Does she look like she's having fun??

Well, we did the trail test of the fancy new baby backpack. Not exactly a successful venture. First, it was hot and smokey (when will it ever snow??). Second, Claire lasted for about 3/4 of a mile before going totally ballistic, right as we were climbing uphill. After a diaper check, nothing there, back into the pack she went. Still ballistic. Then, mom and dad both tried carrying her while carrying packs and trekking poles and the dog leash. Still ballistic. We finally get smart and decide if she's going to scream, we might as well carry her in the backpack. With about 1/2 mile left of our short loop, she finally fell asleep. The picture was taken back at the truck since we didn't have any "kodak moments" on the trail. We aren't sure if it was the weather, her mood, or the pack, but we weren't the poster family for children in the great outdoors today.

Okay, maybe I am a baby gear hog...

Some of you know how I vowed before Claire was born to be a minimalist in terms of baby gear. Of course, I'm mostly eating my words (a glance around the house right now reveals an exersaucer, johnny-jump up, play mat, and bouncy chair). However, considering everything you COULD buy for a baby these days, I give myself a B-. I do have to admit to being very excited when our newest baby gear arrived on Thursday, mostly because it's OUTDOOR baby gear which means we can use it to get back into the great outdoors with Claire. The latest purchase is a baby hiking backpack by Sherpani. (I did get it at a great price from REI outlet with a 20% off coupon for members.) A test run out around the yard on Thursday night proved a hit with Claire. Let's hope she feels the same way when we get it out on an actual trail!

Ten signs you are out of the Newborn/New Mommy Phase

1. Your back is getting out of line from carrying baby on your left hip.

2. Instead of rushing over when baby cries, you spend ten minutes trying to get a picture of her temper tantrum face because you think it's funny. (Still didn't get it, but see picture at right.)

3. You actually look in a cook book for a new recipe instead of wishing you had bought more frozen food when you last grocery shopped.

4. You actually follow through and cook the new recipe (maple roasted pork ribs).

5. When you sit down with husband to enjoy the meal, the sounds of the baby crying in the swing along with the swing's canned classical music have become normal background noise to a "nice" dinner together.

6. Dad has figured out how to make the Baby Bjorn into a beer holder. (see picture below)

7. You sometimes forget to change a diaper and are amazed they really can hold about a gallon of liquid!

8. Instead of trying to keep the dirty ol' dog away from new baby, you are trying to get the dog used to baby grabbing handfuls of his hair. (Dog isn't particularly excited about this new experiment.)

9. You no longer feel obligated to dress baby in pink when going out so strangers will know you have a "cute little girl." Instead, you reply to their questions about gender with, "Girls can't wear pink everyday."

10. The only clothes that don't have spit-up stains are the ones that you still can't fit into because those last stubborn 5 pounds haven't gone away yet and your resolve to do crunches until they do never matches your craving to sit on the couch when you get a minute to yourself.

Back to School

Although I've been spending the past week and a half at school working to move my classroom and in meetings Monday and Tuesday, today was the first day back with students in front of me. I have to admit it felt good to be back in front of a class again, and I enjoyed seeing all the kids in their "first day" outfits and attitudes, joking with them, and being "Mrs. Cutler" again. I have two sections of 7th grade English and one section of Advanced Placement English. The seniors in AP English were my first 8th grade class when I started at Three Forks, so it's fun to see them now again as 17 and 18 year olds versus the 13/14 year olds they were four years ago.

At the same time, I was glad to leave after third period and retrieve Claire from daycare knowing I still had most of the day with her. I've managed my separation anxiety with few tears so far and only one small neurotic session obsessing about changing bottle nipple flows. She is adjusting to daycare, not entirely thrilled about her bottle there, but managing to eat everyday. This afternoon for the first time she rolled over from her back to her stomach . She's really a little sunshine every day for us.

Four Months and Full of It

Claire is four months old today (16 weeks). She had her four month check up and shots last week weighing in at 13 pounds 10 ounces and measuring 24 inches tall. All her little rolls and dimples makes me smile, especially remembering the scrawny legs and arms she had her first month of life. Claire is full of smiles and giggles for anyone willing to talk to her, and she wanting to spend less time in her bouncy seat and more time in the exersaucer and hanging bouncy seat where she can be more active. She rolls up on her side, but hasn't made it all the way over yet. When she doesn't have a pacifier, she likes her first two fingers in her mouth (as seen in this picture). I think she's already itching to walk because she loves to stand if we hold her up and gets impatient with reclining positions now. Nate says she's showing some of my character traits because she gets frustrated when she can't figure a toy out or get it into her mouth fast enough; of course, I don't know what he's alluding to. My biggest challenge this month will be getting a more structured nap schedule and getting her to nap in her crib. (Right now she prefers the swing or my arms.) As school starts next week I'm hoping the more consistent schedule will help with this...I may need those afternoon naps for grading!

Trip to Washington

After two weeks away in Washington, I arrived back home last night. The trip was a wonderful chance to spend some quality time with my family and get away from the heat and smoke that has been plaguing Montana this summer. We enjoyed the overcast and cool Washington weather as well as the green trees and gardens of the Skagit Valley. Claire got to meet a whole new round of cousins, aunts, and uncles; there was never a shortage of arms wanting to hold her! During our time there we had several great meals with the family, took Claire to her first Red Sox game (at the Mariner's stadium--Safeco), shopped with grandma, took a few walks, Nate fished for salmon and worked on my parents' addition, and, thanks to grandma's babysitting we were able to ride our mountain bikes. (It felt great to get back to a pre-baby hobby!) Claire is at a stage where she seeks out social contact and loves being talked to, played with and held, so this made it fun for everyone wanting to hold the newest addition to the family.

We enjoying taking the scenic route home through northern Idaho and Montana, trying to avoid the Interstate a little and check out some new places. However as we got farther south into Montana the smoke got thicker and the temperature rose...it made us immediately miss the fresh sea air we left behind. Yet fall is coming; I am back to school in a week and a half...so it's time to change gears a little and start thinking about work again and leaving Claire behind for a few hours each day. (I'm only teaching from 8-11 this year.) I'm going to do a few trial runs next week at daycare to get used to it.

Trip to Washington