The fruit of the womb is definitely a reward!

Here's a happy Daddy and his two little girls!


Izzy getting some special attention from Uncle "Jor"... He is the only person that has a name according to Izzy (other than her parents). She loves talking to "Jor" on her play cell phone. :)

Aunt Jennifer gave her Thursday to our family, and took Izzy on a ride in the stroller in our neighborhood while she ran for her daily exercise and also took her grocery shopping. Izzy's so used to getting out of the house most days of the week, so I know she enjoyed those little outtings.

We have enjoyed and appreciated the visits and meals this week from our church family, friends, and Justin's family. Last night, we went to the Jackson home (friends from church who live in our same neighborhood) for a delicious and very relaxing meal. Steve smoked ribs and chickens, and Dawn made some wonderful potatoes, corn bread, and mint sweet tea! It's so nice to not cook dinner for a little while after coming home from the hospital. A special thanks to Justin's mom for giving of her time to clean our whole house this week!!!!!!!!!!!

This coming week we look forward to a visit from my (Kelly's) parents to see their newest granddaughter! I'm sure I'll have some pics from their visit to post on here. :)

I had fun giving Clara her first sponge bath here at home. I'm trying to soak in all these precious little moments. With Izzy, I always wanted to see what she'd do next, and this time around I don't want Clara to change!!!

I told Justin in the hospital that I know I sound like a broken record telling him how much I enjoy this second baby. The first time is so exciting, but it's all so new. It's kinda like my first year teaching 5th grade--exciting but so new and full of inexperience. Then I started my second year, and although certainly not a pro, I had been through it once and had a better idea of how to go about everything with one year experience under my belt. That's how it is with Clara. I am more confident and relaxed, which makes mothering SO much more fun and rewarding!

Clara is growing right on track with 1 oz per day, so she was back up to 8 lbs early last week. This coming week, we go back for one more weight check to make sure she's still gaining. She is eating more and more each day, and she's putting a little more time in between feedings at night... which is nice for me! So far, Justin hasn't had to get up too many times at night to rock Clara to sleep--maybe just three times in the week that we've been home. That's so different from Izzy. She just wouldn't fall asleep for me and fussed at night or in the evenings for the first couple weeks before she slept through the night. I hope, for Justin's sake, that Clara keeps her pattern going, but we shall see!

Notice the beautiful flower basket we received from Justin's company while in the hospital--they have lasted us a long time!

Clara makes my heart swell. Izzy does, too, in different ways. I am loving watching Izzy's antics, her sillyness, her cognitive growth, and her love for this new baby that has all the sudden appeared. I am blessed beyond measure with a truly, truly wonderful husband and two precious daughters.

Cute sisters!

Izzy is very happy (so far) watching this new sister of hers! She loves kissing her. :)

We are just sooooooo happy with our little Clara Clark :)

A few pics...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111828&id=646256571&l=de1b5cb065 More pics at this link.

A family of FOUR!

We did not realize yesterday that we'd have our SECOND DAUGHTER today! Izzy was born 5 days early, and our second baby was also born 5 days early. Most people guessed we were having a boy, so hearing "It's a girl" was a very exciting surprise!!!

Miss Clara Clark was born rather quickly at 12:24pm today, Aug. 13th. She weighed the same as Izzy did at 8 lbs, 4 oz, but they do not look very similar. Both have/had a head of dark hair, but Clara's face is very different from Izzy's newborn face. Clara's full name is Clara Elizabeth Clark.

We arrived here at about 10:45am, were in the delivery room just before 11am, and less than an hour and a half later Clara was screaming at the top of her lungs! I had my water broken and pushed 3 times total. I did have some medicine to take the edge off the contractions, but no time for an epidural if I'd needed it. ;) The nurses had me hold off on pushing after the first push cause they had to hurry and get the doctor. I loved watching Clara come into this world--what an amazing experience.

I'm a lot more comfortable with #2 and love her already. I'm sure the love will grow each day as it did with little IzzyBoots. She's currently in the nursery getting bathed. I'm looking forward to having Izzy here this afternoon to meet her little sister!

I appreciate prayers for a good recovery and look forward to having any visitors here at CMC Union or when we get back to our home this weekend. We are soooooooo excited and happy!

Family Photos

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111027&id=646256571&l=682f7cf02f

Here is a link to our family photo session! Our friend Leslie from church took these pics near our neighborhood. The corn reminds me of my home growing up... :)

Soon there will be 4 people to be in the family photos! I'm due in 6 days. The doctor said I should be good to go this week, but we'll see if anything happens! Getting pretty excited!

August is here!

When we told our families in December that we were expecting a baby in August, summer seemed so far away. Now summer is in its last month, and that means the baby's due date is fast approaching (the 18th)! I thought we had nailed down both girl and boy names last week, but we are back to the drawing board for boy names. I cannot wait to hear whether we have another daughter or first son! I haven't felt contractions or any discomfort related to getting ready for birth until yesterday, but today I don't feel it much at all... back to feeling fine. In fact, I accomplished a lot today at 38 weeks pregnant. I made and froze 8 meals, cleaned out the car, cleaned in the kitchen, vacuumed 3100+ square feet of floors and floorboards, washed bed sheets and all laundry, got bills paid up to date, charged the video and camera batteries, and played with Izzy. That sounds to me like pre-labor nesting and preparations to me! ;)

With the start of August came our 3rd wedding anniversary (on the 5th). It's fun to think about everything that happened the week leading up to the big day and then on the actual wedding day. Great memories! Justin's parents kept Izzy last night. He and I like to go to City Tavern for V-day or anniversaries or special "love" days since it was the first place we went on a date. I remember that I was so happy after that first date that he took me to a NICE place--good first impression! :) We thoroughly enjoyed eating slowly and not having to tell Izzy to "take another bite." We also saw a movie... thankfully, we sat on the end of the row in the theater... the closest bathroom saw a lot of this pregnant lady! Justin and I are so blessed by each other. Some days I can't believe I'm MARRIED!!! We still say that serving the other, putting them first, and looking out for the other's interests in EVERYthing is so key to a great marriage. Needs are met by the other person and not by your own self, so it leaves no room for being selfish! Here's a pic of the roses I was given from my great hubby in the new pitcher I received for my birthday this year from my sister-in-law Jennifer.

I really do have a great husband--he gives me time to get dinner all situated by playing with Izzy when he gets home from work even though he's sooo tired.

Since Justin goes out for lunch everyday taking out customers or co-workers, he prefers to go out for breakfast with us to make it a little different from workdays. Izzy likes eating eggs and pancakes, but she LOVES sweet tea! She's such a little Carolina girl!!!