Claire

Welcome to the outside world, Claire Sophia Wambeke!

Born at 12:42 AM on July 20, Weight: 7lbs. 15oz. Length: 21in. Mom was a champ the whole way.





It's been a hot and eventful week 'round the shire. With temps pushing 100 and dew points in the 70s, it's been oppressive out, and the air conditioning has been working 24/7 to keep a certain pregnant woman cool.
Our experiment in raising turkeys and chickens for meat turned this week into a daily experiment in how to keep birds from spontaneously tipping over in the heat. Fans? Water sprays? Big blocks of ice in the coop? You name it, we tried it, and still the chicks kept dying. Thankfully, Grandpa Wambeke (a.k.a. "Papa"), with MacGyver-like ingenuity, was able to literally take junk from around the farm and put together a moveable coop to keep them shaded and breezy. Both chickens and pregnant ladies were grateful.



In the midst of this hubbub, baby Claire decided to make her appearance. ('bout time! A week and a half overdue...) After an evening walking about Menards (where else in Marshall - besides oh-so-boring Walmart - can one walk in wide circles in air-conditioned comfort?) things were definitely moving, so we went to the hospital. As we left the store, a gentleman looked at Joy and said, "when you havin' the baby?". Straight-faced, Joy said "tonight". A little uncomfortable laughter ensued, and the man quickly made his exit (as did we). Three hours later, we heard Claire's voice for the first time.




Claire comes into this world with an older brother and sister who are intrigued by this new presence. Toby (2yrs) doesn't really get it, of course (except to shout "baby!"), but Ana (4 1/2 yrs) is all over being the "second mommy" to her. In preparation, she made a special place at the foot of her bed just for the baby, with a "baby bed", lots of random knicknacks she collected from around the house, and of course two boxes of diapers. Ana even - several months ago - chose a name for the baby: "Tiger-la-lilly". So upon being told the baby's name was "Claire", she scrunched up her nose and said "I don't like that name, daddy". Of course, soon enough she had modified her name to "Tiger-la-lilly-Claire", and by the end of the day yesterday she confessed, "Daddy, I like the 'Claire' name."



March 2009: Ana meets Toby for the first time.

  July 2011: Ana and Toby meet
  Claire for the first time.




Why did we choose "Claire Sophia"? Well, in addition to the lyrical cadence it has to it, "Claire" is, of course, the French spelling of "Clare", as in St. Clare of Assisi, a very fitting example of generosity and selflessness for a gal to have. And "Sophia" is Greek for "wisdom". There is a tradition in the Orthodox side of Christianity of a St. Sophia, who in the 2nd century was to have been martyred together with her daughters Faith, Hope, and Agape(love). While it's uncertain whether this small-"t" tradition originated with historical individuals or simply was a figurative embodiment of Christian virtues, what is certain is that "Sophia" - as a concept - played a large role in the development of Christian theology. Wisdom was understood from the beginning to be an aspect of God himself, the embodiment of which is found in what Christians called the Logos (Jesus Christ). "Logos" being here an intentional concept (again of Greek origin) used to understand the second person of the Trinity as not simply a person, but above and beyond that as the expression of God's ordered wisdom itself. It was this confidence in God's rational nature (and that of all of his Creation) that allowed Christianity to have such a positive encounter with the insights of Greek philosophy and which even today infuses an authentically Christian outlook in the world. Now, I've no doubt it will be years before little Claire can come to an appreciation of this; for now she's just content snuggling with mama in their new baby sling.




So, today we are getting the house ready for our newly-expanded brood (three bundles of non-stop movement? This house has never seen this much energy in my entire lifetime!). Ana and Toby are with Grandma & Grandpa while Joy & I tidy things up, rest, and get some cherished alone time with Claire. Tonight, we are all home together as a family for the first time. Onward, to new adventures in the Wambeke family....