The Plan

November has been a month bursting full of activities.  This is both wonderful and difficult at the same time.  All these events and activities have been fun, don't get me wrong.  But when we're short on sleep because of Clara a busy calendar can be grueling.  It makes me weary just to think back on some of those days.

Clara is packing on the weight, in a very adorable and lady-like way of course.  She is also beginning to coo and smile at us which is so fun!  Having a newborn, as many of you know, is a lot of give, give, give until around 6-8 weeks when the baby starts giving back in the form of eye-contact, fleeting smiles and coos of contentedness.

It has come to our attention through an anonymous source that some of you believe that Clara was not planned.  You know, a surprise, an oops.  First of all, Clara was always in God's plan for our family, since the beginning of time.  Secondly Clara was surprisingly in our own plans too.  Although it sounds completely crazy (and it probably is) we wanted to have our first 2 babies very close together.  I know what your thinking.  These people are nuts.  Don't they like to sleep?  Don't they want to go out on a Friday night (at least once a month)? There are days when I too wonder if we did the right thing.  Like the days I walk into Walmart in pouring rain with a gale-force wind in my face carrying a baby in a car seat in one arm, a 27 lb child in the other, and a diaper bag loaded with all the essentials thrown over my shoulder.  If people ask if I work out, the answer is "yes".

In all reality, we planned the spacing of our children for very specific reasons.  First of all, the longer Lydia lived without any siblings, the longer she would believe that life revolved around her.  She would never have to share with a sibling, and we would almost always be able to tend to her needs as soon as she wanted us too.  Now with Clara she has to wait her turn (there are only so many things I can do while nursing a baby.)  Secondly, we're just following God's command to fill that quiver. Although the duties of caring for young children can be extremely burdensome, the rewards are bountiful - it is so amazing.

This month we celebrated a very special day in Clara's life - her baptism.  The symbolism behind this sacrament is so rich.  A sign of God's covenant faithfulness to believers and their children.

Now here's what you've been waiting for. The pictures.

Ties to church.

This one-antlered buck is taking advantage of the fallen apples.

Epic photo.

Happiness :)

This special day has arrived; Clara's baptism.  Our hearts are overwhelmed with joy to have a second daughter join God's covenant family.

The gang's all here!

Baptism of Clara Mae.

Proud set of grandparents #1

Proud set of grandparents #2

Too sweet! Somebody pinch me.

Clara and Aunt Marcella bonding.

Fun times with these Chicago people!

What a lady.

Clara's First Month

Clara officially has one month under her belt.  It has been a month of gaining weight, nursing around the clock, receiving many wet kisses from Lydia, many outfit changes (sometimes hourly) and just being a sweet baby girl.  She continues to spit a lot though.  At least I'm told it's called spitting.  In my mind spit should be able to be contained by a spit rag, but that is not that case for Clara.  About one feeding a day Clara "loses" an entire feeding. (vomit, puke, emesis, barf, whatever you want to call it.  Just not spit.) I did not know it was possibly for such a little person to create SO MUCH LAUNDRY.  Not only does she get credit for all the onesies, sleepers, bibs, spit rags, and blankets she soils, but also about 50% of my laundry.  It's amazing.

Update on Lydia:
1.  Lydia's personality has been getting bigger and bigger!  We love spending each day with her and seeing all the hilarious and mischievous things she does.  As she does something naughty I often hear her saying to herself, "no no no".  It's cute for now, but pretty soon she better start listening to herself. 
2.  At church she has started to be quite confident about hugging other little kids, usually girls (thankfully!).  Whether or not the kid wants a hug from Lydia, she runs up to them wraps her little arms around them and lays her head on their chest (usually they are older kids that are taller than her).  It is pretty entertaining! 
3.  She also has a love of zippers.  On coats. On bags. On boots.  If it can be zipped or unzipped, Lydia is there.
4.  If any of you see her soon you may have the privilege of witnessing her "chicken run".  I do not know where she learned this, but on occasion she will run around the house with her head forward and neck stretched out with both arms behind her.  Thankfully this spectacular talent is usually performed at home behind closed doors :)

In other news, harvest is finished at the Arvin Vander Wilt farm!  Lydia enjoyed riding in the combine and tractor with Dan for short periods of time, and I enjoyed having her out of the house for a little while (as much as I love her, she can be exhausting).

Here are some pictures of what we've been up to lately!

The buddy seat is getting put to good use.

Fun visitors: the Galvin family!

Fresh from the bath tub!

This picture... It just makes me laugh!

Deer and turkey mingling on a frosty Sunday morning.

Photo credit goes to Dan (who ran out in his PJs and slippers just to get a few shots of the wildlife).

Clara's lounger (pictured here) has the oh-so-fun "vibrate feature".  Typically I don't turn it on, especially on high because it's a pretty intense vibrate.  When Lydia is around, however, the lounger is ALWAYS vibrating on high, shaking Clara's brains out.  Poor baby.

At least she's checking to see if Clara's ok!  She seems to have survived the trauma of an hour of vibrating on high.