Family Archive

Today we surprised Chuck and Jean with a secret 60th birthday party at the church. Rumor has it Chuck was told it was a surprise party for Jean while Jean was kept in the dark until this afternoon when Stacy called her and asked her to bring some ice to a youth event at the church. Obviously, from looking at the birthday party photos, Jean and Chuck were both pleasantly surprised.

This is one of those cliches that seems to be thrown around in everyday communication. But in our case, it couldn’t be more fitting. Since Julian is home and Juli and I have had time to get to know him, we’ve come to the conclusion that he is a very quiet, relaxed, and docile child…at this point. He fusses (notice I didn’t say screams) only when he’s hungry, wet or wants to be held. This is a great change from when Kennedi was a baby and we figured out immediately that she had (and still has) a very independent and strong-willed personality.

The Rest of the McClure Family
Juli is doing well. Although tired at times (for obvious reasons), she is adjusting well to staying at home with two kids under two. She and the two kids frequently go on walks around the neighborhood or make quick trips to the store.

Mikayla really enjoys being a second-time big sister. She loves to hold Julian and help out around the house. Her last day of school is this week, and I can only see her being a bigger help once she’s home during the days.

Kennedi, at first, had no interest in Julian. But soon after he came home, she realized he’s here to stay. She is becoming more affectionate towards him and likes keeping tabs on where he’s at.

As for me, I’m lovin’ it (…that’s a catchy phrase…). Although Julian is a bit too small to toss around and build forts with, that day will come soon. In the mean time, I’ll just enjoy being a father of three kids.

Update: I added some photos this evening. Check out the link at the bottom.

5:45am
Early rising today. Not much, but still early. Packing up a few last minute items and getting ready for an eventful day. Wake up Mikayla to get ready for school. Kennedi hears footsteps around the house and wakes up. She immediately wants “Cat TV”.

6:45am
Leave the house for Erin’s. Since we are to be at the hospital so early, she is taking Mikayla to school. The kids bring a bag of their stuff over because they’ll be staying the night with The Webers this evening. I’m curious to see how Kennedi will fair this evening. Stop by QT for a cup of coffee.

7:30am
Arrive at Wesley Birthing Center and get checked in. Heather, our nurse, takes us back to our suite and we settle in. She starts giving Juli an IV, meds and other stuff. Now the waiting begins.

9:30am
A mad game of Scrabble breaks out. Juli starts out strong as we watch The Today Show and Reggis & Kelly. Today’s guest host on R&K is Bryant Gumbel. Apparently Reggis will be back tomorrow and it’s a really big show. Guests include Dave Letterman. The game of Scrabble ends around 10:15. I win.

10:25am
Contractions are more intense. Juli asks for an epideral. Another nurse and a guy and scrubs comes in with a cart of needles and medical stuff. They check vitals and start getting down to business. Juli hunches over the bed, hugging pillows and exposing her spine. I sit in front of Juli to keep her company during the pain. The guy in scrubs starts sticking her with needles. A few minutes later he’s done.

Noon
Lunch comes. Juli can’t eat until after the delivery. So I step up and take one for the team. Cottage cheese and fruit. I’m not sure why the cafeteria thinks vegetarians only eat fruit and dairy…but I haven’t eaten all day. I dig in. I give it an average cafeteria food rating.

12:15pm
The always funny Dr. Jensen steps in. He’s here to check on Juli and break her water. As always, he’s got a few humorous comments to make.

1:15pm
Dr. Jensen pops back in from lunch. He says the couple across the hall beat us to the punch and just had their baby. Juli’s getting tired and closes her eyes for a while.

2pm
Naptime.

4pm
Things are moving quickly. We should see some action within the next hour. It’s amazing how one event due to happen in the next hour will change our lives forever. Juli’s determined to have him within the hour.

4:15pm
Julian Keith Bartley McClure enters our world. Juli did great and is doing well. Julian is healthy and happy and is quietly screaming. He has dark hair, but not too much. He’s 8 lbs 13oz and 21inches long.

4:45pm
Juli and baby are feeding. Our day is complete and eventful.

9:45pm
Upload some photos of Julian’s first day.

As time draws on and Juli’s due date comes closer, we’re getting more and more anxious for the arrival of our son. My anxiety seems to stem from calls on my phone from Juli. Each time my cell phone goes off, and I see that it’s Juli, I have several split-seconds of panic before I answer. Where are the kids? Where do they need to go? How quickly do we need to get to the hospital?

For Juli, I think her anxiety comes from knowing the end is near (and it’s not coming soon enough). According to today’s doctor visit, Juli is progressing, but just not as much as Juli would like. Inducing, although an option, isn’t be suggested since the baby isn’t overdue at this point.

Personally, I like the induction process. It makes our stress level drop alot. We know when, where and how. Not knowing when, where or how…that’s frustrating.

Mikayla and Isabella received their first communion yesterday at St. Francis and the whole family went to witness. Both the girls, and the rest of their class, did very well at the Mass. They even had a cool song to sing for everyone when the ceremony was over. We all celebreated at our house afterwards with cake and punch (the staple of any youngster’s party). Check out the pictures of the day!

The two rooms in the basement have been sheetrocked and taped and have had their first layer of mud applied and sanded. Stacy and Erin are helping us finish up the rest of the mudding in the basement (to give Juli a well deserved break).

I, on the other hand, am in charge of all sheetrock sanding. Sanding sheetrock is just about as dirty as it sounds. Put on mud, let mud dry, sand smooth. All this “sanding smooth” creates a ton of dust. And let me tell you, inhaling sheetrock dust is very irritating. There’s an unpleasant film that adheres itself up your nose, in your eyes, in your mouth and everywhere else imaginable.

The paint for the rooms has been bought and is waiting eargerly to be rolled onto the walls. Mikayla’s room is a bright turquoise blue and my office is a neutral wheat tone. Now we just need to get ahold of a trim carpenter to finish the rooms off with wood trim and install my desktop and shelves.
All that said, our furniture will arrive on Saturday afternoon. I think we’ll wait to put the tv downstairs until the two rooms are finished and the entire basement can be mopped and cleansed. Stop by if you feel like working.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our family. Hopefully we get to see each of you sometime over this holiday season. If not, you’re welcome to stop by our house and visit.

Coming over to visit any time soon? Don’t be suprised if we answer the door covered head to toe in white dust. We’re starting to finish the two rooms in the basement (after almost three years). Our friend, Tim, came over tonight and hooked us up with a few electrical outlets, switches and a phone line in one of the rooms. This said room will become “My Office” and the other room will be Mikayla’s bedroom.

Both rooms are cleared out, aside from the dust, and we plan on starting to lay some “rock” tomorrow with the help of Stacy and Erin. My hopes are to get at least one room completely rocked. Maybe then on Sunday we can finish the left over room.

We’ll leave the mudding/taping of the rooms for another weekend. After that, it’s smooth sailing with some paint and trim. Before we know it the rooms will be done, our new couch will be here and the family can start enjoying basement-life more.