November Update

It's been a little while so I thought I'd update everyone journal style, working backwards since this week has been a doosey....

November 15th: A tooth is on its way. We haven't seen it yet but Claire has been very fussy all day and drooling up a storm. She wouldn't eat and she has been sleeping a ton--at least during the day. During the night, not so much.

November 13th: Claire had her 6 month Dr. visit. She has officially crossed the 14 lb mark, weighing in at 14 lbs .03 oz, and she's 26 inches tall. We had our third round of immunizations which she took like a champ. This nurse was way better than the last one. She was super fast. I think she was on the third shot by the time Claire's little face turned towards me with the "you're supposed to protect me!" look of betrayal. When meeting with Dr. Epstein, he called her precocious because of the gutteral growling noises she makes all the time. He must laugh after new moms leave his office because of all our questions. He should know by now we just need positive affirmation that we're doing a good job and that we aren't causing any permanent damage.

November 12th: I have arrived as a parent. We received our first American Girl Doll catalogue in the mail. Let the good times begin. (Eric wants to burn it...)

Other news from the day includes one of my student's brother peed on the couch when he fell asleep, that same student's mom (who is 9 months pregnant) went out to find someone had hit her car and left (!) while they were in their lesson. My second student didn't come because he fell down the stairs and had to get stitches. And I had to write some really hard emails to a student family discussing their future in my studio which, I must say, did not go over very well...aye yi yi.

November 11th: A holiday. I had all my students come in the morning so my afternoon was free. We had Lauren and Logan Bird over for dinner with their littles. I love watching Claire with other babies. With those that walk she gets this look in her eye like "I can do that" and "Mom, don't you dare try to hold me...I'm going to figure this out." She's definitely taking notes.

November 10th: Claire caught a cold. Instead of dragging her to church and missing naps she stayed home with Dad while I played the organ in Sacrament Meeting and then I came home and tag teamed so Eric could go teach Teacher's Quorum. We made sea food chowder and rolls for Sunday dinner. A-ma-zing. Claire didn't get any, but she has discovered the difference between butternut squash and pumpkin. She luuuvs squash and definitely does not luuuv pumpkin.

November 9th: I ran the BYU alumni scholarship 5k with Mary and a lot of people from our ward and surrounding area. Yes, I did say BYU and yes I did get passed by a visibly pregnant woman (I like to think she actually started in front of me because I don't think my pride would have allowed her to pass me...). But I have to add that I wore U of U sweat pants, a U of U hoodie, a U of U red shirt, and the BYU beanie they handed out turned inside out--just to let make sure everyone knew where my heart really lies.

That night I went to the symphony with my friend Jaimee. It was lovely but it felt strange being away from my hubby and my baby. Driving to Symphony Hall I just kept thinking "I don't like this. I'm not doing this ever again." I'm a little attached and don't know how to act by myself anymore. :)

November 7th: Longest and hardest day of teaching ever. For the record, I love my job. I love my kids and I love that I can work from my home. Thursdays are my long days but this Thursday was horrendous because, in our excitement over Claire eating solids, we have overdone the cereal which means she got a little stopped up. And by a little I mean a lot. On top of that or maybe because of that, she has some nasty diaper rash so that whenever she does go to the bathroom she catches her breath and cries. It is the saddest thing you have ever seen--even sadder than her cough. We returned her to a liquid diet and most of the day was spent diaper-less on towels and pads on the floor, letting her little bum get some air. Mary came to help and was a life saver. It is so hard to teach hearing Claire unhappy in the background. I couldn't finish fast enough. (She is feeling much better now however. Her diaper rash is gone and the current fruit-vegetable-cereal ratio is going much better.)

November 5th: Claire is 6 months today! I can't believe how big she is getting. It is true you forget how little they are when they first arrive--it isn't until I pull out some of her first clothes or see some of her first pictures that I realize how grown up she is getting. How time flies!