Claire Elizabeth

Claire Elizabeth Cherri
July 27th, 2008
2:55 AM
Born at home with family present
10 pounds, 3 ounces
22 inches long


Around 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 26th, I started having regular contractions that were of a different quality than the warm-up labor I'd been experiencing on and off the previous week. By mid-afternoon, I was pretty sure this was IT.





During labor, I hung out with my family. We played games, went for walks, I sat in the birth tub and we spent time together as a family. I so enjoyed having everyone there supporting and loving me as I brought our third child into the world. Thanks so much to all of you!





After having pretty strong active labor contractions from about 7 PM onward, I was ready to push around 2:20 AM. After slowly starting to breathe Claire into the world, her shoulders became stuck and after a few tense minutes (that seemed like forever), she was born with some assistance from Daddy and Grandma Gabriel at 2:55 AM on July 27th in her grandparents' bathtub.





She was huge! 10 pounds and 3 ounces of beautiful, healthy baby girl. Since then she has been resting and nursing. Everyone has fallen in love.

In Labor

Me in the "birth tub" at my in-laws' house. I was in early/mid labor at this point and could still smile in between contractions and whatnot. I had just passed up about 5 centimeters, and things were getting intense, so I got into the tub. The tub made things soooo much better, as you can tell here.

Shawn and Cel keep me company during a contraction.

In labor.

Labor Games

Shawn acting out his Guesstures clue.

Theresa playing Guesstures during labor.

Celeste acts out, too....

Even I get into the fun while in my labor tub. This is the clue, "birdcage," for those interested. Right after this the fun and games were over, though, because labor started picking up and I felt a bit nauseated. I couldn't continue.....

It's a Girl!

Getting very close now.......

Claire's first picture--immediately after the moment of birth.

Big baby girl!

Men and Baby

My daddy, cousin Jordan, brother-in-law Joe and Shawn look at the new baby girl.

Daddy and Claire about 30 minutes after birth.

Shawn and Uncle Joe with baby Claire.

My dad, Henry, Jordan, Joe and Bo stand by after birth.

With My New Little One

Holding Claire less than an hour after birth.

Celeste and I checking Claire out.

Girls! My mom, sister and baby with me after birth.

Getting Measured

She's tall--22 inches!

She's huge--10 pounds, 3 ounces! I will never forget the look on Shawn's face and my sister Celeste's face when they weighed Claire after birth. They just turned around and stared at me with eyes as big as saucers.

Getting her first diaper on and wiping off her cord stump.

Dressed and ready to go!

Aunts and Uncles

Aunt Daisy, Theresa, Ilene, Elle and Kai all check out the new baby.

Uncle Kiyu with Claire.

Auntie Cel with her new neice.

Uncle Henry holds Claire Elizabeth less than an hour after birth.