Clay's First Christmas

With the whole year dedicated to getting ready for the baby, it really became real once the Christmas decorations started to appear in the stores.  I knew he was coming soon.  Christmas will always remind me of this little fellow.  It was Christmas songs I would sing to him when he was falling asleep.  It was the Christmas lights on the tree that lit the living room just enough for a late-night feeding session.  It was the new snowman stocking that hung next to the tree where I kept picturing names for this little boy embroidered on the top.  It was the Christmas card I couldn't create until after he had arrived.  I will always be reminded of Clay when I think of Christmas.  For a month that was already my favorite... I couldn't have imagined I would love it even more... until now.

This Christmas will always have a special place in my heart.  Not only was it filled with family and friends, it was consumed with everything baby.  I was diligent to make sure I got to do everything I wanted to do knowing I only had 12 days after the baby was born until Christmas Day.  The announcements/Christmas cards were made, printed, stuffed and sent.  The photo gifts were put together and wrapped.  The first visit to see Santa was planned.  Clay had a stocking, an ornament and a ceramic plate to leave out cookies for Santa each year.

Every Christmas Eve spent in San Diego includes the tradition of the boys playing golf, the girls going to Christmas Eve church service and everyone eating dinner at Cafe Zucchero in Little Italy.  Our friends Brad & Colleen joined us as we dined on salad, pasta, bread and lots of desserts!  Once Corey and I were back home and in our jammies... Corey read Clay Twas the Night Before Christmas and we watched Christmas Vacation as we fell asleep on the couch.

Christmas morning was filled with love and laughter as we headed to Kevin and Karen's house just in time for a gourmet breakfast.  (What a surprise to see our version of a white Christmas-- thick, dense fog blanketing the five minute drive.)  After breakfast, we exchanged gifts and giggled as the themes of these gifts focused on golf, jewelry, cooking, comfort and baby.  My favorite moments from the morning included getting gifts for Clay... he received Purdue slippers from Grandma & Grandma which looked hysterical on him since they are a little big and the bibs-to-go from Kevin & Karen which are more like blanket size for Clay at the moment.  Gifts to grow into!

Cor and I headed back to exchange our gifts with each other and then off to Karen's family's house for Christmas Round II.  We had a great time playing games and enjoying each other's company.  All in all, it was a great Christmas and I am already looking forward to next year when it will be completely different from Clays point-of-view!

Announcing Clay and his Many Firsts

Wow!  These weeks have flown by!  Taking care of a newborn, preparing for Christmas and spending time with friends and family has consumed all of our time!  But what fun it has been.  Corey and I have been super prepared for this in every sense of the way... but we were never prepared to feel so much love and joy instantly.  Christmas came early this year at the Spencer house in the form of little Clay... and we couldn't feel more blessed.

These two weeks have been marked by lots of firsts... first yawn, first car ride, first smile, first time on his tummy, first Bears game, first trip down by the pool, first meeting with Grandma Janeen and Grandpa Steve.  

And among all the firsts, Corey and I have had our share as well!  At first we were nervous but we are getting the hang of things now.  We found it was easier to tag-team the diaper changing although now we are pretty good on our own!  Gotta love the diapers with the stripe that changes colors when he pees!  It has been challenging finding anything that fits him... the newborn clothes are way to big but will be nice in the next month or so.  We have been rotating our few premie pieces and wrapping the sleeves of other clothes... but he looks hilarious!  

We love to sit and stare at all of his facial expressions as he is very expressive.  We've been taking lots of pictures, cuddling, sharing him with family and friends and telling him lots of stories. Everyone comments on how tiny he is and how easy-going he seems to be.  Most people tell us that he looks like Daddy and I have to agree.  He definitely seems like a little Corey-Mini-Me.

We had a great Christmas together but I think that deserves its own blog post!  I haven't looked at my pictures and videos from the day yet but I will tomorrow. 

Thanks for being a part of Clay's firsts!  

Clay Has Arrived!

With a relatively easy labor and delivery, Clay Jameson Spencer was born on Monday night at 9:53PM.  It was such a fantastic experience from the beginning to the end.  The staff at La Jolla Scripps was unbelievable and the birth was very quiet and intimate.  Clay came into the world with a little cry that we didn't hear again until many hours later.  The proud papa cut the umbilical cord and watched closely as he was given his once over.  He weighed 5 pounds and 13.5 ounces and was 19.25 inches long.  Right away we noticed his skinny long legs, wavy dark hair, tiny little face and his big feet!  Corey stepped out of the room to tell our anxious visitors the good news and he was received with cheers, hugs and high fives.   Grandparents and Uncle Matt & Aunt Janelle were called to hear the good news!

Uncle Kevin and Aunt Karen were Clay's first visitors.  They were SO excited to meet their little nephew.  Brad, Colleen, Terry & Roxie came into the room in pairs to get their first look.   They loved on him and couldn't stop gazing at all his little features.  We had a late night Skype session with Nana Janeen & Grandpa Longfellow.  They waited up til four o'clock their time to see little Clay on the computer!  They were thrilled with their little grandson.  The next night he had visits from Mike & Kayla, Jeremy & Larissa, Brad & Colleen, Uncle Kevin & Aunt Kevin and Suzie & Christine.

My favorite moments from the day included visits from family and friends... Kevin & Karen spent a good part of the day keeping us company as we were waiting for this little guy to come.  At one point I was concerned I wasn't dilating enough and thought about the realistic possibility of a C-section--that mixed with a dropping heart rate with each contraction.  I couldn't help but to watch the monitor with some anxiousness.  I was elated when he was able to pull through and I was ready to push!  He was coming soon!  And then when I saw him for the first time, I was completely overcome with emotion.  You never really believe it is real... until then.  I loved watching the nurse hand the baby to Corey for the first time and seeing this huge grin come across daddy's face.  It was such a neat moment to witness.

We made everyone wait til morning to find out what this little guy would be named.  We were pretty sure about the first name but not set on a middle name.  We were too exhausted after being up for almost 40 hours with just a couple of short naps here and there to discuss the final name.  The next morning after some much needed rest, we decided on Clay Jameson.  We don't really have a good story and reasoning behind the name other than we liked it.  Turns out Corey's Grandpa named Leslie had Clayton as a middle name.  I think we knew this at one point but later forgot.  We decided to use the short version because it is just easy and we wanted something simple.  We had a different name picked out throughout most of the pregnancy and then changed it to Clay in the last week or so... but it seems to suit him perfectly.

We uploaded a picture Corey took and announced to the world that we have a new family member.  We were so overwhelmed with love from family and friends.  It was so amazing to feel the joy from everyone.  We received so many messages, texts, calls, e-mails and visitors.  It made the whole experience so much more special!  Thank you so much for all of your love and support!

(Right now I can hear Corey telling Clay the reason why we are Bears fans starting with the story about Corey's Great Uncle playing for the Bears.  I heard George Halas, Super Bowl Shuffle and Sundays in the conversation.)

We just got home and can't wait to find out what tomorrow brings!!

XOXO
Corey, Leslie & Clay

Preparing for the BIG DAY!!!

We've arrived!  We are officially checked into the hospital with packed bags, pillows and mixed feelings.  With this being Leslie and my first baby, we don't know exactly what to expect.  We are both a little nervous, anxious and mostly excited to meet our son!

When we heard the news that the doctors were admitting us tonight at 7 PM, we decided to relax and enjoy ourselves.  Without any plans, we chose to go to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, Fidel's, and see the Del Mar Holiday Lights on Friday night.  It was fun to spend a little time together, just Leslie and I.  On Saturday, we had breakfast with Kevin and Karen, went to our complex pool to enjoy the great weather, baked Christmas cookies, took a nap and went to my company Christmas party.

This morning, we slept in and spent time with our dog, Bella.  I made breakfast for Les and we watched a little football.  We spent the rest of our day today getting things ready.  We cleaned the house and did a little laundry to made sure when we return home with our little one, we can concentrate on the new task at hand.

As we finish up this weekend, Leslie is hooked up to an IV and monitors and I'm listening to the baby's heartbeat on the speakers.  I could listen to this heartbeat all night!  We both can't wait to have our son with us!  We'll give you details when we have them and we are expecting his arrival tomorrow night!