Our girl

Lil pinky

Michelle C — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:36:00 GMT

Lil pinky, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

This little one is so curious about everything. And she wants to do and touch everything I have - including my camera. It makes it virtually impossible to get any decent pictures these days. Unless that is, you stand on the couch above her, perched with your leg against a big window to get the light just right. Oh, the lengths I will go ;)

Pretty blue eyes

Michelle C — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:29:00 GMT

Pretty blue eyes, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

I just realized when I uploaded this, and a couple of other photos, that I haven't uploaded in almost an entire month. Now, what's up with that? I could enumerate all the excuses but what good would that do. It's just, as with the rest of the world, I was too busy. Days quickly turn into weeks and just as quickly turn into months. And so many things I've been meaning to do are still piling up the to-do list.
This passage of time is even more evident when I think about the fact that this sweet little baby (or should I now say girl?) is turning one in a week. Last time this year, we had settled in to the "big wait." Grammy and Bompie were finishing up her room. I was having false labor and everyday seemed like the longest in history! Funny how that is, really. We are never satisfied with the speed at which things are moving. Last year too slow, this year too fast.
It all reminds me that this year, instead of a New Year's resolution, I chose a word to remind of what I want and need. I chose "FOCUS". I want to keep focus when I so easily get distracted, I want to focus on what's important, I want focus on who's important. Just focus.
So picking up my camera this afternoon, that's just what I did. After running around most of the day, I slowed us down for a bit. Put on some music and focused on just Claire.
Focus.

Speedy

Michelle C — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:03:00 GMT

If she's going this fast after 6 days, I suppose she'll be sprinting at her birthday?

11 months old

Michelle C — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:27:00 GMT

Cutie, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

It truly blows my mind that this girl was born 11 months ago today. In the blink of an eye, it seems like I went from being enormously pregnant to now having a toddler in the house.
I was looking through photos on New Year's Eve, trying to pick my 12 favorites. And it was so amazing to see all the changes in all of us. But of course, the changes with Claire are the most obvious. In the last couple of months, I've been so busy keeping up with her that it's been hard to keep up with updates.
She's now able to walk. But she doesn't always choose to do so. You see, she's in a real hurry. Have to catch up to big brother, have to try and catch those darn cats. And many other wonderful attractions. And when you've mastered the speedy head-down crawl, you really don't have time for toddling to your goal. So little steps have been made and continue to happen but it's perfectly alright with me if she slows down just a little.
I have to keep reminding myself to slow down and take it all in. Savor all these little moments. I have to stop myself from rushing through things like giving her a bath or feeding her. Because I know from my blurry, vague memories of Julien as a baby that these moments are minute compared to the years ahead of us. Just as these 11 months have flown by, so will the next and the next after that. I sometimes wonder if my memories of his baby-hood are so vague because I didn't stop to take it all in.
So tonight as she was crazy happy as I turned on the water to her bath, I watched her splash a little longer and I held onto this little day a little longer.

Look out world!

Michelle C — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:31:00 GMT

An important skill

Michelle C — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:17:00 GMT

I'm in trouble now!

Michelle C — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:15:00 GMT

Julien reporting

Michelle C — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:14:00 GMT

Here comes trouble

Michelle C — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:55:00 GMT

Here comes trouble, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

I originally just posted this photo without any comment since I thought it spoke for itself. But then I realized that I should point out that when I left to get my camera, Claire was over by her brother. You see, back there, Julien just a whole room away. She's getting dangerous! ;)

Seven months old

Michelle C — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:07:00 GMT

Sitting, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

I know I say it every time but this is really going way too fast. I think back to last year at this time when I just had a little baby bump. Finally enough to show I was pregnant and not just fat ;) And here we are today with this beautiful little girl. Who is changing by the day!

Lately, she loves to "talk". Or maybe we should say yell. Julien finds it hilarious and annoying at the same time. She will carry on a very loud conversation with him in the car. It gets annoying when a favorite song comes on. He's trying to listen and she's just "DA-DA-DA-ing" away. A sure sign of things to come, wouldn't you say?

This month, we've settled into a routine of going to the bakery every Monday and Wednesday morning. As soon as she wakes up in the morning, we hit the road. Often she will fall asleep for a little cat nap there. And then Sonia, who took care of Julien at the same age, takes her for a couple of hours so I can get some things done. I had to start going into the office because it's so hard to work from home. With Julien going back to school on Tuesday, hopefully, I can change that.

I tried to get a photo with the bear. I really did. But it is next to impossible now that she is mobile! Not on hands and knees crawling yet but definitely with purpose to where she wants to go. There are other photos in this bunch where you can see that she is coming for me!