Happy 4th Birthday Clare Bear!

Clare’s birth story brings back some sweet memories.  I was in the middle of leading VBS – no really – and my water broke. It was a slow leak so I wrote it off as a weak bladder.  HA.  You’d think after that many pregnancies, I’d know the difference.  Evidently not.

I drove myself to the hospital because no one else was around and arrived with my iPod and my car keys.  No wallet, no ID.  Sure enough, I was in labor.   I was four weeks early and more than a little worried.  After a hefty dose of pitocin, scrambling to find someone to watch the kids and the arrival of Scott – Clare arrived with just one push.  She was a dainty 5lbs. and change, yet perfect in every way.

She was, by far, my easiest baby.  We all deserve one, now don’t we?  She slept beautifully (still does), is easy to please, has THE loudest voice and funniest ways of saying things and she is a total ray of sunshine.  Without her at home these past couple of years, I most definitely would’ve checked myself into the crazy house.  No really.

Clare is so patient, so loving and so funny.  She often says, “Oh momma, when I go to school you will cry.”  Yes, sweetheart, I will.  I am not ready for her to grow up.  I savored every day of age three.  For us, there was no terrible 2s or 3s.  They were merely terrific.  No lie.

Our sweet, sweet, Clare Bear…happy fourth birthday pretty girl.  You are a gift to our family!