Keep Trying...

"Keep trying." This has been my summer motto.

Anna Claire's first trip to church, the library, the pool, the Y, and even the first summer stroller ride have all been met with tears. When holding the crying, inconsolable child, it is tempting to think, "We are never doing this again. Fail."

But I am proud to say that I have kept pressing on. We are now attending church, library, the pool and Y with a smile. Stroller rides daily from 9-9:30 am - that is until 95 degree and higher temps return.

Stranger anxiety continues to vex us. I am starting to understand it better, and learn what to do to offset meltdowns. If someone approaches me or Larry and talks only to him or me, she is fine. It is when people get in her face, even close family, that she gets worked up. There are exceptions to this reasoning: the lucky friends and family members with small children seem to get a nod of approval from Anna Claire - no tears whatsoever. OR...in a setting where food is involved. Food and small children seem to be the ticket with her.

Fun, fun, fun.

It's a great feeling to put your child to bed at night and know full well, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she had a great day.

Our day started with Anna Claire's favorite blueberry breakfast, followed by church, also known as "playing with babies". I was assured she did enjoy herself, and Larry and I enjoyed the sermon, like grown folk. Grace is awesome!

We came home and napped straight away. While Anna Claire napped, I got a little housework done, flowers watered, etc.

After her nap, I took her out to play under her favorite shade tree. She does NOT want to stay on her blanket anymore. It is too small. She wants to crawl in the grass. That would be fine, but some of the grass is sharp and scrapes her legs. I will try a large sheet tomorrow.

We had plans to go to the Olive Garden with Grandma, so Larry and I thought it would be wise to do her late afternoon and evening routine a few hours early (swim in baby pool, ice cream on front porch, book time, snack, bath, and spa treatment). We did this to maintain structure for Anna Claire, and so that we could just bed her down whenever we got home. This worked GREAT.

Olive Garden was a hit for the baby, me, Larry, and Grandma. Not so much for our waitress. Food EVERYWHERE. She seriously needed a shovel when we left there. I have an idea though to help future waitresses hate us less: put down a plastic tablecloth under the high chair to serve as a catch-all. Yes, this is an investment I will make and keep in the diaper bag!

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Happy 1st Birthday, Anna Claire!

One summer day...

Today was a fun day. Anna Claire had her half waffle and blueberries for breakfast. I do believe blueberries may be her favorite food in the world.

A bit later, we sat under her favorite shade tree. Anna Claire enjoyed watching the workers mow and weedeat the lawn across the street while she ate her snack of white grape halves, goldfish crackers and pear juice. What a nice morning. A little breeze and not so hot.

We went inside for a bit and played with the Mr. Sketch scented markers. I drew pictures and let her smell each marker. She really seemed to enjoy that. Cinnamon was the favorite to sniff.

Then we took a nature walk outside. We saw three bees, two butterflies, lots of squirrels, and I talked to Anna Claire about each the trees and what kind they were. It was important to "get" a leaf from each tree.

She took two one-hour long naps today, and seemed to enjoy her lunch, especially the buttered French bread and plum. She's gonna be a breadlover just like her folks.

We took off for Toys R Us and Walmart after her second nap. Bought her her first chair and a new swimsuit to replace her popsicle-stained one. We picked up her birthday cake and requisite waffles and generic Motrin.

We normally do baby pool and ice cream from 4:30-5, but the sky was weird and it was raining off and on, so no swimming today.

Anna Claire loved her dinner. Showstoppers were: strawberries, mushrooms, cheese, and corn.

I finally bought and installed batteries in her bathtub bubble machine. It was a hit, although I am not surprised.

Oh, almost forgot. Toys R Us gave her a helium balloon since tomorrow is her birthday. She is totally weirded out by it. She wants to "get" it and is bothered by the fact that it is up in the air. When we hand it to her, she gets frustrated when she lets go and it floats away.

We got a phone call from the peds office letting us know her dr. appt. will be Monday, NOT tomorrow. Thank the Lord she does not have to go to the dr. on her birthday!

Summer Bucket List

Here's how we're doing so far. The ones in bold have been done. ;)

Zoo
YMCA (play with babies)
Red Barn (play with babies)
Public Library – 10 and 10:30, 2 and 2:30
Cindy’s (play date with Baby Ellie)
Whole Foods
Public pool (outdoor)
Swim Lessons (start in July @ the Y)
Sample ice cream @ 31 flavors
Play date with Lori and Adam
Lunch with Kelly and kids
Nursery @ Grace Community (play with babies)
Water park
Pick berries
Nashville Shores
Old Chicago

My very own roll of TP

This is what happens when you leave the room for 10 seconds to get an aspirator.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Birthday, Party of Three

I had such grandiose plans for Anna Claire's first birthday: invite all of our close family and friends, make an amazing cake, find the perfect location (the zoo, a park, McDonald's?), and we would have plenty of bubbles on hand for everyone to blow at her.

Then I asked myself what the baby would want, and reality hit me. We stay home. Just me, Larry, the baby. We have lots of balloons, wrapping paper, boxes, and of course bubbles and cake. Maybe we take her to McDonald's for a milkshake. Yes, this sounds more like my child and what she would enjoy. And I feel so much more relaxed about the whole thing. That's the beauty of it.

First trip to Baskin Robbins

Anna Claire didn't try 31 flavors, but she did try 3: very strawberry, chocolate, and rainbow. She also tried pistachio - we got Larry a milkshake to-go. Favorite flavor? Not sure. But the actual cone ended up being what she liked the best. It became apparent that she would "need" a cone, as she whined and reached for her cousin's. The sweet Baskin Robbins employee gave us one at no charge.

She's happy, and she knows it.

Anna Claire loves to clap. Even on a day like today when she is feeling rough, she was constantly looking for reasons to clap. Today I watched her clapping in the rearview mirror on the ride home. "If You're Happy and You Know It". Clap, clap, clap. "Five Days Old" Clap, clap, clap. Diego Song. Clap, clap, clap. She was cracking me up.

She is also letting us know we have her approval through clapping. This is cool - communication! So far, ice cream, bubbles, and balloons all get a clap. Ice cream got a clap and head nod. ;)

Teething Woes Continue...

We are in month six of teething. It has been utterly relentless for our poor sweet Anna Claire, even with our medicine cabinet stocked full of generic Motrin, Tylenol, and teething tablets. I could keep her home to spare everyone in greater Clarksville/Nashville area from her wailing, but I think I would go crazy.

Today's trip to the pool at the Sports Complex was not what I had envisioned, but I want her to have the same experiences as other babies. Her cries may not be music to anyone's ears, including mine, but hopefully she had at least a nanosecond of fun between crying spells. *sigh*

Learn how to walk, please.

I know I need to be careful what I wish for, and that once Anna Claire starts walking she is going to be busy, busy, busy, into everything. I get that. However, the child needs to learn how to walk soon because my neck, back, and shoulders tell me so. She is getting SO heavy, and lugging around a 25 pounder is really taking its toll on me!

Mommy Sits with the Big Kids at Church

Today was the first day I've left Anna Claire with anyone besides Larry. I am pretty sure it was harder for me than for her. I spent the first fifteen minutes of the service wringing my hands and watching the screen frantically for Anna Claire's number to flash on the screen, letting me know to come get her. But it never did. She was crying I returned for her, but I was assured it hadn't been for long, and I know it was the best thing for the both of us.

What a blessing that for the past two Sundays the women working the church nursery were actually friends of mine. Both Sundays a friend I've known since elementary school has been there. Last Sunday a sorority sister and friend was there, and this Sunday a parent of one of my former daycare students was working. I would have had a much harder time leaving had they been total strangers.

I was ultimately able to calm down and enjoy and listen to the sermon, for the first time since Anna Claire was born.

As I reflect on our decision to wait until she was an older baby to introduce her to church, I now realize it should have been a part of her weekly life from birth. I will do so many things differently with our next child. I will be much more willing to try things, that is for sure.

First Time Playing with Pots and Pans

Not sure who had more fun - the baby, or us watching her.

Cha-cha-cha-changes...

What a week of change. Anna Claire is now taking all naps in her crib. This has been a huge accomplishment for Larry and me considering that she spent the first year of her life napping in our laps (on the Boppy)!

Diaper changes may need to be on the floor, for safety sake. The child wants to kick and jump off the table. So long changing table, for now.

Anna Claire's focus has shifted from communication to motor skills. She is cruising and pushing up to standing on her own. In fact, today was the first day she has ever stood up by herself. It won't be long until she's walking - we're sure of it.

I love that she can eat what we're eating. Aside from potatoes, she is on an entirely solid food diet at this point. We've replaced our usual yogurt and baby cereal breakfast to half a frozen waffle and blueberries.

Some changes are good and some are challenging, but they are all a part of raising Anna Claire, and we just love her.

It's Anna Claire, not Anna

Ok, peeps. I have always wanted to go by Angela, but everyone insisted on calling me Angie. Please do not do this to my child. We named her Anna Claire. You know, like Jo Ann, or Mary Beth. It is fairly common for Southern girls to go by their first and middle names, and this was our intention. I hereby declare: She will go by Anna Claire until SHE decides to change it to something different.

Getting "the sillies" out

I just love how Anna Claire goes to sleep laughing. She also goes to sleep on my bed. Hey, it works for us so don't knock it (It takes less than five minutes for her to fall asleep after her last bedtime story). ;)

Monday she grabbed the little dome battery-powered light that I keep at bedside and clicked it on and off, over and over, laughing. Then rolled over and fell asleep. I picked her up, into the crib she went. I get up and have about an hour of "mommy time" before my bedtime.

Last night she smooshed her face into mine. I laughed, then she laughed, then rolled over and fell asleep. I put her in the crib.

Tonight she sat straight up, then did a Nestea plunge backward onto the bed, laughing. She repeated this about 10 more times before falling asleep. Into the crib she went.

What a character.

A Low Key Day

Anna Claire is cutting several bottom teeth at once and is in a lot of pain. She is not sleeping well at all, so today we purposely planned a day with no outings. Just routine. Trying to keep things as calm as possible to soothe an overtired baby.

First Day in Church Nursery

What an exciting day. Anna Claire really enjoyed playing alongside the other babies. Larry and I have never left her with anyone, so I stayed in the nursery with her. It was still a great experience, just giving her the opportunity to "socialize". She loved playing with all of the toys, none of which we have at home, so that made them special. She did seem to want whatever other babies were playing with and grabbed toys out of other babies' hands.

Later, Meme visited. We went outside and played with found leaves and flowers. She also took a bite of her first apple.

We ended the day by eating our dinner outside on the porch in our pajamas.