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

On the Road Again...

Claire and I are hitting the road and deserting my patient husband once again. We leave tonight for Washington where we will spend time with my parents and siblings. Nate will actually drive out to join us this weekend and then spend the next week there. (We decided a 12 hour drive with an infant might be better to do just one way.) The hot, smoky summer we've had here makes us eager for the cool (and even RAINY) Washington summer weather. With the help of Grandma and Grandpa we should even be able to get away for a bike ride or hike just the two of us! !

Trip to the Chicago Area

Travels to the Chicago Area

I just returned from a week-long visit to the Chicago area with Claire. We first visited my sister Christina and her family in Crown Point, Indiana. Claire met her cousins Jordan, Alyssa, and Jessica. Alyssa and Jessica loved entertaining Claire and helping me pick out her outfits, change diapers, give baths, etc. Claire seemed to enjoy watching their antics, and we had several good day trips all together. I was also able to visit briefly with a good friend, Jessica Groen, from college who is expecting a baby in September. (This is the year of babies for my college group.)

On Saturday I met up with Dan and Elisabeth Cooper and their new baby Simon to head to the Chicago area. It was wonderful to have a longer visit with them and see their new home in Geneva as well as share in the new fun of parenthood together. I also got to spend time with Sara Leys, another Calvin friend. (Elisabeth, Sara, and I roomed together our sophomore year in the dorms.) Sara had her second son, Cameron, three weeks after Claire, so we were busy with four kids between us! We graduated from Calvin ten years ago (YIKES!), and we have maintained our friendships through first jobs, graduate school, marriage, and now kids. I loved having a long visit with them and sharing part of this new stage of our lives together. Leaving caused me to get all teary eyed because I really do miss those girlies!!

Claire was a great little traveller. Thankfully I was NOT one of the people on the plane with a screaming baby that everyone either feels sorry for or is annoyed by. She slept well in different beds and handled a varying schedule well...She made her mom so proud!