Rhode Island Weekend

This weekend we took Claire to Rhode Island for Lynn's cousin Ken's wedding. Claire was pretty good for the flight. She got to meet her second cousin, Alex for the first time, along with great uncle Joe and aunt Kathy, and cousins Ken and Sherri (newlyweds), Julie and Joe (Alex's parents). Of course, grammy and grampy were there along with Uncle Larry and Auntie Char. While Claire was sleeping for the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception, she did get to go to the wedding, albeit viewed from the crying room - we didn't want her to overshadow the bride!.

Sunday morning we found out the our flight back home was canceled. Lynn talked Delta into putting us on another flight in first class. when we got to the airport to check in, Delta gave us $200 for our troubles as well. We got home by 6:30pm and Claire went to sleep without a peep. Around 7:30pm, Lynn kicked her suitcase (accidentally) and broke her toe. We spent the next 2 hours at the hospital. Our neighbor Nick (of Nick and Kristi fame), who had been baby sitting Kayla all weekend at his house, got to babysit Claire tonight. Anyway, here are some photos from Claire's adventure in Rhode Island.

Doctors and Dancing

Today we took Claire in for her 15 month tune up. Everything looked fine under the hood. She is almost 22 lbs and 30.1 inches in height, which places her in the 25th - 50th percentile for height and weight. She also got 3 needles and cried like a baby (but only for a little bit - brave girl!). Trust me, it was more painful for me to watch.

We are busy reading books to Claire everyday. Usually the same 8 or 9 books. So if you feel like sending us a new book to read. please do so - just not Goodnight Moon. Anyway, below are a couple of videos, showing our first dance with Claire, which will no doubt be a hit at her wedding in 30 some odd years from now.

Dances with Dad

Dances with Mom

New Parenting Technique

The other day after dinner, we took Claire upstairs to the media room to let her run around and burn off some energy before bed. Lynn and I end up falling asleep on the couch, only to be awoken on occasion by Claire sticking her face in ours and saying loudly, "Hi!". I am not sure how long we were sleeping, but fortunately the gate to the media room was locked, so she couldn't get too far. We had a good chuckle over that incident.

Today was hot again, so off to the pool we went to work on undoing Claire's farmer's tan. She is getting so brave, walking in waist-deep water. She'll be swimming by the end of summer. Here are more photos from today.

Pool time

Around noon today, we decided to take Claire to the pool. At first we went into the adult pool (5-6ft deep) and Claire wanted nothing to do with it. Granted the water was a little cool. Then we took her over to the kiddie pool and she was a little hesitant at first, but soon ventured up to 5 feet away on her own. She didn't go in past her knees. I think with time she will get use to the water. Fortunately our neighbors Jeremy and Beth were there with their daughter Alexis (3 weeks older than Claire) and they brought toys. We need to gets some pool toys for Claire. Here are some more photos of our time at the pool.

Welcome Maria Jesus Marin Ibanez

I just wanted to share some wonderful news with you. Our good friends in Chile, Jorge and Angeles (we flew down (10 hrs each way) for the weekend to attend their wedding) had a beautiful baby girl on May 20. Jorge and I met 4 years ago in Chile and have worked on research projects together. I asked him if he's enjoying changing diapers and he said, if I can't feed her, I guess I'll clean her.

Calm weekend

We celebrated our tenth anniversary (May 22) this weekend with the arrival of Claire's 7th tooth. Only 13 more to go. She has been drooling like crazy. She has started to do this jig dance thing, which I am trying to capture on video, but she pretends she is a member of riverdance. I guess she is 1/8 Irish after all.

In preparation for Paul and Taya's wedding, we had Claire outside today in a wifebeater t-shirt to try to get rid of her farmer's tan. It's pretty evident, but hopefully a couple of days in the sun and she will darken right up. She is 1/4 Filipino after all.

Closing thoughts on Italy

• Claire's eyes are turning light green from blue. Must be from all the veggies she eats.
• One of the workers at the hotel we stayed at thought Claire was adopted since she "looks Asian". The worker was Filipino.
• One of the guests at the hotel said, "there is no doubt she is your (my) daughter, she looks just like you." She was drinking wine at the time (not Claire, but the guest).
• We arranged daycare for Claire in the fall 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Thursday.
• She is back to being an absolute angel. We are reconsidering our self-imposed ban on foreign travel with her.
• I love this child so much.