Mobile Pictures

Man, do I love my iPhone!  Apple just really got it right on that one (and pretty much everything else, but that's a whole 'nother post).  I got a new one a couple of weeks ago and while I was underwhelmed by most of the the changes since my old one (which was nearly 3 years old), the camera is a huge improvement.  I seldom remember to upload the pictures to any medium where they can be shared.  The iPhone is so easy because I can just email them out/post them to facebook straight from the phone.

Here's what Clara has been up to lately, taken on my phone:

Playing large instruments.

Practicing to be a big sister.

Tucking in her babies.

I also have a bunch of cute pictures from her teachers.  Clara has a bunch of sweet friends at school, but she always likes to play with her sweet friend Sophia the most.  Sophia's last name is also King and they look a lot alike, so it's cute to see them together.  Their favorite activity is switching shoes, pictured below (each had on one of Sophia's rain boots):

On the riding toy.

Naptime sleepover.

Sharing stacking toys.

It's actually quite rare that toddlers as young as Sophia and Clara would play together rather than play alongside one another.  I hope it's the start of many precious friendships for Clara in the future!

Peaceful Moments/Recap of the Last Month

Ever since Clara began talking, there has not been much quiet around our house.  We adore the chatter, but still embrace the peaceful moments.

I took this picture last night.  She just looks so cozy and peaceful in her crib!  Clara has really taken to her baby doll lately.  Notice that she even gave her a binky!  Snap is still #1, he is under the blanket closest to her, but she is starting to really love babies.  The cradle that my great uncle made me never fit into her nursery, but it has a prominent spot in her Big Girl Room.  She loves to put baby inside the cradle, cover her up and rock her. 

The last month has wreaked havoc on our lives health-wise.  Clara was first diagnosed with pneumonia when I brought her in for pink eye (mother of the year, I swear).  The pneumonia was viral (much less of a worry than bacterial) and presented like a regular cold.  After reassuring me that with no fever she wouldn't have even listened to her own daughters, Dr. Shaw put Clara on antibiotics.  Clara never really got better and then all of the sudden last week she started wheezing.  We brought her back in and Dr. Shaw declared the pneumonia cured, but Clara still had a sinus infection that needed breathing treatments and stronger antibiotics.  I have managed to catch the cold twice, which has been tough during my last month of pregnancy.  I'm not sure which was worse, the actual cold or the fear of bringing a newborn into that germ festival.  Meanwhile, Quincy has gone from one basketball-related injury to another, the latest being an elbow strain.  Fortunately, we are all on the mend and things are really looking up.  Which means New Baby will be late and we'll all have time to catch another cold.

I am less than two weeks from my due date with New Baby.  If I were to have this baby as early as I had Clara, I would go into labor TONIGHT!  I don't see it happening.  I am heavily pregnant and ready to be done, but also not so eager as to not let nature take its course.  New Baby doesn't have a name yet, but we do have 5 options listed.  It will be fun to name her once she gets here.  Everyone who hears the five names has the same favorite, so we'll probably go with that one, unless it really doesn't fit her.  There is one more thing to hang in the nursery and then it will be complete!  I was not sure that was ever going to happen.