Peas, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and corn (with green beans soon to be pureed). I did this because I can’t find the variety of veggies I’d like to offer Claire in brand name baby foods, and actually, I think this might be cheaper! It wasn’t as hard as I’d imagined it would be.
That’s the temperature right now and it’s only 2:45. Little Miss is not napping well today. But she’s cheerful for the most part. She has begun pulling up in earnest this week and uses me often as a climbing wall. The other day she pulled up using the ottoman; there’s a blanket with fringe that covers it. She grabbed a piece of fringe and held on, letting go with the other hand, and stood there! She wobbled and wavered, but she was unsupported by me. She looks very, very proud and happy when she pulls up successfully.
I swear, I do stuff around here, but at the day’s end it seems like nothing. Steaming and pureeing five kinds of vegetables and freezing them in ice cube trays doesn’t add up to much. Doing laundry and vacuuming isn’t that visible. Slicing bits of cantaloupe small enough so Claire can eat them without choking takes time but doesn’t have a big impact. Then there’s the 15 diaper changes in a day, plus the four bottle feedings and the three leisurely meals in a high chair. Then I get up and do much of it over the next day. It’s a good thing I don’t have to justify my work in order to keep a paycheck.
Darn, I could use a nap even if my sweet baby doesn’t!
This is how we spend 40 minutes or so before a nap. We sit on the floor with me right behind her. She pulls a book off the shelf, I read and set it aside, and she pulls another, and another, etc. until she yawns and rubs her eyes or bursts into tears for no obvious reason. Then we cuddle and rock and she drifts sweetly asleep.
You can see a bigger picture (if you’re curious about the titles) here.
Claire acts silly, knowing how to bring laughter about, and enjoys herself immensely in the process.
Oh Little One: Four Haiku
That brave little neck,
the stem of a sunflower;
your brain is blooming.
—–
Your luscious curved cheek
is a small apple that begs
for tender kisses.
—–
The tree sapling back
nourishes roots and branches;
may it grow mighty.
—–
Hands touch but don’t clutch
like curious mice seeking
their fortune in cheese.
–Kathryn Harper
How I love her!
Yesterday, in Stanislaus County, California
TURLOCK — A crazed man parked on a dark country road Saturday night, took a toddler from the car seat in his pickup and beat the boy to death until a Modesto police officer, dropped on the scene by helicopter, shot the man dead, authorities said.
Passers-by calling 911 at 10:13 p.m. described a horrific scene on West Bradbury Road near the intersection of South Blaker Road in rural Stanislaus County, 10 miles west of Turlock. At least one tried to stop the 27-year-old attacker, who swung and slammed the toddler into the asphalt and stomped on him behind his parked four-door Toyota pickup.
“In the shadows and light it looked like he had hit an animal,” said Dan Robinson, the chief of Crows Landing Volunteer Fire Department, who came upon the chaos on his way home from a late dinner in Turlock. “As we backed up again, I could see that he had blood on his arms. I could see that it was a small child.”
The articles I’ve read state that witnesses attempted to stop the man but couldn’t. How can this be? How can adults fail to protect a baby? The man exclaimed the boy had demons in him. How is it that a bunch of adults failed to somehow grab the child away or pile on top of the attacker to subdue him? I know, I wasn’t there, I shouldn’t judge. I’m trying not to judge. I ask the questions out of shock and horror, because this news is difficult to apprehend.
Once police arrived on the scene, the attacker was shot to death. The child is guessed to be 12 to 24 months old, but DNA tests will be needed to identify him, because the boy was beaten beyond recognition.
I want to weep.
Stop for five minutes and let Phil Plait refresh your perspective about what awesome feats humans are capable of. Let him infect you with his enthusiasm for scientific discovery. His energy is inspiring. If the video doesn’t embed, you can see it here.
Thanks to Dale for sharing this.
Today has been a day of accomplishment for Claire. She is now crawling on hands and knees; the army crawl still gets used, but she’s definitely using the other method, especially outdoors.
But that’s not all!
As of today (who knows what neuron finally developed?) she claps her hands. Sing the “If You’re Happy and You Know It” or play Patty Cake and that starts a round of clapping. So cute! She looks very proud of herself, and delighted. And when I say “kiss kiss” she makes a kissing noise. At the playground the 2-year-old son of a friend gave Claire a kiss on the cheek. He loves babies. When he attempted to give her another one, she turned her head as if to try to kiss him! We had a good laugh — and a glimpse of the future. (Eek!)
But wait! There’s more!
She drank from her sippy cup. At first I helped by holding it, but soon she grabbed it and ended up consuming 3 ounces of water from it.
Claire also played in the park sand today. She didn’t put it in her mouth. She desperately wanted to put a toy that was in the sand in her mouth (the wheel of a little dump truck) but I’d say no and redirect her. She went home with socks full of sand and dusty clothes. I think we’re entering the days of daily baths now.
Since Claire was born, very little else has captured my eye, and I’ve not taken the time to learn all the tricks my new camera offers. However, I was out this morning watering our backyard plants, and the new light coming in (one benefit of the Oleander removal) inspired me to grab the camera. I took a number of shots that I’ll be posting here.
This photo is a close-up of a rusty cat ornament that I’ve owned since my early days living in Austin. The spider web threads caught the light and thus my attention.
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I’ve learned, to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.–Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Today Claire and I visited a new yarn store, Green Planet Yarn, in Campbell. They feature yarns that are organic, plant-dyed, US grown, fair trade and recycled fibers. I ended up buying one skein of yarn to make a scarf that will teach me a new skill. While there, Claire modeled a baby hat that one employee was designing, and she looked very adorable. Once the hat is done maybe she’ll model it for a photo. She was a hit there and enjoyed every minute.
While there I also picked up a pamphlet describing the Mother Bear Project. The pattern can be purchased for $5, and it’s a great way to use up old scrap yarn. Check out the photo gallery. It’s inspiring!
How do I begin? Nine months have passed since Claire’s birth. She’s becoming more autonomous each day.
Her eating habits are fickle. (However, I realized her refusal a few days ago might have arisen out of the fact she didn’t want to eat the Gerber ground up turkey mixed in with her veggie; I don’t blame her, as it smelled like cat food to me.) Her before-nap habits can also be fickle (sometimes she doesn’t even require — or tolerate — five minutes of rocking and cuddling). Claire has four upper teeth emerging now. She sits and bounces on her bottom for fun. She squeezes and hugs her super soft teddy bear from Aunt LR. When shown teddy or her baby dolly or anything with pronounced features, if you say, “Show me the nose. Where’s the nose?” Claire will press the nose with her thumb.
She likes to press buttons: on her exersaucer, there is an apple which, when the button is pressed, causes a smiling little worm to pop up and say “Hi there!” or “Peekaboo!” or laugh. She also presses the garage door button to open and close it (at my request only). Claire has started to pull up on things (sofa, stairs) — all with supervision. She even went into her play yard a couple of times and played happily; but only if someone is nearby. She has begun to crawl on her hands and knees, though she still prefers the “army crawl.”
When feeling happy, Claire slaps her hands on her legs, smiles, and does the Pant of Joy. Sometimes when she laughs, she sounds like Horshack from Welcome Back Kotter.
Today I read Sandra’s Boynton’s Doggies: A Counting and Barking Book twelve times in a row. Every time we get to the number nine, I read (with great drama): Nine dogs on a moonlit night!, and Claire shudders and squeals with a thrill because that is always followed by a hearty “Awwooooooooooooooooo!”
Claire spends hours each day playing with her books. I think she plays with them more than with her other toys. She pulls them off the shelves and pages through them. She will lie on her back and hold them with her hands and feet, turning the book around, opening pages, lifting flaps. She enjoys the touch-and-feel books, such as That’s Not My Dragon. She is beginning to understand words. There was a butterfly in one book; she has butterflies on her bedroom walls. When I asked, “Where’s the butterfly?” Claire pointed to it on the page. She’s also fascinated with flowers in her books (she has flowers, bumblebees, ladybugs, and butterflies on her walls).
She enjoys pawing through the magazine basket. The New Yorker covers are sturdy and, when torn off, withstand a lot of abuse while providing many minutes of crinkly wrinkled satisfaction. Claire is starting to understand the word no, which is usually uttered in the phrases No! Yukky! and No! Ouchy!
Whenever she is finished (with eating, being in her exersaucer), I ask “All done?” and use the sign language gesture for that. She has begun to make a gesture in response — it’s not the exact same, and I don’t think she understands what it means quite, but she is imitating. That’s important progress. Eventually (I hope) she’ll sign back to me in confirmation, and maybe she’ll even initiate someday.
Claire definitely knows her name. And I think she is beginning to understand that Mama and Dada are specific names as well.
I love how her eyes smile and twinkle when she makes fish mouth; she knows she is being amusing and cute and is so happy in the moment. I love when she tucks her head against my neck and burrows in when she’s sleepy or feeling cuddly. I love her curiosity; she has figured out how to turn on the floor fan (which is well-protected against little fingers). I love how she lets me smooch and smooch her cheeks, neck, head, chin; she smiles and presses her head against my lips. I love that she follows me into the kitchen and hangs out when I’m cooking. I love how vocal she is. I just love this kid, period. There are a ton of new photos and videos at my Flickr page (restricted to friends and family). Go visit my adorable daughter if you have the time and inclination.
And if you live in Santa Clara, it’s possible for you to catch it too. At the end of the summer, Claire will receive a free book, and since I’ll participate, I’ll get one too!
I knew Claire was cutting one upper tooth. The other day I got a peek inside and saw that the one next to it had broken through. And this morning I looked again (she doesn’t make it easy and hates have my fingers in her mouth now), and there are two more upper teeth coming through. That’s four teeth emerging at the same time.
Wow.
Also, here are some stats from her 9-month doctor visit yesterday. She is 27 inches tall, has a head circumference of 44.5 cm (about 17.5 inches) and weighs 16 lbs., 5 oz. She had one immunization. Overall the verdict is that she’s beautiful and in perfect health. 🙂
If you say to Claire, “Fish mouth!” this is what happens:
It makes me want to scoop her up and kiss her, and so I do!
