Claire's Christening - August 29, 2009

Yesterday was Claire's christening and what a day it was! Not to be outdone by Belle's christening being threatened by Hurricane Hannah, Claire's christening was a soaker as we received four inches of rain from Hurricane Danny and other storms. We still had a great time, though. Claire was wonderful! She fell asleep just before the ceremony but woke up as she was being annointed and smiled the rest of the time. Belle was great, allowing her sister to shine in the spotlight, knowing all the while she was being watched herself because she's such a cutie!

Earlier in the week, Belle picked out her very first potty. She's not really using it yet but she likes to look at it and is curious!

Cows and Teeth and Family, Oh My!

This past Friday marked a huge milestone as the girls took their first trip without Mommy, going with Kacey to her house so that Claire could have her first swim in the pool and Belle could try for the second time. Both girls did well and had a great time. Here they are in their swimsuits before they left...

Annabelle's latest obsession is with cows, ever since we saw them across the highway on our way to and from Sodus Point. Mommy couldn't take any more requests for "moo cow?" so we headed to Crescent Ridge in Sharon, MA (near our old apartment in Canton) for some ice cream and cow sightings. We got there at noon on a hot, humid day so we were worried when we didn't immediately see them outside, but were relieved to discover they were hanging out under the shade of trees.

In honor of Patrick's 36th birthday on Friday, Claire decided to gift her father with not one, but two (bottom) teeth, her first! Mommy was amazed since she was only 5 months and 10 days, while Belle got her first tooth at 8.5 months, but knew there was no comparing the two! It's been a fussy time in the Griffith household as Claire adjusts but she's very taken with them, running her tongue and lips over them constantly. She's also trying to crawl but just ends up looking like she's going to take off flying!

On Tuesday, Bubbe, Grandpa Irwin and Aunt Stacey flew into Providence and drove to our house on their first leg of a fly/drive vacation. Belle was confused to have another "Grandpa" but was a little better once we told her we'd refer to him just as "Irwin." In typical Annabelle Reese fashion, she was freaked out about strangers but we think it might just be men because she was fairly quick to warm up to Bubbe and Stacey, doing airplane with Mac 'n Cheese and reading books with Aunt Stacey. We also took a trip to Irwin's "mecca," Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place so the girls could get new outfits and Irwin could visit the Pro Shop. On the last night of the visit, Claire actually slept from 8:30 until 5:45, her longest stint in months, so we saw that as a good omen of the visit.

Sina Family Picnic

August 7-9 marked our second long car ride to Sodus Point, NY in as many months and let's just say we won't be doing back-to-back trips like that again - at least not anytime soon! The girls had a lot of fun seeing the family but the parents were exhausted! Claire enjoyed meeting Uncle Jeremy for the first time...

Georgie did his part by guarding the watermelon for Annabelle and all of the aunts and uncles took turns with the girls so Mommy and Daddy could have a break - well, Daddy was cooking but still...

Claire also liked showing Great-Grandma how to use the remote to find her favorite channels - that is, when she wasn't spreading sweet peas all over herself and the Bumbo seat...

The weekend took a lot out of all of us (see below...) but we were so glad to be able to see the family, something we don't get to do enough...

It's good to be home!

The Sisters...

Annabelle and Claire definitely started acting like sisters this week, "fighting" over toys and vying for attention from Mom and Dad. Annabelle has been such a big help though, picking up spoons or toys that "Baby" dropped. She's also good about getting her cups, toys, etc. - whatever she's looking for - and bringing them to you if she wants a refill or just a hug. It's amazing how quickly they are changing and how big both girls are getting. While I work from home so I get to see there throughout every day, I still feel like I've blinked this week and missed something. Both have really changed this week, looking more "grown-up," sweeter, more aware...

A Week of Firsts...

This weekend we went to visit the Kondrats this weekend and met Baby Zach for the first time. Boy is he cute. Claire already has a crush and Belle was mesmerized that another baby existed!

Annabelle (and Claire) had her first Gymboree class yesterday. She clung to Daddy like "Cling Wrap" and cried when she was put down but we're going to press on and keep trying. She liked watching all the activities but was so shy that we've decided to bring her to a couple of Open Gym times to ease her into the environment and start classes in September. Yesterday, Daddy also taught Belle how to climb the stairs herself. And, she's mastered feeding herself applesauce and chicken nuggets. Where's our little baby? Not to be outdone, Claire wanted to feed herself too!

Claire's growing and changing too. She rolls and rolls and rolls (thus, her first header off the couch this week - ouch!) and she's starting to become attached to a couple of her loveys like her bunny and her puppy. She's also starting to notice Reilly and wanted him to lick her face today! She's entered the teething stage so all hopes of her sleeping through the night anytime soon seem to be fading but we're slowing adjusting and keep reminding ourselves that it's all temporary.

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere!

Claire's only happy standing this week - or trying to escape from her chair...unless you surround her with stuffed animals on the floor and then she'll giggle forever!

Both girls are still giving Mommy and Daddy (mostly Mom!) a run for their money as they don't want to sleep. Belle's having separation anxiety in her crib at night and Claire's so hungry that no amount of rice cereal in the bottle, meals during the day, 6-ounce bottles or increased doses of Prilosec can cure so back to the doctor for advice. They said to give her until 5 months but what do we do then? Ah, the joys of parenting...

Annabelle still doesn't like walking around on the grass without assistance but loves playing on the deck or the front porch. The new word spoken constantly around the Griffith household is "Bubbles!" which can either mean bubbles or goldfish, from her book, "B is for Bear," since her favorite page reads, "G is for Goldfish, blowing bubbles of air." She's also taking to watching "Baby" like a hawk and needs to know where she is or what she's doing at all times!

So big!

Claire is such a big girl. At her 4-month check-up this week, she weighed in at 13 pounds 14 ounces (53rd percentile) and 25.25 inches (81st percentile)! Wow! She truly will be bigger than her big sister in no time! She also started eating veggies this week; so far, she's a big fan of carrots and sweet potatoes.

Belle's slowly getting more used to being outside and loves walking around the house with Mommy - with one hand of course! She's also started climbing into Mommy's lap this week, to read a book, watch tv or just cuddle - so sweet!