On the 1st Day of Christmas...

WE GOT CHRISTOPHER!!!

Dear Abigail,

Well, all week long we've been wondering if we were going to be able to celebrate Christmas this year with our Clark family. Aunt Amy and Uncle Martin and the kiddos are heading to England on Sunday until the new year, and, we're kind of doing a similar trip, except we're headed to Munford on Sunday. I'd say England and Munford are pretty similar, right? Anyway, so we're out of town the week of Christmas, the Ings are out, and Aunt Steph is major preggo with Christopher, and was due December 14th. We've known for awhile now about everyone going out of town so we planned ahead and decided we'd do our family Christmas on December 16th. Totally assuming Christopher would be here. And, unfortunately our house isn't ready, so Uncle Jaybee said we'd just do it at their house, because we all assumed Christopher would be here. Has anyone ever told you what happens when you assume??? Well, it makes for a hectic week. So C's not here, it's Wednesday, the party is supposed to be Friday and we don't know what to do. So, we just decide to just go with the flow, you know, last minute decide where 18 people are going to get together to eat/celebrate Christmas. SO - Friday comes and there is no Christopher, so we're having a party at Aunt Steph - yes, the one who was due 2 days ago. Of course, she calls that morning and says she's having contractions but not to really tell anyone because we just want to see what happens. Time goes by, the contractions slow up a bit as she moves around and prepares for a party at her house, and we arrive around 4:00. Within, oh, I'd say 20 minutes, I had NO DOUBT we were going to meet Christopher that night. Aunt Steph seemed calm and collect, as she always is, playing it down, just taking a knee when a contraction would come, or just sit down quietly, hoping no one was looking. Thankfully (and kind of unthankfully) the rest of the family was really late, so they didn't bug her too much, but once everyone got there, we immediately went straight to eating. Well, most of us did. About this time the contractions were 5 minutes apart and we were all getting a little concerned. We all kind of piece mealed our meal, between checking on Steph, checking on the kiddos, just getting things loaded in the car, etc. Finally, she called the doc and immediately got in the car. I wasn't in the car, but have been told they've never made it to that hospital in better time. Apparently Christopher wanted to join our family celebration. They arrived at the hospital and 45 minutes later, a beautiful baby boy was born!

Unfortunately, Aunt Steph didn't make in time for all the good drugs, but, as expected, she rocked it out (or rather him) with no problem. Meantime, we're all on pins and needles, waiting waiting waiting, thinking they'd get there, get her situated, maybe another couple hours, etc. We got a text from Uncle Jaybee that said "We made it" and 45 minutes later we got a text that said "He's here!" along with a picture!! To say the least, we were all in complete shock!!!

And, since we were all together, we decided to go ahead and open presents. Everyone was pretty pumped about their presents, but I have to say, you were the most excited BY FAR! Why you ask, because you got Simba. The one and only thing (other than a pretend Ellie that you mentioned once) that you asked for, and you got it!!!

You got some other super cool things too...

Like skates!!! Which you and Daddy tried out the next day...

And a really cool magnetic paper doll thing-a-ma-jig. And the Ing kiddos FINALLY got the Wii, after many many years of trying to convince their mean parents :)

I think they were a little excited, what do you think?

You had tons and tons and tons of fun playing with Ellie and Alexis and Caroline and I tried to put you two in the same bed, but that clearly wasn't going to work. Everyone but you, Ellie, Kate and Mommy went to visit baby Christopher (boo, right!) since it was such a late night, but don't worry. Ellie got up this morning and headed straight to see her little brother! She's quite the proud big sister, indeed. It was a rather different, rather quick, rather chaotic Clark Christmas, but at the end of the day, we did get to spend Christmas together!

And look, I even got Harrison and Spencer to hug each other (by offering up my phone for them to play with, but who cares!!!)
We're so excited to have a new baby in our family, especially a boy after all these girls lately!!! We owe baby Christopher a special thanks for holding out until we all were together (and maybe a little thanks to Aunt Steph, too!)

She may never speak to me for posting this, but just to have some evidence that she truly was in labor, and her 'coach' was right there supporting her!!

Merry Christmas Abs!!! We've got a lot more days of celebrating to go!