Photo Shoot

We had Claire's first official photo shoot yesterday - and the photographer was nice enough to post a few pics to her blog, which I copied and included here because I just can't wait to get the final ones. So, they have her proof/copywrite stuff on them, but you get the gist. We had fun taking them, but newborns are not always cooperative... we did a shot where Matt is holding her head and shoudlers and I get her bum and legs... well, Claire decided that was the pefect time to go to the bathroom all over everything! So glad I had the bottom half!

I wish we would have done these when she was a bit smaller, just because I love those shots when the little baby is curled up in their daddy's arms... but Claire was probably never small enough to fit in just our hands... she is getting so big!

Anyway, thought we would share.

Pics

Here are a few recent pics of Claire and Matt - I am still hiding from the camera due to the "still five months pregnant" look that I am sporting...

Stay tuned for some pictures of Claire dressed up like a little lionness for Halloween... now Matt and I need to figure out our costumes...

What I've Learned So Far...

I've decided that being a mom is really the only way you can truly appreciate your own... I had no idea how much time and attention goes into raising a child, let alone five kids like my mom did. And I had no idea how much you can love this little person who we just met, but who has been with me for almost 10 months before she was even born.

And life is funny - it's like all these little tests come into your path along the way to either make you a better mom, or drive you crazy... I can't tell yet which one is happening to me. :)

So far, a few funny things have happened to me that I think only happen to moms - and here are a few things I've learned so far, some fun, some serious:

1. Your baby will be a perfect angel while you go shopping at Target after finally getting yourself a shower that day, plus makeup (a big day around here), but then just as you are wrapping up your trip she will poop her pants and cry the whole way through the check out line... Murphy's Law

2. Guaranteed, when you jump out of the shower only to find a crying baby waiting for you, and decide to nurse her sans clothing, the doorbell will ring... and ring... and ring... forcing you to run downstairs in your towel to greet the flower delivery guy who you hope you'll never see again (true story).

3. There is nothing better than seeing your man cuddle your baby and whisper little lovey things to her... Matt makes up little names for Claire, it is so cute! I love him so much!

4. Your baby will always look better than you do - we went for a walk today and ran into our neighbors who wanted to see Claire. We had her dressed so cute in all pink, wearing her little white Keds and a pink and white bow in her hair. Matt and I were practically in our pajamas and hadn't showered yet. Nice!

5. This whole experience is why people have more kids - any amount of pain, discomfort, or stretchmarks is totally worth it!! We are smitten with Claire, and are learning so much about ourselves and being parents.

Thanks to our parents for all they did and still do for us!

More Pics

Claire and the Family

Claire got to meet some of our family for the first time this past week - my aunt Cindy and uncle Kevin Poppe live here in Las Vegas and they are my only family in town, but they were on a cruise when Claire was born, so we all got together with their kids and grandchildren for dinner so they could finally see her (she will be 4 weeks old on Monday - time is flying by!)
The kids were very curious about Claire... Matt was changing her diaper on the couch and they all just gathered around her instantly... I thought it was a cute picture, but Cindy said I was so calm to let all those kids be near my baby... I guess I don't know any better :)

Matt's dad Phil also got to hold Claire for the first time this week - he had been sick before and didn't want to hold her just yet... which we appreciated, being the new, paranoid parents that we are. So, we took a little mid-week visit up to North LV to visit - Evie, Claire's cousin, liked to touch Claire's feet, and I think she thought Claire was like her little doll that she plays with.

Claire Bear

So far, Claire Bear is our favorite nickname for Claire, although we have had a few suggestions for E-Claire, which is also pretty cute. Here are a few more pics that we finally got off of our camera - enjoy!

ps - total sneeze count, per Matt, is 55 :)