**This Post Is Not For Sissies**
I've been thinking about some of my favorite things about Claire and parenting in general. Like most parents, I love the smiles, giggles, and fun new tricks they learn. But that's the obvious stuff. I want to give a shout-out for some of the more unlikely or unnoticed favorite things that go on around our house.
**Danny the Daddy**
(I know this one falls in the "obvious" category, but it's still shout-out worthy). Ladies, is there anything more attractive than seeing your husband completely fall in love with your children? I love seeing how tightly Claire has wrapped herself around his finger and Danny doesn't even struggle against it. As I type I can hear him singing Weezer and Radiohead songs to get Claire to sleep. [Sigh!]
**Danny the Comedian**
Danny and I both like to think we're funny people. I don't know where it comes from, but we find ourselves to be hilarious (please, nobody rain on our parade. This is a family blog). There has always been a competitive nature between us over winning the title of "funniest." Anyway, Danny seems to have declared himself victor ever since Claire started smiling. It makes his day knowing that she smiles more for him when we're both home. Congrats, Danny. You may have won this battle, but a 4-month-old can't vote on who is the funniest. We'd lose to her toes or her stuffed giraffe.
**Danny the Sissy**
Danny cannot handle slobber or snot. It gives him the willies when a stream of fresh drool finds his flesh. He refuses to handle the nasal aspirator or "snot-sucker" as it's known around our house. I may be married to a man who resembles Clark Kent in both appearance & hidden super strength, but baby juices are his kryptonite.
**Attention-Starved Claire**
As you may have noticed from previously posted videos, Claire loves to "talk." She squeaks and screams and jabbers all day long. She has recently discovered that jabbering while I watch her is much more fun than jabbering all alone. When she starts to coo I'll smile and talk to her, but heaven-forbid I get up to do something...She yells at me to come back. Her happy squeaks turn into loud, distressed "HEY's" until I come back and watch her coo some more. I really can't fault her for this. I'm an attention-hog, too. Always have been. But isn't that why moms blog in the first place? To get attention through our children? I might as well be posting: "Hey! Hey, Guys! Post a comment to tell me how cute my baby is!" Way to go Claire. You don't have teeth and you can't quite roll over yet but you know what you want and you know how to communicate it to me.
**Mom Olympics**
Speaking of moms getting attention through their children, I recently developed a love for playing the "one-up" game with other moms. It ranges from exchanging graphic birthing stories to infant growth rates and mile markers. I know what you're thinking. You're replaying our last kid conversation and trying to figure out who "won," right? Well, don't fuss too much. I know it's important for us moms to talk about all these things. We compare birth stories to either be thankful for our own or learn how much stronger we are than we gave ourselves credit for and we compare infant growth rates and milestones to know if we're doing everything right by other people's standards. I guess what I love about it is realizing that other moms are insecure too and that they're all just as obsessed with their beautiful children as I am with mine. For the moment our identities are hidden behind our babies' and it manifests itself through conversation with other moms.
All that being said, I'd still be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it a tiny bit when Claire dwarfs other kids in weight and height. At her last appointment she was off the charts for her height. We're talking 100th percentile here, folks. So Boo-Yah!
**Stinky Toes & Neck Cheese**
I put on a sour face for Claire when I smell her toes and play the "Ooo! Stinky Feet!" game, but secretly I like the smell of her sweaty toes. So sue me.
I also like finding lint and flakes of dried milk in the rolls of her neck. I know it's gross, but it's so funny at the same time. Just the idea that her neck is so fat it can completely conceal things for days...I can't help but laugh. Hunting for Neck Cheese has become one of my favorite bath time activities.
**Double the Pleasure**
Claire is a thumb-sucker. She never took a pacifier but discovered her thumb about two months back and hasn't kicked the habit yet. I've recently had to become very vigilant while feeding her because of it. She keeps trying to work her thumb into her mouth while nursing, assuming that the Doublemint Gum philosophy applies to eating. "If milk is good, and thumb-sucking is good, then clearly I should combine the two when mom isn't paying attention." Work that angle, Claire-bear. Keep trying to maximize your happiness. Just not while eating. It makes me crazy even though I think you're a genius.
**Oopsie Poopsies**
Last one, I promise. Sometimes Claire coughs or sneezes and accidentally toots as she does. Hilarious. It startles her and I laugh which startles her more. Her Oopsie Poopsies are very entertaining.
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