"Hey Everybody! I'm THREE!"

The day finally arrived!  Claire has waited ever so patiently for her birthday for about three months now.  And I think she had the perfect day!  Or two!

Claire's birthday was actually on Friday (the 28th), but we did most of our celebrating on Saturday.  However, Grandpa Richard was on the ball, and Claire got a birthday card in the mail on Thursday afternoon.  I held her off until Friday morning, and figured since it was her actual birthday, she could open her card.  She was way excited about the card with the animals on it, and the fact that she got mail, but was kind of confused when the $5 bill fell out.  :)  I tried to explain the significance of her birthday loot, but I don't think it really made sense until she got to trade that seemingly useless piece of paper for a much more useful Belle action figure!  Thanks Grandpa Richard!

She also got to open a present from Mom and Dad before bed, which ended up being the cute Tinkerbell jammies in the picture.  She went to bed happy, and Danny and I stayed up talking about how incredible it was that our baby girl was already three...

Saturday morning, Claire woke up early (around 6 am).  I overheard her through the baby monitor talking to her reflection.  This is what she had to say: "OH!  Hello!  It's me, Princess Claire.  It's my birthday today!"  She went on to sing, "Happy Birthday to me!  Happy Birthday to me!  Happy Birthday to Claire!  Happy Birthday to me!"  Needless to say, she was pretty excited!"  We packed a yummy lunch, got the girls dressed and the car loaded, and headed down below (that's Antelope Valley slang for going to LA) to check out the zoo...

We had so much fun!  We got there before the gates opened, so we didn't have much of a crowd to deal with, and the animals were incredibly active.  The zoo grounds are gorgeous, and the weather was perfect!  

After about 4 hours of fun at the zoo, I could barely walk anymore and Claire and Sophie were starting to lose it!  We drove home, barely awake, and once we got home we all kind of crashed for a bit.  We made Claire's favorite dinner, grilled chicken and pasta with broccoli, and then we Skyped Papa and Grandma Call so we could open presents!  It was cool to have them, along with Aunt Julie and Aunt Katie, involved with opening presents and doing cake and ice cream!  It made us feel not so far away...

Claire ended her day with an hour long bath so she could really play with her new bathtub princess toys.  When we were tucking her into bed, she reached up and gave me a second hug!  I usually don't even get one...those hugs are for Daddy only!  She went right to sleep, and we're positive it was the best day she ever had.  We feel like successful parents!  We love our Claire Bear, and can't wait to see what another year will bring in our life with her.  Love you, Claire!

To my Claire, on her birthday...

Happy 3rd Birthday, Claire!

I can't believe you're three already.  Where has the time gone?  I remember so clearly being the hospital all day on Memorial Day three years ago, struggling and scared.  When the doctor told me that it was time to consider a c-section, I was scared and disappointed.  But I do remember realizing that it meant I was going to meet you in just a matter of minutes!  I couldn't believe that after all my years of dreaming about you, I was finally going to see you.  My baby girl.

Even though the morphine has made my memory cloudy, I do remember holding you for the first time.  I remember being so glad that you had so much hair, and that you were beautiful!  I remember thinking you looked just like a Vigil.  I was wrong...you look JUST like your Daddy!

You've been my buddy ever since.  We've spent virtually every day together.  I love how happy you are in the morning!  You've always greeted me with a smile to start our day together.  

Claire's First Birthday

You weren't much older than a year old when we brought Sophie home, and you were instantly a wonderful big sister!  You've helped me so much since then, getting diapers and burp rags and keeping Sophie entertained.  Not to mention teaching her some of the naughty things you've picked up over the years.  But both your Dad and I know that you were meant to come to our family first.  Your sweet disposition and easy manner made it possible to stay sane after your sister got here!  

Claire's Second Birthday

Now you're three, and there is yet another sibling on his way!  Like it or not, you're going to be my "other mother" for a long time!  But the Lord has given you unique gifts and abilities that make you perfect for the job.  Granted, it drives me nuts how long you take to put the toys away or do anything I've asked you to do.  But it's because you can see the pleasure in even the little things.  Something I could learn from you!

I know I get frustrated with you a lot, Claire.  You didn't get much time to just be my baby.  But please know, no matter what, that I love you more than words can say.  I really did dream of you all my life, and made some very difficult decisions because I knew I had a responsibility to you.   You have blessed every minute of my life for the last three years, and I am so grateful for the privilege it is to be your mother.  No matter how many birthdays come and go, you'll always be my baby girl.  I love you, Claire Bear!

Week 29

First of all, I was totally disappointed when I lost track of how far along I was this week!  I could have SWORN I was 30 weeks, only to realize I was off by a week.  Bummer.  :)  Babystep to labor...

I feel obligated to warn those reading that this will probably seem like a post of complaints!  :)  However, in an effort to document history, I feel it is my duty to report things as they are!  And things have just kind of started going downhill this week, or at least it seems to me.

I think more than anything else, Johnny has had a bit of a growth spurt.  He should be about 2 1/2 pounds and about 15 inches long (though again, that is an average estimate, so we'd be safe to assume he's bigger than that!)  In the last week, I've been able to feel him taking up almost every inch of my insides!  And it's reminded me what the third trimester was like with Sophie.  I was so uncomfortable at the end!  It's going to be the same with Johnny.  

And then to add to that, my darned pubic bone is acting up again.  It's been pure torture!  I honestly feel like my crotch is going to split in two!  I was awake all night last night with the pain, and I worry about how the next few months will be.  I think I'm going to have to start looking into some chiropractic work, since that is what I hear is about the only thing you can do for this particular pregnancy discomfort.  Either way, I shall endure.  I don't have any choice, really!

I've realized with more emphasis this week that I have to be more diligent about my spiritual preparations.  I've lost all patience with the girls, and I'm tired of yelling at them all the time.  I'm not only going to be in need of the Lord's assistance with the labor and delivery.  I'm going to need some serious heavenly intervention just to get through until then!

Week 28

And we've made it to the third and final trimester!  Unless of course I go 2 weeks late, and then I think those last 2 weeks should be considered a trimester on their own...thus making a fourth.  But let's keep thinking positive, shall we? :)

Johnny still keeps growing, along with the frequency in comments about how big I am and that I MUST be carrying twins!  Little do they know, this baby is probably going to triple in size!  This week, he should be checking in at around 2.25 pounds and 14.8 inches long.  I love how precise babycenter.com is for their weight and length measurements!  He had me worried for a couple days early in the week, as he just didn't seem very active at all.  But I've learned to give it some time, and sure enough, he's back to his acrobatic self!

This week has been more emotional than physical this time.  Really, the only ache or pain I've been experiencing is that darned pubic bone again.  I'm getting a little concerned that he spends too much time with his head down, but facing the wrong way.  I really don't want him faced posterior when the time comes...I hear back labor is a beast!  But I suppose there are still plenty of weeks for him to get in the right position.  And once again, I have to bear my testimony of prenatal yoga!  I just sleep so much better.  

But I digress.  It's been an emotional week for a couple of reasons.  First, I've realized that Johnny is going to be here pretty soon!  As I've watched Claire and Sophie grow, I've come to realize that for the time being, I don't have a baby!  My baby girls are now big girls, going potty in the big-girl potty and sleeping in big-girl beds!  It's hard to see Sophie as anything but a baby, only because there isn't anyone smaller around to compare.  I try to remember that by the time Claire was Sophie's age, we had a 3 month old baby!  Claire seemed much older.  

But my biggest emotion this week has been fear and doubt.  I think in realizing the utter inevitability of this birth, I've started to feel a bit more anxiety.  I've struggled much more with thoughts of "Can I really do this?", "What if the pain is too much?", "What if it lasts a REALLY long time", or "What if I really am not able to birth my children, and I end up with another section?"  I think a certain amount of anxiety is normal, and even healthy.  It spurs me into action preparing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  But I also know that I have to keep these fears from becoming too big, or they will impede my ability to have this baby at home.  

Danny has been such a good support, and so patient with my emotions (which isn't really something that comes naturally to him!), and I've loved having Beth to talk to.  I don't know if she realizes how much I depend on her faith in birth!  I do feel more confident knowing that both Danny and Beth will be right with me, along with Ali and hopefully even my Mom!  The bottom line is my belief that Heavenly Father really did design birth this way.  And if he did, which I believe he did, then it has to be doable for the majority of us.  And not only doable, but purposeful in its own right.  I won't be able to escape the pain, that's inherent to the process, but I will be able to manage it.  After all, I won't do it alone.  Christ suffered even my labor pains in the Garden of Gethsemane so that he could succor me.  I'm counting on that.

"Summertime...and the living's easy..."

Last weekend was a wonderful taste of summer!  It was hardly windy at all, and was pretty warm as well!  We took the opportunity to get some things done outside Saturday morning.  Danny watered the trees, and the girls and Jack were more than happy to...er...help.  

Claire had plenty of fun just getting her feet wet and muddy.  Sophie, however, has really taken to the country girl lifestyle!

Sophie is just growing up so much!  In preparation for Johnny, we decided to get Sophie into a toddler bed and out of the crib.  We thought it best to get two matching toddler beds for both Claire and Sophie, so as not to have to deal with them fighting over the "new" bed.  For the first time since Claire was born, no one in the house is sleeping in a crib!  I really don't have a baby anymore...for a few more months at least.

The girls did great in their new beds, but because it gets light so early here, they were wide-eyed and bushy tailed before 6 am on Sunday morning!  This made for a difficult morning at church, but we made it.  Claire took a good nap (though Sophie didn't sleep at all!), and was all sweaty when she woke up.  It was pretty warm!  And what's better after a long, sweaty, Sunday afternoon nap than some ice cold watermelon?

Sophie skipped the spoon all together...

Danny and I finished off the weekend with Chipotle Corn Burgers out of my Food Network Magazine, and they were seriously to die for!  We love summertime at the Call house!