Update on Claire

At five and a half months, Claire continues to grow and learn every day!  She can sit up by herself for a few seconds.  If she's sitting up in her bobby pillow, then she can sit for a few minutes.  She is rolling from her back to tummy all the time now, including in her crib.  She often gets upset when she ends up on her tummy in her crib, so we have to go in a flip her over.  She knows how to roll from her tummy to back but for some reason never does in her crib.  She will fall asleep on her tummy sometimes.  Most nights she is sleeping from 8:30 until around 7:30.  It's so nice!

She's constantly exploring the sounds she can make with her voice.  She has a talking/squawking sound that she reserves for her reflection in the mirror, our cat Brooks, and other babies.  Yesterday, Claire was  "saying hi" to another baby at Kindermusik and unintentionally scared the one year old.  The baby sought comfort in her mom's arms.  Then last night, Claire was "saying hi" to Brooks, who also ran away scared!  Poor Claire--she's just trying to make friends!

Claire enjoys playing with her feet while lying on her back.  She can now pull her socks off with her hands and then proceeds to try to eat them!  She will reach out to grab anything held in front of her and then try to put it in her mouth--not always an easy task, for example--my nose!

She has had her first cold this week.  She hasn't run a fever and isn't behaving any differently, but she's very stuffy.  We've been running the vaporizer in her room and giving her little nose drops.  She doesn't like it when we put the drops in her nose.  She doesn't cry, but she struggles to get away and then seems to panic a bit at the strange sensation.  So far she seems less stuffy today, so hopefully the cold is on its way out.

Her favorite toys right now are her stuffed peacock with colorful feathers, a set of baby keys, and a soft cover book that makes a crinkly sounds as she plays with it.  She is only eating every four hours now instead of every three.  We try to give her a bottle every day, but we usually have to turn on the tv to distract her so she will take it!

She is going to the church childcare program for a few hours each week while I teach piano lessons (two students now with four more starting in October) and while Matt and I attend a Bible study.  The workers are all very sweet and enjoy having her.  Apparently she never fusses or cries for them, so they are always saying how good she is and how they would like to take her home!  Claire seems to like getting out of the house and I have a hard time keeping her entertained on days when we stay home!

I had to return some clothes that I bought for Claire for this fall.  They were 6 month size, but by the time the weather cools off, I'm pretty sure she'll be needing 9 month size!  She's in size 3 diapers now.  Here are a few pictures of her sitting up by herself on the bed and in a cute dress she wore to church last Sunday.  You'll notice in one picture that Brooks was a little jealous and trying to get my attention.  Enjoy!