Big Girl

Claire has hit many developmental milestones in the past week and mommy and daddy are VERY proud.  She's been able to pick up her head for awhile, but now she can hold it up long enough for us to snap a picture.  Claire can now track objects with her eyes and gets excited to see her baby keys and rattles.

 This morning was very exciting in the Bowlby house. .  .Claire laughed!  It was so sweet to see our little girl laugh in her bouncy seat as daddy batted her animals at her ,and then when mommy laughed because Claire was spilling milk out of her mouth.   I know it is only going to get better from here!

Best Friends

 Hello Mr. Monkey, can we take a nap together?

I love my boppy. . .

and I think my mommy and daddy do too!

Do you think my hairbow is too big?

Laundry Time

 I'll be the first to admit it, I'm spoiled, Troy has always done all of our laundry.  Well now that we have Claire, I actually have to help out.  It amazes me how one tiny baby can have soooo many things to wash.  A few nights ago we went through 4 pairs of pajamas before morning.  Mommy and daddy aren't the best at the middle of the night diaper changes! 

Prayers Please

Claire's cousin Gabriella needs your prayers.  My sister's baby was born 5 weeks premature at the end of April and doctors found that she has 2 holes in her heart.  After being home for 2 weeks, she was readmitted to the hospital today because she is losing weight.  At a month old she weighs less than her birth weight of 4lbs 9oz.  She will eventually need heart surgery, but the doctors want to wait until she is 8lbs.  It was so hard to leave Claire in the nicu for 61 days, but I can't even imagine how hard it must be for my sister to have to take her baby back once she's been home.

Good Morning

 Don't you wish you could wake up to this?

In all fairness, we do sometimes wake up to this.

Happy 35th wedding anniversary Grandma and Granddad Rice

Claire got really upset when I told her she wasn't going to be able to celebrate with you. 

They FINALLY invited me

 This is a restaurant near the hospital that Claire spent the first 61 days of her life.  We ate there many times after visiting our munchkin. 

Today, baby Claire got to join us for lunch! 

No paternity test needed

Sometimes I get sad :(

Sometimes I get sad :(   Luckily my bouncy seat, a pacifier and a kiss from Jack makes it all better :)

Oh no, paci fell out!!!

Claire isn't always strong enough to keep her paci in her mouth, and when it comes out. . . WAHHHHHH.  So we ordered her a Wubbanub, and she loves it!  It adds extra weight to the pacifier making it easier to keep in, not to mention now she has a cute little puppy to hold.  Yes, Jack has stolen it a few times and run around the house! A big thanks to Aunt Eileen for knitting Claire this, and so many other wonderful hats over the past 3 months. 

Lunch out makes baby VERY sleepy

Claire and I ventured out for our first lunch at a restaurant today.  We joined Laura at O'Charleys and had a great time.  Everyone thought Claire was adorable, but nicely kept their germs away.  Claire thought it best to sleep in mommy's arms the entire time. Luckily, I've gotten very good at eating one handed!

Happy 3 month birthday to Baby Claire

Look at those chubby cheeks. . . she's come a LONG way from her lowest weight of 1.5 pounds and a pretty short 12.5 inches long.  On her due date 2 weeks ago she weighed 5lbs 10oz and was 18.5 inches long.  This is the 1st time her daddy got to hold her at 8 days old.  She amazes me everyday.

I take my job VERY seriously

The doctor said it's important to get lots of sleep so I can grow big and strong.  As you can see, I have been a good listener. 

Moo

 

Thanks Aunt Janice for the adorable outfit.  I think Jack likes the little cow. 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Baby Claire was CRANKY tonight, so we thought we'd try something new.  The second we laid her on the washing machine she stopped crying and started relaxing.  Side note:  The washing machine was running, because Claire peed in mommy and daddy's bed.

We call her baby Urkel

As you can see Claire has outgrown her preemie clothes.  Unfortunately newborn clothes are still way too big and very long so we have to hike her pants up under her armpits. 

Tummy time is soooo much work!

According to safe sleep guidelines, little ones was supposed to sleep on their backs.  Well since Claire was on monitors for the first months of her life, she was allowed to sleep on her tummy.  This is still her favorite position.  She got this wonderful tummy time mat from some of the teachers I used to work with.  She thinks it's a sleepy time mat!

Wiggle Worm

Well Claire's first nap in the crib was interesting. She slept really well, but somehow managed to take her pants off and get to the other side of her crib. I'm guessing it's because she kept rolling on her side and then falling over. She is very strong for her age! All of Claire's developmental milestones are going to be calculated from her due date, not her actual birthdate. So although she is 12 weeks old, her corrected age is only 1 week.

Claire meets the Cruz's

Claire enjoyed meeting the Cruz's. While Jessica snuggled with my little munchkin, Tony was great occupying the sometimes annoying Jack. Notice the beautiful blanket and hat Claire is wearing, Jessica knitted it for her, and we LOVE it!