Roley Poley Claire… 8 weeks old

Colleen | August 27, 2007 | Claire, Family | 1920 words and 5,721 views | no comments

Claire can roll over! It’s surprising the first time you see it, you think- wow! Yesterday she couldn’t do that, and then today she can. She is learning so much and amazing us everyday! She can roll left or right, from her tummy to her back and we are still practicing back to tummy. She is pushing up on her elbows, and trying to pull her knees under her body but that is still going to take more practice. She is also talking a lot more. When she talks… we listen as she is the new boss at our house. Even Sooner listens to her, and takes orders. They spend a lot more time on the floor now that Claire is rolling around and playing with her gym and toys. Plus I realize I can’t get as much done if I hold the baby all day long, and so I have to put her down sometime! Claire took her first long road trip with me, and Jennifer and my mom to Topeka to see Uncle Jeff for the very first time. He is playing his last year of college football at Washburn, so we went to cheer him on. It was difficult to keep her out of the sun, and even though it was ONLY 90 degrees (it’s been closer to 100 in Denver some days) the humidity was miserable. Claire didn’t mind too much, and just hung out in her car seat and enjoyed the stroll around campus, and going out to eat on Saturday. She seemed to sleep a lot, but still impressed us all by sleeping through the night at the hotel too. I am a very blessed, I realize this. We already joke the next kid is going to have to make up for how easy Claire is to us. Next week we go to the pediatrician for weight, measurements and vaccines. More updates to come!

Claire likes to sleep in her swing now. Here her pacifier fell out perfectly and landed on her chest.Here Claire woke up from her nap. She usually hangs out a few more minutes, before she is ready to be picked up and held…and eat of course.Claire is impressing us with her leg strength. She straightens her legs, and pushes herself up all the time, so much that sometimes we have to force her to take a break which makes her mad. Here she is looking like a little dancing baby!Flying baby!Taking a break from dancing and flying… you can see her Buddha belly (as Matt calls it!)Just hangin out… Claire shows us her surprised look!I must look funny, because Claire is always laughing at me?!Strong baby! This was a couple days before Claire rolled over for the first time. She is definitely getting stronger.More floor exercises. She is working on core strength!Sooner ran around the yard after Matt mowed. We noticed when she came over to play with Claire, that her paws were green.Matt has to be fair to everyone! Giving all his girls equal attention is very important.When Claire does get upset (not too often) she likes this to be held like a football, and move all around the room. That usually fixes things.When we got to the hotel in Topeka, Claire was impressing Grandma Susan with her rolling skills for the first time.Playing with Grandma, even though it was way past bedtime!Hiding under our pink umbrella at the football game. Claire was sporting her new Washburn cheerleading uniform. We are going to be at a lot of the games! Go #65!!Go Jeff!After the game… finally in the shade again!Look how big Jeff’s hands are compare to Claire’s little body! Lilly and James are excited to see the baby too.Siblings… :)I think Claire was confused why Jeff’s face was so hairy- she had never seen anyone with a beard before… she looks like she is really concentrating on his face!Appropriately so, Claire started waving her arms like a cheerleader. Everyone (see my mom in the background?) was cracking up!Grabbing big Jeff’s big fingers!She really likes to hold on to you, when she sleeps. Here she grabs 2 of Grandma Susan’s fingers.After a long weekend, Claire is asleep again. (By the way- check out those chubby thighs! So cute.)Sleeping on Daddy later that same night.Sleeping angel.

Rodgers Pass

Matt | August 19, 2007 | Climbing, Trip Report | 680 words and 1,451 views | no comments

So I went to go scout out James Peak and the area in general and here are some quick thoughts…

James Peak is definitely not a bad hike taking this route. It would be about 8 miles round-trip. I hiked the 2.3 miles each way to Rodgers Pass along the continental divide and I found it really fun. It took me about an hour each direction. I was taking my time so I could take pictures and enjoy the scenery!

A meadow before I started hiking. Photo by M. EsserA sign at Rollins Pass. Photo by M. EsserBroken down railroad. Danger! Photo by M. EsserStart of the trailhead. Photo by M. Esser

Winter Park. Looks different without snow, huh? Photo by M. EsserHelicopter flying overhead. Hope it wasn’t headed for a rescue! Photo by M. EsserIn the distance, James Peak is covered in clouds. Photo by M. EsserZoom of James Peak. Photo by M. Esser

I thought this was a pretty angle. Photo by M. EsserRodgers Pass. Photo by M. EsserHeart Lake down below. Photo by M. EsserYours truly. Photo by M. Esser

Another shot of old railroad. Photo by M. EsserSome crazy motorcycle gathering in Winter Park. Photo by M. Esser

Mohawk Baby- week 6

Colleen | August 18, 2007 | Claire, Family | 866 words and 1,515 views | 2 comments

Claire is doing so many new things each week. If you click on each picture, we’ve described what her new tricks are. She has also decided to put herself on a sleeping schedule (thank God) and she goes to bed each night at 9:45 and wakes up at 6:15. For someone who hadn’t slept 7 or 8 hours in a stretch for about 6 weeks, I (Colleen) am feeling GREAT! I think Claire is feeling pretty good too. Matt on the other hand… well I don’t think he noticed that we were getting up a few times a night before so let’s just say he (still) feels good. Things are great, and we are counting our blessings that Claire is such a healthy and generally happy baby. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

When Claire is sleeping, and then she decides to stretch she arches her back so much it kind of makes her tip over on her side. I am afraid she will be rolling over soon. Photo by CoTake one baby head, add a little water, and turn hair in to desired hairstyle… Claire is styling here with a baby mohawk. Don’t worry, we didn’t take her out in public, we just took lots of pictures to show her first boyfriend someday. I hope she won’t be embarrassed of her parents! Photo by CoMore baby mohawk. Photo by CoClaire’s new thing is to push on everything with her legs. She keeps them very straight and if you try to sit her on her butt, you cannot because she will not bend her legs. Here she likes to stand on Mommy’s tummy (yes, she still has the mohawk). Photo by MattOn a boring, non-baby note, my garden is growing nicely. Considering I didn’t plant it until I started my maternity leave at the end of June, it’s sure big! We should have peppers and tomatoes soon. Photo by Co Emily Voorhees wins the prize for baby gift from a foreign country! (Clarie also got an outfit from England). Here Claire is wearing the dress Em got her in Ecuador. I told her she was an Ecuadorian Princess! Photo by CoSee? She really likes her Ecuador dress! Photo by CoClaire is saying- look at my big full tummy! She’s so silly. Photo by Co

6 weeks old today!!

Colleen | August 12, 2007 | Claire, Family | 864 words and 1,382 views | 1 comment

Well, not too much new with us. Matt has been camping and fishing… but that is for him to tell. Claire and I have been doing the girly thing… shopping, lunch, movies, sometimes even a nap. You know- it’s a hard life! She has been getting cuter every day, and I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes when she is having an especially cute day (like today) we have a little “photo session”. It’s okay, I am not embarrassed. What kind of mother wouldn’t want to dress up her baby girl in dresses and take lots of cute pictures? I do. And I will share it with you! Claire is such a wonderful baby- she goes everywhere with us and is a good sport about it. We love her so much! Also, feel free to leave a comment, Colleen is adding them to Claire’s baby book for her to read someday!

All I have to ask is “Claire do you want to go to Target?” Immediate smiles! What can I say? She’s my girl. 8-10-07 Photo by CoVisiting Grandma Susan… time for a nap. 8-11-07 Photo by CoClaire makes lots of funny faces, she is very expressive. 8-12-07 Photo by CoJust finished eating. Even now she is cute! Photo by CoAnd… she smiles!! Photo by CoShe looks like she could model… but we are a little biased. Photo by CoAlthough my favorite thing is to capture her smiles… sometimes she throws a serious look in there too! Photo by CoSomething must be really funny to Claire… she cracking up! Photo by CoEveryone says Claire looks just like Matt… what do you think? Photo by CoEven though she looks a lot like Daddy, she is still my girl! Photo by CoAfter her photo shoot, Claire is very tired. She sometimes sleeps in very odd positions, but she must by comfy because she doesn’t wake up. Photo by CoWe decided to take a random family portrait at Flatirons. Photo by Matt

Guess who loves bath time?

Colleen | August 9, 2007 | Claire, Family | 253 words and 1,427 views | 2 comments

Bath time is my favorite, because I love watching Claire’s reaction to the water washing over her head. It’s kind of a surprised look, but then she gets used to it and just looks content. Plus when she is all clean and has her baby lotion on… she just smells yummy. When I wash her hair and rub it dry, her hair gets all fuzzy and sticks up. Soon she will be in the big bath tub, splishing and splashing but for now she is stuck in the plastic tub next to the kitchen sink. She doesn’t seem to mind. I’m telling you- I really think she is going to be a swimmer.

Claire getting ready for her bath 8/9/07 Photo by CoClaire ready for the soap! Photo by CoClaire all done with a bath, and trying to get warm! Photo by Co


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