Claire is One!

She is one. I've putting off this post because it's the last of these monthly reflections. While part of me just procrastinates, part of me just doesn't want it to end. This time last year was full of doctor appointments, tracking, endless pharmacy visits to gather up Provera and Clomid amongst my regular medications to tend to the unfortunate PCOS, and waking up at 5 AM every morning to take my temperature. As I sat in the waiting room month after month I could see other couples, some with hope, some with heartache. Infertility is not as easy road to travel, and I'm thankful I didn't have to travel it as far as so many others. I will never forget the surprise I felt to see the positive sign on that pregnancy test. Our doctor wasn't expecting it, so I certainly wasn't, but I diligently tested myself because that's just what you do when you are paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars to get pregnant. You take a test even when you think there is no way. 

Not long after, I went into Dr. Reshef's office and he confirmed our sweet blessing. We listened to her heart beat and he said with a huge smile, "That's the best sound in the world." 

It is. It's the sound of hope and wonder and joy. 

An expression of God's love in it's purest form. 

Then our Claire was born. It was a fast and furious birth. She was ready. She changed the three of us from the inside out as our selfishness was exposed and our hearts reshaped. We struggled with sleepless nights and lots of pain and we wondered what was wrong. Months of blood tests and doctor appointments and of course, diet changes. I thought we'd be stuck in that pit forever. 

And now, here we are. 

Our little girl is thriving. Clear skin, normal digestion, and growing and developing month by month as she should. One year old. 

At her appointment she weighed in at 22.1 lbs (68%) and measured 28.5 in long. (31%) 

She is happy and heathy and precious. 

She loves to move. She will not stay in one place for very long. 

She is by her sister most of the time. She wants to see what she is doing, and usually steal a toy or two. ;)

She loves the doll house, music, her rocking horse, and just about anything small that she can grab and chew on. 

She LOVES to play at the park. Climbing, walking, sliding, eating mulch- she loves it all. 

She learned to walk this month! I can not believe how fast she can go now! She is strong and coordinated. Her favorite game is to run and stick her hands in the potty if the bathroom door is open, so you know, she keeps me on my toes! 

She eats and nurses well. She still wakes up at night and I still go to her. She is a happy thing, seeing her sweet smile when I feel stressed soothes my soul in a way that reminds me of what's important in life. 

Sweet Claire Lucille,

I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. 

As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.