Meetings

Claire had a big week this week, meeting even more family and friends. We are slowly getting a routine down. Claire has decided this week to be a "real baby." She was sleeping four + hours between feedings and 5 hours at a stretch at night. Well, Josh and I are trying to be thankful for that time and come to grips with this new phase of waking up every hour and a half or so to eat or fuss or squawk.
Christina & Michele with Claire

Claire & I with Megan & Mia

The weather has officially changed. **BIG SMILE HERE** It has been a fun challenge to walk with Lola and Claire each morning. Its cooler, the leaves are changing, we've had cloud cover the last couple of days. Lola is currently learning how to walk with the stroller. Yesterday our little walked ended up being an almost two hour four and a half mile excursion. (I got lost).

Claire and her great - great - great Aunt May

That's what you get!

What do you get when your aunt is a creative, designy architect? You get a Claire in darling clothes with her picture posted on the Speesees blog and you get Claire's nursery posted on the Ohdeedoh Apartment Therapy website - get on there and vote for her nusery.

On our own...

Josh returned to work last Thursday. Our time at home together flew by and I would be lying if I said it wasn't with some saddness that I kissed him good- bye last Thursday morning. It wasn't so much that I was nervous about being on my own with Lola and Claire but more I REALLY enjoyed my time with him at home. It reminded me a bit of our time together at Biola before we had a mortgage and 8-5 jobs - you get the idea. At any rate, I am very thankful that I LOVE spending time with my husband.

Here are some of the funnies from our first few days at home with Claire.

1. Jen asks Josh (in the middle of the night) to burp and change the baby, Josh hops out of bed to oblige and hurries to the baby bed only to be horrorstruck and find it empty and completely freaks out thereby not hearing Jen saying "She's here Josh, I'm holding her..."

2. Baby poop shoots...change daipers with care.

3. At times Claire sounds a lot like the dolphin Flipper of TV fame.

This weekend Claire participated in her first organzined run/walk. Josh ran the Lafayette Reservoir Run 5k and then joined Brandon, Brieanne, Claire, Lola and I for the family fun 2 mile walk.

Happy One week (yesterday)

Sorry for not posting earlier, its amazing how quickly the days go. I can't believe Claire has been here a whole week. Her follow-up appointment on Friday went well. She was up two ounces and the nurse was very pleased. Next time we go back is for her two week check up.

Josh and I have been having a ball at home together getting to know Claire. Lola seems to be adapting to having a baby around. She doesn't want to leave the house without Claire and is eager each morning to peek over the pack-n-play to say good morning. We are very careful because if Lola had her way, she'd lick Claire from head to toe. She's attune to Claire's every move but when it comes to crying Lola high-tails it as far away as she can, she doesn't like it at all.

This past weekend Claire got to meet her Grandma and Grandpa Smith as well as her Great Aunt & Uncle Taylor and Great Grandma Taylor. Claire had her first trip to the pumpkin patch. You can see photos of that courtesy of the flickr link now on the blog (Brieanne set that up). So, to catch you up on the last couple of days, enjoy some photos.

Home Sweet Home

We arrived home yesterday late morning. Yay! Home from the hospital! They kept us an extra day because Claire lost more weight than they wanted. She was down from 7lbs 11oz to 7lbs even on Wednesday. Fortunately they let us go, I was getting a little stir crazy in the four walls of the hospital room.

We went in for a check up today and Claire was down to 6lbs 14oz and so they asked us to come back tomorrow for an another weigh in. They have said if she reaches a certain threshold they will want to readmit her. Things have been going well for us but feeling the pressure to get Claire to a cetain weight has put some stress on us.

On behalf of our whole family, thank you so much for all the prayers! We have definitely felf them over the last few days. Below are some of my favorite personal photos from the last couple of days. (I'm not nearly as good a photographer as my sister or Brandon so you'll have to forgive me).

Claire Photo Update

It's Brieanne again...just wanted to post a few more photos and to let you know that there are more pictures on my flickr account--I will be updating this section continually as I see Claire in the coming days and weeks

she's here!

It's guest blogger here, Jen's sister, updating the blog with a few key details. Claire Elizabeth Smith was born today at 1:24 pm. She is 7lbs 11oz, 21" long and absolutely perfect. Mom and baby are doing very well (as is Dad). Here are a few pictures to tide you over for now (I'm at Peet's updating, and then back to the hospital!)

Castle Rock Park

The weather has been cooling down slightly over the last few days. There is a fall nip in the air and the leaves are gradually beginning to change color. Josh and I took the opportunity to enjoy the weather by going for a hike at Castle Rock park, in the foothills of Mt. Diablo. Lola thrives in this cooler weather and was only too happy to come along exploring with us. Lola...loving the outdoors.

Josh and Lola, the rock climbers. She'll follow him anywhere.

Me, getting my picture taken under deress but I'm posting it because Josh asked me to. On a side note. I LOVE the cooler weather, the challenge - all my maternity clothes are for summer. So, here I am sporting one of Josh's shirts. Pretty soon I might be sharing pants with him too, he he he.

Lola, after a morning of hiking, relaxing/napping outside.

38 weeks and some change

In addition to finishing up the room, Brieanne took the opportunity to take some photos of me. I thought I'd share some of them here.

Patootie's Room

So...at long last here are the photos of Patootie's room. It is for all intents and purposes finished. (Of course I can ALWAYS find something to do in there but that's just how I am). Brieanne and Brandon came over and put the finishing touches on the room. YAY! Just for fun, here is a BEFORE picture of the room:

Now that Brieanne has finished working her design magic...here is Patootie's room:

We have a lovely brand-new, picture-framed, double-paned window that really does help with regulating hot and cold! Its also about 6 inches larger!

Let's talk about the mobile that Brieanne made from scratch! This is probably one of my favorite features of the room. She felted the little birdies and attached them with fishing line to sticks she picked up in Lake Tahoe!

The rocker we acquired from my Grandma (thanks) it was her dad's. I love the family touch and in the corner of the photo you can see my toybox from childhood.

Of course let's not forget to mention the changing table that Brieanne won, thank you again sister.

And now because who can get enough of this darling mobile! I just love the "earthy" feel that the sticks contribute and the red birdies will be great to catch Patootie's eye.