Clare's First Thursday and Friday
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More time with Grandma.
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Every day is geek day when you live with this guy! Clare got to hear the story "Earth to Stella" on Thursday for the first time since leaving the womb.
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Two faces that my heart melts for.
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Snoozin... on a Friday afternoon.
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Snoozin! Best not wake her up too soon!
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"Excuse you, Clare!" we all say as she burps.
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The dogs just love Clare.
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Bailey (Grandma's dog) takes a break from staring at Clare to mug for the camera. Priceless.
Clare Day 3
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Technically still day 1 at home and day 2 for Clare... but it wasn't in my upload yesterday. CoCo really handled this mellow!
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More of the Lyons Ladies Lounging on the couch.
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Daddy holds Clare as CoCo looks on.
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Don't let the glowing blue eyes fool you, CoCo is not a robot programmed to watch our child - she is a dog with one heck of a protective instinct.
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Because a proud papa needs to show off his newborn!
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Notice how wherever daddy goes, CoCo follows? I think I've gotten all the Lyons Ladies interested in the space program. Almost geek-on time!
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I (Rob) had an uncle who worked for NASA during the Apollo program. He retired and lived on the Banana River near the Space Center. I used to go over and watch launches at his place. It was a thrill to share a launch with Clare for the first time!
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T- minus 4 minutes.... MARK! The terminal count commences for Ares I-X as Clare chows down (off camera for modesty's sake!).
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CoCo beholds the television in awe... or is that she lays in her spot and sleeps? I don't know.
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The launch is a success! Yay! Clare even spread her arms in a cheer afterwards... or was that in a yawn? Either way, she got her geek on... then it was time to go to sleep.
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As daddy continues to geek-out on rocket launch replays, Grandma takes Clare for a while.
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Maureen has been such a godsend this week... thanks, Grandma!
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Our own little cuddly Clare-bear... she's even cuter than the stuffed animals we had as kids.
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Geek. 'Nuff said.
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Three generations...
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During moments of waking, Rob would try to explain to Clare exactly what was going on. I don't know, but somehow I think that trying to explain the two stage construction of the Ares rocket system, and its thrust co-efficient is a lost cause with a newborn.
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Aunt Lauren should be proud... her swing is Clare's favorite spot to sleep!
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"I think, therefore I am."
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Being a baby is full time work.
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So is being a 'big sister'!
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Getting ready for bath time. The towel makes me want to sing "Rubber Duckie, you're the one..."
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We can't let the Clare Bear freeze, now can we?
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Time to commence washing!
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Well, perhaps we need to pose first!
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"Let's get it started, yea!"
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I'm not an auto mechanic, but I think they call this part 'detailing'.
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Clare cried a bit, but not too terribly much. Daddy is gentle, especially when Mommy is there to help out.
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A mother's help is always invaluable.
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Time for cuddling after the bath.
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It's not easy being a newborn! Clare went out like a light, and Mommy and Daddy enjoyed a pretty good evening of sleep.
Baby Clare
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The final photo of Rob and Kristen taken before Clare's arrival - the next words spoken in the room were, "Okay, let's try a push with the next contraction..." and, as I recall, the statement was followed by a degree of surprise that the docs would be needed so very soon.
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9:31 AM EDT - Welcome Clare!
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Reminds me of the hymn, "The strife is over, the battle is done!"
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Ten fingers, ten toes - all found on their proper appendages with a proper count on each.
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Declared A-OK. Of course, we thought she was A-OK from the get-go!
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Kristen gets some more quality time with Clare before heading off to surgery.
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Grandma arrives for her first moments with the baby - and for her unexpected closeup!
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Uncle John has to get into the act.
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And now for grandpa... To be honest, I was a bit worried at first when it sounded like he didn't want to hold the baby. Turns out it was just because he was afraid he'd get locked up for taking such a cute baby home with him!
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Resting in the crook of grandpa's elbow.
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Still with Grandpa...
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Kristen is back from surgery and ready to spend more time with the baby.
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Clare is one sleepy girl. She went out like a light at 11:30, and didn't really bother with coming-to until nearly 6 PM!
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Twenty-some hours of labor and some after-birth surgery weren't enough to dampen this mommy's spirits!
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Grandpa's back for his evening visit.
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Good thing Clare woke up on her own; Grandpa was determined to spend time with Clare!
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Not sure exactly what the look on her face is meant to convey...
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I do know what this look was meant to convey... SLEEPY!!!
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Sleepytime... for a little bit.
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Even Winnie the Pooh thinks Clare is adorable!
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Mama insisted on diaper duty... even with so many good excuses to let Daddy take care of the matter.
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Kristen and I have this little tradition of snapping pictures at arm's length. It goes back to our first extended date together to Metamora. It's just one of those special things we do. This is our first special snap with our special girl!
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I e-mailed Kristen on Yahoo! Personals because she had such a radiant smile. She's still got it, and how she has a little one to share her charms with! It's great to be in love!
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Grandpa, round 3! Seriously, it is so awesome to see the way that Jamie (Grandpa) just melted for Clare.
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Uncle John needed to get into the act too!
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Clare and I almost got to watch a rocket launch on her first day on earth... then the launch slipped past 9:30... and eventually was scrubbed. We'll be up tomorrow morning to try again, this time with actual NASA TV!!! I know, I am such a geek!
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Jamie (seated) and John. Happy and proud in their new roles of Grandpa and Uncle.
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Our first 'official' portrait (i.e., taken by a third person)... our nurse snapped this just before we left the hospital.
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Mommy and Baby are home!
That's the smile I fell in love with... and the face that melts my heart. Now, say it again, just substitute yawn for smile when applying it to Clare!
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Mother/Daughter bonding as CoCo looks on.
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After arriving home, getting a fresh diaper, and filling her tank, Clare settles into her own little 'easy chair', a gift from Aunt Lauren.
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Hush, little baby, don't say a word...