How did we get here so quickly??!!

7 months already. I can't believe it. I can say with 100% certainty that 7 months home with a beautiful baby goes by a whole lot faster than 7 months in a classroom!

Clementine can crawl now. But she can only go in reverse. Let me tell you, this girl can book it when she crawls in reverse.
Clementine also hugs and gives kisses when we snuggle. These are both recent developments and quite possibly the loveliest hugs and kisses I've ever received.

Here are some pictures from earlier in the week on her 7 month "birthday"

The Thump in the Night

Are you scared? You don't have to be. This blog is PG-13.

The last few nights Cam and I have heard some strange noises coming from Clementine's room over the monitor. She is usually fast asleep once we lay her down and we hear nary a peep. However, this sound on the monitor is very loud thumping and it happens several times in the night. Once we get in her room to investigate, the noise is gone, Clem is still and sleeping soundly.

Well, today I caught Clementine in her crib making the sound.

Doesn't she looks so sweet?


She seems to be saying "Help me mommy, I'm stuck!"
Clementine has been kicking the wall in her sleep. Today she managed to get her thunderthighs stuck between the slats. Like any good mommy, I ran to get the camera before helping her get un-stuck.


Aren't those the cutest chubby thighs you ever saw? Even her tookus is sticking out of the crib!

Mystery solved.

Drummer Girl

It's no surprise that this kid likes music almost as much as she likes food. Now that she can sit up by herself she loves to play on her drums and piano.


Look at her posture! She's got the hang of this sitting thing...
Sometimes it's fun to play the drums on its side...
Having an audience while playing the drums is best. Jack is always willing to listen to Clementine's performances.

Mama Bird

A few months ago I realized I had less than five pictures from the hundreds I've taken since October of Clementine and me where we were both opening our eyes, closing our mouths and looking as normal as possible. Instead of hogging the camera myself I ask Cam to take some of us together or I do the ol' "self portrait" maneuver.

Instead of the five pics I now have oodles. Some of them surprise me (scroll down and see the pictures Cam took on Mother's Day!) and others make me roll my eyes.

I took this one on Friday of Clem and I. I don't know what we are both looking at and it's pretty grainy but I love it. I think it captures a really happy moment.

Deer in the Headlights Montage

I love when Clem seems totally shocked that her picture is being taken. Here are few of my faves:

Supermodel (work it girl)

Like all supermodels, Clementine has been working on her signature looks. Last weekend we were stuck in the house due to the heatwave and we worked on her looks all day.

There's the Zoolander look:

Magnum:

Ferrari:And Blue Steele:

Clementine is becoming such a pro at sitting up by herself! She's still a bit wobbly and sometimes she finds other things (like her toes, my toes, Jack's ears, the remote control) more interesting than sitting up and she loses her balance.

I'm just as surprised as you are, sister!


Hey, what's up there? Oops, now this happens. Thank goodness there's a pillow back there!


A few weeks ago I bought Clementine this "Touch and Feel" animal book. She can't put it down.
We take it with us wherever we go! It's a big hit around here. SO, I feel like such a genius, I put it in her crib with her at night so that when she wakes up in the morning, it's there. She will quietly read it to herself when she wakes up in the morning giving me a few extra minutes of zzzzs before the sun comes up. I'm such a genius!

P.S. Clementine is *finally* back to sleeping through the night! :) :) :) She's on her fifth night and I'm such a happy mama. While she's not waking up every hour on the hour, she is bright eyed and bushy-tailed at 5:30am!

We First Timers

A few months ago I read an article written by a first time mom that I really related to. She wrote about the first firsts like the first time at play group, the first smile, the first word from a first born baby. She wrote about the magic of each of these things and how they are never quite the same with second, third, or...well, I'm stopping at third :)

Being a first myself, I agree, we are quite a magical group (ha ha, sorry Sissy).

My point is this, in the wise words of Sting "every little thing she does is magic." I look at Clementine and am struck with fascination at the things she knows and does. She amazes me and makes me laugh every single day. Is it because these are our first firsts or because she is such an amazing creature? I think both.

This author also wrote about how she, as a first time mom, couldn't get over her three month old daughter in boot cut jeans. I get that. I totally get sitting appreciatively and gushing over my baby. I could do it all day. Some days that's what I do. I gush. I can't help it. Just look at her.

This week I gush, laugh and am fascinated by the first pair of sunglasses on my first born. She wears them so well, like she's been donning those things for ages. She knows she's cool enough to wear sunglasses indoors and I watch with a smile at yet another first first.

Clem is a very good eater. She loves her baby food and I love watching her eat. She gets so excited she wiggles in her seat and gets food all over her face. I can't help but laugh.

my first mother's day/perfection

All I can say is WOW! My first Mother's Day was absolute bliss. It was even better than I had imagined!
First of all, Cam gave me a Cricut! I can't believe it! I had given up hope of ever having one of these! But he remembered and actually went into the scrapbook store to buy me one! I wish I could have seen him wandering aimlessly around the scrapbook store! If you've never seen what a Cricut can do, check out www.cricut.com

Then he got us lunch from Bob's Burgers and Brew. Oh, deliciousness.

After lunch we went to Hanover Park in Ferndale for a walk with Clementine. Clem has been very into animals lately w/ her Farm Animal book and her See 'n Say. She had fun checking out all the animals and we had a lovely walk along the Nooksack River.


Cam set the bar super high! I don't know what to plan for Father's day! I'm such a lucky mama!

That man o' mine

He is incredible. He is the best, the sweetest, smartest, most hard working man I know.

But the best thing about him...
...is the snuggling.


Happy Birthday Big Daddy!
We love you!

BIG Weekend

Phew--what a big weekend we're having!

I know that everyone is way too busy to check the Blog today since it's National Scrapbooking Day. Cameron has been very busy celebrating that one. He's used up my adhesives, most of my ribbon and all of my ssssstickersssss. I don't mind though because in 24 hours I will be DONE with my Master's degree. *D*O*N*E*
I spit on you, online Master's degree. The next person who tells me "That sure was quick," or "That seemed really easy," is going to regret it. Remember, we had an entire pregnancy AND a baby in the time it took me to finish that thing. Ugh.

Enough about me, let's reflect on the beauty of this child:

Chewing on a frozen washcloth...The perfect oversized Kentucky Derby hat. She cracks me up. Look how serious she is!

Tootsies

Clementine has a ton of toys. And books. And chewies. These days, she doesn't care for books, toys or chewies. Her favorite thing to play with are her tootsies. They provide hours of entertainment and are there in a pinch if she gets hungry. Plus it cracks me up.