A New Trick: Call and Response Singing

She started doing this yesterday afternoon and is now super good at it. She varies the sounds between "Hoo" and "Mamm." You don't have to ask her to sing though; she is freely composing atonal odes to her shiny beads, my hair, Grandma's orange shirt, to her wolf toy and there was even a song in honor of Daddy coming home yesterday. Today I came back from the gym a bit worse for wear and Claire fixed me right up with a little song---she's such a pleasure!

Ready for Christmas

Blessing Day

Claire's blessing was a great success. The gown was mine once upon a time and the bonnet was made for Claire the previous day by Great-Grandma Regular. Adam did a wonderful job and we were pleased to have a full house.

Meeting the Family over Thanksgiving

Walking with Daddy

Well, she won't roll over or even attempt to crawl, but she can sit up on her own and now this...Good grief I think I'm in for a wild ride! She is of course just using those early reflexes, but you've got to admit she's a really strong little kid. Note the picture where she tries to run away from Daddy.

Claire meets the Burches

Claire is big enough to sit in the corner of a couch on her own. She loves to cuddle and chew this little wolf toy given to her by her Aunt Hannah.

11 Weeks

One of Claire's funny tricks is this fists of fury business that makes her look like a kung fu master. She's very pleased that someone thoughtfully put hands at the end of each arm!

I sewed this rainbow rosette headband based on a dream I had of Claire before she was born. What a pretty and elegant little lady she is!

One last note this week: We are moving the Blessing Luncheon to 11am so that our family can make their drives home at a reasonable hour. Again, the blessing is at 1pm on Nov 30th at 2055 Coronado (the church by the hospital). So far, we've only heard back from Great-grandma Regular, Great-uncle John, Uncle Hans, and the Pursers (yay!). If you plan to come, please tell us so that we'll have enough cake :)

Trunk or Treat

From top left, Laurel dressed as an East Indian lady, Laurel and Claire were a Jungle Book duo and Claire quickly fell asleep after getting overdone at the party, Adam carries a curious tiger to the party, neighborhood friends take a turn with Claire, and finally--Adam tries to pose for a picture, but Claire is moving way too fast!

Baby in the Mirror

Claire's newest discovery is that there is a very cute baby in every mirror she checks. The baby has what must be the standard issue Momma too. Claire tries to engage the baby in conversation by reaching and laughing and the baby generally responds in kind, to Claire's delight. These pictures show Claire looking a little disappointed that the baby's Momma is yet another member of the unceasing paparazzi. Is no place safe? Claire was a big success at the doctor's office last week. She was brave for the immunizations (although she felt pretty sick for the rest of the week---the odds of getting sick are supposed to be 1 in 1000, yeah right), and impressed the doctor by defecating all over him to prove that her guts work. Claire is the very model of the growth chart at 24" and 10lbs for her 2 month check. The doctor noticed that she can sit up with light support from a pillow and that she holds herself erect when up on a shoulder, which he said was kinesthetically advanced for her age. Maybe she'll be a dancer or a musician or a surgeon--something that would make use of her great coordination and muscle control...On Friday night, Claire was the hit of the Parent-to-Parent (a support group for the parents of differently-abled children) Halloween party in her tiger suit, although she slept through the entire party while strapped to me. On Sunday, we stayed for the entire 3 hours for the first time and I was particularly happy to get to attend Relief Society again while she slept in my arms. Tonight is Trunk-or-Treat for the neighborhood, so we'll put on the tiger outfit again and give it a whirl. It's very nice for me that she's getting so that it's exciting for her to see new things and that she likes to be out and about.

Baby Blessing

Dear Friends and Family,

For those of you whom I haven't been able to get a hold of yet, or as a reminder, we are planning to bless Claire in church (2055 Coronado St.) on November 30th during the 1 o'clock hour. We'd like a big priesthood circle, so please come if you can! If you are coming from out of town, please let us know, we'd like to help you make arrangements. We'll have a light luncheon after church (4pm) that day to celebrate.

Smiley Girl

During a recent visit from Great-Grandma Regular (Nina), Claire got some warmer outfits for the changing season. I thought she would be a tremendously large baby based on Adam's and my birthweight, but she's perfectly average and that makes most of her warm clothes way too big! Today is her two-month birthday, so we made this little video of her smiling in a new outfit with a duck theme. We're big into ducks, since Claire's main noise is, "Quack!" The voice in the background is a very proud Aunt Hannah cooing to elicit a smile.

Look at how much she resembles Adam in this picture!

Halloween Preview

Claire sports her tiger suit during a fashion show for Daddy. The costume has a little tail, paws printed on the feet and little claws. It is super soft and she doesn't mind wearing it. The stuffed tiger toy was a gift from one of Adam's coworkers at IF High. She's getting really good at her "Rrrar!" noise and I don't think anyone would hesitate to crown her as queen of the jungle. She won't do tricks for the camera, unfortunately. This is especially since she's most awake and ready to play at about 4am, when I am not in a picture taking mood. :D

Cherry Suit

Check out the "shoes" in the kangaroo impersonation photo...

6 weeks old

Claire has been sick for a little over a week, but she's feeling a bit more perky now. She's getting ready to hold her head up on her own and she wants to do everything herself: like taking pictures or plugging in the pacifier.

Claire is 5 weeks old

We have at least two daily bouts of epic hiccups.

Happy One Month Claire!

Claire gets gussied up for church, even though we have only gotten to stay through the Sacrament and have had to leave before the classes so far. She loves to hear the organ music. Maybe someday, she'll put her lovely long fingers to the keys!

Baby Blue Eyes

These pictures show a very tired, yet cute as always, Claire. She's now showing quite the stubborn streak in her personality (where could that have come from?), which prevents her from going to sleep at the risk of missing out on all the fun. If she weren't so delightful, I don't think I'd be amused...

The Wiggle Show

A Pretty Dress

Claire had her first doctor's visit last Friday. She has grown half a pound and half an inch! The doctor said in his opinion, Claire is a perfect baby whose only danger is being spoiled silly. I assured him that Claire's charming personality was completely immune :)

Welcome Claire Aurelia Burch!

Born August 21st, 7lbs 13oz, 20 1/2"

She is such a sweetheart--we love her so much.