month was 14 lb 3 oz)
We love you Clara girl, more than the moon and stars. You are so special, even more amazing than we could have ever dreamed. How are you already closer to one year than you are to your birth? Before we know it you are going to be a toddler. This momma isn't ready yet! Slow down baby girl.
XO,
Caity
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