The Cluff Family

 For William's first week home, we limited visitors and bonded as a new family of four. Tanner took a week off work and we figured it out. It was so nice. I loved having him home. We definitely became closer as a couple and as a family by keeping it just us for the first week. 

 Chloe adjusted well and quickly fell in love with her baby brother. There were a few days where she would lash out and become jealous but overall she handled it well. She loves watching him, kissing him, and wants to hold him constantly. 

 At the end of William's second week home, the Cluff family came up from Arizona to see him. Nana's favorite thing to do was just hold William but we did plenty of fun activities while they were here. We went up Hobble Creek Canyon and played at the park. We went to the Nickelcade. We also went to the Monte L. Bean Museum at BYU. The trip wouldn't have been complete without getting ice cream at the Creamery too. It was a fun few days and we were so happy they decided to come up and visit us!

William had his first bath at home when he was weeks old.  He is the most well tempered baby and didn't mind it at all. I'm sure he loved being bathed in Chloe's old pink bath too. Nana and Papa Cluff gave him the cutest elephant hooded towel with his name on it.

 William is a good baby. He grunts and struggles with his gas bubbles but besides that he is the most cuddly baby. His favorite position is to lay on someones chest. He has the cutest dimple and kissable lips. I already can't imagine my family without him. Welcome home William!

The night before I was going to be induced with you, I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned like it was Christmas Eve. I was feeling a mix of emotions between excitement and nervousness. Your older sister's birth made me terrified. I wasn't sure what to expect with you and could only compare to the traumatic birth of Chloe. Your Dad and I woke up at 5:30 AM July 18th to get ready to drive to the hospital. I was silent. It was still dark outside with a cool summer breeze. We were supposed to report to the Hospital at 6:15. We pulled into the Hospital parking lot and I silently held my emotions inside... I was scared.

We got settled into our room and it hit me that this was going to be the day and room that I will meet you for the first time. All of my fears started to slip away as a sense of calm rushed over me. Everything was going to be okay. I was in a hospital with nurses and doctors. My nurse was named Julia and she was the perfect fit for me. She was older and she cared for me in a motherly way. She came in to check on  me and your Dad probably every fifteen minutes to see if we needed anything. The beginning of the day started to drag because I wasn't dilating as quickly as I hoped. Your Dad and I discussed names and watched TV to pass the time.  Grandma Hales and Chloe came to visit us and I couldn't keep my emotions inside.  I started to break down and cry. I desperately wanted the day to be over. My adrenaline and anxiety caused me to get the shakes really bad. Once I got the epidural and the doctor broke my water I was dilated to a 4. I wasn't sure if I was going to meet you that day... it was taking forever. Literally about an hour later I started to feel pressure and I had a nurse check and I was dilated to a 8! I got so excited! Ten minutes passed and I was dialed to a 10! It all came so fast at the end. My doctor had ran home and so I had to patiently wait for her to come back when all I wanted to do was push! It was almost 4:00 PM and I was mentally preparing myself to have to push for an hour. You came out in two contractions! I was so happy! They put you on my chest and I wasn't sure what to do since they whisked Chloe away right after birth. You cried and cried for about twenty minutes. Daddy cut your chord. You immediately latched on and started breastfeeding. I couldn't have asked for a better delivery. My prayers were answered. We both survived. 

You were born at 4:01 PM on July 18th, 2014 in Provo, Utah. You weighed 8 lb 9 oz and was 21.5 inches tall. 

After you cuddled with me for a little bit, you went with the nurses to have your first bath. Grandma returned with Chloe along with Aunt Michelle and Grandpa Hales to come see you.  We found out that your birth was so fast that you broke your right clavicle. You also had a little bit of jaundice but nothing to worry about. You are perfect. I instantly fell in love with you and we are so happy to welcome you to our family. We love you William Dean Cluff.

This is what 37 weeks looks like with baby boy. Chloe is so excited to meet her baby brother. Sometimes it feels like this pregnancy flew by and other times I feel like he can't get here soon enough. I am just anxious to see him and to know that everything is okay. I want to know that he makes it to me safely and that we both survive the labor and delivery. Chloe's delivery was so rough that I can't help but feel nervous and anxious but at the same time I am so excited to welcome another member into our family. This pregnancy has been a little harder than last time because I got the stomach bug twice and he just seems to kick more and rest lower on my pelvis than Chloe did. He definitely loves to move so we will see if that is how he will be outside of the womb. I still need to pack my hospital bag and make some freezer meals but besides that I am ready. I have been "ready" my whole third trimester. I can't say that I will miss being pregnant. I am just not one of those women who loves being pregnant... nope... not me. Luckily I have a very patient and loving husband and a daughter who is very forgiving. This adventure is going to end soon... and for now we are all just trying to soak up our last minutes as a family of three.

Every year I look forward to Springville Art City Days. It gets better every year as Chloe becomes older and can do participate in more activities. We started the week off by going to the Teddy Bear Tea Party at the Library, just Chloe and I. It was a kick off for summer reading basically but Chloe enjoyed the puppet show and book reading.

On Wednesday night, we went to the carnival. It might have been a mistake because it was family night and every ride was only one ticket... which meant that it was a zoo. There were so many people that it took 45 minutes just to ride the Ferris wheel. We walked the booths, ate some BBQ sandwiches and took Chloe on a few rides including the carousel (twice) and the Ferris wheel with us.  She loves the carousel! We bought a snow cone while we waited in line and it helped us all be patient as we waited... especially Chloe. Coming to the carnival tonight was a sign that Chloe is not ready for Disneyland. 

On Thursday afternoon, my mom came down for the Fun-O-Rama. The Fun-O-Rama is a carnival geared especially towards little kids. They have blow up toys, face painting, swings, and a train ride. My mom was babysitting Kahea and Michelle had her two boys with her along with Chloe and I. We enjoyed lunch first at the Cravings food truck which is basically a gourmet grilled cheese. It was so yummy! Then we waited in line for the swings which is pictured below. If you look closely, you can see Charlie behind Chloe really enjoying the ride!

Kahea was a little angel baby and patiently waited the whole afternoon in her stroller since she was too young to enjoy anything. 

The kids all enjoyed the train ride that was totally worth the half hour wait... not. Anything for our children right? Last year when I came to the Fun-O-Rama it was not as crowded so it was kind of a bummer to have to wait in lines.

One line we didn't have to wait in line for was this big bouncy floor. Chloe loves the trampoline so she was in heaven. We ended the trip with temporary tattoos for Chloe and Bradley. Being eight months pregnant, I was wiped out after this. I was grateful for my mom's help and for joining us on this fun afternoon. We always love when Grandma comes to town.

On Saturday morning, Tanner, Chloe, and I went to the Springville parade. We bought donuts at Daylight Donuts and set up our spot anticipating the parade. Chloe loved the princesses meaning the pageant winners. She also loved the colorful floats and school bands that would play music. She especially loved the free candy that was being thrown out. Coming to the parade just made me love Springville even more and the small town feel it gives.

Since we didn't use all of our tickets Wednesday night at the carnival, we returned Saturday afternoon to use them up. Chloe rode the caterpillar roller coaster and the dragon that lifted her up in the air. Watching her go on these rides all by herself makes me realize how much she is growing up. Maybe next year we can make it to the Hot Air Balloon Festival since we missed it this year. Art City Days is always a highlight of our summer.