Claire's First Photo Op

So, Jordan and I wanted to take newborn pictures, but not pay someone to do it :) So, we did our own. We had a "photo session" this morning with Claire, and here's what came of it!! I think they turned out SOOOOOO cute!! (thanks to Jordan's talents with the digital SLR and Photoshop!) We had fun playing with the photos in RAW format, changing brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.

Growing like a weed! (about 3 weeks)

Ok, I promise that not ALL of my posts from now on will be about Claire...but frankly, nothing else is going on in my life! I pretty much eat sleep and breathe motherhood as the day is long...and the night is long, especially! :)

Ok TOTALLY looks like Jordan in this picture!! (and actually a bit like Jordan's beautiful sister, Camille!)

Claire had her two-week appointment with the pediatrician on Thursday last week and it's great because they at least wanted her to gain enough weight to reach her birth weight again, but since she's such a great eater, she had gained a pound! And gaining. Every day she keeps looking more and more grown UP. It's crazy!

Here she is about to make her favorite face--the pucker face.

And here is a little video of her with the hiccups. She gets them ALL THE TIME. Poor thing!

Butternut Squash Bisque

Due to popular demand, I'm posting this recipe! The great thing, is that, at least at my Costco, I can now get already-cubed butternut squash! I just put it in the freezer, and use it when I want to make this soup! It's so easy.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 3/4 cup diced carrots
• 4 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
• 1 apple
  
• 3 cups vegetable stock (or you can do three cups water with 3 chicken bouillon cubes)
  
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ground nutmeg to taste
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat the oil and melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion in the butter and oil under tender.
2. Mix the carrots and squash into the pot. Pour in vegetable stock, and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender.
3. Add peeled apple in chunks.
   
4. In a blender or food processor, puree the soup mixture until smooth. Return to pot. If you have an immersion blender, you can just keep it in the pot and puree it there--much easier! Once pureed, stir in the heavy cream. Heat through, but do not boil. Serve warm with a dash of nutmeg.

My Two Cents--Prop 8

I just thought I'd share this...I am upset about what this world has come to. The legality of gay marriage isn't just about unions between same-sex couples, but it will change the way our children learn about marriage in schools, it will change the requirements for those performing marriage, and it will change the moral center of our society. It's just setting us up for a slippery downhill slope...

What is more sad is that a lot of members of our church still do not accept what the church's position is on this legislation. It is so strange to me, since I know that when the prophet speaks, the discussion is over--we don't make the rules, God makes the rules. We can't change what our Heavenly Father has mandated as His standard for us. Yes, it's hard to be an "outsider" in our world today and it's hard to take this position with many friends (yes, I too have these friends) who are gay. But, my testimony is that I can't make the rules, and His law trumps whatever I may think or feel. He knows all. He sees the whole picture. And we must obey.

From "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," we read that "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan." and also "We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." And we can't forget how this is a proclamation to the WORLD, not just to members of the church! This is a proclamation to all of God's children--including those in California.

Anyway, this article made me really sad, but really reinforces how "peculiar" a people we are in our society. From http://www.foxnews.com/:

Tom Hanks, an Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.

“The truth is . . . a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen.” “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here's what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed, and people can see who's responsible, and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting Constitution, and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So let's have faith in not only the American, but Californian, constitutional process.”

When informed of the "Forrest Gump" star's comments, Kim Farah, a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, said "Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets."

Bill McKeever, a rep for the Mormonism Research Ministry, added, "Personally, I find it un-American to tell people that they shouldn’t vote their conscience. Hanks said he doesn’t 'like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.' Considering that just about every law discriminates in some form or another, makes this comment ridiculous. Hanks’ comment shows that he very much believes in discriminating against people with whom he disagrees. I may not agree with Mormon theology, but I certainly defend their right to express their opinion."

I love what Bill McKeever says. Perfect. Anyway, I may not make any friends with my two cents here, but I felt like I should say something.

**Update: Tom Hanks later apologized for his comments and said that "un-American" is a word not to be used lightly, and that Mormons are entitled to their opinion and to "vote their conscience."

Taylor Family Pictures

What a great time to do family pictures...NOT. So, I don't have the actual professional pictures yet, but I have a couple cute ones we took after--that Jordan's Mom took...

So in these shots, I only look like 3 months pregnant, hehe... It was great to have Ben and Camille around! Ben is Jordan's older brother that lives in Kona--Hawaii, and Camille is his younger sister who lives in Virginia.

Anyway, more to come when we get the shots!

Thoughts.

So, I've talked a lot about Claire's arrival in a play by play basis... but I haven't talked about what I've been feeling over the past week and a half. Having your first child, I think, brings about a wide range of emotions in a parent.

When Claire was born, Jordan and I both cried (along with the grandmas, of course :) --it's just a big release when your baby has finally come, and the miracle of the birth really sets in. Like I said before, Jordan's paternal instincts set in pretty quickly, and my maternal instincts have been progressively stronger... I haven't really been a "baby" person--someone who loves all babies, can't get enough of them, wants to work at a daycare, etc. But, it truly is different when the baby is your own.

So, I've been having these fairly depressing feelings, like how I can't imagine anyone wanting to harm any little baby...just thinking about during the time that Jesus was born, how Herod commanded his soldiers to kill all babies under two years of age. I can't imagine that--and wonder how many of those soldiers had a hard time carrying out those orders. Wondering also how God felt as those innocent babies were killed.

Also, as I nurse Claire, I think about the pioneers, starving and exhausted as they crossed the plains. As a mother, you think so much about making sure your child gets enough to eat and is able to grow at the right pace, etc... I can't imagine those pioneer mothers, that since they don't get enough to eat themselves, they can't produce enough milk for their babies. And the sad cries of the child...that is just unimaginable. It's no wonder so many babies didn't make it through that difficult trek.

That also leads me to think of all of the children of the world that die every day. It really gives you an eternal perspective because I can't imagine the Lord allowing that to happen if this life weren't simply a small portion of our eternal progression.

Sorry this post is really depressing...sadly, this is what I've been thinking about lately!! But on a lighter note, I really need to say...I don't want Claire to grow up. I want her to stay a sweet innocent baby forever! I don't want her to grow up and not need me anymore!

I also can understand better why so many parents are "helicopter parents," swooping down to help their child avoid any heartache or trials in life. I'm not planning on becoming a "helicopter parent," but I can understand that temptation. I look at Claire, and I never want any of her classmates to call her names, never want her to have to deal with peer pressure, have to make tough decisions, or handle heavy responsibilities. But, I know that she'll have to endure it all--endure life, just like the rest of us!

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Very crazy I know! I'm glad that she won't be a teenager anytime soon, so at least I've got that.

More about Claire: At Home

This was taken at the hospital still--a great shot with her eyes OPEN!

We are finally home :) It has been great (except that I need that reclining bed at home, let's be honest) and of course, tiring!

Claire is on the graveyard shift when it comes to her sleep schedule. Up all night, asleep all day. NOT for long. We've been waking her up every 3 hours to breastfeed so that she won't be as awake at night.

Jordan on burping duty

Breastfeeding is...well, I think I'd go through labor all over again instead!!! When she first latches on--omigosh, EXCRUCIATING pain. TOE CURLING pain. But it's worth it, I guess :) I just have to get toughened up! I heard from my sister-in-law, Ann-Marie, that it gets worse before it gets better, and I'm pretty sure I'm in the "worse" stage right now. BUT, now I can totally relate to how my Mom has described breast feeding. It really is so awesome and "bonding" and all of that...she is just too cute.

My mom has been here and has been helping a TON! She is great.