Baby Mine

My parents have been filming Claire on and off since she was born. My mom compiled some of the footage into a little video. Check it out.



Josh & Lola at Heather Farms Park



Claire and Keagan



Claire in the car

Santa Already?

Last night we went to this Holiday lights thing at the City of Pleasant Hill. It was one of the city's efforts to promote business in the downtown area. Claire almost slept through her first picture with Santa. (I'm happy to report its not a strange man holding her, its Charley Daly, the President of the Pleasant Hill chamber and I used to work with him - I'm not crazy about a stranger holding Claire). Claire and Santa Charley

Here are some additional photos of Claire over the last couple of days. Its difficult to type more that time given the fact that I am typing on handed while holding Claire.

Sleepy baby...

Learning to smile...

I will love her eyes no matter what color they turn, but aren't they pretty blue?

Maternity Leave

I had all these plans for maternity leave. I believed in my heart that Claire would not be arriving until at least a week after I had taken off of work. I had a whole page list of things I was going to do before the baby was born. I've pulled that list off a shelf a couple of times now and just laughed at my ambitiousness.

I feel like after five weeks I'm finally switching over from "survival mode" into "enjoying this adventure mode." I am beginning to differniate Claire's crys. Lola is becoming a champ at walking with the stroller making our outings far less challenging. We are falling into some semblance of a routine. Josh and I are trying to steal time here and there for talk about things other than diaper changes, burping and when the next feeding is. We have not braved a date night away from Claire yet. With eating every three hours it makes things a bit difficult.

We have made the transition to Fuzzi Bunz diapers. So far I am loving them. We have not put Claire in them for night time yet - they are still a little too big and I am therefore nervous they would leak a little - but she is wearing them during the day. She has the cutest diaper butt whem wearing them.

This weekend we attended Earth Dog Trials in Woodland. Border Terriers were bred to be ratters and go into holes after foxes during the "hunt." Earth Dog simulates a similar experience by building tunnels for the dogs to go in and rats (in a cage) at the end of the tunnel for the dogs to "work." "Working the rats" means the dog digs and barks at the caged rats for a specific period of time. Lola is in the intro division. She went right for the tunnel and the rats but didn't make a peep and therefore didn't pass. I'm not complaining at her lack of barking however.

4 weeks old...

Claire is four weeks old today. "They" say it goes by fast and "they" aren't kidding, I can't believe we've already reached this milestone. This past month has been one full of firsts for all of us. Josh and I are enjoying experiencing these things together. Claire and Lola hanging out**this picture was staged and closely monitored. If Lola had her way she would lick Claire to pieces.

Taking a nap.

Claire's new friend Davis.

Love the shoes Aunt B.

Hanging out with dad

Happy Halloween!

The Smiths played it low key this year for Halloween and we had two count them one - two trick or treaters. That was fine by us. My parents and sister and brother in law joined us for dinner. Brieanne, true to crafty - creative form created Claire these darling felt slippers that were just perfect for Halloween.

This weekend we also enjoyed the first storm of the fall/winter. It rained almost all day Saturday and Josh and I took the opportunity to be lazy bums. It was glorious! Claire enjoyed sleeping the day away as well.