Clara 1 Month

Clara Elizabeth 

1 Month Old! 

(April 16th-I'm a little behind) 

-Started giving little smiles around 3 weeks.
-Smiling more often whenever she is awake and sees us smiling at her.

-Still in a pretty sleepy phase but will have a couple of good awake stretches usually in the morning.
-Has a rough time from about 7 or 8pm until 11 or 12pm.  She is usually awake for a pretty good amount of time and fussy on and off.  She likes to be held and rocked/danced around and usually doesn't go to sleep for the night until 11 or 12.

-Longest sleeping stretch is usually only 3 hours.  Hopefully they will get longer soon and once we get past this fussy night time so she'll go to bed right after her evening feeding instead of being awake for an hour or two after that.
-Lifts her head pretty good when she is on our shoulder and is getting a little better during tummy time

-Likes bath time as long as she stays warm in the water
-Has a problem with clogged tear ducts mostly in her right eye, but occasionally it happens in the left too.
-Recognizes our voices and perks right up when she hears Calin

-Is starting to tolerate laying on the floor and playing but would usually rather be held
-Likes her bouncing chair and sometimes the vibrations are an acceptable substitute to being held.
-Loves to be swaddled
-Eats every 2-3 hours and sometimes needs an ounce or less of formula to supplement.  Usually she only needs a bottle for an afternoon or evening feeding.  She rarely drinks the whole ounce and usually just needs a little bit more.

Calin wanted in on the pictures. 

Back at Church

Our first Sunday back at church was April 13th, when Clara was 4 weeks old.  I was nervous about how sacrament meeting would go sitting by myself with two kids, but we managed it!  Thankfully Clara's schedule worked out and she slept right through sacrament meeting so I could focus on Calin.

The next challenge was Calin's first week back at nursery.  Up until this point he had not been to nursery without crying and continuing to cry on and off throughout most of nursery.  So I was pretty worried that after not having been to nursery for several weeks that he would be even worse.  However, he shocked us all and only cried right when we dropped him off.  The nursery leaders told me after a few minutes of crying he calmed down and was great the whole rest of the time!  Yea Calin!!   He does still need to work on putting all the toys away when it's time to clean up (he always has a toy or two when I go to pick him up), but hopefully it will keep getting better!  So glad he is doing so well and I don't have to worry anymore when I drop him off!

Calin and Robby were intentionally matching at church that day.

Calin is not cooperative when it comes to pictures.  

This is what we get when we try to do pictures with Calin lately.  

Clara and I were accidentally matching for our first sunday back!

Love her face in this picture! 

Navy and polka dots! 

Clara's 2nd Week and Blessing Day

The last week in March we had my mom and dad still here with us which was fantastic to have the extra help around!  Robby went to work Monday-Thursday.  My mom came over every morning at 7 when Robby left for work to help with Calin when he got up so I could sleep in with Clara.

Calin, Clara, "Dolly", and I getting some morning snuggles in.  

Robby spent his time with Clara in the evenings.
That was her fussy time so she needed lots of holding, rocking, and snuggling! 

Most of the week we just spent time at the house hanging out with my mom and dad.  They were a big help with Calin so he had someone to play with.  It was also nice to have them there so that our basement guy Steve could keep working on the basement.  I didn't want him coming when it was just me at home because that was too hard to worry about nursing and what Calin was doing and having Steve in and out.  So I was glad to have some time that he could come while other people were here to help.

Cute girl with lots of great faces! 

Friday we went out to do some last minute shopping for some white socks and booties for Clara's blessing and then went to lunch.  It was Clara's first official outing besides going to doctor's appointments.  We met up with my parents and grandma at Paradise Bakery.  It was so nice to be out and about doing something away from the house!

Clara out at lunch! 

Calin had a cookie he was finishing on the way home.
He fell asleep with it in his hand and with some of the chocolate still on his face.  

 That night we went over to my grandma's pool to do some swimming.  Unfortunately the heater was broken and the pool was freezing.  My mom braved the cold and took Calin in with him for a few minutes before he was freezing and done with the pool.   He had fun throwing the fish and going to get them.

Calin getting ready to get in the COLD water! 

Catching the fish! 

 Saturday we did some prep to get ready for Clara's blessing and to have everyone come into town.   We decided to bless Clara that weekend since my parents were still in town and so they didn't have to make a whole different trip out for her blessing later on.  Becca, Josef, Erich, Allie, and Summer were all great and made the trip down for her blessing too.  Becca got there that afternoon and everyone else got there Saturday evening.  We BBQ'd hamburgers at my grandma's that night and then just enjoyed some time with my family before we went home to get the kids to bed and everyone else went to a movie.

Meeting Aunt Becca

Chilling with Aunt Becca

Meeting Aunt Allie

Meeting Josef and Summer 

Meeting Uncle Erich

Doing burpees with Aunt Becca after dinner Saturday night.  

Sunday was Clara's blessing day.  Robby helped me get going before he had to go to meetings that morning at 10.  I was able to finish getting them ready and get them both down for a nap.  My mom and sister came over around 11:30 to help finish getting things set up and ready.  Everyone else came over around 12 to also finish helping set up.  

Becca with the munchkins before church. 

Summer and Clara before church. 

Everything went smoothly at church and Robby gave Clara a beautiful blessing.  I'm so grateful to have Robby and that my kids have such a great dad.  I am also very blessed to have such a great priesthood holder that can give such beautiful blessings.  We were able to snap a few pictures quickly before needing to run home and get everyone fed before they all had to leave and drive home.  I wish we'd had time to get a picture with everyone that was there and Clara with grandparents and such but we just ran out of time.  

Our family of 4 on Clara's blessing day March 30th, 2014

Calin was done being at church. During the closing prayer Calin loudly said "all done, go home".  He had had enough! 

Allie and Erich taking pictures during sacrament meeting.

After church we hurried home to have some lunch with everyone before they all had to drive home.  My parents needed to leave because they had to drive all the way back to Oregon that night and our church was at 1:00.  A BIG thank you to them for all their help and for staying and making a long drive home for us and our sweet Clara.  We had a pasta salad (thanks to my mom), fruit (thanks to Grandma Lundberg), veggies and dip, rolls and lemonade (thanks to Geri) and then some delicious cupcakes from SweetTooth Fairy.  It was a great afternoon and we were so glad everyone could be there! 

After everyone left we had a chance to get some pictures with Clara and Calin and us.  I wish we'd been able to get some with everyone else too, but it was a just a little too hectic!

Clara is wearing the same dress that I wore for my blessing day.   Thanks Mom for hanging onto it! 

 Sunday was a long hard day for Calin with all the attention on Clara, a very short nap, lots of people around, family leaving town, no normal meals, etc.  So that evening while Clara was sleeping we took a few minutes to pay attention to Calin and have some fun and be silly with him.

We are so blessed to have two adorable children and to have such great supportive family!!  Thanks again to everyone for coming and supporting us and Clara on her big day!

Basking in the Lights and Clara's First Week

After we got home on Monday afternoon we enjoyed some time together as a family and got Clara all settled in at home.  My mom was fantastic and made us dinner that night and helped us get settled in. It was great to be home and all together again and enjoy letting Calin get used to Clara and having her home.

Clara getting comfy in her bassinet. 

The next day we had to take Clara back to the hospital to have her bilirubin levels checked.  When we left the hospital on Monday they were medium to high risk.  We got the call that afternoon that her levels were still too high and they were sending the bilirubin bed over.  Poor Clara then had to spend all her time basking in the lights.  

 She had to be in there all the time except for while she was being fed or getting a diaper change.  It was very hard for all of us to leave her in there all the time and not hold and play with her.  She handled the lights fairly well until that night.  Tuesday night was rough and she spent quite a bit of time out of the lights because I felt so bad and she was so fussy.  I don't think she liked the "goggles" at all.  The bed had this little drape thing you could use instead of the "goggles" but she kept swatting at the drape and so it didn't stay in place.

Robby enjoying Clara after the doctor waiting to hear if she had to go back into the lights.

We retested her levels the next day and also went to her first doctors check up.  The lady that did her bilirubin test was brutal and poor Clara screamed the whole time the lady was squeezing to get blood out of her heel.  She did great at the doctor and everything looked good! That afternoon we got the call that she needed to stay in the lights another day. This broke all our hearts but we wanted her to get better so I guess you do what you have to!

So we headed into another night of the lights.  Thankfully she did better with the drape the second night and day and so we didn't have to use the "goggles".  We went back a third time to get her tested on Thursday.  I went back to the hospital downtown to have her checked cause I didn't want to end up with that brutal lady at the other hospital.  We came home and enjoyed time with her out of the lights waiting to hear if she was ok.   We finally called in because we got tired of waiting to hear and found out her levels were finally down and she didn't have to use the bed anymore!!!

Robby reading stories while we waited to see if Clara could stay out of the lights! 

Calin enjoying laying "by ya" and having Clara out of the light bed. 

We were so excited that Clara's levels were better and were happy to finally be able to enjoy her fully! 

Robby went in to work a few days that week since my mom was here to help. Calin was happy to have her around to play and I think my mom enjoyed it just as much as he did.  Clara and I did lots of eating and napping whenever we got a chance (she did lots of napping!).   I also enjoyed putting her into her clothes after not being able to get her dressed while in the light bed.  

Coloring with Grandma! 

Cute new outfit from my visiting teachers who also brought dinner on Tuesday!
So grateful for all the great help we had! 

Calin loved holding Clara and giving her hugs and kisses! 

Friday my grandma stopped by to visit and meet Clara.  We love having her so close to us and getting to see her so often!

Grandma, Great Grandma and Clara

On Saturday we enjoyed an outing to watch Gracie's soccer game.  It was nice to get out and walk and enjoy some fresh air!

Calin was watching all the cars drive by on the street behind us.  

Sunday we enjoyed a morning home together and gave Clara her first sponge bath at home.  She seemed to like the water for the most part and is a pretty cute little baby all wrapped up in her towel! 

Calin enjoyed playing with his toothbrush while we were bathing Clara. 

Calin loves having Clara around and he was loving holding her and taking these pictures.  It is rare that he enjoys getting his picture taken! 

I love how it looks like Clara is smiling in this picture. 

 Robby then went to church and meetings to take care of all his bishopric duties while Calin and Clara and I stayed home and enjoyed a lazy Sunday.  That afternoon my mom and dad came over.  My dad had just come down for spring break and my mom got back from Salt Lake where she went to my uncle's birthday party with my grandma.  It was great to have them back and glad my dad got to meet Clara. 

That night we also enjoyed celebrating Clara's one week "birthday"!  We did this with Calin too and enjoyed doing it again to celebrate our little Clara.  Robby also insisted that we have a picture just like the one with Calin that you can see here.  We didn't have any cupcakes this time though so used a donut we had instead.  

What a great first week all together as our family of four!