2014 was a very special year for us, mainly because we welcomed little Corrina Mae, Clark girl number three into our family in May. Dad got to name her this time, and he chose well, don't you think? We'll just clear something up right here and now: she IS named after Bob Dylan's cover "Corrina, Corrina". See the exact version of this song here. At our house we (specifically Neve) changed the lyrics into... Corrina Corrina, Where have you been so long? At the hospital!" Since little "Ina" (pronounced eeeenah, also Neve's idea) spent nine days in the NICU. She fared well for a six week preemie and was off oxygen and medically cleared within a week of hospital discharge.
Audrey turned six this fall and over the year she has gone from a preschooler to a kindergartener, and has grown right up and out of every pair of leggings I can find. She's reading, enjoying school, gymnastics, swimming and piano. She has jobs around the house which include feeding the dog and feeding Corrina solid food. She's my big helper, she notices everything, and she's got her two little sisters ' backs. (Usually)
Three year old Neve is growing and learning every day. She thrived in swim lessons, ballet, learning letters and writing her name. She went from diapers to potty trained and from a crib (yes we kept her in a crib till she was nearly three!) to sharing a bunk bed with Audrey. She's our little fireball and comedian. She's also now the middle child. Which means she's extra special, because she's the only one who is a big sister AND a little sister. It's a big job!
Corrina might end up spoiled. Just sayin'. She's number three and I can't stop holding and kissing and squeezing her. And when I put her down, someone else wants a turn. So it's unavoidable, really. She came into the world in a flurry of drama, but is the most laid back baby I've had. She's sitting up and babbling and drooling and smiling at everyone, and dropping her off in the church nursery or the Y is a snap. What a sweet baby.
We celebrated our eleventh anniversary this year, my how the time has flown. Graham is rounding out year two working as the controller for the city of Louisville, the town we call home. Some trips we took this year include Reno, Smoky Mountains, Iowa, Steamboat Springs. We enjoyed visits from all our parents this spring and summer to welcome Corrina, and had a great trip back to Iowa for thanksgiving. So good to see family and be in our home state. The weather cooperated this year too. (Someday I'll blog about our trip-from-heck which included a breakdown in a winter storm in Nebraska, getting towed AND hitting a deer.)
Graham's still managing a Boulder rec league softball team that he took to the championship the previous year, and is involved in multiple fantasy leagues as well as Saturday morning basketball at our local rec center. He's such a good father to his girls. They have him wrapped around their little fingers for the most part, but he can be firm when needed. (Gun license is pending, boys.)
I celebrated five years as an employee of Avista hospital. I enjoy my job as a nurse, especially since its part time. I ran the rock and roll half marathon this fall in Denver in an attempt to get fit after having baby #3. When I'm not cooking or cleaning or helping with homework or shopping or planning the next outing, I attempt to go to bed early. More than anything, I am so thankful for this busy, fun filled, sleep deprived learning period of our lives. We thank God for every moment, because looking back things change so much over a year. We're savoring every moment we are given in the Clark house!
Thanks for reading.
