Christopher Cleland

This is Christopher Cleland. All 7 pounds 14 ounces and 20 loving inches of him. He was born yesterday at 11am and he is my brand new nephew. First grandson in the family, isn't he so beautiful?

Brock was so excited he even called me at three o'clock that morning just to tell me that she was dilated to a six and things were going well. Poor kid probably still hasn't slept, I think he just needed to talk to a family member after hours of labor and not having any of us there. But I guess my parents showed up around 5:30 that morning. I kept calling and checking in and finally at eleven I talked my way out of work for the day and decided to drive to Jerome, Idaho so that I could meet my new nephew. It was quite the experience. It's about a three hour drive and it felt like forever. I went alone, my sister had offered to go with me, but she couldn't get off of work until one, and I wanted to go and come back as soon as possible, so I decided to brave it alone. Not a good idea! Just the thought of going made me nervous and scared but I decided that it was really important that I go. I got about half way there and the winds were blowing so bad that I thought my windows were going to break out of my car because they were rattling so bad. For the next hour I was terrified. I don't think that it helped me very much that I was listening to a podcast called This American Life and it was their Halloween podcast and they had some teenagers on there talking about hitch hiking and the scary things that they went through when they did. So all I could think about was the fact that if my car broke down, I wouldn't let anyone help me, I'd lock my doors and wait until someone I knew could get to me. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why one window sounded so horrible on my car but the rest sounded, well, not as bad. Finally I leaned over enough to look in my passenger side mirror and see up against my car and this is what I found.

The reason that I thought my window was going to break out was because this piece that half broke off in the wind was slapping against my car. I couldn't figure out why all of the other cars were still doing 75 when I was having to go 50. Once I saw that, I felt better and sped up a little bit because I wasn't about to stop on the side of the freeway and try to fix it. I didn't used to be like this. I would even go as far as to say that just a few months ago, I would've been fine. But knowing that I have a baby that I'm caring for wherever I go, scares me to death. I think I even scared my poor husband to death calling him every hour or so telling him that I was scared. At one point after telling me about ten times that I needed to be careful, drive slow, remember... it's not just you in that car, and um... maybe you should just stay the night there and come home with your parents, he even said "oh my, now I'm sounding like grandma!" I feel really bad that I scared him, but I was definately scared. Cam and I decided that I'm not going anywhere far away and alone, again. I got there, stayed for about an hour, duct taped the piece back on to my car (yes it looks lovely), and headed back out again. I got home at about seven last night, showered and went to bed. It was a long day. But, well worth it! I'm so glad that I got to go and meet my new nephew. He's so beautiful and I'm so blessed to have him in my life. Congratulations Brock and JusDee, I'm so happy for you both.

I couldn't help but just sit and stare at him the whole time, thinking, "wow, this is what my big belly is going to lead to." Although I know that I'm pregnant and it seems real and everything, looking down at a newborn baby brings it even closer to home for me. I can't wait!