Claire

Claire Alison
7 lbs. 12 oz.
20 inches long
born April 23rd


We're home. We've been through a lot. Maybe I'll share some of the details later. We're doing well. I'm tired & sore & already overwhelmed about having two girlies to mother. We are so very blessed, though. No denying that.

Claire has really long feet & toes. Blond hair. Loves to be swaddled. Loves to eat & loves her pacifier. Looks similar to her sister, but I think she has her daddy's eyes. We LOVE her!!!

Checking In

My due date has arrived.....the baby has not.

Things are going well around our home. We are cleaning & packing & eating drumstick ice cream cones.

The weather has been cold & I have not been walking as much as I would have liked to. We are planning on going for a long walk when Sadie wakes up from her nap.

I am getting a little anxious & nervous today.....just waiting for this little one to arrive.

Thinking about little scrawny legs sticking out from the tiniest diapers...soft baby head & cheeks to kiss & smell. That pretty pink skin that will later turn white as can be. And the little sounds that come out while moving around or sleeping peacefully.

We are ready. Whenever you are baby girl.

I am thinking Sunday would be a good day. Dylan is betting on Wednesday.

Didn't want to leave all of you lovely friends of mine hanging. We are doing well.

It's Good to Be...

Together again as a family. It's nice to capture sweet moments like these, no matter how blurry my photo turns out. We are loving having Dylan's cute face back around.


Outside! Sadie riding her bike at the park....back & forth a million times & just loving it.

I was really upset after my appointment with the doctor on Monday. He couldn't even reach my cervix to tell me anything. Which to me means NOTHING is happening. I have been feeling really positive that the birth of this baby will turn out the way I want it to.....that being a successful VBAC. Started to really worry that she'll go a week overdue & I'll be back in the operating room for a c-section. I really want to sit up after this one & be able to nurse that way. I really want to be able to eat food & not be on a liquid diet of broth, jello & fruit juice for each meal for 3 days. I really want to be able to recover quicker & be able to move around easier & be able to take care of my 2 children. SO....after crying to my most wonderful, positive, encouraging mother (really there is nobody out there like my mom), I have come to believe her words of "things can happen really fast". Also taking her advice to walk as much as possible & try to get this baby to drop. Did a lot of walking yesterday...slept wonderfully last night & feeling a lot of braxton hicks contractions this morning. Let's just hope there actually doing something.

And in my feeling so very sorry for myself, I feel horrible after hearing the news of Virginia Tech & after reading this. Life can be so hard sometimes. My problems are really not bad. And, again I'm remembering that Heavenly Father loves us....and we need not fear.

Baby Albums From My Sistas

I got a fun, fun package in the mail Saturday from my sisters, Heather & Amber. Each of them made me an album for the new baby. They are both so adorable & pretty, I just have to share some photos.

Amber's is so pretty & the colors are to die for. I love the blues....one of my favorite colors right now. I have never had a problem with "blue" for my little girls. In fact, my crib bedding is blue. Also love the papers she chose & the big floral is my favorite.




Heather's is just so adorable with lots of pretty, pretty color, texture & even a little birdie.





Thanks so much girls. I'm really excited to fill these in & it makes me even more excited for this baby to come!

Freaky Friday

Having a good Friday the 13th?

I am! I got my hair done today & I got a pedicure. Are you jealous? You should be, but I deserve it more than you. So too bad.

We are very, very excited for Dylan to come home tomorrow afternoon.

One week until my due date, but baby is free to come anytime after tomorrow afternoon.

Hope you all have a happy weekend. We will!

While I Enjoyed My Grapefruit

I just LOVE this!!!! Sadie colored this all on her own while I was eating a yummy, yummy grapefruit. I love the arms & legs, eyes & nose & mouth. How cool is my girl!?

Some other things I don't want to forget about this girl:

* She has been riding her bike (big wheel) in the house as it's been too cold outside. She has figured out how to use the pedals & is really quite proud of herself. She keeps saying "Watch me mom!" as she rides across the kitchen.

* She was singing a lot yesterday & mixing up all the songs she knows. "Snowman built hims house on a rock!"

Hmm...What to Call This One

Feeling a little emotional & weighed down. Excited for Dylan to come home on Saturday. Trying to have patience with Sadie but I find myself yelling A LOT. Why is it so much harder to deal with a little one when you're 9 months pregnant? Okay, that was a dumb question.

Anyway, trying to be happy today & start the day off right. Here are a few of my happy things lately:

This quilt from Urban Outfitters. Saw this while looking around for bedding for Sadie. I know, who shops for children's bedding at Urban? Way out of my price range anyway, but cool to look at.

Blueprint & Body&Soul magazines. Thank you credit card miles. Now I'm all informed on how to live a stylish & whole life.

A curb side recycling program at our new home in Lakewood, Ohio. Also a YMCA nearby which hopefully has affordable fitness memberships. Also, thoughts of going to the zoo & outdoor concerts with my little family this summer.

Project Runway. Been watching seasons 1 & 2 on DVD. I just love Heidi Klum.

And, today at the grocery store I shall pick up a grapefruit since I've been craving one for the past 3 days. Why do they put a cherry in the middle at restaurants? Does anyone else find that funny?

Happy Easter

Thankful to have had good spring weather this year for Easter (not like last year). Sorry to all my buds who had a snowy Easter. Not cool.


The best photo I could get of Sadie in her Easter dress. She was VERY excited to have these bows in her hair. It's the first time we've ever done it. I guess I thought she'd pull them out. Not at all. She sat in front of the mirror admiring herself for a little while.

And her biting right into her chocolate "dinosaur". Really a bunny, but she kept calling it a dinosaur. I had to stop her after the ears & head & take it away. She wanted to "just eat it all". Um, no.

Something Other Than Cereal This Morning

Okay, I admit, I did put sugar on my fruit this morning. I just can't help it. I'm an addict.

Dylan is doing well in Cleveland. He's enjoying his job & has found us an apartment to live in. He's been gone 15 days. We're over the hump with him coming home in only 9 days. It's all still too long though. And as much as I try not to think about it, I miss him something awful. Oh, it's bad. Anyway, I have not gotten a babysitter since he's been gone except for my doctor's appointments. Sadie & I need a break from each other. This afternoon she is going to go play w/ Dylan's cousins Meg & Annie. Is it horrible that I'm REALLY looking forward to the break?

You Know What?

* I hate the smell of Pine Sol. Brings back memories of a hamster cage.

* These days I debate whether or not to put make-up on every morning. Usually, I don't.

* Every time I vacuum my floor, I vacuum my couch. I have a dog.

* Taking a toddler to the bathroom in a public stall is very tricky when you're nine months pregnant. Lots of maneuvering to get both of you in there & the door closed.

* Right now, I should be cleaning something or packing something up.

I'm Really Not Sure....

if this baby is going to have enough clothes for the first three months of her life. Just kidding! Been doing laundry. Getting all the baby clothes ready. Now where to put them? And, I'm still missing a box of newborn clothes. There's even more out there somewhere.

Sadie has been fascinated with these river rocks the past few days. Filing all her toy dishes with them.

These pictures are for you Dylan:



I told her to smile for me just as soon as she woke up.

Thank You Kindly

I was totally ready to buy a set of thank you cards a couple weeks ago, but Dylan talked me into making my own. So, I finally got around to it. Sorry to all of you that have been deserving of a thank you card from me but have not received one yet. They're on the way now. And sorry to spoil the surprise of what these absolutely darling handmade thank yous will look like when you open the envelope, but....


I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these. Yes that's five loves in all caps. Anyway, I mass produced. Not sure what got into me, but I put a couple extra sets of these up in the shop today.

Hope you have a lovely day. Hope there is something as simple as a thank you card making you happy today.