Highlights of weeks 10-13

I'm combining a slideshow of highlights of life over the last 3-4 weeks. Lots of activity for sure! You will see pictures of very special people: Abby Brown is 2 weeks younger than Claire and the daughter of Allison, one of my coworkers. We got to take a walk together and share stories. Allison was sharing with me what it has been like to go from 1 baby to 2 now. "Aunt Cel" is one my dearest friends and came to love on Claire and bring a Bama Burp Cloth - her first stitch of Crimson Tide paraphernalia. You meet Margaret and April who keep the nursery at the Hoover Rec Center. They have loved on Claire and had so much fun with her. You meet Uncle Robert and Aunt Andrea who got in a quick visit after an exhausting day of Robert recovering from having a kidney stone. Ms. Carolyn is one of Claire's teachers at Cathedral Day Care along with Ms. Tracy, Ms. Nicole and others who are not pictured yet. She does so well with them. They know how to handle babies.

In the last 2 weeks we have had lots of transition and firsts. I returned to work part time at UAB and Claire started Day Care. No one was worried about her - but about me. I did choke up when I had to walk away that first time, but I knew she was in good hands. Heck, they know more about babies than I do (she might like them better - kidding!). Each day gets better on the logistics of getting everything we both need for a day together and out the door. She gets great care and does lots of activities. The cobwebs are brushing away for me re: work and I've jumped back in. I LOVE PART TIME! So glad to have the other days to do the rest of life. I thank the Lord I have this opportunity.

Our other big adventure was our first BIG road trip with Claire: Destination - Baton Rouge, LA. We went half way on Thurs night and spent the night with my Aunt Bobby and Uncle John in Brandon, MS. They are so wonderful to wait up for us and get up early with us and get in a good but short visit. We got to see my dear friends, Nancy and Billy Mink and introduce them to Claire. I am always refreshed and challenged by being around them because of their desire to grow and learn and be the spouses God wants them to be, the parents God wants them to be and the servants God wants them to be. We made it to Baton Rouge and after TJ Ribs, got to go let Jim show off Claire to his office crew and then on to LSU to let Doris do the same. What fun to watch proud grandparents parade their granddaughter around and show her to anyone who would pause and look. Claire handled being on display very well. Saturday, Claire and I stayed home with grandmother and Uncle Bobby to watch LSU beat Alabama while Jeff and Granddad went to the game. We made the whole drive back on Monday and Claire was a trooper. She slept lots and cooed and ooohed and fussed appropriately. We get fussy too when we are hungry or need a diaper change. Parents who have gone before us were right on several things but we experienced these: 1. Babies typically are more flexible than we give them credit for and it's best to travel when they are young and sleep lots. 2. It's crazy how much stuff you have to take for such a little person 3. It's amazing how much a baby can put in a diaper :))

She's 3 months old now and so fun. We get more confident as we learn and try new things and adapt. It's God's grace that a child does not remember these early weeks/months/years as parents bump around! Enjoy some highlight photos of special family and friends and some everyday looks from Claire. Looking forward to our first holidays with her.