For the percentile people out there

Mary Clare's four-month doctor visit was today, and despite the fact that she had to get some shots, it may have been our best visit to date. Miss Mary Clare tipped the scales at 12 lbs, 9 oz., and measured 25 inches, which puts her in the 45th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height. Apparently daycare does a baby good.

Usually the doctor doesn't mention the size of her head, so this time I made sure to ask. He said, "She's in the 75th percentile. Why? Were you worried for some reason?" I told him that I thought maybe her forehead was a little big, and he said, "Well, maybe she's a little more broad between her eyebrows and her hairline, but it's nothing to worry about. That sort of thing is usually genetic." Sigh. Just as I had feared. Apparently she also has my high threshold for pain (well, I like to think I have a high threshold for pain) because she took her shots like a champ. Of course, she wrenched our hearts with the dreaded silent scream that has us begging her to breathe, but she recovered quickly.

Dr. O'Neil also gave us the go-ahead to start on cereal, vegetables and fruit, so I'm sure some messy food-covered face shots are in our future. Stay tuned.

Rumbles of delight

So, I mentioned that Mary Clare is really starting to laugh a lot more. You can usually set her off by tickling her belly, playing with her feet or saying "boo!" Her teacher mentioned that the other kids in her classroom also set her off from time to time. Well, apparently we're all letting her down in the laughs department because today she took matters into her own hands. Her teacher said as she gave Mary Clare her afternoon bottle, the little lass started tooting up a storm. Usually she is oblivious to such things, but today it was apparently hilarious with a capital H, because Mary Clare started cracking up to the point that she stopped taking her bottle. Nice. I expect such things from Brennan, but my dainty little girl?

I blame Buddy.

One four-tastic little girl

Today marks Mary Clare's four-month-old birthday. I swear, she just gets more entertaining each month. And cuter. And, as you can tell, with each passing month I just get less and less modest.

And now, for those who haven't seen the little lass in a while, here's a list of her feats to date. Mary Clare is quite determined when it comes to grabbing her toys, she kicks her legs like crazy, stands straight up when you hold her and likes to hear herself talk. (Really, I wonder where she gets it.) Mary Clare gives up the laughs from time to time, and while they have a Beavis and Butthead quality to them, of course we find it charming. She is one smiley little girl, and I would have to say that she is happy most of the day. Well, unless there's a delay in feeding her. Then all hell breaks loose.

Best of all, she is finally working her way into some of the three-to-six-month clothes. Of course, that didn't stop me from cramming her into her newborn-sized Valentine's Day dress on Thursday because it was red day at school and that is the only red item she owns. The skirt was a tad short -- as in only a baby should be allowed to wear such things short -- but she pulled it off. And Chip got props from her teachers for putting her in a dress and tights, so really, everyone won.

On a sad note, work has put a cramp into my photo sessions so there are only (only!) 50 photos in this month's set, but I still managed to get some good ones. Click here for the full set and prepare to be amazed by the smiles.

I've got a big basket of pictures for you

Easter is definitely one of our busiest holidays, with lots of quick pit stops at various houses throughout the day. On Saturday we enjoyed some quality time with the Jones family and my parents, and Sunday was a whirlwind of activity with church, followed by lunch with the extended Thole family and then dinner with the Lindh family. In the middle of the madness, I failed to take a picture of Mary Clare by herself in her Easter finery. Bad, bad mom. I did, however, snap about a zillion pictures of Brennan. I can't help it, he just does more these days. Don't take it personally, Mary Clare. You'll get there, baby.

Click here for the all the Easter fun you can handle.

Ready for some bunny business

Because nothing says Easter like plush bunny go-go boots.

Click here to check out the little dancer in all her glory.

Little bear

We're winners

Good husband that he is, Chip called today to see how the Mary Clare daycare drop-off went this morning. As we were wrapping up the conversation, he said, "Oh yeah, do you want to hear how great your husband is? I'm wearing my charcoal pinstripe suit pants with my navy pinstripe jacket. No one said anything, but I'm on my way home to change."

I laughed. And then a little while later I went to the ladies room, where I discovered I had put my underwear on inside out. Nice. Rather than keep this little tidbit to myself, I played the empathetic wife and texted this information to Chip. His response: "At least they're not on backwards."