All in a name...
5:45 PMSo there have been some really neat things that have happened these past few months in the midst of some really hard things.
You know when things you totally were not planning happen?
This was one of those unplanned things:
It happened when we did not expect it and yet the Lord has used this little life to bless us so richly already!
As many of you know Jason's Grandmother had been living with us and we had told her that we were waiting for years for more babies etc.
So when this surprise came along we sat down one night for dinner and Jason started the conversation with- "So Gram you know how we talked about how sometimes things happen and there is nothing we can really do anything about it?"
At that point she looked at me and said: "It better not have already happened!" LOL!
Yeah about that Gram...I was six weeks at that point and once the shock wore off and we assured her we were not going to be kicking her out once the baby arrived she started to get really excited!
We had decided on names already. William Nathaniel for a boy. Claire Elizabeth for a girl.
But then as we were eating we were sharing with her that, while we have a good friend named Claire, we weren't sure if we should keep that name but we really loved it.
That is when she came up with the name Clara Beth and we fell in love with it.
But we knew it was going to be a boy.
A few weeks later Gram very unexpectedly ended up in the hospital.
For a week and a half we were sure that she was going to be coming home then one Saturday we realized one Saturday-she was not going to make it.
She died the next Monday.
I had the privilege to be with her when she passed and shared some really precious moments with her in the days right before she passed.
One of the amazing things was that in my whole life I had only met one Claire.
In the three days I was with Gram in the hospital we started meeting Claire's everywhere it seemed!
One of Gram's nurses names was Claire.
The hospice lady who was hugging me by Gram's bedside as she took her last breath was named Claire.
Then, after she had passed away and we had said our goodbyes, we went to go home and as we walked through the lobby the grand piano was playing a song-the song was "Clair De Lune".
My mother-in-law and I were floored! I did not believe that these events were a coincidence and I just "knew" that Gram was going to get her little girl even though she was in heaven.
So I went home and we waited.
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| 16 1/2 weeks |
My mother-in-law came to the first doctors visit and when they went to take me back for the ultrasound she came along. We got back to the room and SURPRISE-the ultrasound was not on my thyroid like I thought it would be-it was for the baby.
It took some time but eventually the lady turned to me and said: "It's a....GIRL!!!"
We cried.
It was so special just because of what we had been through together during Gram's sickness and passing as well knowing Gram had been so excited for a baby and hoping it was a girl.
Clara Beth Hollands.
Every time I say her name I think of Gram and smile.
Right before she died I had leaned over and told her about my first ultrasound and how I just knew we were going to get our girl-and Gram smiled.
What a precious memory and it just made this surprise of finding out that it was a girl so much more special!
So I went home and since Jason was working late that night decided to let him figure it out for himself.
I got some adorable GIRLY outfits and made a trail to this:
Melt my heart.
He was so excited and it was so fun to be able to surprise him :)
Currently I am 24 1/2 weeks along and we are due March 9, 2016! There will be 27 months between Micah and Clara which I am super excited about (since the other two were 19 months apart it seems SO much bigger of a gap)! :)
So do you have stories of being surprised with a baby? I would love to hear about them!
Do you like to find out the gender of your babies or do you prefer to be surprised?
I found out with all three babies and, while we have thought about waiting and being surprised, it lasted about two minutes lol! :) I enjoy knowing so we can name the baby and get all the stuff for him/her. Who knows though? Since now we have boys and a girl-maybe we will be surprised next time ;)
It was so special just because of what we had been through together during Gram's sickness and passing as well knowing Gram had been so excited for a baby and hoping it was a girl.
Clara Beth Hollands.
Every time I say her name I think of Gram and smile.
Right before she died I had leaned over and told her about my first ultrasound and how I just knew we were going to get our girl-and Gram smiled.
What a precious memory and it just made this surprise of finding out that it was a girl so much more special!
So I went home and since Jason was working late that night decided to let him figure it out for himself.
I got some adorable GIRLY outfits and made a trail to this:
Melt my heart.
He was so excited and it was so fun to be able to surprise him :)
Currently I am 24 1/2 weeks along and we are due March 9, 2016! There will be 27 months between Micah and Clara which I am super excited about (since the other two were 19 months apart it seems SO much bigger of a gap)! :)
Do you like to find out the gender of your babies or do you prefer to be surprised?
I found out with all three babies and, while we have thought about waiting and being surprised, it lasted about two minutes lol! :) I enjoy knowing so we can name the baby and get all the stuff for him/her. Who knows though? Since now we have boys and a girl-maybe we will be surprised next time ;)
10 Thoughts
I couldn't know. It just HAD to be a surprise! :) I told DH that if I had to do the hard work of labour, I needed a surprise at the end. He badly wanted a son, and I was sure it would be one (this is first time round) just because I didn't want one!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my waters broke at 36 weeks on my way to my baby shower - everyone loved that :) :) And the baby finally came after a long hard labour, and it was a girl. She was SUCH a surprise. Took me a few months to take it in!!!!
Second time around DH wanted to find out again, but I still said no. He was quite sure it would be a boy this time, and he was right :) The Lord had been preparing my heart though, so I was ready, and love him to bits.
See I came from a family if four girls, and didn't know much about little boys, it has been quite a steep learning curve, and I still can't really understand them, but we are getting there ;)
Love,
Betsy
Ooh yeah, forgot to say :) Love the name :) One of my sisters is Clara and I have always lived Beth. So you have certainly picked a cute name :)
ReplyDeleteLove,
Betsy
You make me smile!! Now I kind of want a surprise for the next one!! That is so neat and funny thing is boys are great I am nervous about knowing what to do with a girl lol :)
DeleteWhat a sweet story of how you guys chose the name!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteWhat a sweet story about your surprise baby and her name. I wanted to know gender both times because I really DIDN'T want any surprises, so I knew boy #1 at 20 weeks and boy #2 at 13 weeks (yes, they can do it that early if you are considered high risk!). We did not name our children before they were born, though we had lists both times. We just preferred to wait to see what they really looked like in order to name them something that fit. My first son was named within 30 minutes of his birth, my second one not for about 5 hours. I hope you are having a good pregnancy and fun getting ready for your GIRL!
ReplyDeleteAww that is so sweet Karen!! Thank you for sharing and wow did not know you could find out that young that is amazing!!!
DeleteCongratulations on baby #3!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story behind her name - its such a beautiful connection to the great-grandmother who was so excited that she was coming.
My husband was raised by his grandparents for about 6 years of his life and our son is named after that grandfather. It's a perfect fit for him too, even though many consider it out of date and old fashioned. I'm always surprised how many people get so excited when they hear his name because it reminds them of a special relative.
We didn't find out genders before our children were born - my husband was adamant that we didn't and I really didn't care one way or the other. I was convinced, however, that they were the same gender (we have twins). After our son was born, the doctor said "So what's the next one?" I said "A boy." Imagine my shock when it was a girl! It took me about 2 weeks to wrap my head around that. Now I'm thrilled that we have a son and a daughter!
Praying for you, your family and your new little Clara Beth.
Lea
Thank you so much! :)
DeleteThat is so sweet about the story behind your sons name!! What a neat way to remember someone very special :)
Twins that is amazing!!! How fun you were REALLY surprised with your daughter!!! That is so fun :)
Thank you for the prayers!
Blessings!
Katy
Congratulations, dear! I'm so happy for you! And I'm sorry to hear about Gram.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to read my blog :) I would love it if you would leave your thoughts! I will try to reply back with a comment as soon as I can so check back when you can especially if you have questions! :)
Please keep everything honoring to the Lord Jesus Christ (language, etc...) and appropriate for everyone :)
May the Lord richly bless you! Thanks for commenting :)