Caius Erich

The minute we found out that Baby Ellis was on his way and was going to be a Christmas baby, we knew that we were going to be spending Christmas in Georgia. The trick was to figure out when to go... What if she goes really early? What if she goes late? You know... because labor and delivery is very easy to plan around =)... It worked out... thanks to the end of the semester and a job that is tied to the academic calendar my mom, Irelyn, and I were able to fly down to Georgia on the 15^th. We were very excited to be able to be with Clinton, Hilary, and Baby Ellis, it was going to be Christmasy and special.... and I would finally have time to get my crazy mane of hair tamed a bit at the salon!

While this is supposed to be a blog devoted to Caius's arrival... I have to add a quick blurb about traveling down to Georgia... Going through security has to be one of the worst things that parents with toddlers have to endure. No matter how you plan, how you pack, what you pack, or who carries it all… it is a stressful event and I always feel like there are 100 other passengers tapping their toes impatiently behind you. Luckily, our first leg of the trip started in Des Moines… so I guess it really only felt like 50 passengers behind us.

My mom got stopped and had to be wanded (she is a dangerous chic)… and then for some reason I felt like I couldn’t just leave everything on the belt (Des Moines is pretty dicey someone might take it) so I needed to gather everything by myself… I can just imagine everyone staring and saying “oh that poor dear travelling all alone… why would she pack so much” (people are sympathetic to travelling moms as long as the baby is quiet =)) I grabbed my two bags, my moms bag, her shoes and belt, my shoes, Irelyn’s shoes, the laptop, our jackets, the “liquids” zip lock (such a pain) plus the car seat…. Ha ha oh yeah and Irelyn too! We stumbled over to the benches where I proceeded to drop it all (except for Irelyn) and start to repack everything…. We just had a little bit of a bumpy ride to Detroit (bumpy A.K.A. crabby baby), but finally made it to Georgia! Phew!

We got to spend 5, “pre-baby”, days hanging out, getting Christmas gifts ready, working on Christmas cards, baking cookies, getting pedicures, staying up late laughing and talking, (me forcing the rest of the group through several Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies... it's a must), and always eagerly waiting for baby Ellis to come. Irelyn also indicated to us that she would like a dog bed for Christmas...

Oh, and of course my to do list... getting my hair trimmed... because I finally had time! So in an attempt to get my one goal accomplished I made an appointment on Monday the 19th for a 12:00p.m. haircut on Tuesday- oh so exciting to get my hair beautified again!

We all wanted baby boy to come really bad… so not without our encouragement Hilary gave the ol’ caster oil trick a try… we felt a little funny as we slid it through the Walgreens checkout… Pregnant girl + caster oil = obvious attempt of labor induction. We expected a voice of experience to chime up from the person behind the register and tell us that it was going to be a failed attempt…. But we got through with a simple “hello” and “thanks for coming in” and Hilary bravely downed the dose in a cup of applesauce. That was Monday night (notice... the night before my appointment)... I told Hilary "you are going to go into labor now, and I'm not going to be able to get my hair done!"... she said "yes you will. I'm sure you will have time to get it done, it will be a long labor. He's not going to come right when you are getting your hair done!" (Yes... I am foreshadowing...)

We will never know I guess whether it was the castor oil or just time for Baby Ellis to come (probably a little of both- and I'm totally trying caster oil next time!)… but the morning after she took it, strong contractions started with a vengeance! I groggily read a text around 7:30 from Hilary that said she felt like she was having real contractions. She felt like it was time to leave around 9:30 and made it to the hospital around 10 where they found she was dilated to a 6! A 6! Ten minutes later to a 9!!! A 9 ten minutes after a 6... unbelievable!!! (Auntie Em is wondering why Hilary got all the fast labor genes!?!). Instead of arriving at the hair salon at 12, Irelyn, my mom, and I were treading the halls of the maternity ward waiting to hear the announcement, and needless to say it went fast! Healthy, beautiful, baby Caius made his appearance at 12:45 p.m (a mere 45 minutes after my hair appointment was supposed to take place)... No complaints though, it was definitely worth missing my hair appointment- I wouldn't have changed a thing!

Let the cuddle time begin!

Caius woke up for our first picture together... wish my stupid elbow wasn't so straight out!

Notice... the hair appointment was desperately needed... I got to go later that week

Gpa pa came the day Caius came home and got to have both of his favorite kids together

Uncle Casey with his first nephew...

It’s so hard to believe the time that we were looking forward to and planning for has already come and gone. But it was a great time and was so much fun getting to snuggle a new baby again!