There is so much that's happened in the past month that it'll be hard to make this post make any sense at all. I think this is the longest I have ever gone without a blog update. It has been absolutely crazy, but I'm sure you know why! There are more reasons than just Clara, though. My sister's divorce hearing was last week, and I took Clara with me to go support her in the process. It was really weird, crazy, and stressful, and therefore, exhausting. But it's done, and Jenny was awarded primary custody, so it should be uphill from here. It was kind of interesting how nice it was that Clara was with me, because nothing makes a person feel better than snuggling with a baby, right? When you're nervous, a hug is the best thing, but you can't really just hug another adult. So Jenny was holding Clara, rocking and bouncing, before things got started at the courthouse each day, and it really was helpful, I could tell. It was funny that for all the support I wanted to provide, it was probably Clara who did the most good. :)
Also this past week, Travis also had to travel for work, an opportunity he couldn't pass up. The meeting was in South Africa, so he left Tuesday for Johannesburg and came back Saturday. Between his jetlag and my exhaustion from the stress of the trial and caring for 3 kids on my own, we were pretty worthless yesterday. But today is better, since Trav slept 10+ hours and I slept the same 8 hours as Clara. Next week, Trav is in Miami for most of the week, so I'm taking the girls to my parents' for a few days. The week of Ragbrai, though, he is taking vacation! He originally planned to bike a few days, but when the South Africa trip came up, he figured it made more sense to just keep the vacation week but do things as a family, just around Des Moines, instead. I can't wait!
Travis didn't get to see much of anything while he was there, because it was so work-intensive, but he did bring back a vuvuzela and a couple baby stuffed animals for the kids (giraffe for Emily, elephant for Audrey, and a lion for Clara). The girls most enjoyed the vuvuzela, though. Travis would give it a loud honk and they'd jump and giggle and run around the house.
So the most fun thing: Clara has started talking! Jenny was playing a video for E and A, and I started singing the song for Clara, since we were having the nicest little conversation at the time. The coolest part was the next day when I sang the same song for her, and she totally recognized it!! Her eyes lit up and she started talking (singing?) along with me. She even let out a really nice little squeal that she surprised herself with. :) I think we've got a chatty one on our hands. And her smile is so much more frequent and genuine now. It looks great on her - what a beauty! She's always been really bright-eyed and expressive, but now it seems like she's really getting her own personality along with her expressions. I feel bad that she's got baby acne, but it shouldn't be much longer before that goes away.
Clara is a fantastic sleeper. She likes to be awake for a while after she's done her main 6-8 hour stretch at night, which is a little bit annoying but even if I don't get the opportunity to go back to sleep after that, I've generally still gotten an uninterrupted night, even if it is short. And she's never up for more than an hour during the night, so I don't have those disastrous 1AM to 4AM nights. It makes such a huge difference in how I can function!
Clara is also very strong! She's been doing great with tummy time, lifting her head and looking back and forth. She likes to hold her own head up if carried vertically - no snuggling into your chest unless she's already half-asleep. We've gone for a couple of walks with her in the baby carrier, and she is super unhappy if she's facing in, but she loves facing out! She has started using her legs when she's mad, she'll straighten them out and flex her little muscles, which is so cute because her legs are so small!! It also makes me feel like it's all right for her to be a little upset once in a while, cuz she gets some more exercise that way. Other than that, she's really a chilled out baby.
One of the biggest things to report is that our nanny started! It's been 3 weeks and the girls really like her. She's taken them fun places, she's really gotten to know them. There have been a few things I've had to get used to, like someone else cooking in my kitchen, and being second in command when she's here during the day, but the latter will go away once I'm gone at work while she's here. For now, I am enjoying that Travis will leave the door unlocked when he leaves, and she comes on in before I'm even up, some days. It's music to my ears when she walks in and greets my girls and immediately asks them if they'd like breakfast. I can snooze a few more minutes, or get nice relaxed shower. Luxury, I tell ya. I really think it's worth the money to make my life easier for now. I don't like to shop, I don't spend much money on actual "stuff", but spending money to improve an experience is totally worth it, I think.
There are a few especially funny (or notable) things that the girls have done lately, but I'll just get this posted and add another entry later this week. Maybe I'll have time in Rockford to write.
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