Clara Michael

We had our daughter Clara Michael McGee on May 21, 2009. She weighed 6lbs 15oz and was 20.5 inches long. The delivery was horrible and I will not discuss it on the blog. All that matters is that she is healthy and I'm doing okay. I have had some set backs in my recovery but I will eventually be fine. In the meantime I am enjoying my daughter and watching her grow while I recover. She amazes me daily with all that she is.

She looks a ton like her daddy. She has the same eyebrow furrow as his, it cracks me up.

Baby Shower

My baby shower was this weekend and turned out wonderfully!! The weather was amazing and I had such a great time. I was overcome a couple of times by emotions and had to get myself together. My mom, my best friend Misty and my sister in law Crissy and my Aunt Judy and Nicole helped that morning preparing everything because Mike and I had our last lamase class until 1pm and my shower started at 2pm. So when I arrived I was overcome with tears b/c the shower looked beautiful.

This is my mom and I with our sashes. Misty got my mom and I sashes that say "Mom to Be" and "Grandma to Be".

This is my Aunt Judy, (my mom's sister), she came from Nevada and helped prepare for the shower and waxed me, lol.

Sarah Bunting matching my shower in her cute bee onesie!

My little Nicole, she's my brother Tom's woman and was such a HUGE help at the shower.

These are my two grandma's. Great grandma's to be Dorothy and Virginia.

My best friend Misty and I later in the afternoon. She is the hostess with the mostess.

This is my dad and I. Best father in the world!!

My parents and Mike and I after the shower.

Mike & I's cake my mom and dad bought us. It said Welcome Baby Clara.

All the fabulous food that Misty and my mom prepared. I didn't get to eat a cheesecake until after they sat out all day and were hot.


My beautiful diaper cake Misty made me.

The tables all decorated.

These were my feet after the long day standing and running around. I haven't had swollen feet until that day.
I had such a wonderful time and was able to catch up and see a lot of people I hadn't seen in years. It was awesome but it went by too fast. I wish I would have got more pictures. These are only a few that I got with my camera.

Nursery & Classes

Mike & I started most of our birthing classes. We took infant safety and CPR and our Lamase classes. I took Baby Basics with my mom because Mike couldn't get off of work in time. I learned to bath, swaddle and diaper her. So we will see how I do. The lamase class so far has been really fun and informative. I'm feeling better about my fears and realizing that I have no control over what is about to happen so I shouldn't worry about it. I need to practice focusing to get through contractions. 

These are all her shoes that Aunt Misty has bought for Clara except for one pair. She's obsessed!!

Her very own pink converse, however I no longer fit mine and had to give them to Nicole. 

My mom and dad bought this for me for Christmas, the middle hat my Grandma Virginia made her and the other hats were bought by no one else but her hat obsessed father. 

Some of her new clothes in the closet.

This dresser was my mom's when she was a baby. My grandma had put the nursery rhymes on and I have always loved this dresser. My grandma was getting rid of it, so I nabbed it. I put new knobs on it and my dad fixed the bottom drawer and it's awesome and special!!

Her crib...my mom made all the bedding and curtains and pillows. She also helped me paint the nursery. Misty made Clara's name out of wooden letters covered in the matching fabric that I haven't hung up yet, they will go above her crib. 

An old couch that my mom has had forever, we found this slip cover for $20 at Restore The Habitat for Humanity store and then my mom made pillows for it. 

The painting hanging was given to me by Michael when we were dating, it's a fairy. The recliner fits me perfectly and was given to us by Uncle Jack and Aunt Sharon. And Grandma Gracie made me the boppy which I love!!

My changing table, Lady & the Tramp painting my brother Thomas made for me and my awesome curtains that are hung with ribbon. 

Learning to bath a baby doll...haha.

I think this was taken at 31 weeks. I'm now 33 1/2 weeks so much bigger already. 

4D Ultra Sound of Clara Michael

Baby Sightings where we had our ultra sound. My mom, dad, brothers, their ladies, grandma Virginia, David and Lindsey and Misty were all there waiting to see her face.
Me, Dad and David pose for a pic.
Mom & Dad
I'm ready to put a face to the kicking.

Her cute little feet.


If you look closely you can see her tongue sticking out. She was licking the placenta.
Those fat little cheeks.

We had to go back for a second time because the first time she was positioned right against the placenta and it was smashing her nose so we couldn't get a clear picture of her face. She kept licking the placenta and drinking or sucking the amniotic fluid. It was pretty amazing. And then when we went back for the second time she had her hand infront of her face and had her arms behind her head with her elbows sticking out. She was just chilling out in there all cozy. She looks just like her daddy with my dimple chin. Super cute!! I can't wait to meet my girl!!

Maternity Update

Misty & I at a wedding reception
Me and my big belly at Target registering

My mom, Misty and I scanning at Target

It was hard to decide what toys to pick out.

My mom making invitations.

Lindsey, Sarah and I working hard on invitations.

Misty and I scanning some baby wash

7 months pregnant