David... we mean, um... Sterling is born!

Baby Sterling decided to give us a run for our money with his birth.  While all four of our other children have arrived early (Ellie - 3 days, Meg - 2 days, Grant - 2 days, Spencer - 2 weeks), Sterling Paul Wood arrived a full 8 days late.  This meant Grandma was in town for a few days before he even arrived!  The day after his due date I did go into labor for about six hours, but then everything stopped and we ended up going back to sleep and sending our friend Evangelina back home to her own bed.  We've decided Sterling wanted to act out his labor in two parts so he could take a nap in between.  That boy really likes to get his sleep.

On Saturday, January 18th at 2:30 am I woke up and started getting ready for the hospital. (Justin was a little confused when I woke him up and asked if he could eat something, but then he figured out what was going on and got our stuff in the car.) We headed over to the hospital pretty quickly because Meg and Spencer's births progressed so quickly.  It was nice to already be at the hospital during transition, instead of just walking down the hallway attempting to get admitted.  Sterling was born at 6:20 am at 7 lbs 15 oz.  I just love the midwives and nurses here in Iowa.  They really make sure that the hospital experience centers around the Momma.  Our nurse was so kind and kept our room darkened and quiet.  Every time I asked to be checked she paged the midwife right away.  They broke my water when I asked them to, and let me push when I decided to.  Because of this, Sterling's birth went just how we had hoped.  

For the first day of his life, Sterling had this little scowl on his face.  Obviously he was not to excited about getting down to the world quickly.  We've won him over now, and he's getting to like it :)

We were so happy to welcome little Sterling to our family!!!  It did take us a few days to name him, and we even named him David Paul Wood first.  We couldn't manage to call him David though, and luckily Monday was a holiday so we were able to call the hospital and change our paperwork before it was sent into the government.  Yay for Martin Luther King Jr. Day!!!

Waiting for Baby... Early January

For the first half of January, we waited for our new baby to be born.  Since Spencer had arrived two weeks early, and this baby ended up arriving one week late - the wait seemed very long.  Also, this has been the coldest January we've had in Iowa, with wind chills at -40.  What fun!  What fun!

We took naps:

"Helped" Daddy study for his board exam (coming in February!!):

Wore some matchy-matchy outfits:

Visited Ellie's art downtown with Grandma Kathleen:

Rode the "horsey ride" at the mall.  Because even Spencer knows that when Grandma comes to town you should ask for things that don't usually happen:

And checked on Baby Brother to see if he was doing well in there.  He was.  And so he stayed a little longer :)

A Name

We have named baby... Spencer Harmon Wood.

I also put up all the posts I wrote before the baby was born.

We got a new camera...

We got a new camera recently.  Because it is January and it is boorrriiinnnggg, nothing has happened to take a picture of recently.  (Justin's nephew was born... and that was interesting, but since we live in Iowa and he does not, we didn't get to take a picture of him.)  So, this is the most exciting picture we have taken with our camera:

It is supposed to be fuzzy and grainy, though I am not particularly sure why.  Still, that look on M's face is pretty classic.  Besides, this photo was way better than the other kids eating their cereal the morning after we got the camera.

This is me being pregnant, after I cut my bangs.... which means last weekend.  So, I am a week beyond that now.  But, this is also a picture without my bangs... a great accomplishment.  That's in case the baby is born before my mother arrives, which means she would forever have to wonder how fat I actually got.  My mirror was dirty when I took that picture.  Horrible, horrible, horrible.

Candyland... not a game for the weary....

Usually, I am not ready for my babies to come out.

I am just not one of those people impatiently counting the days down.  I am excited.  I like to imagine the baby.  I am ready to meet the baby, and hug it, and smell it.

But I am okay with it taking a few weeks longer.  I am okay with it not being quite time.

Because babies are harder when they come out.  They need to eat, they need to be changed, they cry and whine and moan.  They throw-up and poop and cause all sorts of awkward situations.

Besides, they have to - you know - actually come out.  And that is not all fun and sport either.

Nor is the exhaustion, hunger, and hormone delirium that comes with it.  (I don't like other people after 7:00 pm for about a month after I've had a baby.  Except maybe Justin.  On a good day.)

So, usually, I am just fine waiting for baby to come.  10 months... as I prefer to see it... is good with me.

This time, however, I am ready for baby to come out.

I have pretty much been pregnant with this little tyke for 15 months now.  With a brief "Candyland" hiatus in the middle where I got sent back to the beginning of the board game.

Seriously???? Does anyone like "Candyland"?  And isn't it for that very reason???  That game can last FOREVER.

FOR - EV - ER.

And February?  February seems very far away.

So, now I understand all those mommies who get sick of being pregnant at the end.  Still a month and a half to go.

Of course, they are cute when they come out:

Grant has officially named his brother:

Choo Choo

It's either that or:

Roar

Something to talk about

This photo is entitled:  "To Veto Dress Choices, Or Not To Veto."

Help us please!

Eating doughnuts with Daddy.  Although I must say this doughnut shop... the only one in Iowa... does not win any stars.  Tragically.  But you should have seen the faces of the other customers when E walked in.  (See above photo for a reminder.)

This photo is entitled:  "Look Mom, I am really pregnant."

And this is Justin's tortilla de patata (which I spelled wrong) that he has been craving for a year now, and finally made this past Sunday.

There was a less glarey picture (yes, that is a word) but Justin looked like his eyes were rolling into the back of his head on that one.

Do you hear that sound????

That is the sound of my mother laughing hysterically.

Oh yes.... it's a boy!

E was pretty disappointed, M was excited, and GQ looked at me like I was insane. 

A baby?  Where?  A brother?

Now we wait for February.