Pre-Clara Photo Shoot

Right before Clara was born we had our friend Alicia take some pictures for us. The kids do so much better when it is someone else taking the pictures. I just wanted to post some of my favorites.

This is my favorite of all of us. Looking at it now, my belly looks huge! I didn't feel that big at the time. 

I love love love this one! It totally shows their personalities. Iris kissing and loving on the baby and Donevan driving his cars over my belly. So perfect.

Iris just could not wait until her little sister got here! She loves having a little sister. She is going to be such a good example to Clara.

Donevan is a good big brother. I can tell he's gonna look out for her. Even though he drove cars on her before she was born.

These are some good ones of the two of them actually getting along and proving that they do love each other, even though you couldn't prove it by the way they act sometimes.

She loves having her picture taken. So sassy!

He just wanted to play with his cars. Whatever makes him smile!

And now for some belly shots. I know a lot of people don't like to have their picture taken while pregnant, but I like to look back and remember how I felt and what I looked like. I feel really bad that we didn't do something like this when I was pregnant with Iris. If only we had all the photo equipment then.

 I made sure I got some with Evan. When we did maternity pictures when I was pregnant with Donevan I didn't get any with Evan because he was taking the photos. We were going to have someone else take some for us, but never got around to it. So I insisted on having someone else do all the photos this time. And I'm glad I did.

So sweet!

Well I hope you enjoyed looking at my belly. I do somewhat miss having all the movement inside. I don't miss not being able to bend over or sleep. And I don't miss the heartburn or numb and swollen hands and feet. Really though, I like being pregnant. I am lucky enough to have had fairly easy pregnancies. I don't experience all the sickness that most women do and my deliveries are quick. So all in all, being pregnant is an enjoyable experience for me. Don't hate me.

Clara's Homecoming

As promised, here are the pics from when we brought Clara home. 

Iris and Donevan helped my mom make this super cute sign for her.

Getting cozy with Grandpa Dahl.

Crazy haired Iris wanted to hold her right away. Such a proud big sister.

We love Nonnie!

Donevan decided that he wanted to hold her too, and even gave some kisses. Precious!

This is after her first real bath. She is gettin' chunky! Why are double chins only this adorable on babies?

My pretty little Clara! So sweet!

December 10, 2010

I am finally going to post pictures from the day that Clara was born. Sorry it has taken me so long. It's hard to believe that she is now 3 weeks old. Why is it that the last 3 weeks in the womb takes an eternity, but as an infant 3 weeks fly by?

Here I am all hooked up to the machines. 

We went in at 5:30 am and got checked in and hooked up. I was still only dilated to a 3 so we weren't expecting anything to happen right away. They told us that the doctor would be there about 7:30 to break my water, but he didn't get there till about 9:30. At around 11:00 I started getting really bad contractions so they gave me the epidural. That helped a lot and I was able to get some rest for a couple hours. Then the contractions started getting really bad. It was definitely more painful than the last two. I wasn't aware at the time that the epidural was pretty much wore off. (I'm pretty sure the nurse turned it off. She didn't really know what she was doing. At least that's how she came across to me!) Anyways, I was in a LOT of pain and I kept telling the nurses that she was coming out and they kept telling me not to push, but I wasn't pushing, she was just coming out. They finally got the doctor there and he had just enough time to put on a gown and gloves when the nurse said, "We have a baby!" He turned around and caught the baby and told me to push a little more. One little push and she was all the way out. Instant relief! At 3:07 pm she made her appearance. Welcome to the world, Clara Jane! She was so beautiful, it made all the pain worth it. She was born with that cute little furrowed brow. All the nurses said she looked so serious. You'll see that look again in many of the pictures. I think she looks like she is very deep in thought.

So precious! She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. That must be all I have room for since all three were 20 1/2 inches. 

Again with the Clara Glare.

My mom brought the kids in. They were pretty excited to see her. I had to keep her next to my skin to warm her up a bit so they didn't get to hold her right away. But here is Donevan's first look at her. Excited to be a big brother!

Iris couldn't stop smiling. She was the most excited! She couldn't wait to have a little sister.

At first Donevan wanted to hold her.

Then he changed his mind and pushed her away a little.

Iris, of course, couldn't wait to hold her. She was so happy! What a proud big sister!

Why are you taking pictures of me? Where I am? What's going on?

Donevan watching her get a bath in the nursery.

Havin' a little chat with Dad. I was glad that Evan was able to go and be with her through all the stuff they do in the nursery. Even after the epidural wearing off, my right leg was the only thing that stayed numb. For like another 8 hours I couldn't feel it at all. Not fun.

So precious! 

She likes bathtime!

The nurses brought her back to us in this cute stocking and hat. I loved it. What an adorable little stocking stuffer!

Merry Christmas!

This was her going-home outfit. Iris helped me pick it out. We got to go home the next morning. I have more pictures of that but haven't got them on the computer yet. So those will be posted later.

So far she has been a dream baby. Doesn't really cry at all. She latched on right away and has been a good eater from the beginning. She is now sleeping about 4 to 5 hours at a time. Iris and Donevan are great with her and love to hold her and love on her. A wonderful addition to our family!