Clara at 10 Months

Clara hit the 10-month mark today, and she needed to use the quiet day at home to recuperate from 2,000 miles spent in the car seat over the past week. We love Christmas and visits with family, but all the road time can be testing even for the most patient of children.

(The hero of that story is Kate. Paul played chauffeur while Kate did a stand-up job in the backseat of keeping Clara entertained for more than 30 hours of driving!)

In her tenth month, Clara had clearly mastered the art of crawling and is now turning her attention back to walking. We're going to prognosticate a bit here: our little one will take her first steps before she hits 11 months.

Given that she can stand on her own (usually unaware of the fact when her attention is on something in her hands, but still...) for nearly 30 seconds in a row; given the fact that she circles the house, her hands in ours, kicking a ball around like baby Pele; and given that she cruises around the coffee table with gazelle-like grace and speed...this probably isn't a Joe Namath bold "we'll-win-that-super-bowl" prediction, but we are going on record so that should count for something.

The tenth month also brought Clara's first illnesses. She had a case of thrush early in the month (as noted in this earlier blog entry) and a cold that followed. And she's just getting over a second cold that brought a couple days of fever. The congestion has had her snoring like a Banshee. Seriously, she's rattling the rafters with the snorts and wheezes. Which would be tolerable if she were in her crib in another room, but...Well, that's our family project for month eleven.

Clara is discovering new skills every day. Some recent additions to her repertoire: waving 'hello' (not just 'bye-bye'), attempting to feed her parents as we feed her (messy), holding a calculator to her ear as if it were a phone (and babbling into it), throwing a ball under the dresser and reaching her arm underneath to fetch it, playing catch, opening child-proof pill bottles (um, those will no longer be rattle substitutes), and giving her kitty gentle pats on the back while hugging it.

Christmas After (Drydens)

We spent Christmas day driving from Pennsylvania to Raleigh, crashed in our own bed for one night, and got up early the next morning for the trip down to Atlanta. Auntie Angela was kind (brave? foolish?) enough to host the entire Dryden clan for our annual Christmas get together.

Clara didn't even flinch at the flurry of pinches, kisses, and hugs from her grandparents, 15 or so aunts/uncles, and the 21 cousins that greeted her once we stepped out of the car. Her natural gregarious style will prove a real survival asset in these gatherings.

Among the highlights was Clara playing with Colin, her cousin born just six weeks after her. She crawled straight to his car seat when Julie brought him in. Not to be put off by his nap, Clara immediately tapped Colin gently on the belly to wake him. She has no patience for playmates that aren't ready to play.

Thanks again to Angela for being the hostess supreme.

Christmas Eve Day (McKnights)

Behold, the baby! Her grandparents call her blessed. And they shall bestow upon her a richness of Christmas gifts known only to first grandchildren.

And the mother shall ponder why she only remembers getting socks and underwear when young.

And the father wonders how he will ever load the car after a Christmas (Eve) morn that requires two acts -- with a brief intermission for napping -- to unwrap all the gifts.

Clara Meets Santa Claus

Twas the night before the night before Christmas, and since Santa had nothing more pressing to do, he suited up one day early to meet little Clara Dryden for the first time.

It would seem Clara can expect special exception status on a regular basis from jolly Saint Nick. Not only did he schedule a special drop-in this night, but he would also load up the sleigh (and load up he did!) one day early for the Drydens to celebrate with the McKnights in Lock Haven on Christmas Eve. Clara's doing something right in these first 10 months...she has Santa eating out of her tiny hand.

Christmas Eve Eve (Bowes)

The Bowes side of the family came into Lock Haven this afternoon. Clara spread her own Christmas cheer among Jim, Bets, Becca, and Jeannie. She loved spending time with her extended family.

Our Christmas Before Christmas

We'll drive about 2,000 miles in the next nine days, meeting up with the McKnights in Pennsylvania and then the Drydens in Georgia. So tonight we relax and work on our own Christmas traditions.

Clara was slow to warm up to the Christmas Tree, but she's since grown accustomed to it. Each morning her ritual includes crawling into the living room and sitting upright until someone plugs in the tree lights. To which she responds with applause and an ear-to-ear grin.

Pandora streams Christmas music through the house during all waking hours, and Clara has selected Jingle Bells as her preferred tune. She jingles a bell rattle with the chorus.

And then for our Christmas celebration at home. Clara was delighted with the bath magnets in her stocking, immediately putting as many in her mouth as would fit. Paul scored big with a new set of multi-vitamins and a pair of Target brand house slippers. Kate finally got her dream gift...a 10-piece set of Pyrex bowls. Ahhh...the good life!

Kiawah 1/2 Marathon

Another year of our trek down to Kiawah to meet up with George & Katie (and Emma), Michael & Beth (and Mary Hall) and run the half-marathon. Well, except for George. He pushed through for the full 26.2 miles. Crazy man.

We grabbed our traditional post-race drinks at the Sanctuary, spent the afternoon complaining about soreness, and enjoyed a laid back dinner that evening. We also spent a few minutes with Kate & Harris, in from Concord, NC.

Our thanks, as always, to Wayne for letting us crash at his Island pad!

Stairmaster

Clara is intent on mastering the craft of climbing. Up and down, chairs and stairs, assisted and alone. But always followed by applause.

Clara the Climber

Clara surprised us this evening with this new found skill: the rocking chair climb, pivot, and sit down. Shortly after she tried to scale her "lovey" box and ascend the little bookcase in her nursery. We think she might be entering a climbing fascination phase which, given her tendencies toward obsessing over new tricks, has us re-thinking how well we've baby-proofed this house.