So... in case I haven't mentioned it yet... Klair is incredible. She really is the best baby that has ever lived. Just today one of the receptionists at Sam's work commented (of her own volition) that Klair is her favorite baby, despite the fact that she has a number of nieces and nephews who she adores. We get that a lot actually. I think it not only has to do with the fact that she is absolutely adorable, but even more so I attribute it to her incredible personality. She is such a happy soul. She literally shines, and everyone around her notices. I feel honored to be associated with someone who can bring so much joy to everyone that she comes in contact with. It makes me want to be a better person, and indeed I feel that the moments when I have been my best self have been inspired by her. Being a mother is the most fun I've ever had in my day-to-day routine. I would call it a "job," but I think that has a negative connotation. Although it is work to be a stay-at-home mom, it doesn't seem like any other work that I've ever done. I don't begrudge doing it the way I think most people inevitably feel about work and/or school. In fact, I look forward to each and every day that I can spend with my little babe and my husband. I am incredibly blessed to say the least.
And now, a few updates on the Klair Bear. I've been keeping a running list of milestones and achievements in my phone with the intention that at some point I would update the blog. So here goes:
Sunday August 4th: Klair pulled herself up to a standing position by using the hymn book holder on the back of the pew at church... She then fell and hit her head on it, but she pulled herself up! (And luckily neither the fall or the hit were bad enough to cause any real damage, she was barely shaken in fact.)
Monday August 5th: Sam got home late. By the time he got home I had bathed Klair and was putting her to bed. She seemed reluctant to go to sleep and when Sam came in it became apparent why. He came in and opened her bedroom door. She spun around and immediately yelled and squeaked with delight. He picked her up and she looked at him, nestled her head into his shoulder, looked at him again, and then hugged him--all with the biggest grin on her face. It was so sweet, I almost started crying. Although she has acknowledged him plenty of times, this was definitely the most aware I've seen her be of his presence. It was very apparent that she had missed him and was grateful to spend some time with him before going to bed for the night. I think the feeling was mutual :)
Thursday August 8th: I took video of her bend-and- scooting and spinning in circles on her bottom while sitting up. She loves to practice walking and her steps are getting more fluid and precise.
Friday August 9th: I was nursing Klair before bed. Oftentimes when I do this I close my eyes because it encourages her to do the same (if I make eye contact with her she becomes excited and gets more energy than a baby before bed should have). On this particular evening she was resisting her tiredness, and she was poking at my face trying to get me to look at her. I refused and continued to pretend to be sleeping. Finally she put her hand on my face, looked up at me and said "mama" very distinctly and very deliberately. At this point I couldn't help but look at her and acknowledge what she had just done. I opened my eyes and exclaimed that I am indeed her mama. A smile lit up on her face as she realized that she had won, and as I feared she became even more awake and excited... but it was worth it. This was the first time that "mama" was obviously anything more than random syllables. She knew what she was saying, and she meant it. Amazing.
This wasn't the last time she did this either. She did it a few more times in August and nowadays she constantly uses it to get my attention and to acknowledge me. She also knows what "dada" means and I can't say it without her looking to the door in anticipation (and then getting sad if he doesn't walk through it). Furthermore, although she can't say their names she knows who Harvey and Rosie are. She also knows the command to put her hands up and legs down when I slide the tray onto her high chair.
Monday August 19th: she had been working on scooting all month but finally mastered it... And I got some of it on camera! She also uses her toy table to pull herself up to a kneeling position (left leg kneeling, right leg out). I put her in a kneeling position on the 21st and she stayed like that playing with the toys on her table for a long while.
Klair also started swim lessons on the 19th and nothing scared her. She LOVED the pool and she even let me dunk her without a problem. During tummy floats she used her right arm exclusively to swim foreword.
By Friday (the third lesson) she was swimming with both legs and arms going. I wonder if this is making a connection for her--the idea of using arms and legs to propel herself foreword-- because that afternoon at Grandma Jeannie's she lunged from a sitting position into a crawling one. It didn't last long but it was more than she's done before in terms of crawling! She is however still a pretty efficient scooter.
On Saturday the 24th I brought her pack and play up to our room for the sake of taking showers (simply leaving her on the floor is more dangerous now that she's more mobile). I thought she would protest but she happily played in it for about an hour, allowing me time to get some things done. I'm hoping the novelty won't wear off and that it can continue to be a good, safe option for me to utilize :)
By the end of August Klair became and extremely talented little scooter. It was amazing how quickly she took to it and excelled. Sam went out of town for a week and the difference from when he left tow he came home was remarkable. She scoots all over the house and gets into everything. It is adorable and difficult :)
On the 29th of August she had her 9 month appointment. She is perfect and healthy, and I am one grateful mother! She is in the 97th percentile for height, 80th percentile for head circumference, and 64th percentile for her weight. Thus, she has maintained her height and head size, but her weight is dropping a little (something that is apparently normal for breastfed babies once they start solids).
Monday September 9th: I had a hair appointment so I took Klair to my mother-in-law's for the afternoon. Earlier that morning when I was playing with Klair I attempted to get her to hold my phone up to her ear and say "Hello? Hi!" Although she was amused, she didn't perform. Apparently our little play session sunk in though, because while Klair was with her grandma she decided to play with her cell phone. She took the phone, put it up to her ear, and said "Hello?" ... except it was more like, "heh-wo?" She did this several times while I was gone, and she even did it for me when I arrived (and later for her dad at home). She has officially mastered her first non repeating two-syllable word, and it couldn't be any cuter.
Thursday September 12th: Today before bed Klair learned how to do a high-five. I made a pretty big deal out of it once she actually hit my hand, and it was so sweet to see how excited she got. It was apparent that she was really proud of herself, and now every high five is followed with squeals and giggles of delight.
Tonight she also decided to randomly drum on my head while I was laying on her carpet--something she thought was hilarious. And, even though I don't want to encourage any kind of hitting, I couldn't help but laugh with her. She has this devious, mischievous little sense of humor at times, and she is so stinking cute that it's hard not to laugh with her. I'm going to create a monster. The cutest little monster ever... Oh my. I am so whipped :)
Here are some photos that I took of her recently. I am not a photographer. I have a nice camera that does most of the work for me, and I enjoy taking pictures. I would rather have a professional take constant photos of Klair, but since I can neither afford that nor is it feasible, I am stuck doing a lot of the photo-taking. That being said, I really do enjoy taking photos of Klair. And she makes it so easy! That girl is photogenic. I usually photograph her with my iPhone because that's what I have on me at all times, but occasionally I feel inspired and get the Canon out. Here are some of my better Canon moments :)
8 Month Photos
The first set of photos is of Klair in her most common state: sleeping. For her 8 month photos I decided it would be fun to go au natural and show the simplicity and beauty of pajamas and nap time. I have affectionately named this photo op--
Pajama Sessions:
This is a collage that Sam helped me to create.
9 Month Photos:
For her 9 month photos (in September) I wanted to capture one last set of warm weather photos before the cold came and sitting in the grass in a romper seemed like a distant, pleasant memory.
I am going to miss the short shorts and tanks that show off those sweet baby rolls.
Just look at that arm dimple! I love it.
And I love her.