Nine Months

Clara has now been out of my stomach for as long as she was inside it! These past nine months have absolutely flown by. Clarita is getting more and more fun each day. She can now wave on command (to both English and Spanish commands) and loves to clap and bounce her balls. The little Wiggle is now everywhere and into everything, but there is never a dull moment! Now that Clara is mobile there is no stopping her. She goes 100 miles per hour all the time and is never still (she even moves all around in her sleep). If she is in the kitchen and sees something she wants in the living room she crawls full speed to get it. If we take our eyes off her for a second it is inevitable that she has found something to put in her mouth that she shouldn't (leaves, pine needles, paper). She loves to stand up and often lets go, standing by herself or a couple of seconds before plopping onto her butt. 

Climbing boxes is fun...

The little Wiggle continues to be super happy. I seriously don't think I have ever met a happier baby. Unless she is tired, bonks her head hard, or gets something she really likes taken away from her, Clara is usually smiling and laughing. She can go from super happy to screaming in 1.5 seconds if she doesn't get her way, but usually recovers quickly. She talks a mile a minute and I swear she's singing sometimes.

Clara still doesn't have any teeth but I know they're in there growing. She rubs everything on her gums and loves her teethers. My brother said that I willed her not to grow teeth so she wouldn't bite me so now I need to will her to grow them! She has a hippy amber teething necklace that she wears all the time which is supposed to make teething a painless process (I was very skeptical but decided to give it a try). My mom was watching Clarita one day and she just started screaming while she was playing for no reason. This happened a couple of times and she was inconsolable. My mom finally gave her teething tablets and she calmed down. When I got home I realized that she hadn't worn her necklace all day. I put it back on and she has been fine ever since...coincidence?

I have a friend who told me that babies don't develop personalities until they are two. I beg to differ. Clarita certainly has a personality and she is very strong willed (wonder where she got that from?)! She has definite likes and dislikes and lets them be known. My mom says that I was the same way and also never sat still. I think Kevin and I are destined to always be on our toes with this one! At least we're not bored.

Clara continues to love people and has not developed separation anxiety yet. If she is really tired or hungry she wants me if she can see me, but if I am out of her sight she is fine. She doesn't care when I leave in the mornings, just waves adios and goes about her business. Hopefully she stays this way.

Clara attended her first Fresno State game this month and her first tailgate! She had fun, but was too distracted by all the people to eat much or sleep during the tailgate. She screamed when I tried to get her to take a nap during the tailgate, but then fell asleep right away in her pouch during the game and slept for over an hour. All the noise and cheering didn't seem to bother her. She even helped Dada shotgun a beer!

Watching the game

Third down thunder can't wake her!

Big Peanut is so fun!

Ali's hair is pretty!

Clara can't wait to play with Lee's twins!

Hanging out with Brooke!

Clara also met baby Kieran, Reedcito's new little brother. She was pretty indifferent towards Kieran but had a lot of fun playing with Reedcito and Connor. Connor was giving her kisses and she stuck out her tongue and tried to lick his mouth...I think this means she likes him!

Clarita's Stats

Weight: 16.4 pounds  

Height:  27 inches (measured standing up by her growth chart)

Head Circumference: 17 inches

What Clara Wears

She has finally started wearing 9 month outfits (mainly because her smaller outfits are summery). She still fits in most of her 6 month stuff but they are getting snug and the pants are turning into capris. This is partly due to her giant cloth diaper which may fit her well when she's 2...

Things Clara Loves

Mama and Dada, nursing and bottles, going for walks, naked baby time, her "soothie" pacifiers (especially her monito and Bevo), car rides, the Baby Bjorn, her pouch, reading books, being a baby airplane, drooling, people, taking showers in the Bumbo, playing with her toys, her teethers, animals (especially her cats), eating solid food, playing peek a boo with Dada, anything with a rough/bumpy texture, cardboard, paper, the jumperoo, crawling, standing up, empty bottles, phones, remote controls, brushing her "teeth", running up and down the stairs with Mama

Things Clara Does Not Love

Waiting, going to sleep when she’s overly tired, being told "no", having her face or nose wiped, having things taken away from her

How Clarita Sleeps

Clara generally takes an hour and half to two hour nap around 10:00 and another around 3:00 (at least when I'm in charge...) She goes to bed between 8:30 and 9:00. Clarita sleeps in her sleep sack in her crib. She usually falls right to sleep. I now have to wake her up around 6:45 to get her ready for the day. She always wakes up happy!

Nicknames

Clarita, Snugglepuff, Snuggles, Wiggle, Baby/Bebe, Sapita, Munchkin, Drool Monster, Birthday Twin

What Clara Eats

Clara continues to love most foods. Some new foods she tried this month are cauliflower, broccoli, corn tortillas, black beans, quinoa, apricots, oatmeal, blackberries, pancakes, french toast, persimmons, refried beans, and turkey. She loves to feed herself and will eat almost anything as long as she gets to feed herself. Now she just needs some teeth so this will be easier! The only foods that Clarita doesn't really like are brussels sprouts and refried beans. She will eat a bite or two and then refuse unless they are mixed with Greek yogurt. Clara will now look at food and decide if she wants to eat it or not (before she would lick it to decide). I ran out of blackberries and mixed apricots in her oatmeal and she refused to eat it at first because it looked different.

Monthly Exciting Events

November 28, 2013: Clara stops being a vegetarian

November 26, 2013: Clara's first kiss (thanks Connor)!

November 22, 2013: Clara's first tailgating and football game!

Monthly Pictures

What a face!

Christmas Lights!

As I have said before, we take Christmas seriously in the Parkinson family! Kevin and I have always gone to see lights and this year has been even more fun because Clarita likes them so much! We started out the Christmas light festivities with the Reedley Parade. This parade is chock full of tractors and other farm equipment decorated with Christmas lights. It was freezing cold (literally), but we bundled Clara up in the bear suit that we borrowed from Sarah and braved the cold. Clara even got to meet Santa! She loved santa and was all smiles. Teagan wasn't so into Santa and cried. Tristan was a good big brother trying to get Teagan to smile for the camera. Santa loved Clara and said, "I think I'll keep this one!" Tio Chino and Tia Laurie met us at the parade as did The Miltons. Emily, Sophia, Kate, Christine, and Tia Laurie all took turns holding Clara during the parade and she loved every minute of it! She was awed by the floats and tractors and was pretty quiet with  a few squeals thrown in.

Watching the parade with Christine

Soon she'll be as big as Sophia

The weekend after the Reedley Parade was the Kingsburg Santa Lucia Parade. It was also freezing but we braved the cold and walked downtown where Kevin gave blood for the first time in three years before the parade! Kevin loves donating blood and is the universal donor so is in high demand. Since we lived in Honduras, a malaria zone, for two years he had to wait three years after our return to donate again. It has finally been three years and he donated at the first chance he got! Clara loved the parade which was similar to Reedley's (only much better organized) with the main difference being the Santa Lucia girls that led the parade. We learned that this Swedish tradition (we live in a "Swedish Village") takes place on the morning of December 13. The oldest daughter dons a white dress with a red sash and a wreath with candles on her head. She then serves coffee and bread to her family in bed (I think I like this tradition) while singing a special song. A giant tractor also spun circles in the middle of the road which Clarita thought was pretty funny.

Family Christmas picture

Our next light show was Christmas Tree Lane. Kevin and I both went to Christmas Tree Lane with our families as children and have gone together most years for the past 14 years! It is a two mile stretch down Van Ness Boulevard (aka some giant old houses) with around 140 homes and 300 trees which are decorated each year. It began in 1920 with the decoration of a single tree in honor of a child who had died. Some of the houses go all out and one is absolutely insane with giant wooden building cutouts and more lights than I have ever seen on one house. Most people drive, but Kevin, Laurie, Russell, and I always walk. There are two designated walk nights where the street is only open to pedestrians. The four of us went on that night once and it was a nightmare and we vowed never to do it again...however I decided that Clara is too little to breathe exhaust all night (she'll be big enough next year) so we decided to brave the walk night. Laurie and Russell could not make it so it was just three three of us...plus thousands of other people! Clara was absolutely silent sucking on her pacifier the entire time. She had wide eyes that took in all of the people and lights. I think that she was more in awe of the people than the lights, but she loved it either way! When we were done she "talked" up a storm probably telling us about everything that she saw!

It's warm in Dada's jacket!

We also went to Zoolights which is put on by the local zoo. We have gone the past few years either with Laurie and Russell or Alyssa, Rene, and Tristan. This year Tia Laurie joined us and we had lots of fun. There are quite a few lights, but most of the animals are sleeping. My favorite tiny cat (it only weighs two or three pounds) was up (I've only ever seen it out at night) so that was my highlight. Clara's highlight was pounding on the fence posts like they were drums. I think she also liked the lights. She wore a little Santa suit and was very festive. We went during the week when it was not crowded so Clara was not distracted by too many people. She squealed and laughed the entire time and slept the entire way home!

Riding the hippo!

We also took numerous walks around our town to see the local lights. Clarita loves walks so walks coupled with lights were even better!

Un Dia de la Vida de Clarita

It's been a couple of months since I wrote one of these...this is from December 9, 2013.

7:09: Wake Clarita up to see dada before he leaves for work.
7:10: Nurse.
7:19: Play with dada.
7:37: Diaper change and get dressed.
7:48: Play in the kitchen while I quickly get ready.
8:00: Head out to get my oil changed.
8:25: Arrive at Virgil's and get everything situated.
8:40: Brave the 28 degree weather (and the town of Dinuba) to go for a run. Clara falls asleep right away.

Warm and snuggly

9:23: Get back from our  run. Clara wakes up 5 minutes before we finish and emits some happy squeals. Pay for the car and talk to Virgil before taking off.
9:50: Head home.
10:05: Arrive at home and make a very late breakfast. (She normally eats between 8:00 and 8:30).
10:18: Eat breakfast of oatmeal, chia, cinnamon, and home grown berries. Clara is still hungry so she eats some homegrown apricots as well.

If it doesn't get all over the place it doesn't belong in your face!

10:35: Brush our teeth (or gums in Clara's case), shower, and get dressed.

11:16: Clara nurses and falls asleep.
11:24: Nap while I make lunch.

12:32: Dada wakes her up to play before he has to go back to work.

Sharing the cat food dishes with Dada

Practicing her yoga

12:45: Dada goes back to work and Clara plays with some bottles of oil while I clean up.

12:55: Lunch time for Clara of greek yogurt mixed with brussels sprouts, lentils with curry powder, and persimmons.

1:15: Diaper change.
1:22: Leer (that's right, we read in Spanish!).

Books are good to eat too!

1:34: We play with toys in her room.
1:45: Snuggle time (aka my attempt to make her go to sleep because I'm tired...it doesn't work).
2:05: Clara plays with some "toys" in the kitchen while I make cookies.

Look what I can do!

2:55: We play together practicing throwing her balls
3:15: Diaper change and nurse.
3:28: Wiggle takes a nap (I promised Tio Robert and Tia Erika a happy rested baby) while I make dinner for the babysitters and tidy up.
5:05: The baby monitor comes on and I see Clarita standing up in crib talking (I swear I had just checked it and she was still sleeping...) We hang out and play while we wait for Dada to get home from work.

She loves to bounce her balls

Flying on Mama's legs!

5: 22: Dada time while I get ready for the HMC Christmas party and get everything ready for Clara's babysitters.

Playing with Baza

Boxes and packaging materials make good toys

.
6:00: We head out for the party and Clara stays with her Tios for their first time babysitting! (I forgot to take a picture).
Since we were gone the rest of the night here is what our night looked like on December 11, 2013 (but no pictures):

5:30: I get home and am greeted with squeals as Clara watches me through the window in the door.
5:40: Clara nurses (she usually wants to nurse when I get home but only for a couple of minutes, this time she was actually hungry).
5:50: Pack Wiggle in the stroller and head "downtown" to meet Fafa and Abuela Sheri for dinner to celebrate Fafa's birthday.
6:00: Arrive at Sun Hong Kong and start feeding Clara her dinner of green beans, lentils with curry powder, persimmons, and apricot.
6:25: Clara finally finishes so I can eat. We forgot her cup so Dada feeds her water from his straw which she thinks is a really fun game and gets upset when he stops.
7:15: Walk to the store to get milk (we do this a couple of times per week and I'm sure the workers think we only buy milk).
7:45: Get home and do a diaper change.
8:00: Watch TV while Wiggle plays with her toys (the cardboard box and paper that our Christmas cards came in).
8:30: Nurse.
8:38: Diaper change, get ready for bed, read.
8:55: Clara goes in her crib, rolls over and falls asleep until I wake her up at 6:45 the next morning!

Clarita's First Thanksgiving

We had a busy Thanksgiving weekend and Clarita loved every minute of it! We spent Thanksgiving Day at our house. Both of our families came over and we had a ton of food. The babies tried turkey and Clarita loved it, but Teagan wasn't so sure about it. It was fun watching Clara and Teagan play together. Clara has a “toy” phone that is one of Tio Chino’s old phones that Deyra used. She and Teagan fought over the phone all day. One would grab it and crawl away with it and the other one would follow behind and steal it back. We had a family photo shoot outside and tried to take some pictures of the kids with pumpkins. Clara thought it was really fun standing on the grass and eating the pumpkin stem but Teagan thought the grass was yucky and cried. We had a fun day complete with some football throwing with Tristan.

What? I'm not supposed to eat the whole pumpkin?

Playing with the phone

On Friday we went to Gruncle Tod and Grauntie Traci’s for appetizers and drinks with the cousins. It was a full house filled with kids and lots of fun! Clara had tons of fun playing with Ryland, petting Eden, and showing off all of her tricks. If nobody was paying attention to her, Clara would squeal at the top of her lungs until someone looked at her. Unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures except one of Eden and Clarita on my phone.

Eden is getting bigger...

We headed up to the cabin from Tod and Traci’s and Clarita slept the whole way and didn't even wake up when we put her to bed. Tio Rene, Tia Alyssa, Tristan, and Teagan came up Saturday afternoon and the girls had fun playing, aka fighting over toys. They had a tug of war when Clarita found Teagan’s favorite toy, Clara won that round but there were many more to follow.It's fun watching the girls together!

Eating in Dada's old highchair

It's never too early to instill good dental hygiene!

Practicing in case I ever have twins

Thanks for letting me borrow the warm bear suit Sarah!

I am a firm believer in decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Since we weren't really around that day I had to settle for doing it on Sunday when we got home. We went straight to get a Christmas tree when we got home. Clara woke up right as we put the tree in the car and then "helped" me decorate the house. She thought decorating was really fun...she got to stand by the tubs and pull out things that she could chew on and play with! She also loved the lights that Dada put up. It was a great Thanksgiving weekend, the only bad part was that it went by way too quickly.

I want that bell!