A Beautiful Birthday

I am more than pleased to announce that we have a brand new beautiful member of our family! 

Clara Faith arrived February 22, 2010 at 02:45. 

She bounced out weighing 6lbs 15oz and was 19" long. 

The contractions started right around midnight of what would technically be Monday morning. Of course, thinking that this was just another fake out on Clara's part I tried to go back to sleep. I quickly realized she wasn't teasing this time, she meant business. 

By 00:35 she was, quite literally, a huge pain in my back and I figured I better wake the husband before she decided to make her grand appearance right there at my in-laws house. 

We left for the hospital by 00:45 and on the way Clara decided to take my breath away. The little beauty. 

Mike dropped me off at the entrance to the hospital around 01:00 and I slowly, grudgingly made my way up to the 6th floor to labor and delivery. Why they put labor and delivery all the way up on the 6th floor is seriously beyond me.

By this time that tiny girl had me bent over and breathing heavily. She also had me quite weak at the knees because she was stealing all my fluids.

By 01:30 they had me in a room and checked me and I was 5-6cm. Around 01:45 I was pushed to the edge and ended up asking for an epidural, after previously banking on a drug-free birth. I can see this girl is going to push my boundaries.

At 02:10 I was 8cm but I allowed them to do the procedure anyways, knowing that it may not kick in. A true example of the delusionalness that labor creates. "Sure, poke a giant needle in my spine when there's only a minuscule chance that the medicine it contains may take effect before my child is actually making her way out."

By 02:30 I was 10cm, fully effaced and that peanut was telling me she was ready to see the world. 

2 pushes and 15 minutes later she graced us with her presence, rather quietly, at 02:45.

She is absolutely perfect. 

I would prove it with photographs but sadly my computer was wiped last week and I'm still in the process of re-installing all my programs. 

But never fear, I will have photographic proof of her perfection very, very soon!

Blogging Break

I know that I haven't blogged in a while as it is, but it's gotten even harder since for the last week and a half we've been at my in-laws home. Just harder because I don't have any of my binders with my thoughts on mothering or on character traits - so I can't blog about those, and I don't have MY computer which has all my photos on it - so I can't even do a photo blog at the time being.
And harder because I am now 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant (who knew!) and am too tired to even try doing more than is necessary right now!

So, I'm taking a blogging break for the time being. If we get back home and miss Clara still hasn't made her grand appearance I may try catching up a little but otherwise I won't be back to blogging until after she's arrived and we've settled back into life!

I do want to comment on today though - because 3 years ago today - at this time - I was in labor with our George! He made his debut at 3:34pm on this day, 3 years ago. I cannot believe he is 3. Where did those years go? And even more shaking - did I use them wisely with him and his training?! Because 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 are CRITICAL training ages and I don't know if I used that time wisely with my George.
But, I praise God for him! He is an amazing, wonderful, sweet, tender, strong, silly, car-loving little man that I adore.

What Do You Do?

I am participating in something a friend of mine started. A series called "What Do You Do?" She is posting on her blog and will choose a topic and post her thoughts on it and then those who want participate and share what they do on that subject.

This is the first one!

What Do You Do: Children's Bibles, Family Devotions, and Such 
From N's blog :

Does anyone have any thoughts on these titles? What Bible storybooks do/did you use with your kids? What is your routine for reading them to your kids? Do you have a “family devotions” time in your house? If so, what does that look like? WHAT DO YOU DO?

We do not use any of the titles that N mentioned in her blog: The Beginner's Bible, The Big Picture Story Bible, or The Jesus Storybook Bible.
Quite simply we use the Bibles that we have gotten as gifts because I'm too cheap to go spend money on a new one!

We started with this Bible:

It was a little too "advanced" for my liking at the time. Emma was only 2 and George was only 1 and it took things quite a bit over their heads. Although, I do think we're getting close to being ready to use it again.

So, the Bible we currently us is this one:

I like it because the stories are short and pretty simple so that George is able to pay attention. It also has questions at the end that are good for Emma (she's almost 4) and help her to be able to go over things again and therefore take in more from the reading. The only thing that I don't like as much is that sometimes it's VERY simple. Too simple. So, I add in details that I feel my children are ready for or that I feel they can comprehend and don't need omitted.

To be honest, which I hate to be at the moment, our routine is totally off right now. Especially with Bible Time. Ugh. I had JUST started a new, what I felt was an awesome, routine when I got put on modified bedrest because I had dilated.

So, to answer the question of what is our routine for Bible reading here's what I was doing and what I hope to get back to very, very soon:

At 10:30 Emma and George start Blanket Time and play on their blankets for 30-40 minutes.

At 11:00 or 11:10 (depending on how my morning is going) we start Bible Time. Bible Time takes place during Blanket Time. This is very helpful because it keeps them contained to one place and allows them to focus better.

We start by reading a story from our Bible - the second one mentioned above. We go in order - meaning we started at the beginning and each day we read the next story. I go through the story twice usually because they're short and then I go through the questions with Emma to make sure she gets the details. :o)

Then we go through our Character Quality of the week. We have a quality with a definition and verse to go with it. Then we talk about how we apply that quality and what it means and then we usually sing a couple songs that correlate.

Our new routine also included reading from Psalms in the evening before the kids went to bed, though we haven't implemented it yet.

 

Clara Through the Camera

Today, or tomorrow, depending how calculate it, I have made it 34 weeks! This was our second of three goals. The first was 32 weeks and the third, and final, is 36 weeks. January 24.

Part of why this was such an important benchmark to hit is because of the development that is acheived by this point. She's fairly filled out by now and will continue to fill out every day. Her lungs are developed and so is her central nervous system!

It may be hard or comical to picture but I am currently doing a very happy dance with my very pregnant belly.

According to my babycenter e-mails Clara should be about 5lbs, which I believe considering the major belly I'm sporting. They compare her size to a cantaloupe which I also believe because that's about what my belly looks like! Don't worry, you'll see photographic proof in just mere moments.

So, from here we strive for 36 weeks. I cannot even believe that she could be here in 15 days. 2 weeks. Wow.

33 Weeks