When Claire was born, all helpless and uncoordinated, I had difficulty imagining she’d have control over her body someday. And now, seven months later, the child is rocking (gets on hands and knees and rocks as if revving her engine) and rolling all over the place. She’s just a week or two away from crawling, I think. She also sits by herself!

She has discovered that she likes oatmeal cereal, green beans, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, bananas, and apples. There are many more foods to try, and we’ll gradually introduce them. Her first tooth (lower front left) has almost entirely emerged.

Most nights, Claire is able to sleep ten hours straight. We’ve found that putting her to bed at 8:00 p.m. means she’ll wake at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m., which I am completely happy with (as is Husband, who now gets a full night’s sleep).

Claire’s gaze will follow the direction of where something goes if it’s dropped. She’s also fascinated by looking over the edges of things, and we’ll need to be suitably vigilant about watching her! If she’s looking elsewhere, she more often turns toward us when we say her name, which means she’s beginning to recognize her name now.

She enjoys knocking blocks over or a game of “knock the ball off the cup tower”; her ability to make things happen delights her.

Her vocabulary of sounds is growing more complex and varied. She loves being mimicked. She enjoys being sung to. She also likes books, being read to, and has begun to turn the pages when we read (usually in the correct direction).

Claire continues to enjoy the playground swings. I haven’t put her facing outward in the stroller since the attempt at five months of age. We decided to continue using the infant seat until she could sit up unassisted (which meant a few months more of face-to-face interaction on walks!).

Anywhere we go, people stop and talk to her, and she smiles and sometimes speaks. People are tickled that Claire is so cheerful and sweet and comment on how happy and adorable she is. She is a friendly child, and not at all shy.

Claire now naps in her crib — not always long naps, but usually a minimum of 30-45 minutes and sometimes up to an hour and 20 minutes. She still enjoys the swing, although she’s perhaps outgrowing it.

Claire is very much a mommy’s girl these days. In the evenings when Husband comes home, the transition can be a little rough because she’s tired and clingy with me. She adores him, grins hugely and wriggles with joy whenever she lays eyes on him, but apparently I am her rock of safety and her comfort. Our usual habit is now to eat dinner and to have her sit with us in her high chair. After the meal, we’ll give her a bath if she needs one (Daddy’s job, Mommy dresses her after) and then Husband tucks Claire in for the night. By this time she’s settled in with her Daddy and enjoys cuddling with him.

Happy month 7, Claire Bear!