Christmas 2014

We had a really wonderful Christmas this year.  We had about 10 days of staggered illness up until Christmas Eve (lots of vomit), but the when we woke up on Christmas morning everyone was [pretty] healthy.  A Christmas Miracle!

Spencer and I woke up around 7:30 and just laid around waiting for Clara to come in and get us.  It was finally about 8:30 when she did.  I was surprised that her footsteps were so typical.  The door opened from her bedroom and she scampered right into ours - no pause to look at the lights, no dash straight out to the tree.  I wondered if she had forgotten that it was Christmas morning, but she remembered.  We opened a few gifts, had a nice breakfast, opened more gifts and enjoyed the first snow of the season. Yep - we had a White Christmas!

Clara was super excited to find her trampoline (from Grandma Margie and Grandpa Brent) and ran straight to it saying, "Mom!  Look!  A trampoline for Betts!"  It was super cute.  She was completely enthralled with all of her gifts and gave enthusiastic shouts all day long like, "This is AWESOME!" or "My robot is just FANTASTIC!" She was thrilled at the orange in the bottom of her stocking and shoved it in my face, "Mom, just smell it!" Christmas Oranges has become one of our favorite Christmas books this season and she actually fell asleep as I read it to her on Christmas Eve (dare I say, another Christmas Miracle?!).

Betty was pretty zoned out for most of the morning and didn't really engage with any of her new toys, though she did enjoy some of the mylar wrapping.  Clara was great to help Betty unwrap her presents, and offer to let Betty unwrap some of hers too.

In the late afternoon we joined both sets of parents and Aunt Carol at the Evans' home for a lovely Christmas dinner and more presents!  We definitely feel blessed this Christmas to have all of our needs (as well as lots of wants) met - to be warm, healthy, safe and comfortable. And to have this sweet little family to share it all with!

Twas Two Nights Before Christmas (or Twas the Night Before Clara)

Our sweet baby girl is one week old today!  I can hardly believe all that has happened in the past week - it has been a blur and a whirlwind, but life is sweet and wonderful.  We couldn't be more happy or feel more blessed.

I wrote this little (ok, long) poem to tell Clara's birth story.  There are definitely some details I left out -- like the fact that even after 24 hours of building contractions, there was never a true "this is it" moment.  At one point in the evening, a contraction hurt so much it made me cry (I had three of those throughout the day) and I told Spencer we should get ready to go, but I still wasn't super sure.  I was never really confident that I was progressing, or that we needed to go to the hospital.  Even after we arrived at the hospital, we sat in the car for several minutes as I debated if we really needed to go in (I really didn't want to get sent home).  I also didn't mention that after we packed up the car, we delivered Christmas cookies to neighbors on the way to the hospital.  There was no way that the six dozen cookies I made at nine months pregnant were going to go to waste, even if it meant I had to sit in the car through some pretty intense contractions while Spencer delivered them to our neighbors.  I will write a more traditional birth story out at some point which may or may not show up here.  But for now, please enjoy!


Twas two nights before Christmas, and all through the house
Eagerness built, as I called for my spouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
But the space neath tree empty; no presents found there

"Bring your iPhone" I yelped in a weary worn struggle,
Then fell in a chair; the cat wanting to snuggle
In moments he came; my husband appeared
And handed phone over as he quietly cheered

Finding the app, installed days before
"contraction counter" timed as I slumped on the floor
Then rising in pain between a scream and a cry
I heaved and wrenched, then melted to sigh

Near 24 hours had passed of labor early yet true,

As contractions inched closer and intensity grew

On birth ball, on bed, on foot and in tub,
On trying things naturally, aye there's the rub

Could this be the night of the birth of our first?

Another contraction; one of the worst
"This is it," I managed as I fell in a sag,
"Grab the computer, the iPod, the camera, and bag"

Then off to the hospital we drove in a dash
The fog thick and heavy as we avoided a crash
At arrival and check-in contractions slowed to a halt
"They'll think I'm a fool, and not worth my salt" 

Soon we were admitted, to Triage Room three,

As monitors checked my veracity

One quick check and the nurse soon was saying,

"Oh look at your progress! You're a five and you're staying!"

Admitted, at once the phone calls began,

"We're here, and we're having her - at least that's the plan!"

Soon grandmas and grandpas and siblings arrived

So much excitement, and sleep soon deprived

"This isn't so bad" was my constant refrain

But the nurses encouraged an epidural just the same

When news of a doc breaking water soon came

I consented and ne'er felt a twinge of shame

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear

The anesthesiologist and all of his gear
A couple of pricks and the numbness set in
The pain mostly gone, my face in a grin

When all of a sudden a warmth filled the bed,

My body beat doc to it, and broke my own water instead

Another quick check and I was in heaven

"You go girl," said the nurse, "hon, you're a seven!"

As deep pressure mounted, I gave a shout of hooray!

I'd meet my sweet girl soon; time to push, no delay!
Then chin to chest and count to ten,
Once, and twice, again and again

I curled around baby each time with great strain

As I pushed and I tried to composure maintain

Three hours of pushing only found the babe stuck

Neath a bone in my pelvis, and each push brought no luck

Finally my doctor was called to come in

At four in the morning - a different tone set in

"This baby's not coming," his mood very sober

"It's the knife or the vacuum - you think it over"

In moments he returned; our decision was clear:

Avoid surgery at all costs and get the babe safely here

Three more long pushes as doc pulled with his might

This baby would come, but not without fight

With one final push, then a sweet little cry,

Tears swirled down cheeks of all standing by,

A bundle of love gently placed on my chest,
My heart filled with joy -- this was the best!

Her eyes -- how they twinkled! Her dimples how merry!

Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her head full of dark, soft feathery hair

Her eyes wide and happy, awake and aware

Spencer and I just basked in the bliss

As we held our sweet baby and gave her a kiss!
We're so in love; a family of three!
And that is how Clara Jane Evans came to be

Clara Jane Evans

12.24.10 - 4:14 am

7 pounds 8 ounces - 19.5 inches

last night

The weather here lately has been stunning. The grass is green, the sky is blue, and the air is warm. Last night when Spencer got home from work, we had a picnic on our backyard lawn before walking along one of our favorite streets, admiring the blossoming trees and listening to the stream, heavy and full, gush out of the canyon. Season 1 of LOST had finally arrived at the library (to help convert Spencer to my latest addiction) and I was anxious to pick it up. Of course we scoured the music collection as well, selecting a choice few jazz, classic rock, and indie artists that will accompany us in the car for the next few weeks. We walked home and chatted with dear neighbors from our old ward (two whole blocks away) as the sun slowly dropped. We came home and Spencer popped Gladys Knight (his pick) into the stereo. We danced in the kitchen to Midnight Train to Georgia as the very last speckles of sunshine freckled the room and finally fell to night. It was just one of those nights... when for a moment, all seemed right with the world.