3 years...

Alex asked me to remember what I was doing 3 years ago today. I was starving, swollen, bed-ridden, and drugged. I was 7 months pregnant. I was preparing for surgery: my C-section. And with that came no clue about parenting. I was not ready to meet Clara. I was scared and so sick I didn't care about much. I just wanted to get well. And as things progressed, I realized it really wasn't about me at all after that. It was the struggle to learn and be patient and nurture. Clara couldn't be more perfect today if she had the start that all babies should have; a full term, normal, uneventful birth. Her first home was the hospital. And it's a story I want her to know about, because it was ultimately Clara who got herself through it. Something so tiny was amazingly strong, and I know that's what made me believe that I could be her mommy. And as I suspected, I couldn't write this with dry eyes. She's my life, every breath, and every fiber. I love you Clara Rose. All three years of you!!

5 days old...


1 year old...


2 years old...


3 years old...

Clara can spell!

Last night at the dinner table, Clara informed me and Daddy that she could spell "CAT". We looked at each other, impressed, and asked her to spell it. She took a deep breath and.... "A B C D E F G..."!!!! Oh she made us laugh. We'll stick with the ABC's for now.

Easter

We had a nice weekend together. Saturday Clara and I got up early and made a special stop at the store for donuts! Clara has never gotten to pick out her own before, so that was quite the treat. She chose the one slathered in chocolate and layered with sprinkles. Seize the day! She also got to pick a dvd from Redbox, and we headed into the office for a few hours. Clara got to see her Aunt Brittany, and watch shows on the computer while littering the entire office with her toys and markers. I heard her giggling at one point, and turned around to see her sleeve rolled up with pink highlighter covering her forearm. She called it tattoos...??? Where did she learn that?!



We headed home for nap, and hard boiling eggs. That night was spent enjoying some Easter treats, coloring eggs, making Easter gifts, and a visit from Grandpa Randy. After a couple of easter egg hunts in the living room, we all were in bed early.

Sunday Clara let us sleep in (until 7am!!) and woke up to a special Easter basket. We had a nice breakfast together, and were lazy until about 10. My family came over at 1 for lunch and Easter sweets. It was nice having everyone around, and Clara loved skipping nap! We played with toys and watched movies the rest of the afternoon, and did a whole lot of nothing! What a great way to spend the weekend!

Some old pics from the cell phone...

I thought I'd post some flashbacks to summer before I head off to frigid NYC.

Christmas time is here...

...and gone. The first year ever that I was prepared, finished shopping, baked the treats and made plans, and it was all foiled by the silly snow. I couldn't drive myself anywhere, and didn't want to take Clara out driving in it anyway. Then we planned to walk around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights, and we ended up getting 1/2 inch of ice over the 9 inches of snow! Foiled again!! Unreal. Clara loved the snow so much she started crying when she saw it had all melted. I was just happy we got to get out of the house together again. First stop? Target!! Yay for after-Christmas clearance sales!

Pretty little Rose...

Clara really can be patient with me and all the pictures I take of her. Nights like this one though, when I dressed her up and tried to make it all girly, the best shot I could get was one of her yelling "cheese" and standing in front of the bathroom. She manages to look beautiful though...

Maybe it's the time-change...

Clara has been that text book version of a 2 1/2 year old. "No!" and "Why?" and "Go away!" are becoming her favorite phrases. I really have to watch myself, because from what I can tell, she loves my horrified reaction, therefore is prompted to say them more. She told a little girl at the library to "go away!" because she was going to sit on a LOOOONG couch Clara was on. She's such a loving, sweet child... where did this come from? My answer from anyone I ask? She's two! Welcome to the wonderful world of experimental toddlers pushing their boundaries. And here I thought I was immune...