Newborn comparisons

Today Clara is a week and a day old. I started looking back through pictures of Lucy to see if I could spot resemblances. I think they're definitely quite similar, even if Clara is a whole pound smaller! So here are a few newborn comparison shots:

Clara Awake:

Lucy awake: (I was going to do Clara Bath and Lucy Bath, but considering the screaming, flailing, and panic that occurred when mom and I gave Clara her first bath, there were no pictures taken. Next time maybe!)

Clara asleep:

Lucy asleep:

Clara grin:

Lucy grin: 

Today also happens to be my birthday (25!) I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters. So today I am grateful for shiny newborn eyes:

baby toes: 

Big girl hair: 

And beautiful blue eyes:

Clara Beth

Announcing the arrival of our second daughter: Clara Beth, born March 13th at 11:24am and weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 20 inches long: 

I was induced with Lucy and we went ahead and induced with Clara as well when I was several days over due. Being induced didn't really speed the process up much with Lucy, so we were definitely not prepared for Clara's speedy arrival!

I think her goal was to arrive before the doctor did, but thankfully she stayed put for a few minutes so that the doctor could catch her and not Joel (who actually thought he might have to for a minute, poor guy):

Lucy is very intrigued by baby sister, although I think a little disappointed that she doesn't talk more. :) 

Here I am with day old Clara, getting ready to leave the hospital. Since everything went so smoothly and Clara is so healthy they let us leave when she was 24 hours old. It's wonderful to be home and resting and admiring our new little girl. 

We love you little Clara!

The Waiting Game

Yikes, it's been almost a month since I posted on our blog, whoops! Well it probably comes as no surprise that what's been occupying our minds the most recently is wondering when our little daughter is planning on making her arrival. Here is a shot of me at 39 weeks.

And then at almost 40 weeks: 

We're coming up on 41 weeks pretty soon but I haven't gotten around to taking that picture yet!

In the meantime, here are some of the things we've been up to while we're waiting. In early February Lucy and I took a trip up to Moscow to visit my parents while Joel had a particularly intense week of work. Lucy redeemed the time by working on her ballet moves: 

Lucy has also started showing an interest in learning how to write her letters so we've been doing that as well. Here she is working away and being very cute in the process: 

We've spent a lot of time at the park this past week because the weather has been in the 50s and sunny (or, at least, not rainy which is the same thing as sunny around here). 

And of course Lucy (and we) are soaking up this last little unique time when she's our only child. Few things are better than just-woken-up-from-a-nap snuggles.