Claire = squish.

Immaculate house, my Aunt Fanny. (But isn't he adorable??) This place is pretty much crashing around me. And Molly's nose is so snotty that it almost seems better to wait and peel it off in layers than to wipe it every 30 seconds. Seriously. I haven't blogged in days because this week has killed me. That's right, I'm blogging from Purgatory.

Wouldn't it be great to blog from Purgatory? I'm pretty sure that this week has shaved several years from my eventual stay there.

Okay, you non-Catholics. Here's a short rundown on Purgatory. Sheesh. In short, Catholics believe that while sins are forgiven on Earth and that God does want to share with us His happiness in Heaven, most of us will not go directly to Heaven. Most of us will look upon Him and know that we're not yet worthy to be with Him there, and will choose to go to Purgatory first. It is generally believed that there is a moment after death where souls are able to choose between Heaven and Hell one last time, but most souls are not yet worthy of Heaven.

Sort of like your children playing outside all day - you call them in for dinner and realize they're completely filthy and there's just no way you're going to let them sit on your nice furniture. Of course you want their company. You love them. But goodness if they're not caked with grime after hours of playing and foolishness! They don't want a bath - they never do. But you know that their faces will be shining in their cozy jammies and the reunion will be all the sweeter. So into the bath they go. Some of them stay in the bath longer than others, but they're all eventually welcomed back to your loving arms. Bath = purgatory. Simple.

Claire is napping in her carseat, the little gem. Let's see how long THAT continues. She is just such a perfect little peach. Grandma Susie (who is most likely in Heaven by now) is probably looking on her and smiling, because Claire really is the picture of baby cuteness. She's round, smiling and fuzzy. She has the best smile ever. The Claire Cooke Triple Dimple is a KILLER. Lucy has a serene, peaceful smile that makes you just want to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa. Molly has a silly smile - she's always giving you the side-eye at the same time. Trouble. But Claire? Claire's smile turns on from her eyebrows and goes to her toes. Her eyebrows raise, her eyes double in size, her cheeks turn red, her mouth opens wide, her dimples start to show, her hands start to pump, she starts to breathe faster, her little feet kicking like crazy. Pure joy. Claire is the only baby I've met who will lie on the kitchen floor on her belly, just happily staring at a spot while everyone steps around her. She really doesn't care where she is, as long and someone is squealing at her and asking, "IS YOU A PRETTY GIRL?!?!" The look in her eyes is just priceless. You can tell she's screaming inside, "Yes I is! I'm a pretty girl!"

Claire will be 5 months old this weeked - I just can't believe it. Awwwww man...gotta go. My 5-month-old doughy peach is awake.