Livie is a 2nd Grader!

Livie's 1st day of school was also Cade's day of birth.   Jed and I were able to take Livie to school before heading to Wichita to deliver.  I was having contractions throughout all of this.

 

 Livie was excited to go back to school, but just a little nervous.

Last Belly Pictures

No nerves now though.  She had the most wonderful 1st week.  Her teacher is perfect for her.  They have caught and observed bugs which is right up Livie's alley.   She couldn't be happier and neither could we.

 

I'm so grateful for wonderful teachers who work so diligently to make learning fun!

We already love you Mrs. Black!

Cade is a Rockstar!

We are super happy to announce that Cade is doing phenomenal.  At 1 week old he was already above his birth weight weighing in at 6'13"'!!  He's nursing like a champ and his echocardiogram was good!  We will have another in 1 month.  We don't have all tests back, but he is truly thriving and we couldn't be more proud, excited, and thankful.  Now for the good part, PICTURES!!  We just didn't have enough to post... we only took 489 at the hospital alone!  Yes, really 489!  :)  So get ready!

 

He is TINY compared to the girls!!

We actually got to hold him sooner than either of the girls.  Livie actually had to go to the NICU.

Thanks Aunt Molly and Uncle Cody for my shirt... it is so true.

We are just kind of in LOVE!

 

"Every good and perfect gift comes from above."  James 1:17

He pottied on Claire!! :)

I forget how ridiculous the car seats look on them right now.

He's Home!

It's hard work to look this good.

 

Thank you for your thoughts, PRAYERS, gifts, food and well wishes.  We truly appreciate it!!

Baby Boy Claassen is HERE!!

Meet

Cade Rudolph Claassen

He is healthy, happy & perfect!!  We can't wait to show him off, and I know he's excited to meet you, but as many of you know, we will be in somewhat isolation for at least 2 weeks and can't have visitors!!
For now, our cute pictures will have to do!!  You're going to get tired of seeing him!  :)  We'll keep you posted!!

Last Minute Nesting...

Well, 8 days and counting!  I had my very last doctors appointments yesterday, and boy is that a relief.  2 doctors and a weekly sonogram is a lot!  Especially when it seems like they are always finding "indicators" on the sonograms, but in 8 days all our questions will be answered and

we FINALLY get to meet our little guy!!

 

 I love this!  I stole it from a good friends facebook post, but I don't know where she got it! (and obviously I didn't crop these before posting)



Also, apparently I'm a late bloomer on the whole NESTING THING!  Earlier, at times, I felt like this...



BUT THEN,
All of a sudden like 10 days ago things that haven't bothered me in three years
MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY!!  Closets and cabinets cleaned out, carpets cleaned, toys eliminated, etc... and after accomplishing 1 thing it seemed I needed to add 3 more to the list!!  I've also decided I'm a reincarnated person of the depression, because some of the things I save...
WHAT IN THE WORLD???!!!

 Bottom line, I can't wait to meet this baby!!

Baby Boy Room Reveal

Originally I was desperate to have a Navy and Red or Navy and Orange baby boy room.  However, all of our baby stuff is Black.  We have a rocking chair and ottoman that I love and the crib itself is black.  Over time I realized it would be a lot more time and cost effective to just work with the black.

 

I realize I didn't do very good with my pictures, but I think you'll get the idea.  This is our guest bedroom.  The girls are having a "campout" with their sleeping bags and coleman light, but you get the idea.

 

We moved this bed and table into Claire's room, which works perfectly,

 

and moved the rocking chair, ottoman and crib into the former guest room soon to be

Baby Boy's room.

I went with the rustic outdoorsy theme... we hardly bought a thing for his room,

but my big purchase is a Rustic Light Up Initial that will go just to the left of the antlers.

(which I realize look crooked, but I promise is the poor photography)

I'm STILL waiting for the initial to arrive.  It's backordered.  AARRG

 

We, and when I say we I mean my father in law... mounted the antlers on our old fence which I have used for many many things. :)  I did stand over his shoulder gagging at the smell.  I didn't know when you cut antlers they stunk so terribly bad!!  Like seriously nastiness you've not smelled in your life!

I used twigs for his curtain rods, and the antler is a shed the girls' found on one of our Section 1 outings.  It was fun to incorporate things like that.

I found the chevron material at Hobby Lobby, and my Mom made his curtains and dust ruffle. 

She's making an adorable quilt too!  I'll show pictures of that when it comes.

 

We finally got the bookshelves up, which are also made of our old fence,

and the fish lamp my husband made in 7th grade shop.  You push down the tail to turn it off and on.  It won grand prize... back off ladies he's taken. :)

Our jar is filled with twigs and bobbers seriously the cheapest nursery décor EVER!!



 I really should have done a more intricate job with my photography, but I'm too lazy to take more pictures.  Maybe I'll post some more when I get my initial and quilt!! 

(but let's face it probably not... I'm much better with people pictures, and I'll have a BABY by then let's hope)    

What's in a Name...

 

Well people, you have no idea.  Actually, some of you really do.  :)  Not only did it take Livie 4 days to finally make her appearance, but she was "Baby Girl Claassen"  for like 3 days at the hospital.  Livie is a family name on my side (spelled Livvie originally).  It was my Grandma's Grandma's name.  Did you get that?  I loved it, but Jed wasn't sure early on so we kept searching.  Then when she was born he wanted to name her Livvie, but wanted to drop a v.  I was so worried that he was just trying to please me and didn't really love it.   You see the problem.  Anywho, she ended up Livie Kaye and I love it. 

 

 

Then Claire was cooking, and we were having the same type of dilemmas.  I had liked Claire all along.  It was on our list with Livie.  However, I also really liked Addison Jane.  Jane is my sister's middle name.  I know my mom always regretted not naming Sara, Sara Jessie after her grandma, and I was worried since Livie has 2 family names it might be sad for Claire not to have family names, but then we couldn't find a family name on Jed's side we liked yada yada.  Even after we named Claire I would sit smiling at her saying, "Is your name Addie Jane?"  "You can tell mommy, we'll make the change, as she just looked at me like I might be crazy!"  Yep, lucky you kid I'm your mom. :0

 

 

And now, the dreaded name game has haunted me for 40 weeks again!  (Well almost 40)

With this one, I was determined.  I started with my names early on.  Jed refused to talk about it because we knew we were going to find out the sex.  He said what was the point until we know what we're looking for a boy or girl name. 

WHAT'S THE POINT?  HELLO IT'S US!!  WE'RE TERRIBLE AT THIS!  LITERALLY TERRIBLE!! 

Of course, I had 7 girl names that I really, truly liked and NO BOY names.  Also, Jed vetoed everything!  When we found out he has Down syndrome, it even threw more wrenches in the gears.  I wanted it to be short and easy to say and write.  I didn't want to use names with letter sounds that are difficult to make such as L or R. Which made things even more difficult because although I didn't notice it before eliminating those letters, I REALLY LIKE THOSE LETTERS!  I mean Livie and Claire!  Finally, predicament number 534, his middle name has to be Rudolph.  For those of you who don't know, that is my husband's middle name, and his dad's first name, and his dad's first name, and was his dad's first name, and it goes even further than that! 

 

So you say, "Do you have a name?"

 

Yes, I say with mediocre, not sincere confidence, we do have a name, and in 15 days we will be sharing it with the world.  We've thrown it around, but I am so noncommittal that I wouldn't be surprised if in 15 days you see a

Baby Boy Blank Rudolph Claassen announcement...

and now you'll know why.

 

Some of us struggle with Names People!!! 

Maternity Pictures

Can you believe it?  15 Days until we get to meet our Baby Boy.  I have promised sneak peeks on a Room.  Yes, that is coming, and have had many questions on names and that is coming Too!!  So, lots of baby blogs coming soon!

 

I was able to Force Myself to take maternity pictures this time, and I was SO glad!  I love them, but let's face it.  I'm not one of those really cute, tall ladies whose arms, legs, and face remain a NORMAL SIZE during pregnancy.  Nope, that's not me.  I literally feel like my face ATE my old face, or maybe a more accurate description would be my face feels like a helium balloon that I'm terrified is going to eventually float right off my neck if this baby doesn't come soon!  With that being said, these pictures were done by Johanna Patton Photography, and she did an amazing job!  However, she is abandoning me for Europe (the nerve) for an entire year, and she's leaving August 10.  I'm SOOOOOOO BEYOND DISAPPOINTED that she will not be capturing these first year milestones because she has been with us throughout our pregnancy and before. 

 

These pictures were taken at 31 1/2 weeks.

This was our first picture, and one I desperately wanted to capture.  Claire has had a special bond with this baby from the very beginning, and she kisses and pats him every SINGLE time we will be separated, before she takes her nap and before she goes to sleep at night.  She has felt him move more than anyone other than myself.  So this is a VERY AUTHENTIC shot that I will treasure.

 

And this one was next, watch the sequence closely...

 

Baby Boy kicked Claire hard right in the cheek!1

 

I love this one because this is exactly how I sit with this baby.

Side note, Livie, Claire and I were doing projects and I was sitting just like this. 

Livie said, "Mommy, I have a question, but I don't mean it mean..."

Me:  Ok, you can ask me anything?

Livie:  Why are your legs so big?  I mean the baby isn't in your legs.

Awesome!  I am definitely going to have my work cut out for me after I deliver. 

 

 

 So, if you're on the fence with pictures because of your appearance, you just might be surprised.  Take them, and if you don't like them don't show anyone!!  )