Happy 7 months, Clara!

It feels like it was just yesterday I was wrapping my sweet, little Clara in this cocoon. Just like her sisters, she loved to be wrapped up as tight as can be. My cousin, Kelly, knitted this for Clara, and that afternoon, I put Clara into it and she drifted into a deep sleep. She looked so beautiful, and I couldn't help but take a million photographs of her in it. The photo above has to be one of my all time favorite photographs ever. It just captures the sweet, peacefulness of a newborn. It gives me the itch. 

At 7 months now, Clara is moving further and further away from the sweet, peaceful newborn she was. Now, she is inching closer and closer towards a toddler, being able to play and enjoy her big sisters, whom she adores so very, very much. Clara is really turning into a happy, social little girl! She is using her voice a lot. She babbles "ba ba ba ba".  She loves to be tickled! She has a contagious belly laugh that makes you laugh, too. She is now sitting up, but I think she prefers to be inching around on the floor playing with all the toys. She doesn't have much interest in baby toys as much as she does playing with big girl toys! She is absolutely loving solid foods! She will eat anything, and if she catches you eating something, she won't be shy about letting you know she would like some, too! She is finally enjoying being in the stroller. She changes everyday. I wake up next to her every morning, and her smile just lights up the room. I love her.

She is now taking two very good naps, and putting herself to sleep. It just took her some time to figure things out, I knew she could do it! Her nighttime sleep is slowly getting better, too! She goes down easily at around 7:30pm and will wake between 10-11pm to eat before bed. She still wakes frequently, but each night, she improves - last night she slept 10pm-5am, amazing. I have no doubt in my mind she will be a good sleeper just like her big sisters! She still loves her mommy, and sometimes still carries the name "Clingy Clara" - I don't mind cuddling with her either! They are only little once...

I love watching our three girls interact together. Each day life gets better and better! We are so lucky to have three, amazing little girls who light up our life so much. It is amazing how fast life goes by, it seems like the first year of life is just a flash of light. I really would like to slow it down a bit...Clara only brings joy and happiness to our family. We are so lucky to have her, it feels as though she has been a part of us forever. We love you, Clara...xoxo

I'll update tomorrow with Clara's 7 month stats after we get back from the pediatricians office!