How Sweet it is!!!!

The Howards went and had Claire's first professional photos taken Friday and they turned out beautiful. Unfortunately we pressed our luck with all of the diaperless shots... toward the end shoot Claire peed all over mommy and the photographer's floor. :) Daddy set the slideshow to music so check them out!

Here are some good pointers on taking care of newborns that our friend Liz shared with us. I'm too embarrassed to tell you which one's I've already committed. Needless to say, Daddy isn't allowed to take Claire grocery shopping anymore...

http://www.c00lstuff.com/1133/Do_s_and_don_ts_with_babies/

Also, this past Wednesday marked Claire's 2nd week of life. We celebrated by taking her to the doctor and poking her with needles. She protested her 1st vaccination briefly, but still didn't wake up for it. She also gained a little more weight and is up to 9 lbs 4 oz and grew to 21 inches.

What a busy weekend!

Claire here again. What a busy weekend! Mommy and Daddy's friend Amanda stopped by on Friday (with my soon to be friend Anna). Then Aunt Elise and Cousin Tristan stayed the weekend and helped out. Aunt Elise brought me lots of books -- 'Fancy Nancy', 'Good Night Moon', 'Marshmallow', 'A Mouse Cookie First Library' and 'Mother Goose.' Tristan even changed the tire on Mommy's car. We played poker and as you can see, Mommy ran out of chips and put me on the table. Fortunately, Daddy won that hand. On Sunday, I met my new friend Ella for the first time after her Christening. She's really cool and very pretty. We're looking forward to lots of tea parties together. Daddy gave me a music lesson and I learned scales and arpeggios, then Grandma brought over dinner -- roast beef, asparagus, and homemade chocolate silk pie, mmmmmmm! (see special dedication poem at bottom of page).

Oh how I love you, chocolate silk pie.

You're made from scratch, and that's no lie.

Even the French think you're the most.

Ask Uncle Leo, and he'll boast

that he's never had anything quite like you.

How many pieces? Why I'll take two.

Young Infant Activist Stages "Spit In" until Grandma Visits Again

Claire Howard, leader of the infant activist organization "The Pink Panthers", refuses to pose for any more pictures or videos until her Grandma visits again. In a display of solidarity, other babies around the country have joined in the protest by staging what's become known as the "Twilight Cry", in which babies wet their diapers at 6 pm in the evening and cry incessantly until their Grandmas visit.


"Pink Power"

Happy 1 Weekaversary Claire!

Claire turned 1 week old today and celebrated by sleeping through most of it. She started it off with a trip to the doctor for her 1 week checkup, where she weighed in at 8 lbs 1 oz and got a clean bill of health. Then she napped, napped, and napped. Then she napped some more. Cousin Ashleigh stopped by in the afternoon to say hello, and Mommy and Daddy's friend Todd brought over some barbeque and Chef Rick's garlic cream soup. Delicious! The day ended with, what else, a nap. I think she gets that from Mommy (see below).

Splish Splash, Claire just took her first bath...

Weeee! Claire loved taking her first bath today

then it was off to bed for a nap...

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Today, we celebrated Mommy's 31st birthday with Grandma, Papa, Granny and Daddy. Grandma and Papa brought over lots of good food, and as you can see, Claire fell asleep very early into the party.

Welcome Home Claire

Claire met more friends and relatives yesterday!

Aunt Rachel, Cousin Ashleigh, Cousin Charlie

and she was ready to go home this afternoon...

We finally made it home where Daddy had decorated the mailbox with balloons and had some cake waiting.

Feel free to stop by, see Claire and have some cake!

With Open Eyes...

Claire here. Mommy and Daddy are really tired, so I decided to let them rest and publish today's posting for them. As you can see, I'm quite alert and met lots of Mommy and Daddy's friends and Uncle Bill yesterday. I really liked them!

Uncle Bill brought me some books that Daddy read to me last night. My favorite is "Are You My Mother?" They benefitted me greatly, and now I'm well versed in the English language and quite the typist too. Oh, brother! Here comes Daddy with Einstein's original paper on Special Relativity. Can't a kid get a break around here?!!!