Introducing...

Helena Adele Lucia Clark

9 August 2008

3.671kg/ 8.09lbs

50cm/19.68in

So how did she get such a long name? Helena "Light" is from Jen's grandmother - Helen. Adele "Noble & Serene" was my mother’s middle name. Lucia "Bringer of Light" is inspired by a close friend and a character in a story we love.

more on the birth to come...

Happy BIRTH day dear Helena

So... on Saturday, August 9th I woke up feeling like things were going to be a little bit different... sure enough - by 10:27am I had my first contraction and decided to monitor it from there...

The last belly shot - obviously it was bigger than I thought since 2 separate hospital staff members asked if I was having twins!!! Didn't notice it getting so big!

After baking a carrot cake, playing a game of farkle, trying to read, trying to take a nap, watching some Olympic games... my contractions were coming more steadily and intensely so by 6:45pm I decided it was time to go to the hospital. Here we are for the last time as just the 3 of us!!!

Thankfully we got to the hospital when we did because we had a bit of a misunderstanding about the insurance papers... after 10 minutes of trying to figure it out (with contractions still coming on) we checked into the emergency room and all was fine. By 7:45pm we were settled into room 716 where we'd spend the next 3 nights.

Thank God for pain relievers!!! After they put this in, my mind was much more at ease...

Helena arrived at 10:45pm on August 9! What a beautiful little girl!

Thanks to our neighbor Simon, mom was able to be there waiting for us to deliver... so by midnight she finally met little Helena!

Our precious girl

Introductions

A few moments of quiet with daddy


Quality time with Grandma



Uncle Melt & Auntie Marise were the first visitors on Sunday... Uncle Melt generously shared his birthday with Helena!

Hunter met his little sister for the first time on Monday... plenty more photos in the days to come!


Our neighbors, Auntie Hye, Cooper & Lucas, came for a visit and brought us a delicious spread for lunch!



Monday night a few friends from church and beyond came by for an hour to meet her and offer their blessings... it was a really sweet time together... too bad her eyes were closed for most of it!

Our pastors - Younger & Ann

Uncle Richard & Auntie Marlin

Pregnancy Progress

Alright... it's 39 weeks now!!! I just got back from a routine check up and discovered we're all ready to go... SO... either she comes on her own any time this weekend (doc said don't go anywhere) OR we go in first thing Monday morning for an induction!!! YAHOO!!! Though it's still up in the air, I feel so much better just knowing that the party has somewhat started and there is an end in visible sight! Next entry should be photos of our beautiful daughter!!!

Happy Birthday To Me - still?!?!

Wow... what a great birthday celebration this year!!! I guess turning 36 warrants as many celebrations as I want, eh? So the actual day was also great. It included all the birthday essentials: friends, food, presents and rest!!! What a great day! Thanks to everyone over the past few days who've helped to celebrate - be it through emails, texts, calls, or active participation - I feel very loved and appreciated.

A fairly spur-of-the-moment lunch at Outback with some girlfriends.

Cynthia & Hilo


Hiroko & Noah

Marise & Kristin




After a satisfying lunch, I came home to read the special book that Marise had prepared for me... she'd contacted several family members and friends here in Taiwan and elsewhere to ask for reasons why people love me... WOW... what a gift!!! I feel my love tank is very, very full!!!

We ate a healthy dinner at home - soup, salad & fruit - so that Tony and I could indulge in a birthday treat at Macaroni Grill.



Originally, I'd been craving their cheesecake with caramel sauce, but after discovering something in one of mom's cookbooks, I decided against the 1,200+ calories & fat of the cheesecake and we had the lemon cake instead (I'm sure it wasn't too much lighter). I think I'll save the cheesecake for breastfeeding season when I can work it off a bit easier! No matter, it was nice to spend a bit of time just with Tony... it may be a while before we can do this again!

Happy Birthday To Me - a day early

What a great day!!! Two surprise parties in one day... now that's a birthday to remember... and it was only the day before!!!

Party #1: The mother's small group from my church had told me they wanted to come over to pray for me (since I haven't been around for over a month) and bring a gift for Helena... so I knew they were coming... but when I opened the door they shouted "Happy Birthday, Jennifer"! Wow... how fun! They were so sweet - they gathered around and each woman offered a birthday blessing to me... then they went around the circle again and offered a blessing for Helena. I was very touched and know that I am so blessed to have such a great church family here in Taipei. The prayers were followed by some good cake & even some special presents - happy birthday to me!!!



Party #2: Tony & I had planned to go out to dinner to celebrate a day early (in case the little girl wants to share a birthday with me)... so I was dressed and ready to go when the all of the sudden the restaurant called to say they were booked til 8pm! I was hungry then... but all I could do was wait. As I waited friends started trickling in... "Happy Birthday, Jennifer!" Tony had pulled off a surprise party in just a day (or less for some)!! What a guy! About 8 friends were able to come by for pizza, fried chicken & cake (really healthy for someone about to give birth, but heck - it's my birthday!) and some good laughs. It was great to catch up with new & old friends... thanks everyone for making the time (and the great gifts)!!!

A Non-Typical Day

Since I was feeling the need for an outing, mom & I took Hunter to Costco for lunch and a productive shop. It was only an hour and a half, but that place really wore me out! Later that evening, I thought I was going to go into labor since Tony went on a cleaning spree which resembled something of a nesting instinct... but I guess dad's "nesting" doesn't affect the baby inside the mom because she's still in here. Oh well, I got 2 clean bathrooms out of it!

Prince Hunter seated on his Costco goods.

See how it sparkles!!!

It's Zoo Again?!?

Saturday was still hot, but not as sunny, so Tony & Hunter took Grandma to their favorite place - the Taipei Zoo!!! Reports came back of a really good time had by all - but of course they were happy to be home in our air-conditioned environment. Tony reckons it's best to get there early as the animals were peppier in the morning... by lunch time they were all trying to find some respite from the heat! Who can blame them?

Grandma and Hunter trying to stay cool.

A Little Outing Up the 101

Another Friday came & went - which meant another trip to the doctor came & went with no baby yet! But not to worry... this Friday was a rare one in Taipei - absolutely stunningly clear!! No clouds, no pollution... no way was I going to stay at home on such an amazing day!!! So, on her 3rd trip to Taipei, we finally took mom up the Taipei 101 building... and it was worth waiting for!! The views were absolutely spectacular!!!

Grandma & her buddy Hunter

Helena wasn't tempted by the view... she's still hanging in there!

What a beautiful early evening together!

Mom caught the English tour that explained what she was looking at and other interesting tidbits about the building itself while Tony chased after Hunter and I just sat and watched it all!

What Grandma's do best - share!

We even had the opportunity to go back up to the 91st floor to the outdoor observation deck! What a feeling... 91 floors high!!!

Grandma's back has been hurting her lately, but she just can't resist carrying "little" Hunter!

It was nice to be out for a few hours in the real world!!! I was wiped out when we got back, but it was worth it!!

Mammoths Attack the Freedom & Democracy Hall

Okay, I could have the story wrong... afterall, I was home resting while Tony took mom & Hunter out for the mid-morning. They took the MRT over to the Freedom & Democracy Hall to show mom a bit of Taiwanese history and found themselves back in time a bit at a 'mammoth' exihibit. It sounded like they all had a good time...

Good times with furry friends.

Grandma & Hunter braving the heat!

Grandma got to experience a Hunter fan club photo shoot for herself!!!

Pregnancy Progress - Waiting

So here we are - week 37. Doc says baby is in prime position... Everyday I want her to arrive yesterday... but if she's anything like me, she'll do things in her own time. Until then, I'm waiting...

A Little Fun Outside The 101

Tired of staying inside the house, Grandma took Hunter outside to meet Tony after work the other day. They met up at the fountain outside the 101 building where Hunter was let loose to chase water as it came up out of the ground. Apparently he was hesitant at first, but judging from his wet clothes, he figured it out and had a blast!

This is a cool shot - the building in the reflection is where Tony works.