Clara, you're seven months old today! You make seven months look easy! You're happy most of the time and are so easy-going. We love your personality that is starting to appear more and more. You truly seem to love life. You go with the flow so easily. You don't mind new places or people, as long as you're in my arms or the arms of someone you know.
You have no teeth yet, nor do you seem to be teething particularly much. You have everything in your mouth all the time, yes, but I think that's just normal for a baby your age! You do love to eat, despite having no teeth. You have only really started solids this month...a few cheerios here and Gerber puffs there. I've also started giving you some oatmeal with yogurt for night snack before bed and you plow through that stuff amazingly well for only having eaten off a spoon about half a dozen times! You've also tried watermelon and pineapple and apple and mandarin and whatever else we are eating. Oh, and tortillas, of course! You're still nursing every two hours during the day.
Your sleep this month has been about normal. You have been up three times a night for most of the month (11:30pm, 3:30am, 7am) but since starting to give you yogurt and oatmeal for night snack, you've started only being up twice! Thank you! You go to bed around 7:30-8pm and wake for the day around 8am. You sleep in a playpen in your own room and roll all over the place while you sleep! No more finding you exactly how I left you. You love to have flannel below you and like to have an extra flannel blanket in your bed to rub in your face to help you sleep. Adorable, you are!
Your eyes are still so blue and your hair is a light brown colour. There is still a bit of a bald spot on the back, but it's filling in nicely. You still have really dark, longer hair at the nape of your neck that I keep thinking I should trim a bit. It's the only hair that is still the same hair as when you were born, I think. Cradle cap is gone...yay!!
You're not moving so much that you're crawling, but you are definitely working on getting places! When you sit, you pivot around and REACH if you see something you want. Sometimes we will hear you complaining and look over to find you half tipped over and holding yourself up with one arm, trying with all your might not to fall over! Other times you do just plop over...and on concrete/tile floors it kinda hurts! You can easily roll from back to tummy and tummy to back. It's not safe to leave you on any kind of raised surface, though when your brother is nearby, I know you'll be safe. He loves to take care of you and does such a good job! Your sisters love to watch you too, especially Kayden, but they are still young enough to get distracted and not notice you move to the edge of whatever it is that you're sitting or laying on. You may or may not have taken a tumble off the couch this month because "helpers" weren't watching. Mommy's fault...sorry sweetie!
You pulled yourself up to standing for the first time today! I was eating my pizza during our typical pizza-movie night and you were sitting next to me, reaching for my plate. The next thing I knew, you grabbed my arm and were standing on the couch beside me! Nice work, strong girl! You were SO proud of yourself too. I could just see it in your eyes...your mind was thinking, "That was fun...mental note: try this again!" Anything for whatever is on mommy's plate, right?
Speaking of grabbing things, you are one grabby little girl. Nothing is safe with your little hands around. You grab plates and cups and tables and hair...Kayden has had her hair pulled by you on more than one occasion. You are just so curious! I love to see it, though I've had to stop wearing my necklace because it hurts too much when you pull on it. Plus, I'm scared you'll break it! Your grip is strong! Once you have something in your hand, it goes straight to your mouth. You've mastered feeding yourself Cheerios or whatever else I throw on your high chair tray. You get so mad when your tray is empty.
You have such a sweet little personality. I know I've said it before, but it's true! Everyone around here gushes about how sweet you are and you just look at them for a while and then you usually smile before burying your face into my shoulder. Then you peek back at them and smile again. You melt everyone's heart. Ours included!
Nicknames you've picked up this month...well, mostly you're just Clara. Mexicans call you "Clarita." It means "little Clara." They all love your name, by the way, because after hearing everyone else's names in this family, they're glad to hear one that's familiar in their country! There is an abuela at church who is named Clara as well and she loves to give you an extra special greeting whenever she sees you! Tio Yamil here at MTC likes to call you "Cachetes!" It means cheeks :) You always give him a huge smile when you see him.
You are wearing mostly 6-12 month clothes still. I have no idea how much you weigh, though I'm very curious! I know you're small for your age, based on the baby at church who is only one month older than you! She's much bigger than you are! If I had to guess, I'd say you're maybe 15-16lbs? You're growing, but still so small. Beautifully and perfect, there's nothing wrong with being petite!
You nap three times a day fairly consistently and go down like a dream, most of the time. I usually feed you when you wake up and then an hour and a half later I feed you again. Half an hour after that, I put you down for a nap and you usually sleep for about an hour to an hour and a half. You always wake up happy and are content to play in your crib until I come and get you or until Levi or Kayden comes to "help" you by playing with you through the playpen sides until I come. You always have a huge smile and flailing limbs when you see me come for you. I love those first wake-up smiles from you!
Clara, you are adorable and a joy to have around. I can't imagine life without you. We love having you here with us as a part of our family. You're a beautiful daughter and sister and we are thoroughly enjoying watching you grow up and learn new things. God made you someone special and I am so glad that I get to be your Mama. Happy seven months, my girl. I love you!
