Steven, I just noticed the change you made to the heading of our blog.  Very sweet.  Thank you!

Okay…. two weeks later…

Caleb Alexander was born on Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:59pm. He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. Just like big brother, he was 9 days over his "official" due date (what do doctors know?); but this time I had to be induced.

I was very scared about the procedure since I desperately wanted to go drug-free again, and was afraid induction would make contractions unmanageable. But I had an AMAZING support team (my dear husband & our doula, Cathy); and the L&D nurse, Jodie was fabulous! Not to mention that my OB, Dr. Stone is a very patient and reasonable woman who really worked with me on what I wanted to do. Tim was even sick with a mild fever and cough through the whole thing and into the next week — but he was right there for me. So it worked out just fine. I’d still rather be able to go "on my own," but it DID work out sooooo much better than I anticipated. So, prayers answered! (Other than the obvious, "Please give us a healthy child" prayer.)

Any-who! He is ever so adorable, of course. Loads of dark hair. Dark, dark eyes — I’m sure they’ll change. Looks very much like Ethan as a newborn. He gave me a look the other day that was my mom’s dad all over! A bit scary. Also, his hair laid perfectly flat at first. But at his first sponge bath when I wiped his hair with a wet washcloth, it went into seriously tight curls like my niece Hannah’s hair. But since his hair is so dark, it again made him look a bit like G’pa Frank when he had hair! Nursing is horrible, but getting better after going to a lactation consultant. Sleep is almost pathetically non-existent and some days I think it’s getting better. Then the next day the cosmos laughs in my face. Tim has been so great with taking on jobs that are normally "mine," and especially great in dealing with Ethan. I’m so glad I married him!

At Caleb’s 2 week appt. the dr. asked how Ethan was responding to the baby. I said, "Oh, he LOVES the baby. He just doesn’t like US so much anymore." If you’re so inclined, pray that Ethan will stop acting like a demon-possessed 3 year-old toward us. We could really use a break on that front of the War.

Lastly, I do NOT know what possesses people to have more than 2 kids. In the past, Tim and I have talked about having 3 (maybe!); but now I can’t see how anyone survives going beyond two. The doula says that the transition from one to two is the most difficult. I guess she’d know, with 6 kids and another on the way. But right now I don’t get it.

Well, this stream of consciousness was brought to you at 11:30pm with a child in a sling on my chest, while waiting for the next feeding time to roll around. So here it is — feeding time, that is.

Pray for us!