Claire Darlene Laffin

Well, since it has been awhile since I've posted anything I will skip to the main event.....

I had prayed pretty much the entire pregnancy for a smooth delivery and for family to be here. My mom and sister got into town on May 2nd and we went to a shower the ladies at the church had for me and another expecting mommy. We went to the hospital on May 3rd to be induced, I was absolutely ecstatic to be 4 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced, I thought "this should be quick." They started the petocin and we began to walk, walk, and did a bit more walking, then sat on the birthing ball, tried to rest in bed, and walked some more. This was not going as quickly as I had planned!! (My labor was 8 hours with Hunter and I was not dilated or effaced so I thought this should move quickly) Finally after about 6 hours my midwife got to the hospital and broke my water making me think OK, about and hour or so.... (since that was how it had been with my previous deliveries). Then as I was fully dilated and ready to go and Claire decided she would take her sweet time!! After about 45minutes of swaying and rocking trying to get her to drop she decided it was time and with a few good pushes she was crying before she was even all the way out. We cuddled for awhile Scott cut the cord then they got her cleaned up and weighed her. Claire Darlene Laffin was born May 3rd at 9:35pm, 9lbs, 8 oz 20 1/2 inches and her head was 13 1/2 inches.

Me, Claire, and my midwife, Tom

Kelsea sang "Rock a bye baby" as soon as Scott gave her Claire to hold, it was very sweet.

Rusty was excited to hold her but got over it quick and soon wanted to just run around.

Hunter is in love with his little sister, he loves to hold her or pet her head and is very concerned when she cries.

Rusty the Next John Popper

So, I have this harmonica which I have been learning to play and the kids love to play it also.  They love that it is so easy to make "music" with, all they have to do is blow or suck and wallah music, at least they think so.  Rusty however is stepping it up a notch.  He doesn't just want to make noise he wants to rock out.  He totally spreads out his feet, leans over and enters the world of rock and roll with his tin sandwich.  Watch out John Popper (the guy from Blues Traveler) Rusty is working his way towards pushing you out of the spotlight.  He even has the look down.

Easter

We had a great Easter, the kids were so excited they could hardly sleep, in fact they talked in bed until almost 10pm on Saturday night. Kelsea even opened the mini blinds so she could see the Easter bunny when he came. Unfortunately it was raining so the Easter bunny had to hide the eggs inside.

Dying Eggs

Pretty self explanatory

Bunny Cake

Kelsea saw a picture of a bunny rabbit cake and asked if we could make it for Easter. The kids had a great time and couldn't wait to eat it!!

Kelsea's wish for the world

Kelsea is always concerned about other people. About a month ago Scott and the youth group participated in the 30 hour famine to raise money for hungry/starving kids all over the world. Kelsea has been particularly concerned with Africa because Scott gave her a bracelet which is suppose to remind her to pray for the starving kids in Africa. This evening she came to me and said, "You know what my wish for the world is? I wish that everybody would have food to eat, good water to drink, a house to live in so they don't have to sleep outside, and lots of lipstick for the girls to wear."

Reptiles

I don't know what I've been up to lately, but it seems like I have been so busy I don't have time to do anything, even blog. My brain just isn't quite working properly.

Last week Kelsea had the reptile guy come to her school. Which she was so excited about since she remembered when he came last year. She insisted that all of us come which we did. Rusty was a bit timid at first but once he saw the other kids touching animals he joined in. Hunter was really excited to touch all the animals. The giant yellow snake the kids are holding was suppose to smell like popcorn, I don't know, I didn't smell it or check it out. They put a "diaper" on the one lizard because he tends to "tinkle" when startled. They even got to pet an alligator which was about 3 ft long.