As most of you already know, little Claire was born into our family on January 26th! It was quite the adventure getting her here. I began dilating and effacing at around 36 weeks so my doctor thought she'd come around the 38th week. No sir. She came 2 days past her due date! And not only THAT, but I was induced the day before and because I made no cervical change within the hours I was there, I was sent home at 2 AM. 9 AM the next day I began having good contractions. I labored at home for almost 5 hours before heading to the hospital. I was having AWFUL contractions, some lasting 3 minutes and spaced only 45 seconds apart. I was dilated to a 4 when I went in. If I wasn't a 5 within an hour, they said they'd send me home. I told them I'd go to another hospital so you better admit me! Good thing they did, too because I had miss Claire when dilated to an 8. My body decided a 10 was not a necessary goal to reach for giving birth! Yes, I felt it. She came so quickly that the doctor barely made it in the room to catch her.
She was such a beauty! Pretty pink skin color, hardly any vernix on her...and just sweet as ever. Never cried for anything! Ate like a champion. Slept well. She was perfect. She's been such a sweetheart ever since. She never had to figure out her days & nights. Some nights she'll go between 6 and 8 hours without a feeding. I love this little girl! And she sleeps often enough that I still get my mommy-Titan time in. He loves that and so do I!
Derek is doing phenomenal in his job. After 3 1/2 years of being married, I've never seen him enjoy a job so much as he does now. And he gets paid well, which is something he always felt he never had. I guess anything sounds good though coming straight out of the Army, considering he calculated that he made like $2/hour or something like that. Haha. Poor guy.
I'm doing well, just adjusting to life with 2 children. It's definitely an adjustment! I like my kids more and more as they grow older, more stable, and more dependent. At this moment, I laugh at the "terrible two's" statement people make because honestly, Titan is a blast and he is such a good boy. I love him and enjoy him more each day. But for now, we think 2 kids is plenty...there just might be a few years between ole Claire and the next one. On our flight to South Beach back in 2009, we met a nice older man named George. We have never forgotten George. I was 7 months pregnant and he noticed this, obviously. He told us, "You know, it's EASY to be a bad parent. But it is really HARD to be a good one." How true is that?! Parenting is definitely hard for me. But I take comfort in the fact that it's difficult because that tells me that I care and that I am trying hard every single day to be the best mommy I can be to these sweet little ones Heavenly Father has entrusted me with. I love my little family!
And because I'm sure you're dying to see this little bundle of cuteness...here she is!
