Clara!!! and Catch Up

 Clara decided to make her entrance 10 days early.  I was laboring all day and was able to drop the girls off at some friends around 7 pm and called the doctor to let him know I was ready to come in.  He didn't think I sounded in labor enough. He said to call back when it was hard to breathe. (My contractions had been regular, every five minutes for 1 1/2 hours and were starting to come every three minutes). I was not happy.  We decided to go to Toys R Us to get a car seat and try to get me not to breathe or something.  It started to get really painful after we got the car seat so I called back and the doctor said I could come in.  Of course I was at an 8 and they said I might not be able to get an epidural.  I told them there was no way I could have this baby without an epidural.  They told me they would try really hard to get me an anesthesiologist and in the meantime let them know if I needed to push.  I told them I wouldn't let them know if I needed to push and they needed to get me an epidural.  I kept praying my water wouldn't break and thank heavens I was able to get the epidural and about 20 minutes afterwards my water broke.  My doctor finally showed up and acted like I should thank him for making me wait because it was looking like it would be a short delivery (which it was...my shortest...3 hours) but I still wasn't happy about the epidural situation.  I asked the anesthesiologist for an extra bolus since I never go completely numb without a lot of medicine, and he was so kind and said he gave me an extra one.  I still felt more than I'd like but I was so grateful for that epidural to take a lot of the edge off.  Clara came at 10:54 pm.  We are so happy for the tax break she will give us, he he he.  She is beautiful!!!

 I loved the girls ooing and awing over her and pointing out every feature.  So sweet.

 Some photography lady came in and fell in love with Clara and even took a picture with my phone even though she wasn't supposed to.

 This is a signature Clara look.  "What am I doing here again?"  Love it!

 We named her Clara Julie Esther Ard.  Clara after my Grandpa Clare and Jason's Grandma Clara.  Julie after my hero Julie B. Beck.  Esther which means "star" in Hebrew...kind of a Christmas theme.  Jason and I decided we'd each get to pick a middle name so there didn't have to be any fights about it;)

 The girls love holding her.

 Our Christmas baby.  We are hoping to get out Christmas cards soon.  We wanted to include Clara in the fun!

 This was a sweet moment when I was holding Lily who was holding Clara.

 Jason took two weeks FMLA and it was so so so so helpful.  I can't even believe.  My dad also came out to help.  They all built a gingerbread house one afternoon.

 Grandma also came out to help and hold baby Clara.

 I love how sweet Grace is with Clara.  She's so motherly.

 Lily had a birthday when Grandma and Grandpa Ard came out.  She even helped decorate her birthday cake which was a horse.

 I can't believe I have a five year old!

 Birthday dinner.

 This was a dinner Grandma Ard made one evening.  Hawaiian Haystacks.  The girls were in heaven and Lily was very particular in how she stacked hers.  I thought it was so cute.

Grace was tuckered out after coming home from the trampoline place. 

 Loved this picture.  So much sweetness.

 She's overall such a good baby.  Isn't she sooooo cute?  I'm thinking she looks more like Lily did when she was little.  She has two dimples which are a lot of fun!

 Blessing day! It was neat to have Jason's parents here as he was put in as bishop of our ward and we were able to bless Clara on the same day.

 And now for catch up.  March Farm.  Lily loved jumping from haystack to haystack.

 They could also feed and pet goats.  Lily has no fear, Grace took awhile to warm up but was so proud of herself when she finally did.

 Measuring up!

 Costco love whenever they go into the refrigerated parts.

 Helping each other out at the playground water fountain.

 Painting faces with water and paint brushes.

 Grace helping the teacher out at science class.

 Check out Lily's "up" shoes.

 Hiking Sleeping Giant with our field trip friends.  Lily loved gathering worms.  Everyone else thought they were pretty gross (including me).  I'm not sure where Lily came from.

 Grace doing what she does best...tripping over everything.  Poor girl. 

 Grace was a trooper on her tricycle when we went on a bike ride on the canal trail with friends.

 This may look like a pinterest fail to most but to me it is a win!  Grace wanted a monkey cake for her birthday.  She loves Curious George.  I checked out this monkey cake pan from the library and did the outline, etc. all by myself.  This was huge for me.

 Witches!

 Uncle Travis came to visit so we took him to Gillette Castle.

 And Hammonasset Beach.  It was 55 degrees and the girls were set on wearing their swimsuits.

 Is that the coolest creature Lily drew in the sand with a feather?  It almost looks like an ankylosaurus.

 Our favorite friend Bobbie.  Jason's co-worker is a saint and regularly watches the girls free of charge and brings them gifts on their birthdays and Christmas, etc.  She's amazing.

 Visiting the fairy gardens at the Griswold Museum with our field trip friends.  So fun!

 Talk about serendipity.  We went to a corn maze and they had pony rides.  Lily has been wanting to go on a pony ride for several months!

 Some friends invited us to their house to trick or treat in New Haven.  They dressed up and we didn't so they drummed up this wig and glasses for Jason.  I just went as a pregnant lady;)

 A doll, a pony, and a witch.

 Louisa May Alcott's home with our field trip friends.  They even did a tour with just our two families so we wouldn't bother other guests.  They were so sweet to the kids!

 A replica of the inside of Thoreau's house by Walden Pond.

 A replica of the outside of his house.

 Playing in Walden Pond.

 Where Thoreau really stayed.

 Bowling with friends.  There was only a little blood from a fall.  Surprisingly, not Grace.

 Before I had the baby I really wanted to see "The King and I" on Broadway.  It was one of my favorite old movies growing up.  Jason took the girls to the museum of natural history and I went to the play.  It did not disappoint!!!

 The girls first indoor amusement park ride.

 We decided to get away Thanksgiving weekend before the baby and after another intense study regimen with Jason.  We decided on Great Wolf Lodge and it was so fun.

 The girls loved just running up and down the halls and we didn't care since it was so kid friendly!

 Grace is often in her own little world.  I caught her talking to herself in the mirror and putting on and taking off her goggles.  It was so cute.

 They had an indoor water park.  I mostly sat on the sidelines while Jason played in the water with the girls.

 Jason and Grace would hold hands coming down the slides.  So cute.  Below is a picture of the indoor wave pool and below that is a family picture on Clara's blessing day.  Lily was holding Clara's hand.  So sweet.