Baby's Day Out

On Wednesday, November 10, Clara Grace went out on her second play date with her friend Hannah Beth. While their mommies ate a delicious lunch at Applebee’s and strolled around Northgate Mall, the two girls slept peacefully (for the most part). When everyone arrived at Clara Grace’s home, the two girls enjoyed their own lunch. Then they lay in the crib together to get a good look at one another and converse. They both seemed to enjoy this immensely.

Are You Yella?

Everyone who visited Clara Grace in the hospital complimented her on her beautiful, rich skin tone--that is however, until they learned she had a slight touch of jaundice. “Nothing to worry about,” the pediatrician assured her distressed parents. “Make sure she gets a lot of sunlight and bring her in for a blood test day after tomorrow. For the next two days, Clara Grace slept peacefully most of the time while her mommy and daddy hauled her bassinette from window to window. Seemingly, Clara Grace had been born on the only sunless week of October that year. Clara Grace’s first outing was for her appointed blood work. Her mommy and daddy waited an hour watching reruns in the hospital’s lounge to finally hear the good news that her jaundice was clearing up.

Early Indicators

Clara Grace scored nine, eight, and nine, on her apgar. During the test her Grandma reported that while lying on her back, Clara Grace lifted her head, which was facing left, and brought it back down to the table facing to the right. “Newborn babies just aren’t supposed to be able to do that,” she told Clara Grace’s proud mommy. Needless to say, the age old imperative, “make sure you support the baby’s neck,” was not worn out in the Paulson household. However, Clara Grace’s daddy took up another mandate. Strategically placed in every room was a conspicuous bottle of hand sanitizer, if unused her daddy protectively asked all guests, “Would you like to wash your hands before you hold the baby?” Everyone knew this was not really a question.