Tuesday, February 11, 2014

December 14, March 15, February 11

Those were my due dates. And now, all three of them have officially arrived. Claire is at her gestational due date today of 40 weeks. It's crazy that she has been with us for four weeks already. Valentine's Day officially marks one month. She definitely brings our family lots of love.

I wasn't really looking forward to this date or anything, but now that it has arrived, it sort of feels like a relief. No more dates are on the calendar that send my nerves racing. Claire is still very much a newborn-- both her looks and eating/sleeping patterns. I stare at her during our mid-night feedings in awe. This is our last newborn. While exhausting, this is the last time I will be getting up to nurse at odd hours and having a baby at our bedside. It's the last time we'll get to hear these newborn cries in our home. She's it and we're cherishing all that it brings.

She's the size of most newborns still and quite smaller than many. I'm assuming she's nearing or at the 7 lb. mark at this point, which is still smaller than both of her brothers at birth. It would be interesting to wonder what she would be like if born at her due date, or close to it, but the reality is that she very well wouldn't be here. She wouldn't be bigger than she was when she was born. To think of that girl at her due date is assuming she would've thrived, and unfortunately that's unlikely. We're so glad the pint-sized Claire is here and such a fighter. She still eats like a champ and that's proven not only by the amount of time she wants to be attached to me, but by the amount of diapers she is producing. Goodness gracious, this girl has some gusto.

The dates that brought both great excitement and anxiety have come and gone. Just like my fetal doppler and all my maternity clothes, I'm ready to pass on that baton.

During the end of Claire's pregnancy, I was wearing (like all my pregnancies) some of my husband's shirts, especially at night and especially with the itching! He has one shirt that I would wear often that's back from his Air Force Academy lacrosse days. On the back, it says Whatever it Takes. It was sort of my mantra as I was changing my diet and doing all of these obscure things like drinking water/lemon to detox each morning before food. And so true, it is. 

9 comments:

Kristi said... [Reply to comment]

Every single one of those pictures makes my heart flutter for joy! Adorable and precious are just the start of adjectives I could use. My favorite is the sibling tummy time picture! Tiny doesn't mean weak... ask Kirstin. :-)

Veronica said... [Reply to comment]

Claire seems to enjoy tummy time ;) Glad B is showing her how to man up and get it over with! lol

I see Benjamin in Claire's newborn eyes. so sweet

She's so itty bitty. That picture in all white with Daddy shows just how wee she it. (oh, and we have the same light switch dimmer things in our house too...)

Weird about due dates. Theo's due date was May 9th (he was born April 23) and that was the day my SiL went into an emerg C-section to have her daughter at not even 33 weeks. She stole his due date birthday! But I think about May 9th, and wonder what it would have been like to have him here, born at normally "term".

So happy Claire came early, and is here to stay. <3 She's a sweetie

LookItsJessica said... [Reply to comment]

She is just DARLING! Avery was not quite as early as Claire but she was a tiny newborn too. And now, she is a toddler in the 95% of everything (not that any of that matters as long as everyone is healthy.) It's amazing how tiny babies can grow to be huge toddlers and chunky 9 pound newborns can be tiny toddlers.

I'm so glad you're getting to soak up all that newborn time. I'm sure it makes it extra special knowing that Claire will be the final newborn in your family. I just can't get over that pic of Benjamin and Claire doing bro/sis tummy time! Melts my heart!

Caroline said... [Reply to comment]

Love seeing E's arms full (er). And B getting in on that tummy time is adorable!

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

She's beautiful and you are such a beautiful mama!<3

Brooke said... [Reply to comment]

Love those pics, especially the wee girl with her proud dad and brother.

Sarah said... [Reply to comment]

She is darling! So tiny. I've had two people tell me this week that Henry is no longer a newborn, so I guess we're done with that phase. In my heart, I know this is our last baby, but it's still hard for me to accept.

Tiffany said... [Reply to comment]

Could she be any sweeter??? She makes me want another tiny sweet baby!

Ben and Katie said... [Reply to comment]

C does look tiny in E's arms! Such special moments with her that I'm sure you're pondering and soaking in! Such cute babies you both make!