Baby Update 1

Calvin and Libby are doing fine. They have been laying low for a few days just resting. Calvin actually seems to know how to sleep: neither Eli nor Briggs ever slept much. It's fascinating to meet a baby of ours who really does pretty much just eat, sleep and poop! We're not at all used to it! Here are some other photos from today.

Calvin Carter Barker

Calvin was born Wednesday morning 2/20/08 at 1:09 AM in Asheville at Mission Hospital. Laura Lallande, CNM caught him after Libby had labored about 9 hours. He weighs 8 pounds 10 ounces and is 20.25 inches long. Calvin is named after his g-g-grandfather Calvin Luther Saunders on Libby's side and after Mike's paternal grandmother, Nell Carter Barker. Libby did the whole thing without drugs, and even got to spend some time in the big tub in the room. When the time came though, she was on a birthing stool. Eli took his sweet time arriving (16 hours labor); Briggs was not much better (12 hours). Cousin Martha voiced the hope, as we walked out the door, that Calvin would take the hint and arrive after about 8 hours. He did: once he got off mom's pubic bone, he sailed right out. Let's hope his cooperative nature continues through his teen years.

Ice

Another day off from school, and a few hours without electricity. The ice fell harder and longer than the weather geeks predicted overnight. There was a pretty hefty layer on everything. We lost a couple of branches in the front, but nothing too severe. Crews were all over the place; even other parts of the county didn't get as much, or only rain. This is the arbor over the rear deck, and a tree crew working on our block. Very exciting!