1 month

Babies have a way of messing with your concept of time, some days we feel like Claire just came home from the hospital and other days it feels like she has always been here. It is hard for us to believe that she is already a month old.

Things we learned this month:
Have a routine as a goal, but be flexible: We quickly learned that having a routine was essential. Messing up a feeding or sleep schedule by an hour could have ramifications into the next day. And once you think you have a routine Claire has a way of letting you know that she is the boss.

5 hours of sleep is heavenly: Before Claire, I would have considered getting just 5 hours of sleep a bad night; for Cory, 5 hours of sleep was a typically afternoon nap on the weekend. Now getting 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep is a lofty goal.

Finding the favorite pacifier: We have 8 different types pacifiers in our house. It seems like every week Claire has a new favorite and we make sure each room is stocked with the current choice. Who knew pacifiers came in so many sizes, shapes, colors, and textures?!?!?

Don't change the diaper at the first rumble: We learned to give Claire a few minutes before rushing to change her diaper, because most times she is just giving us a preview of what is to come.

A typical weekend for Cory would include reading books and articles for school, the only books Cory has cracked this month our baby related like "What to Expect the First Year" and "Happiest Baby on the Block".

Endless laundry continues...and the search for the best stain pre-treater.

Claire is the loudest sleeper of any baby either of us has known. Sometimes we think she is louder asleep than awake. Many new parents check on their babies countless times in the middle of the night, worried by the silence. We don't have that problem, Claire coos and vocalizes throughout the entire night, more likely keeping us awake.

We have 1 month down, so only 17 years and 11 months left until college.....