Snaggle Tooth

I'm getting braces on May 12!  I'll be done with snaggle teeth for good.

Uncle Joe the carpenter is an orthodontist in real life and made an off-handed comment about how "he could fix me right up with Invisalign" when I went in for bleaching trays three years ago.  I've been thinking about it ever since.

Turns out I would need 14-18 months to fix my bite with Invisalign and 6 months with regular bracket braces.  Plus, as Joe says, "Invisalign is just like a loan--easy to take out."  I don't know that I would wear the trays.

I am mixed between looking forward to it and dreading it.

Clara's Baptism

Clara was baptised on February 13 by Lisa Hebacker, the same minister that married Quincy and me.

Hey y'all!  My grandpa's holding me!  I'm in a funny dress!  Want to see me smile and coo?  HAHA!  I thought so!

Clara did a great job being quiet during the service prior to her baptism and charmed the whole congregation during her baptism.  I'm not quite sure what was going on as the minister walked her up and down the aisle, but I know there was a lot of laughing going on, so Clara must have put on quite a show.  She giggled when she got back up front and saw Quincy and me waiting for her.  We are thankful that she waited until we were back in the robing room to completely melt down. 

We had a brunch after for members of our family and our church family.  The guest of honor slept through the entire thing.  We went with a Valentine's Day theme since she was baptised on 2/13.  Lots of pink and hearts and lots of pink and white tulips (thanks Quincy!).

Abby was sweet enough to take a family picture for us after everyone had left and Clara woke up (naturally):

 It was a fun day, a special thank you to my parents for helping out with everything leading up to and on the day of the brunch.

Clara Six Months Pics by Beth Green

Once again, we were thrilled with the pictures Beth took of Clara at six months.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Pure Joy!

Such a good one capturing her curiosity!  She was watching Beth's 18 month old, Sawyer.

Adorable!

And then we switch gears to Clara in her baptism gown.  I will do a separate post for the baptism, but Beth took these pics the Friday before her baptism, so it was a no-brainer to take some in her gown.  I bought the gown to be a family gown for all of our children, I hope it's gender neutral enough!  I was sold by the little heart.  Clara was baptised on Valentine's Day weekend, so it seemed the perfect choice.

We did get a cute one of Clara in the outfit she wore over there, although my dad says she looks like a boy.  You be the judge:

We were also able to document her teething:

She was a little fussy and needed to be held a lot, but who can remember the crying after seeing all of these!

Thanks again, Beth! 

Clara 6 Months

See, this is why I need to be a better blogger, Clara is now 8 months and I am just now posting pictures from 6 months!

Six months is when she really started sitting up well on her own and when the world opened up for her with regard to solid foods.

She really started to get busy at 6 months with rolling more and trying to move.

She is such a sweet girl!

Clara's Nursery

I am a terrible blogger, but I aspire to do better.  I started this post on 1/26, which means it took me more than two months to get it posted.  I'll do another post to update on why the past two months have been such a challenge.

Before Clara was born I spent a lot of time on her nursery, as most new moms do.  I had a few more things I wanted to accomplish in the two weekends before she was born, but then she was here!  Early!  No more time!  In honor of her six month birthday, I finished her room.  I must admit, it was a lot easier to select the finishing touches now that she's here and I've gotten to know her.  I'm actually glad I waited.

*Disclaimer--the pictures are way too dark as they are taken in the dark after a full day of work and I failed to used the flash in a lot of them.  Hey, I do the best that I can.

Here's my favorite picture of the nursery.  Why?  Because toothless Clara is playing on the floor.  The walls are Soothing Green by Benjamin Moore.  In retrospect, I think I should have chosen pink, but I do love the color of green.  The valances were made by Quincy's mom's best friend from childhood, Jenny Moore.  The fabric is P. Kauffman Watermelon Paisley backed with the Tuti Fruity dots and edged with the stripe.  Jenny picked these fabrics for her daughter's room at college and we just love them.  I bought the bunny lamp before I knew whether Clara was a boy or a girl.  I got it at the big Bulluck's Furniture accessories sale that I went to with Anna Wilson and her family.  The little duck is a humidifier.  The first thing Clara went for when she started to be able to move was the duck.

From here you can see a lot more of the room.  The chandelier is from Land of Nod.  I got it for myself for Christmas, couldn't pull the trigger until then.  Clara's Grandma Janet made the little quilt on the glider.

Here's a picture of the crib.  The crib skirt is the same polka dot fabric that lines the valances.  The bunnies hopping over the crib are vinyl decals I got off of etsy.  (I really should have taken better pictures).

I wish you could see this better.  The book shelf originally belonged to Quincy's McCall grandparents and was in his closet forever.  Grandma Janet had it hand painted to match the fabrics in the nursery.  Above the crib is a cross stitch of the traditional "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" prayer.  Quincy's Aunt Carol (his dad's twin) cross stitched this when Quincy was born.  I re-framed it to update it and match the room. 

Here's her changing table with the quilt she will eventually use hanging on the wall.  I just love the little birds.  It was the first thing I bought and I matched the rest of the room to the colors within it. 

This is a close up of the top of her dresser.  You can get a better look at the bunny lamp (it looks small, it is actually about 2 feet tall) and the paisley monogrammed clock.  The box was made for her by her Great Uncle Joe. 

Joe's father was a shop teacher (I think?).  He carved the ballerina just for Clara.  The box is a purple wood and it is just beautiful.  This picture does not do it justice.

And here's the main event!  Clara sleeping in her crib.  The multiple pacifiers are on purpose and not just lazy.  At the time this was taken (5.5 months), she was just mastering finding her binky on her own and getting it back into her own mouth.  At this point, she's a pro!

So there it is!  Wish the pictures were better, we just love her cute little room!