Meeting her family

Clara has has a blast meeting her family.  I think they've enjoyed meeting her too!  Here she is meeting her Oma Waldon.

Here is Clara with her Opa Waldon.

Here is Clara and Grandma Brooks.

And here she is with Grandpa Brooks.

Here is Auntie Teenie with baby Clara.

And here she is with her Aunt Teenie and cousin Ben.

8 months difference in age seems like A LOT at this point!

Here is baby Clara with her Uncle Brad.  He was showing lots of love for her!

Clara has also met her Aunt Angie, but I forget to snap a pic of their meeting!  Dang!  She cannot wait to meet her Uncle Brian and her Aunt Emily who are both up in Moscow, ID enduring a blizzard.  She also can't wait to meet her Uncle Steve who is holding down the fort in Palouse, WA while Teenie and Ben are here helping us out with everything it takes to care for a newborn! 

Just for kicks, (and because after going through labor and delivery with her, she sure feels like family) here is a pic of all of us with our midwife Margie.  All I can say is she is a fantastic woman who allowed me to survive something I wasn't really sure I'd make it through!

Good Night!

Well, after 4 sleepless nights in a row, we were dreading going to bed last night.  However, the planets must have aligned for us because Kurtis got lots of sleep, and I got a record 4 hours!  The problem till now has been that Clara doesn't like her bassinet in the least.  She cries the second we get her to sleep and put her in it.  So last night, I finally gave in and set her between us in bed.  This gave me an extra 2 hours, and we slept until the sun was shining in our windows this morning!  I woke and celebrated with my first cup of caffeinated coffee since JUNE!  Here's to parenthood!

Finally!

Clara Ann Brooks arrived on February 22, 2011 at 2:18 pm.  At birth, she weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces, and was 20 and 1/2 inches long.  She has long, dark brown hair, which was such a surprise!  We're exhausted, but having a great time getting to know her!  We think she's gorgeous!   Enjoy some pics!

Update on baby Brooks

Well, midwife Margie saw me today and said baby's head is VERY low, I think she used the word "engaged", and she said birth could happen anytime.  I'm not feeling any different, but you all know I'm only planning on being in labor for 3 hours so I have a feeling it will come on fast and be over before I know it, right?  I think I'll deliver after our due date which is only one week away!  Still, this baby will be here no matter what within the next three weeks!  Scary!  Almost as scary as this pic of Kurtis setting up the Christmas tree this year!

Just kidding - I LOVE this pic!

A Killer Shower

So on January 8, 2011, my Mom's neighbor Carol and her daughter Becky threw me an amazing baby shower.  Before the shower, I was a little concerned that we weren't ready for a baby AT ALL, but after the shower, we were set up in business.  We got spoiled!

Here are the fabulous hostesses...

And here are some other shots of the party people.

And of course, Baby Ben (Teenie's baby) was there with bells on. 

Since the shower, Kurtis and I have stayed busy getting everything washed, put away, and put together.  Thank goodness Kurtis is handy and can assemble swings, pack n' plays, and other baby &$#@ easily! 

Does he look ready to be a dad?  He keeps whispering to the belly, "Come out...come out, we're ready to meet you!" in a somewhat creepy voice. 

Now I just worry about the dogs.  They don't know what is about to hit them!  Enjoy it while you can Gwen and Mac!

we're such sheep

So we decided to start a blog just like everyone else!  Baby girl is due in 1 week and 6 days and we've been asked by many friends and family to blog so they can stay up to date on our lives once we have a baby at home.  We think we're ready for her to get here... bags are packed, room is ready, carseat is locked in the subaru, substitute plans are done!  Now we just need to sit around and wait.  My guess is she'll come a week late and drive us all crazy in the process.  Here are a few pics of her room.  I like to go in there and just look around at things, smell the baby lotion, and sit in the rocker that belonged to my great-grandma Dora.  You could say we're pretty excited for her to arrive!

And for your pure entertainment, here is a belly shot.  Yeah, I know, two more weeks to get EVEN BIGGER!