7 Year Anniversary + Clara's Blessing

Today was a most magnificent day.  It was full of happiness and pure joy!  Today we celebrated Clara's baby blessing as well as our 7-year wedding anniversary.  What a happy coincidence that the natural time for Clara's blessing came at the same time as our wedding anniversary.  Our love for each other, which has been sealed for all time and eternity, has brought this beautiful soul into our lives.  I can't stop staring at my little baby girl.  The faces she makes leave you in awe!!  And the way she stares at you with her large dark eyes, it's as if she's telling you that all is well and you should be happy :)

My family was, once more, amazing!  They came into town on Saturday night and my mom helped me with getting Clara ready and into her beautiful white dress (mom also swept and mopped my floors and made my kitchen look shiny!)

 left- mom and her best friend Esperanza holding baby Clara

My in-laws also came into town to watch the blessing and I was happy to see them.  

left- Allan, Christine, me and Jon-Bon

Clara was one lucky gal!  She was pronounced a beautiful blessing by her daddy and was surrounded by many worthy priesthood holders.  One in particular is Bishop Chevrier who left his congregation to drive 2 hours and participate in Clara's blessing. This meant the whole world to me!  How can I even begin to describe it!  Bishop Chevrier (who lives in Lake Mary, Florida with his beautiful wife and sons), was my Sunday School teacher growing up.  He has an impressive knowledge of the Gospel and he instilled in me an absolute love of the scriptures (he once was able to recite the whole book of Matthew during his earlier years!).  He reinforced the teachings of my parents and what apostles and prophets preached.  I will forever be grateful for his and he will always be my teacher!  He was also there while Jon was investigating the Church and supported our marriage 7 years ago.  I love that he was here today. Thank you.

Jon, Bishop Chevrier, baby and me!

The boys and a gorgeous baby

My beautiful family! (We missed you Stephanie!) 

Lovebirds!

Me and my sister Janeth and our kids! 

My dad and mom holding their precious grandchildren :) 

I love our new little family!!

Stealing a Moment

I'm stealing a moment while baby girl Clara practices tummy time right next to me to share a few thoughts.

Clara turned 1 month old on Sunday.  Time flew and I am glad for that because my little one has a bout of acid reflux which is causing her discomfort and killing me in the process!  I HATE seeing my baby suffer in pain and I have shed plenty of tears because of it.  The way her little body tensed up and her cries of pain just about did me in.  My poor angel!  We couldn't get any medication for her until she turned 1 month so in the meantime I held her so tight trying to take the pain away from her.  I would whisper in her ear every day that I would gladly take that acid reflux from her.  Go away you meany!  Oh that was just too tough to bear!  It made me appreciate all the parents of sick children who day in and day out have to see their babies endure pain.  Wow, they are champions!

So now baby Clara is doing a little better.  This month has been crazy full of emotions!  I am incredibly in love with this new little being.  But I must admit something, newborns are T-O-U-G-H!  How do I even begin to describe it....I once mentioned to Jon, forget war, just ship a whole bunch of newborns to your enemies and watch them surrender!    bnhbvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv    (oops, don't mind that- Clara's tummy time is over and she decided to type on my laptop).

(pause for a 20 minute nursing break)

Ok, I'm back!  Newborns bring out so many raw emotions out of you.  I am so grateful for my husband and family who have been a tremendous help.  I took 2 trips to Orlando which I will soon blog about.  But for now Clara is stirring and I must attend to her!

Life With a Newborn

The dust has settled and Jon, Clara and I are trying to get into a rhythm of sorts.  But we are quickly finding that there is no such thing as normalcy anymore now that a little hungry, poop machine has entered our life.  And I am totally OK with that.  Well, not really but if it comes with the privilege of being parents I'll take it!

Baby Clara has had us on our toes.  She feeds every 2 hours for roughly 40 minutes.  This makes for a very tired mom and dad.  Jon changes most of her soiled diapers and helps dress her every morning and night.  I take showers every day which has become so incredibly relaxing.  A whole 20 minutes all to myself with the water acting as a soothing background.  So far these past 3 weeks I have been drenched in vomit, poop, boogers and urine. My poor girl projectile vomited twice all over me and her small body.  I was in total shock! I had never seen someone projectile vomit so it took me a minute for it to register in my mind.

Clara is such a fun and sweet baby! She makes me laugh everyday.  Her facial expressions are something to watch!  This girl has a million different faces and it's adorable.  Now, lets talk hair for a minute.  Clara's hair keeps growing and it's out of control!  I knew for a fact my daughter would have hair so I am having fun with all the compliments I get :)  I also love that at 10 days old she fit into a 6 month old dress- LOL.  I love my cutie pie!

Enjoy the many faces of Clara Lucia!

Clara 4th of July

Happy Independence Day!

Clara's Birth Part 2

I was so hungry when I woke up and so after getting our bags ready we headed to Dunkin Donuts.  I was so excited but also very exhausted.  I knew what was coming and I began saying a very meaningful prayer.  I wanted help from my Heavenly Father and with that we entered the hospital.

We walked in said my name and were escorted to our labor and delivery room.  It was a very nice suite with a comfy couch for Jon to sleep in.  I needed my partner to be well rested!  They started me on pitocin to induce labor at around 9:00am.  When they hooked me up to the monitor the midwife kept asking me if I was feeling any contractions but I wasn't.  They said they were coming in strong and again I said I don't feel a thing!  I was 3 centimeters dilated and 70% effaced.  And so the waiting game began!

Throughout my waiting time Clara's heartbeat remained strong and steady.  The nurses kept commenting on how great her heartbeat was.  I was gleaming with pride! Finally at around 4:00pm my midwife checked my cervix and I had only progressed to a 4.  She then said, "Claudia, do you feel your heavy sack of water?" And I said, yeah. She then asked me if she could break my water since she thinks my heavy sack of water was absorbing the contractions.  I said sure and 45 seconds later I wailed!!  WOW! So that's what a contraction feels like. They asked if I wanted an epidural and I said, nah- I wanted to see what this feels like.  Well, within the hour I was kindly asking for an epidural.

My epidural went great! I barely felt the needle.  A sweet women with a heavy British accent administered my epidural and I think I was so distracted by her cute accent that it helped ease my mind.  With the epidural in place I felt calm and excited that this was really happening :)

My family came up at around 8:00pm.  I loved seeing my baby nephew Kevin since he played an important role in helping me realize that I can indeed get pregnant.  A while back I made him a promise that one day I would give him a cousin.  I kept my promise! I was feeling so happy and calm.  My sister kept me distracted and my mom was so sweet and Jon was my cutie pie and my dad was so nervous.  So many feelings and I loved every bit of it!!

My midwife came in at around 10:00pm and I was dilated to an 8.  She said I would be pushing soon but she would return shortly since another women was also in labor.  I looked at the time and thought, so June 23rd she would be born.  She would share a birthday with Jon's uncle.  I turned over to one of my nurses and I told her I secretly wanted my girl to be born on Friday so she can have her own birthday!!

At around 11:40pm my midwife came in, checked my cervix, and away we went!  I was dilated to a 10- Wohoo! They set everything up, a few other nurses came in, my mom held my left leg and Jon held my right leg.  I counted to 10 and I pushed. Then my midwife said, "Wow! You are a great pusher! I think this will be fast."  You see, earlier in the day one of the nurses told me it usually takes 1 to 2 hours of pushing for first time moms and I thought, NO WAY, that will not be me.

I loved being in labor! All of the nurses were my personal cheerleaders.  They were so uplifting and motivating.  "You were made to have lots of babies Claudia!"  "You're a pro!" "Wow, she is such a great pusher!"  Do you remember the nurse I had secretly told that I wanted Clara to be born on Friday.  Well, she whispered in my ear and said 12 minutes until midnight.  The midwife overheard her and said, what's up?  The nurse told her my secret and then my midwife asked if I wanted to wait until midnight to finish pushing?  I said YES! and that I promise that at midnight I would get her out.  So we waited, little miss Clara hanging out until her stubborn mother got her way!  Jon knew that as I was beginning to push I wasn't giving it my all.  Ahh, my man knows me so well :)

Once the clock struck midnight I gave it my all and at 12:01am Jon and I became parents!

Clara Lucia Boress 9 pounds 9 ounces 21 inches

After Clara made her appearance into this big world I was stitched up. I had a 3rd degree tear that needed to be tended to.  Jon scooped up his daughter with a huge smile on his face, my mom cleared up her tears, and Clara stole hearts with her adorable full set of hair!!

Clara's Birth Part 1

I really did it, I gave birth to an adorable 9 pound 9 ounce piece of beauty!!  I could not be happier at this very moment.

I've been thinking and thinking about how I would write Clara's birth story. Things went so smoothly it was almost a picture book.  I'm having to type now a days with one hand so I will be posting this in 2 parts.

I went past my 40 week mark on Sunday, June 19th.  I had a scheduled induction on Wednesday the 23rd.  I called the hospital at 6:00am and they had "no room in the inn" and I couldn't come in and give birth.  *sigh* I live in a small town and my hospital services a good portion of North Florida hence the name of my hospital, North Florida Regional Medical Center.  So I called the next day meanwhile I'm at home nesting trying to take my mind off of the large baby that keeps growing in my womb.

I couldn't take another let down so I had Jon call the hospital the next day to check if the hospital would admit me.  I had spoken with my midwife the day before and she told me the hospital was very full.  So full in fact that one of the OB's was laboring at home since she knew what to do and didn't want to take up a bed.  I just thought, wow, am I going to have to go 2 weeks more- she will be 12 pounds!

I woke up Thursday morning to my wonderful husband embracing me while he whispers in my ear: it's time. They have a room ready for us and would like us in at 7:15am.  It's really happening sweetie!

My heart started pumping so quickly!!  I took a shower and got dressed ready to meet my bebe.