The Busiest Week!

This may have been Clarita's busiest week yet! I was going to start writing just about the highlights of our week but there were so many highlights this week that I have to talk about them all...On Sunday our church had a luncheon for the SEED students; international exchange students who attend the local community college. Many of you know that Kevin and I hosted one of these students, Deyra, and she lived with us for ten months (see http://kevinandshannonhonduras.blogspot.com/ for more information on that experience or our Peace Corps experience). Since moving out we haven't seen Deyra much as she is always busy with school and her friends. She had not yet met Clarita and was very excited to meet and hold her. The students did a little performance and then Deyra snuggled with Clara.

The SEED students

Deyra

She's a natural at holding babies

Family picture (minus my mom who had already left)

On Wednesday my good friend from grad school, Cara, and her daughter, Avery, came to visit. They live in Kansas City now and we had not seen Cara or her husband Leif since their wedding almost five years ago! We had not met their daughter who is two and a half. Leif had to go to San Jose for work so Cara and Avery came along and drove down to spend the afternoon with us. We had a great time catching up and meeting each other's little ones. We even took a trip to the park! Avery really liked Clara and knew exactly what to do with Clara's pacifier...put it in her crying mouth! Avery also loved our cats and they, surprisingly, liked her too.

Avery loved to pet Clarita!

Wednesday evening Tio Robert and Tia Erika came over for dinner and to see Clara (people seem to like us more now that we have a baby:). We even took a walk. Clara was not in the best of moods Wednesday, but I think that she may have spoiled me by being such a good baby. Now if she's a little fussy I think that she is having a terrible day.

Tios!

A bunch of our friends used to have an indoor soccer team (see: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Slizzard/182184681827952?fref=ts to see our awesome team). I had to quit playing when I was about three months pregnant and the rest of the team quit playing last December. Some of the team has recently started playing weekly pick up games and our friend Sarah sweetly offered to watch Clarita so Kevin and I could both play. She and Reedcito hung out with Clara who of course slept the entire time! Reedcito was really cute and even gave Clara a big hug! We went to Laurie and Russell's for our weekly dinner/tv show watching after soccer so Clara got to snuggle with her Tia (Russell still isn't into holding her). We got her ready for bed before we left and she went right to sleep and didn't even wake up when I took her out of her car seat and swaddled her when we got home!

Sarah and Reedcito watching Clarita

On Friday Clara and I went to get my allergy shot and then I decided to brave the mall with her since I needed to use a Groupon (I really love to buy Groupons). We got there right as it opened so it wasn't too busy. Of course I did not plan well and forgot the carrier and didn't even think of bringing the stroller. So I had to carry her in her car seat...very heavy and not so fun. I sure learned my lesson! We got what we needed and booked it out of there to my grandparent's house for a surprise visit. They were of course very excited to see Clarita.

Cara, Leif, and Avery were still in San Francisco so on Saturday we headed up to spend the day with them. Clara slept most of the way with a stop to eat in Gilroy. I once again forgot the carrier so she had to spend most of the day in her car seat in either the car or the stroller. Our friend, Josh from Peace Corps, also lives in San Francisco so he met us for lunch and got to meet Clara. She loved him of course! Clara and I had a fun moment at lunch. I took her to the bathroom to change her and there was no changing area. I ended up sitting on the toilet and changed her on my lap! I considered changing her on the floor by our table just to prove a point, but decided against it. Funny how I never noticed if places had changing stations before and now it is quite important to me. We had a great time hanging out with Cara, Leif, Avery, and Josh. During a walk on a very windy pier, one of Clara's socks fell off and blew away but she didn't seem to mind. She seemed to like the wind and kept sticking out her tongue to lick it. We didn't get home until 11:30 PM, but Clara was a trooper. She was happy most of the day and I think that her first road trip was a huge success!

Happy in the car

Tio Josue

First time at the ocean

Family picture

Feeding her while trying to protect her from the cold wind (notice the missing sock)

Clara and Avery

Daddy Day and a Fiesta!

Clara once again had a busy week (that seems to be the norm around here). On Monday I had a dentist appointment. I wasn't so sure about taking her with me as I had no idea how long it would take. I really didn't want her to start screaming in the middle of my teeth cleaning so Kevin came home from work at 1:00 to hang out with the little snugglepuff. Clarita happened to sleep most of the morning so I wasn't sure how her afternoon was going to go...turns out she did not want to sleep at all! Kevin said that she slept once for 18 minutes the entire four hours that I was gone! He played with her, read to her, and fed her but she was wide awake or fussy the entire time. Kevin finally resorted to putting her in the carrier while he made lemon bread for our weekly dinner with Tio Russell and Tia Laurie. Clara fell asleep while he was mixing the batter, but woke up screaming as soon as I got home and she heard my voice. Now he understands why I don't get a lot done most days!

This is what I came home to

That night, Tio Russell held Clara for the first time! He has been refusing to hold her since she was born because he was "sick". He magically developed a cough every time we mentioned holding Clarita. Laurie finally put her in his arms and he did not protest. I think he secretly wanted to hold his birthday twin but didn't want to admit it! Clara loved it!

This is his scared face

Tia Laurie had the magic touch to put her to sleep

On Saturday Clarita went to her first fiesta! Kevin's cousin Ashley's fiance Yayo (wow that's a lot of names) turned 30 and had a full on fiesta complete with the loudest Mariachi band I've ever heard! Kevin, Clara, and I had been in Fresno running errands all day and Clara had slept almost the entire time. That made us a little nervous about how she was going to behave at the fiesta. My mom, Laurie, our friend Megan, and I have season tickets to the plays put on at the local theatre and Saturday just happened to be our night so I had to leave for a couple of hours which made Kevin even more nervous. I assured him that there would be plenty of people to hold Clarita, including two of his aunts, in my absence. Turns out I was right and Kevin didn't have to do much at all. The loud music did not bother Clara (although she may be deaf now) and she fell asleep right away! Kevin said that she spent the rest of the night happy or sleeping and being passed from person to person (he failed to take any pictures). His aunts fed her and Kevin changed her, put her in her jammies, and she fell right to sleep around 10:00 just like normal. When I got back she was all wrapped up sleeping in her car seat! She didn't wake up at all, even when we strapped her in to leave and took her out when we got home. I actually had to wake her up at 4:00 AM to feed her! What a good little sleeper, just like her mommy!

Mariachi! I failed to get the ten speakers in the picture...

Ashley and Yayo tearing up the dance floor

Connor and Clara (and Denae and Tia Laurie)

This is what Clarita looked like when I got back

Shots!

Clara continues to be a really good baby. We had one rough day last week but then I started wearing her in the carrier or Moby Wrap for most of the day and that makes her happy, and I still have my hands free to do stuff. She's turning into a real baby now and has grown out of the newborn stage...my how time flies!

Kevin and all his babies

I think she's trying to nurse

She likes to hug her monkey

She tries to lay down in the bath now and her hair gets curly when wet

5 weeks old with Baza! (I think he would have stayed there had I not set her on his tail...)

One Month Old!

I can't believe our little snugglepuff is already one month old! Where has the time gone? She's already changed so much and the clothes that were once big on her are now snug. This has been a whirlwind month but we have enjoyed every minute. Clara is now starting to look more like a baby and less like a newborn. She doesn't sleep as much and has begun to develop a stubborn streak (who did she get that from?) She is overall a very good baby though, especially in public.

This is how the stork would have delivered her but he got lost so I had to do it

Clara is so lucky to have so many people that love her! She has probably met close to 100 people and been held by probably close to 30. She loves to snuggle and will let anyone hold her. Clarita has learned that she can fight sleep and chooses to do this often. She finally gets so tired that she just crashes and is usually out for  couple of hours.

So peaceful

Clarita's first trip to a restaurant (she drank those beers)

There have been so many exciting events this past month, the highlight, of course, was Clara's birth. For me, one of the highlights has been watching my grandparents with Clarita. She just makes them so happy and it is awesome that they get to know her and she them! I took her to my work this past week (she was a hit of course) and we stopped by my grandparents' as well. I have never seen my grandpa so happy! He finally held her and got so excited every time that she stuck her tongue out or smiled. It sounded something like this, "Oh she just smiled at me! Oh she just stuck her tongue out! Hi there little sweetheart." I absolutely loved it, especially since my grandpa is usually very quiet and soft spoken. My grandma absolutely adores Clara as well and was also super excited to see her.

Great Grandpa holding Clara for the first time

GG loves Clarita

Meeting Maria

Meeting Zulema

Meeting Wanda

It's hard to remember what life was like before Clarita. I know that we had a lot more free time, but I also know that our lives were not complete. This little wiggle is such a joy and a blessing! I know that we are both so happy that she is finally here and we cannot imagine our lives without her now.

Clarita's Stats

Birth:

Weight: 7 pounds 1 ounce

Height: 19.5 inches

Head Circumference: 35 centimeters

One Month:

Weight: 8.2 pounds

Height: 21.5 inches

Head Circumference: 35.5

What Clara Wears

Her newborn clothes still fit her until she puts on a giant cloth diaper, then they are a little too tight. I packed them all away today and we are going to start on the 0-3 month outfits that were way too big before. I think that the tops will still be big but the bottoms will fit nicely over her giant cloth diapers.

Things Clara Loves

Mommy and Daddy, nursing, going for walks, getting undressed and having naked baby time, her "soothie" pacifiers (especially her monito), the bouncy chair, the swing, the moby wrap, snuggling, baths, baby exercises, the miracle swaddling blanket (ok, so maybe she doesn't like it when I first wrap her up but then she falls right to sleep), car rides

Things Clara Does Not Love

Getting dressed, waiting, tummy time for more than five minutes, getting put into the carseat

How Clarita Sleeps

Clara generally sleeps off and on throughout the day. Lately she has been refusing to sleep in the morning and sleeping most of the afternoon. She then gets really fussy right before bedtime and sleeps for five hours before waking up to nurse (the other day she went six because I did not wake up to wake her up...). She usually nurses, gets swaddled (not so into this as she loves to eat her hands), sleeps in her bassinet until around 3:00, nurses, then sleeps until 6:00 or 6:30. Clarita generally wakes up happy in the morning and "talks" to herself until I gt up to feed her. We often hear grunts as she is working hard to get her hands out of her swaddling blanket. She has managed to do it a few times and is practicing to be the next Houdini! 

Clara's Monthly Pictures:

I didn't take a good "newborn" picture where she wasn't swaddled

One Week

Two Weeks

Three Weeks

Four weeks (and angry)

One month

Un Dia de la Vida de Clarita

So my friend Sarah has a blog about her son and she does a "Day in the Life of Reed" post every month or so. I really liked this idea before I had a baby because it gave me a glimpse into a baby's life and how they change. I decided to do the same thing so I (and you too) can see how Clara changes. It also lets me see just what I do all day since I often feel like I didn't accomplish anything...turns out I do, lots of feeding and snuggles;)!

I kept track of everything as a "note" on the ipad and had originally done it for Wednesday, April 10, 2013. Right as I went to copy everything to write the blog, all my notes disappeared never to be found again! Needless to say, I was a little frustrated. Oh well, onward ho! So I kept track again on Monday April 15, 2013 when Clarita was 27 days old. I did a better job of taking pictures to document her day this time (since I took maybe one last week) so I guess it was a good thing the ipad erased everything. Oh technology...

I don't know if we have a "typical day" yet as Clara is constantly changing. Her routines change from week to week and even day to day. Last week she didn't want to sleep in the morning and slept all afternoon, the week before it was opposite, and so far this week she wants to sleep off and on all day! We do have things that we do everyday: eat, sleep, poop, go for walks, snuggle, read, play, etc. The times vary but she generally goes to bed between 10:00 and 10:30, gets up to eat between 3:00 and 3:30, and wakes up for the day between 6:15 and 7:00. The rest of the day varies from day to day with lots of naps, feedings, and diaper changes. Here's a glimpse into "un dia de la vida de Clarita"!

3:46: Clara wakes up a little later than usual because we went to bed late last night. She nurses and I change her diaper.

4:03: Back to bed and she falls right to sleep.

6:15: Clara wakes up and is ready for the day!

6:38: Clara nurses and I take off her diaper to let her air off and wrap her in a towel.

6:58: As we are reading in her room, Clara decides to poop everywhere. I set her down on her changing table to clean her off and she pees everywhere getting it all over herself, even in her hair! Needless to say, this necessitates a bath which she loves (I think it was her plan to get a bath).

7:42: Clara nurses and get dressed for the day.

7:57: We resume our reading and Clara falls asleep.

8:05: Clara naps in the bouncy chair while I get dressed, eat, do a load of diapers, make bed, and tidy the house.

9:05: Clara wakes up hungry and nurses.

9:18: We go for walk and mail our taxes. Clarita falls asleep.

10:09: Clara is still sleeping so I do some yard work while she shade bathes by the pool.

11:14: Clara wakes up and she nurses and I change her diaper.

11:30: Clara plays with me and we snuggle.

11:55: Clarita goes into the moby wrap to help me prepare lunch.

12:35: Daddy comes home and Clarita sleeps in bouncy chair wile Mommy and Daddy eat. Then she gets some snuggles with Daddy in before he has to go back to work.

1:01: More nursing and a diaper change.

1:18: Clarita plays on the playmat while I fold laundry and stuff her diapers.

1:55: Tummy time (she's not so happy with this today so it's short lived).

2:00: Clara nurses some more and I change her diaper.

2:17: Clara loves the vacuum so I hold her while I vacuum.

2:38: There is a major poop explosion (the first one with cloth diapers) so we change her diaper and outfit.

The cloth diapers are so huge on her!

2:45: Clara nurses again.

2:53: Snuggle time with Mommy until Clarita falls asleep.

3:00: Nap in the swing (she woke up after 10 minutes but quietly entertained herself eating her hands).

3:35: The little wiggle has had enough of the swing and cries until I take her out. She then falls asleep on my lap on the boppy while I write a blog and do VBS stuff.

5:08: Clara wakes up and nurses and I change her diaper.

5:40: The snugglepuff naps in the swing until Daddy comes home.
5:58: Clarita plays with daddy (they read, walk around yard, and she fusses) while I run.

7:07: Clara is hungry when I get home so she nurses.

7:21: Nap time.

8:05: Clarita wakes up screaming and we do a diaper change and she nurses and acts like she is not hungry.

8:14: Apparently she was hungry and Clara cries until she nurses some more.

8:38: Clara has lap tummy time (the only thing that calms her down right now) and a diaper change.

9:00: Clara and Daddy snuggle time while I get ready for bed.

9:36: Clarita nurses one last time, I change her diaper and put her pajamas on.

9:56: Time to get all swaddled up and go to bed. She falls asleep right away!