Dear Clara,
Of all 6 of my children, you are the only one who never had a nickname stick. I'm not sure why, but Clara just fits you so perfectly. You are the star of many blog entries because of all of the funny things you said and did when you were "little." Lately, you've declared yourself to be a big kid, but it seems like yesterday that you were born. We lived in Holladay, Utah and had the pleasure of delivering you at the Birth and Family Place Birth Center just a block and a half away from our house. This was my first birth center experience and I would never go back to the hospital after- it was so wonderful! Daddy really wanted you to come on his birthday, which was about 8 days before my due date. I wanted to cooperate, so I made myself the "labor inducing" eggplant Parmesan recipe from the internet. I ate it the day before Dad's birthday. His birthday came and ended with no signs of labor. We were disappointed but not surprised. We went to sleep around midnight as August 15th ended, taking with it all chances of a shared birthday. At 1:30 a.m. I woke up feeling funny. I thought I needed to go to the bathroom. I got up and went and got back in bed, but the funny feeling came again. Judd asked me if I was in labor. I whimpered,"I don't know!" He reached over and felt my belly. It was hard and firm from the contraction was having. "You're in labor." he told me. "Okay, I guess. You're probably right." Within a few minutes I knew he was right. We called Grandma Kristie and woke her up to come and also called Grandma Dellory to come and help me. Grandma Kristie lived pretty close but we couldn't wait. We left the other kids home asleep and headed to the birth center a few minutes before she got there. Things had gotten intense very quickly. The midwife, Rebecca Williams met us there and we went inside. I remember laboring in the tub and my mom gently rubbing my arm and encouraging me to breathe in and out and to release the tension. It was very soothing and helped me stay focused on relaxing. After a fairly short time I felt like you were ready to be born. I got out of the water and climbed up on a big comfy queen sized four poster bed. Daddy sat next to me while I got on my hands and knees and rested on a pile of pillows. I was really tired at this point, but ready. I waited for the next contraction .They had been coming every 1-2 minutes the whole time. But, they stopped for about 10 minutes and I just relaxed. Then, they started up again and I quickly pushed you out. Your amniotic sac broke as you were born. Start to finish was 1 hour and 15 minutes! You were born at 2:45 a.m. on August 16th, missing your Dad's birthday by less than 3 hours!
One of the most exciting things about your birth was that we didn't know if you were a girl or a boy. When you were born I flipped around and held you, pulling you up to my chest and checking you to find out if we had a new son or daughter. That was one of the most incredible moments of my life.
We brought you home in an adorable yellow ducky outfit and you quickly became part of the family. You were a very easy and happy baby. Grandma Dellory told me that you had mischief planned- she could see it in your eyes. Well, dang it all, she was right.
You waited a while to let us know, cause you knew you needed to wait, but you became quite the wild thing- about one month after I became pregnant with Audrey. And you stayed a wild thing for several years. When Audrey was 2 weeks old and you were almost 2, you stripped her naked and rubbed desitin all over her body while I was in the bathroom. As you grew older, your wildness evolved into a more controlled zest for life- usually. You are still very, um, fiesty.
We know that as you grow up you will be a powerful force for whatever you put your mind to do. You have a way with people that is clearly a gift from God. You see all people as worth getting to know and are not intimidated by age or unusual dress or grooming. We had to tell you that you were allergic to men when you were little so you would stop climbing on stranger's laps all the time. It took you a long time to figure that one out. Sorry. You are just very friendly.
One of my favorite stories about you is from last year when your class at school visited a nursing home and performed for the residents. You sang a song. Afterwards, you visited with the people and treated them with such kindness and interest that your school counselor sent you a letter in the mail praising your behavior. What she didn't know is that you are always like that. You love people! And they usually love you back.
You are a determined kid at anything you do, whether it is dancing, soccer, softball, or convincing someone you are right. You are a loving sister and daughter. Clara, I wrote this in the blog about your baptism, but it's really important and true, so I'm writing it again. You ARE your name. You are a "bright bringer of light" Clara Lucille. I can't wait to see who you become and be your cheerleader as you continue to progress and achieve everything you set your mind to doing. I love you Clara!
-Mommy
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