China

(By Aubree)

On Friday Clara and I were taking a walk, and I passed a sign for an estate sale. I didn't have much on my schedule for the day so I decided to take a look. When I walked into the garage, I could tell that there really wasn't much, just old blankets and sheets and things like that. Then I walked past this china set. Jeff's mom has a set almost exactly like it that I have always loved. It's so simple but elegant. It's all white with a stripe of silver around the edges. Anyway, I decided to do some research on the real price, and although they were selling it for a great price I couldn't justify buying it. The next day was the last day of the sale and I had kind of forgotten about it until I took Clara for another walk and saw the sign again. I decided to just take another look at it. I called Jeff and we thought maybe if they went down a little bit, we might consider buying them. I went on a limb and decided since it was just hours away from the end of their sale, that I would ask if they would drop the price by 1/3. They agreed and now I'm the proud owner of this beautiful China set. It has 12 dinner plates, 11 saucers, 12 cups, a serving bowl, and a serving platter. I love it!

Sleeping Like a Baby

(By Aubree)



I feel like I have been complaining too much in the last couple of blogs. I don't want to come across as not liking motherhood. I've never had so much meaning to my life as I do now. I wouldn't choose to do anything else but be Clara's mom and Jeff's wife right now. I am so in love with my life, even if I do have to make some sacrifices.

That said, I have been trying something new at bedtime. I've only done it a couple of nights, and a few times during nap time. My pediatricion said that as soon as Clara is really good at sucking on her fist, between 3 to 4 months, to lay her down when she is drowsy, but awake. I have also talked to several other moms who have had success with the book "Baby Wise", which from what I understand, is the same idea. I tried this over a week ago, but didn't succeed, because I couldn't let her cry like that. So I tried again on Satuday night, and I decided to try using a mobile to help comfort her. It is the best. It plays music and the mobile does it's thing, and it also has kind of a light show too. It definetly helped, and she would cry or cry harder when it turned off.

So on Saturday I layed her down drowsy, but awake, and it was so hard. I think I cried almost as much as she did, for two reasons. 1- I don't like just letting her cry and not think that I don't care that she's upset, and 2- I'm going to miss the time I spent with her rocking her to sleep. But I feel like this will help her in the long run. I was watching her the whole time. She would watch the mobile, and then cry, dose off a couple of times, find her fist, and cry, then cry harder. I picked her up to calm her down, then layed her down again and not too much longer she was asleep.

Last night was much easier. She cried a lot harder at first, so I thought maybe she wasn't ready for bed yet, so I calmed her down and she actually fell asleep in my arms. She then woke up and I layed her down. She wimpered for a second and then she was fast asleep! And what's even better is she slept for almost 10 hours!

Nap time is still not quite as good, but at least she will lay down by herself for a short time. Who knows, maybe she will get better, or maybe she won't, but it's worth a try.

Three Months Old

(By Aubree)

This month has gone by so fast! Probably the main reason is because Clara, Jeff, and I have been sick. Clara got RSV and Influenza B. We were really lucky, because she didn't end up on oxygen or have to stay in the hospital at all. There was really only one scary day and I took her in to have her oxygen level checked and it was between 88-90%, which isn't very good. I went back later that night and it had gone up to 93%. They ordered a little vacuum that sucks out her nose, which she hates, and that helped so much. Then Jeff and I got the flu and Clara and I ended up with ear infections. So this took up a good portion of the month, but we're all pretty healthy now.

Clara has been a lot of fun this month. Her favorite toy is a mirror. She will smile and talk to herself forever! It's the cutest. She slept through the night for the first time last night! 8 and 1/2 hours baby!! She is really grabbing things, but doesn't realize it all the time. She will be holding a toy and not even know it's there. I can't wait until she can entertain herself better, because she's still pretty clingy, but I'll take the snuggles while she'll give 'em.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to help her to sleep during the day, please tell me. I've probably heard them all, but I want to hear it anyway. I don't know why she won't nap, but it's really frustrating. She will sleep for maybe 30 to 45 minutes while I'm holding her and anytime I try to lay her down to nap, she'll wake up not even 5 minutes later. Any suggestions are welcome.

This is her favorite toy. There's a mirror that she's looking at and she will stare at herself and just smile and talk.

My sister-in-law Wendy let us borrow this. It's to help with tummy time, but she hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet. It sure makes for a cute picture though!

We love bath time! She is very content and relaxed in the tub now. It's one of our favorite times of the day.

Clara loves hanging with her daddy. She will talk to him more than anybody else. Look at those chubby cheeks! It seems like she's gotten so much chubbier in the last couple of weeks.

This is the first and only time she has sucked on her thumb that I know of. I have tried and tried to get her to do it since, but she won't. It would help her be more content by herself if she got the hang of it.

Clara still loves her walks. She usually will sleep most of the way.

This is the walk to the park. It's only about 1/2 mile from our house.

The park has a track that we walk around.

Five Generations

(by Jeff)

We spent last weekend with both of our families. We left Friday afternoon and stopped in Preston, Idaho to visit Aubree's sister and her family. They were unable to make it to Clara's blessing, and most of them had not yet seen Clara. We then drove up to Grace and spent Friday night and most of Saturday with Aubree's family.

Late Saturday afternoon, we drove to Smithfield so that I could attend Priesthood session with my dad, followed by a family meal with most of my family. On Sunday, we watched conference with my family. Everyone came for lunch, including my Grandpa and Grandma Ashcroft and Grandma Florence. Grandma Florence is my great-grandma. She will turn 100 years old this year, and is still going strong. While we had everyone together, we figured it was a good time to take a five-generation picture.

Five Generations
Clara, me, my mom, Grandpa Ashcroft, and Grandma Florence

Grandma Ashcroft didn't get in on the five-generation picture, but we did get this picture with her having fun with Clara.

Clara is so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandma!