Clara Jean: name + pictures

As you know, for a long time we could not decide on a first name for this baby. Nothing jumped out at us like it did with the other kids. We compiled a list of names we liked and decided we would choose one when she was born.

One of those names was Clara. Not only is it a cute, classy name, but I also admire Romantic era pianist and composer Clara Wieck Schumann. She was a virtuoso from a young age, performing for the first time at the age of nine. She was also one of the first musicians of the era to perform from memory.

Clara later married composer Robert Schumann with whom she had eight children. When Robert became mentally ill and was forced to live in an asylum, she remained faithful to him and continued to promote his music. She also helped support her family by teaching, composing and performing. She was groundbreaking as a female pianist during a time when women artists did not share the public spotlight with men. When she was just 37, she became a widow when Robert passed away.

Basically, Clara Schumann was an amazing woman and I know my little Clara will grow up to be just as spectacular (and also a fabulous pianist if I have anything to do with it).

Check out the precious newborn shots I took of Clara earlier this week. Huge thanks to my sister Sarah for helping me pose her and for taking some of the two of us. I'm still a little wobbly on my feet from the delivery (more on that later) but newborns don't wait for their moms to recover before they start changing. She already looks different from these pictures and it's only been a few days since they were taken!