family...

Grand-E and Popsi Uncle Tuck and Aunt Rebecca

Aunt Rachael
Auntie Allison

Poppop and Becky (Becky is also waiting to see what Claribel calls her)

2 weeks...

Claribel, I can't believe you are already 2 weeks old (and a few days...)! The time has flown by and we just can't imagine life without you in it. You are such a good baby and hardly ever cry unless you are hungry or need a new diaper. Of course, your daddy and I think you are just the cutest and sweetest little thing we have ever seen! I think you are quite spoiled as far as being held most of the time, awake or asleep. You have both of us wrapped around your tiny fingers and daddy really loves time with his "little bell" as he calls you.

Your daddy had two weeks off from work which was really nice, but he had to go back to work this week, which has been a transition not having his help all day long. It is nice that he is here for work so we get a nice lunch break together and there is no "commute" time home from work.

You have some crazy hair that just sticks up all over and we just love it!

It seems that you enjoy bathtime most of the time, just so long as we have the warm water running on you and you don't get too cold. We always wrap you up in the cozy hooded towel and take our time getting you lotioned and dressed in your gown. You look so cute in that hooded towel, all bright eyed.

You really like your Wubbanub pacifier that I got for you in Dallas. The lady at the shop was suprised that I wasn't buying one when I went to pay for the pages for your baby book. It is a pretty neat little thing and you can hold on to it pretty well to help it stay in your mouth... you are quite the sucker...

I really enjoy our special times together when I am feeding you, something only I do right now and I am not eager to give up that time. I am always so amazed at how perfect you are while we sit there in the rocker... your tiny little fingers, toes, and sweet little nose... I had to stop listening to the Lullaby CD that Monie gave us because every time your daddy walked in I was crying just thinking about the words to the songs "that you are only little for a little while" and how I was so happy to finally be "welcoming home my little traveler that I had waited for so long. I had to convince him over and over that it is not postpartum depression and that I was just happy and overwhelmed by the love I had for you right when you were born. I have to wait awhile until my hormones settle down a bit and then we can listen to that CD again... We have been enjoying Fernando Ortega though and other songs that your Daddy put on a playlist for us.

and Frannie... she likes you pretty well too. She doesn't like it too much when you are upset and makes sure that we are paying attention to you when you make those little squeaks. She was really excited when we brought you home and was pretty wound up- she has definitely settled into the new normal watching over "her baby", making sure you are safe and happy.

The first 48...

"Whatever you want!"

d said while holding Claribel

Uncle Andrew & Auntie Allison

When Andrew came and saw Claribel at the end of the day he asked Auntie Allison what she did all day and she said "this is it!"

Doing my job - getting Claribel ready for skin-to-skin time with Mama...

Claribel in her papoose - she has some pretty wild hair...may have inherited some calics from Daddy.

We need to get pictures from Auntie Allsion and Grandma's camera. And Claribel is looking forward to meeting Aunt Rebecca & Uncle Tuck and Aunt Rachael this coming weekend!

Claribel Elaine is here!

Claribel Elaine Thomas was born yesterday at 6:22 PM weighing 7 lbs 8 oz, 21 inches long. Both Melissa and Claribel are doing well and we expect to go home Monday morning.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Independence Weekend...

We thought it was pretty funny that our last weekend of "independence" before our sweet baby arrives involved Independence Day. We enjoyed celebrating with friends (one of their daughter's birthdays) and then fireworks from the Reed Arena Parking Lot. I must say that it was refreshing once again to be in B-CS and not in DFW where everything is so over the top. We made it out to Addison's Kaboom Town twice while living up there and it was incredible, but pretty overwhelming the money spent on fireworks.

It cooled off with a nice breeze in time for fireworks (or waiting for fireworks) and I was happy that Ray was able to see his fireworks this year. He really loves the 4th of July and fireworks, really the month of July and I am so happy that Claribel will provide him another reason to love the month of July!

Ray took the above photo... i looked over right in time- seriously that is a big belly... and some really swollen feet. I never knew how bad my finger joints would hurt from all of the fluid retention as well (I don't think my fingers LOOK that swollen, but I sure feel it)

Hooded Towels

I was really disappointed when registering at how thin the hooded towels were. So, I went to Tuesday am and bought some towels and wash rags to make my own. This was a project I did awhile back, super easy with endless possibilities for embellishment. I just cut the towels in half and the wash rags along the diagonal, matched up the squared corners and added binding. The pink towels are kind of small, but the white ones with green rags were more of a bath sheet size and will be a good size for her when she is bigger as well.

It is always nice to use up scraps of fabric that I already have as well for a project :)

last nursery picture...

Here is the missing nursery picture from the last post. This is the wall opposite the changing table, to the left of the crib, to the right of the dresser. This piece was in Monie's parent's house, a lovely shade of green and Dad painted it- It is really neat how the color turned out so pearly (Monie was of course our color consult). Mom and dad took it home last week to finish scraping the glass from spraying it and mom found the cute pink knobs. I really love the size of it- perfect for baby! Above is her name in the unfinished letters I found online and painted. That was a fun little project :)