sneaks!

I've been without my computer 2 whole days and I didn't like it one bit. I felt like my right arm had been chopped off.

I wasn't prepared for 2 days or else I probably could have dealt with it better. I'm on a brand new computer that was desperately needed, but also desperately put-off (my "n" key was worn away, and the mouse pad didn't work, plus I got blue-screen almost daily). I knew it would be such a hassle to transfer everything, but the "guru" told me it would only be 2 hours. Even at 2 hours, I scheduled it in on the least inconvenient day and planned to be away.

As soon as the guru started transferring all my pictures, he told me it would be overnight. I about panicked....we're leading in to CHA and emails are flooding my inbox constantly. Just to give you an idea, in 10 days, I had 1828 emails (of course 300 were sales at Gap, Banana, and zulily updates), but I still have to filter through them, you know.

So, here I am on my new computer, having survived the separation. Now, it's learning and getting the feel for everything all over again. Can't say that I'm enjoying it, but it was time.

Below are my last 2 sneaks that I was able to successfully transfer from my camera to this computer.

pulling up

It's officially time to lower the crib.

Then, I'll be able to sleep at night instead of worrying that Claire has somehow figured out a way to climb her bumper and propel herself over the edge.

She's very attached to this blankie. I believe one of our Studio Calico members gave it to her. A very generous gift that Claire absolutely adores. And, if she takes this to college, I'll be hunting you down! :)

Still, the tongue....ahhhhhhh.

Is it just me, or does she look Asian here?
Okay, maybe it's just me.

Does every kid in the world chew on their crib? I think so.


Here you can really tell she just woke up.





If you scrolled through all my massive photos, congratulations.

7 months

I almost forgot it was Claire's 7 month birthday earlier this week. It seems that this month has gone by faster than any other. She's so active and I really love this age.

She's almost at a crawl. She can scoot wherever she wants to go. She can sit and pull up, actually she pulled to standing at 7 months 1 day. I'd say she's pretty mobile, but I'm still quicker!

She is definitely preferring her mommy and has started crying when others try to take her from me. Of course her Grammy & Aunt Lorie are the exception to that rule. I secretly love that she does that. Makes me feel like an official mommy.

She eats just about anything, but peas are still a "no" in her book.

She loves reading and turning pages.

When she's crying, I sing almost anything and it makes her happy. Usually "The Green Grass" song wins out because I know all the words. Her daddy on the other hand usually goes with U2.

She got her ears pierced last week at the doctor's office. She was cute before and is still cute after.

She went swimming for the first time and LOVED it. That word is capitalized for a reason. She kicked and splashed and cackled. Then she came home and slept for 3.5 hours.

She is learning to wave "bye" and her personality has totally taken over my heart.

We certainly got our money's worth with her.


And, just a small peek at the July main kit MIND THE GAP and the PETROL add-on.
This is my favorite layout I've made in a while. Can't wait to share the full version on the 28th!

Natalee the Entertainer

I dare you to watch this video and not crack a smile. Double Dog Dare You. Let me know if you accomplish it.

A few things to note about this video that make me laugh even harder:

• Natalee asks Claire, "Do I look cool to you?" Definitely, Natalee, definitely. How cute is that?
  
• My mom noticed 50 seconds in to the video that the record light was blinking and thought something was wrong because a button was blinking. Love you, Mom. ;)
• It's 95 degrees outside and Claire is wearing socks.
  
• Notice my dark tan. I got sprayed the other day. And it reminded me about the HUGE bruise I had on my thigh from falling down the stairs. As I was being sprayed, I forgot to warn the girl spraying me and she said, "Whoa, that's some bruise." (It seriously is about 8x7"), to which I replied, "I fell down the stairs." Cool, April, cool. And, unlike Natalee, I didn't have to ask.
  

she falls at the end

(for those of you reading in your email, there's a video here, but you have to come to my blog to see it. This is mainly directed at my mom and my aunt, one of whom said, "you sent me a blank email today." That person shall remain nameless, but you have a fifty-fifty chance of guessing who it was. Love you, Mom.)

This is the table in Claire's room and she loves, with a passion, looking at it. And since her space heater is off-limits, she really likes the table. Yes, we have a heater in her room in June and it was 95 degrees outside today. It seems to be the only solution to keeping her from freezing at night no matter what we have the AC set on.

Anyway, she falls at the end of the video, but I my reflexes made me shut off the video in order to catch her. I'm telling you, I have cat-like reflexes lately....flinging centipedes & catching falling babies.

sitter & a crazy night

Overnight Claire learned to sit-up.

Seriously it was like a light bulb switched on in her brain and it all made sense. In a matter of minutes she went from sitting for 3 seconds to sitting for 3 minutes. And later that day she sat for 15 minutes straight!

I love this stage because she's so happy. She can scoot on her belly and sit up and look at things and still not move too quickly for me to be worried about her getting into something if I'm not looking for a milli-second.






Oh, and this tongue thing is new, too.
This I don't like so much, but oh well.




And as for the crazy night, I don't have a photo of it, thankfully.

Last night, Greg awoke to me saying, "Ah!!!! Something was on my neck and I flicked it onto you!" (accidentally of course, but it was my reflex none-the-less)

(we both scurry to get our glasses because we're blind as bats without them)

"I think it was a spider, it was definitely not a tick (which is the insect which usually finds it's way into our bed....). It stuck to my fingers and I had to flick it."

(Greg is loving this explanation)

We finally spot it on the quilt and it was not a spider.....what was it, you ask?

a CENTIPEDE (which at first I called a caterpillar, but it was 1:15am). It was 4 inches long, black, with tiny little legs.

It was dead still, so Greg left to get a paper to pick it up with. As soon as he left, that thing took off like a lightning bolt. I had no idea it could move so quickly, but Greg was nimble and caught him and threw him in the toilet, where all nasty little insects go.

Immediately, Greg went back to sleep and started sawing logs. Meanwhile, I was on my iPhone googling "centipedes" and learning all about them. At that point, I got nervous because they live in colonies, and I thought our bed might have become such. So, I wake Greg back up and make him get up so we can strip the bed and look everywhere for a colony. Poor guy, but if I hadn't done it, I would've been awake all night with the heebee jeebies, thinking bugs were crawling on me.

No colony and not a house centipede after my extensive research and investigation, so it looks like we're in the clear. Whew!

we got headbands in the mail today

And this isn't the half of them. I estimate they'll last her well into first grade.

onwards and upwards

Today, I watch those busy hands scaling the side of the coffee table.



Today, I'm fascinated watching Claire discover the world around her.


Today, I love that my baby looks over her shoulder to gain my approval.


Today, I see her smile at the sound of my voice.

Today, I'm amazed by how quickly a child can learn.

Most of my day is spent with daily and necessary activities: folding clothes, washing diapers, unloading the dishwasher, working on the computer, answering emails, conference calls, washing diapers, making the bed (sometimes), feeding Claire, did I mention washing diapers?

But, for a brief moment each day, I try to soak in the moment Claire is in knowing that it is so temporary. Whatever she's accomplishing today is old news tomorrow.

I try to take in all her smiles, coos, activities, all while teaching her about the world in which she lives. Teaching her there is a time to play, there's a time to sit, a time to eat, a time to read, a time to sleep. Boy, is there at time to sleep!

There's no shining trophy or certificate to tell you, you're doing a good job as a mom. But, there is the happiness you see in your child's eyes, the obedience they begin to show, and willingness to please you that's so priceless.







Yep, that's my girl.

And, seeing these photos makes me want to go wake her up from her nap so I can give her a squeeze. almost.

sneak peeks - june kit

Again this month, none of my June kit layouts will have stitching on them because my scrapbook room is completely dismantled. We are making progress, though and soon all the king's horses and all the king's men will put my shelves back together again.

Meanwhile, I'm making layouts in record time and with record amounts of adhesive. One advantage to stitching is that I used to barely apply any adhesive.


This sneak uses the main kit only. That naked chipboard alpha is my favorite in a long time. At first I thought the font was too cutesy for me, but I've really enjoyed using it because it's the perfect size and there are lots of letters.


Here's that same alphabet only I added leaf zing. You can get a peek at one of the exclusive items you'll only find in Studio Calico kits here as well (and I'm not talking about that chicken wire stamp).
And this is my favorite layout made with this kit. I love the colors, love the photo, love how I laid it out, and I'm not ashamed to admit it :)

6 months + a winner

Claire, how did you get to be 6 months old so quickly?

You've changed so much in the last month.


You've just barely figured out forward motion.
(I know this photo is out of focus, but I love it anyway....well, I suppose it's in focus if you want to see her neckline.)

You can get your hiney up a tad bit and pull yourself forward. So fun to watch!
To do it, sometimes it requires sticking your tongue out.

Lots of talking going on here.And feeling her 1st tooth with her tongue.
Mostly, this is the face I see: the classic sucking on your bottom lip.

And this one I just threw in for the cuteness factor.
This for the humor.

You're such a good baby. You occupy yourself playing with just about anything I put in front of you. I've been careful not to over-do it with toys, not to give you too much to play with that you don't know how to play.

Here, you are looking at your great-uncle Jody's old shape-sorter. Anyone remember these?


And this swimming motion gets the most comments from your friends.

You're a joy to be with, we couldn't love you any more than we do at this very moment.

Happy half-Birthday Claire!


And SURPRISE!

Vanessa, you're the winner of the Creative Spaces book. Please email me at april@studiocalico.com to claim your prize.
Vanessa said...

Oh yay! I'll have to pick up a copy! Can't wait to see your space :)

May 9, 2011 3:31 PM