Update

I think it's high time for an update on our family.  It's something I don't do all that often aside from Claire's monthly updates.  It's about time I talk about all of us on this blog :).  But we will start with the star of the show, of course...

Here is a pretty good picture to sum up Claire:

She truly is the Princess of the house, but we wouldn't have it any other way.  Some might call us a little obsessed, but it's hard not to be with a face like that!  She probably gets tired of us kissing her sweet cheeks all day long.  People are constantly telling me how beautiful this girl's big blue eyes are and I completely agree.  She is very alert and loves looking around at everything.  

This past month Claire has been learning so much!  She isn't crawling yet, but is getting very close.  She now plays peek a boo with us and is learning to wave.  She's also getting her first tooth.  Time is really flying!  She is very content and smiley most of the time.  The minute Dan walks in the room she gives him the biggest smiles.  She is a great eater and loves almost everything she has tried.  Her new favorite snack are Gerber Puffs.  She could probably eat a whole container in one day.  Whenever I pull them out of the pantry she kicks her legs and gets so excited.  She is so much fun to be around, she brings so much joy into our home.  We can't imagine life without her.

Dan is busy maintaining his internet businesses while constantly coming up with new business ideas.  He just started his own web design company (www.thundersparkwebdesign.com) and also started a business with his friend selling specialty wrenches (www.cheaterwrench.com).  His next big idea is to start a roller rink in St. George.  We have gotten lots of feedback from the community saying they would love something like this.  St. George is really in need of a place for teens and tweens to hang out.  We have a couple fun centers but they kinda stink.  Dan has been searching high and low for a building that would work for the roller rink but has so far been unsuccessful.  Most buildings are too small or have lots of poles in the middle.  Dan has always loved hockey and I'm sure he will eventually find a way to bring it to St. George.  Aside from all that business stuff he is busy as a counselor in the Young Men's Presidency in our ward.  He comes up with great lessons to keep the deacons interested and he faithfully attends mutual each week.  He told me it has been one of his favorite callings so far.  

As for me, I am happy being a mom and a wife.  I feel like Claire and I are finally in a good routine and I think all my pregnancy/child birth hormones have settled down and I feel like myself again.  Claire and I try to go walking almost every day with different friends from the neighborhood.  There are tons of babies Claire's age to keep us company.  I also watch my friend's girls 2 days a week.  They are 3 and 5 and so far it's going really well.  They love Claire and constantly want to hug her and hold her.  They always say things like "This baby is SO cute!" or "I wish this was MY baby!"  They are funny and Claire enjoys being around them.  Aside from keeping the baby happy, I try to keep our home in order and I occasionally find time to craft or try one of my many Pinterest pins.  I just decorated for Halloween and I am SO excited for the holidays!  October is my absolute favorite month because it's my birthday (19 days away) and Halloween.  I am starting to get our costumes put together, but you'll have to wait and see what they are.  I'm also looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving this year with my side of the family and I can't wait for the Christmas season.  I think it'll be even more special this year because it's the first year we get to share it with our baby girl.    

That's it for us, life is great! 

7 months

It's that time again, another month has gone by!  Claire is now 7 months old.  I feel like she has really grown up a lot since her last pictures.

As you can see, this is the first picture where she is sitting up in the chair.  She no longer needs to lean back. This girl is a pro at sitting now!  Here are a few more facts about Claire at 7 months...

• She loves to grab EVERYTHING.  Her #1 favorite thing to grab is my hair.  She gets the biggest smile on her face as she wraps her hands around it.  And then she proceeds to put it in her mouth, yuck!  I finally cut it even shorter because it was driving me a little crazy.  Even when my hair was pulled back, she still managed to grab some of it.  She also loves to grab our phones, the remote, my wedding ring, buttons on shirts, and whatever food we are eating.  
• She has now tried quite a few solids and eats 2 solid meals a day (breakfast & dinner).  She really liked when I mixed peaches and yogurt, she also loved her first taste of chicken and apples (sounded like a weird combo to me).  
• Claire can hold a sippy cup all by herself.
• If I take out my phone to take a picture and say "smile" Claire usually will, at least for a few seconds before she gets distracted.  
• She rolls all over the place now.  She can roll across the whole room.  Once she reaches the wall she just keeps trying to roll!  She has also tried to steamroller me when laying on our bed.  
• Claire loves looking at herself in the mirror.  She hits the mirror and gets all excited as she chats away with her reflection.
• We finally got her to laugh for real, no more little giggles.  Dan was kissing her tummy and got her to laugh.  It was so cute!
• Lately the sounds she has been making are "ba" and "da".  It sometimes sounds like she says "hi Dad". 
• She is finally starting to take longer naps, not always but if I'm lucky she'll sleep anywhere from 1-2 hours.  Before it was 45 min.  She still takes 2-3 naps a day.  
• Claire was doing really well at sleeping through the night.  However, this past month she has started waking up around 3 am almost every night.  Hopefully she'll go back to her old ways soon!  
• She can't move forward or backward on her tummy, but she can pivot.  Her mix of rolling and pivoting gets her to where she needs to go. 
• Claire will no longer nap at church.  It makes for a long 3 hours.  
• Her favorite toys are her blocks, this little stuffed Easter chick, this vibrating bird, and this dog with a chime in it.
• She likes being in her exersaucer. 
• Claire loves to use her voice, she talks, yells, screams, etc.  She likes to make sure she gets our attention.  
• She always gets a huge smile on her face when Dan comes home from work.   
• Claire has started to cry when I leave the room.  
• She likes other kids.  I babysit these 2 girls and she loves watching them and giving them big smiles.
• This past month Claire got her very first cold.  It was sad but we all survived.    

I know this is a long one, but I don't want to forget anything!  This has been a really fun age.  Claire is really smiley and usually pretty content.  We love our precious girl! 

Family Pictures

All my Mom wanted for her birthday this year was an updated family picture.  The last family picture we took was before their mission, about 6 years ago.  Since then 4 in laws have joined the family and 10 grandkids.  We were definitely due for a new pic!  My brother in law, Jared, took the pictures for us and did an awesome job.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Our family of 3.  Claire looks so cute!

My baby girl!

Cal & Claire with Grandma & Grandpa.

The original Hemingway family.

The whole group!  That's right, 11 grandsons and 1 granddaughter!

Sister pyramid!

Claire with Grandpa.

The 3 sisters with Dad!  And yes, those are our natural hair colors.

Me with my parents and siblings.

My loves :)

With our amazing, beautiful Mom!

It was fun celebrating my Mom's birthday with everyone and getting some updated pictures.

6 months

Can you believe my baby is half a year old already?  I definitely can't.  This girl is such a sweetie!

Here are Claire's 6 month facts:

• Claire has started solids!  So far she has liked everything we have given her.  I think she has enjoyed bananas and sweet potatoes the most (yep, sweet tooth!).
• After she eats her solids she likes to play with the spoon and the bowl.  She also attempts to feed herself.
• She is getting better at sitting up.  She is still a little unstable so I always sit close by, but she is doing awesome.
• When laying in her bath support, our laps, on the floor, etc... she is always trying to sit up but is not quite there yet.
• Sometimes after nursing she will calmly lay in my lap and just coo.  It is the cutest thing and I love it.  She seems so content!
• Claire can roll both ways.  She rolls all the time now, especially in her bed.
• Claire is a tummy sleeper.  
• When on her tummy she tries to scoot, but can't move too much yet.  
• This girl loves tags.  Tags on blankets, clothes, toys, etc... she likes the tag more than the item I'm pretty sure.  She loves chewing on them!
• She gives us the funniest reaction when we blow in her face, she acts so surprised!
• Sometimes she takes her pacifier out of her mouth and tries to put it in our mouth.  She is good at sharing!
• She sleeps 10 hours straight, eats, then sleeps 2 more.  She is an awesome night sleeper!  She is also good at self soothing and going right to sleep (most nights).  
• At her 6 month appointment we found out that she is pretty average size.  She is 50-60 percentile in weight and height.  
• We still wonder what color her hair is going to be.  It looks different every day!  I also feel like her hair is getting a little thicker. 

She is the sweetest, cutest girl.  6 months is a really fun age.  She is so interactive and we love getting her to smile and play! 

5 months

My sweet little baby is already 5 months old!  She is growing too fast!  This past month she learned quite a few new skills.  We even bought a baby gate in preparation for what's up ahead.  Here she is...

5 month facts:

• We went on Claire's 2nd road trip to Northern Utah and she did awesome again.  She is really great in the car.
• Claire's new favorite pastime is sucking on her toes!  She does it all the time.
• This past month Claire learned how to roll over.  She has rolled over from tummy to back twice and hasn't done it since.  Dan still hasn't seen her roll over.  In the past week she learned how to roll from back to tummy but only does it in her crib.  Neither of us have actually seen her do it in person, only on the baby monitor.  So now she rolls to her tummy, gets stuck and then cries for help.  I spent all last night rolling her back to her back!  I'm hoping she'll get better at tummy to back soon so I won't always have to help her.  
• She sleeps on her side almost all the time now.
• She is still a great night sleeper and is getting better at nap time.  We are slowly working on teaching her how to put herself to sleep.  
• Claire loves playing with this little bird on her car seat.  If you pull it, it vibrates.  It keeps her entertained in the car.
• She now responds to her name when you call her.  
• She doesn't really laugh yet, but still gives big smiles if you talk to her.  
• Claire sits great in her bumbo.
• When we hold her she likes to stand so she can look around at everything. 
• She spits up a lot. 
• We haven't started solids yet, but probably will soon.  She is acting ready and always pays attention to what we are eating. 
• She likes listening to Dan play the piano.
• She gets excited when Dan comes home from work.  
• She is pretty much content unless she is tired.  
• Claire went swimming for her first time and loved it.  
• When she's on her tummy she moves her arms and legs a lot, I can tell she is getting close to scooting. 
• She loves to touch my hair. 
• She likes when we dance with her.  
• She thinks it's funny when we pretend to eat her fingers and toes.  
• She loves my phone and I have taught her how to swipe through the pictures, she doesn't do it perfectly, but she tries! 
• For a few days she would stick out her tongue and spit, I think she liked how it felt, but she hasn't done it in a week or so.  

Claire is just a little sweetheart!  We love her SO much!