The blog with many titles

This blog could have about 10 different titles. "First tooth", "Claire Crawls!", "Getting the best and taking the best", "Tales of our Travels", "Shoot me in the face tired"...the list goes on! It's just been that kind of week. Claire and I went to Houston for what was to be a quick trip home to see friends and my mom. It turned into 8 days in Texas and included a trip to Austin. Since we fly standby for our travel you never know when you may get "stuck" somewhere which is why our trip was a little longer than planned. Claire and I had a great flight to Houston. It couldn't have been any better. The flight home was a little less glamorous but we made it home. I got to spend some time with my BFF, Sandi. Claire got to hang out with Logan. They were so cute together.

I got to spend time with my other BF, Kaylan, which was awesome. Grandma had some quality time with Claire as well. We went to a baby shower for our friends Jenney and Keith. Ahliana was a beautiful sight! It was a full trip.

Claire decided to grow up in Texas. She became a real crawler at my mom's house and later that night she pulled herself up in her playpen and was just standing there looking at us. 2 days later I felt her first tooth cutting. She learned to wave at people (thanks to Grandma's encouragement). Her 9 month jammies even seemed to be getting too small. What the heck! Claire has taken her time with becoming mobile (thank you) and getting her teeth so we have been anticipating it at anytime. All at once though it just funny! It is fun to watch her explore and also a bit exhausting. The baby I brought to Texas isn't the baby I brought home. She will only keep adding to her talents as she embarks on her journey to becoming a toddler! I am so proud of her.

I loved being home but I am tired. That is all I can say. I kept Claire on AZ time zone which is a 2 hr difference. She went to bed at 9:30 pm on average so we were all pooped out by the end of the day. I would have probably switched her over to TX time if I knew the trip would be longer but atleast now she's still on track. I miss everyone back in Texas but I am very glad to call Arizona my home now. Sometimes when you go back you realize that everything is as it should be now. I am pretty sure that Claire will always have a little Texas in her heart though and so will I.

It's Ma-Ma!!!

Claire had a big debut tonight. She said 'ma-ma... mmom... mamamama'. You get the point! I know she wasn't exactly calling me mama but she did say it over and over all the same. I can't wait until she understands she is saying my name! It's so cute. Her little lips get all tucked in like an old man with no teeth when she says her M's. I thought I heard some 'mum' snippits earlier today but laughed it off. I even called Eric at work and was kidding around that she was saying 'mom'. Tonight however, she may have just made the baby book for real! I heard it, Daddy heard it, and Grandma heard it over the phone! I guess you could say it made me pretty happy! :) Anything other than 'aaah boo' is great!

Summer Lovin

Claire is still in her pre-crawler phase but on the go none the less. She already manages to get into everything we don't want her to get in to. How does this happen with so many toys right there at her little fingertips!? She has added a new skill to her repertoire this week....sitting up by herself from a laying down position. I heard her in her crib and went to check on her and guess who was sitting up in the corner. YAH CLAIRE! It's always cute seeing her learn something new. She thinks it's pretty funny too and always smiles big when I catch her doing her new trick. It's just the beginning. I think it's uphill for her and downhill for us!

Right now we are just enjoying the summer pool time and hanging with our baby friends. I think we are going to join Gymboree for the summer while it's so hot outside. She loves the action and it's different from playing at home with boring ole Mommy! I feel that we are on this last stretch before she turns into a big girl and has her first birthday. It's kind of hard to imagine her not being this size. I know she will only be little once but in my heart she will always be my baby.