Welcome, Gabriel!

Gabriel Bruce Collings arrived in record time on January 7, 2021 at 10:22 a.m. He also tipped the scales at a record weight of 8 lbs 13.5 oz. Some said 14 ounces, but then they didn't want to have to say he was "large for gestational age" and check his blood sugars every few hours. By changing to 13.5 oz, he only had to have them checked twice during our 36 hours in the hospital. His sugars were always fine, probably because he ate pretty constantly. He was 21 inches long and had a whopping Collings head. Notwithstanding, he came out in just one, unmedicated push. We felt very, very blessed in the labor and delivery. 

Only slightly less exciting than having a new playmate and sibling with the birth of a new child is getting some serious playtime with Nin. Nin had her work cut out for her this time since COVID has resulted in Abdiel and Gwyn doing their school at home. We "reduced" the education load to just doing a couple projects that I had put off because I didn't have the energy to do it with them. Nin sewed, dyed, and designed Moorish robes with the kids as well as staging a real-life Moorish feast. It was spectacular and delicious. They also made tide pools in their science class. Nin said she can't remember when she slept so well.

She also took them to the park, rollerblading outside, watched Big Hero 6 with them, jumped on the trampoline, and generally had a fantastic time. Gwyn especially had a ton of fun with her Nin and was very sad to see her go.

Abdiel intuited that Moors probably charmed snakes. 

Gwyn danced along with the cobras, but Elisabeth tried to plug her ears. There actually wasn't too much music emerging from that Bic pen.

Sorry we're all out of order here. COVID prevented visitors, but they helpfully had our ground level rooms labeled on the outside with room number windows, so the kids met Gabriel through the same glass they used to have at nurseries. No biggie!

In addition to ringing in 2021 by bringing a second son to light, Justin also brought a second book to light via Oxford University Press. He did a radio interview on the topic on the 6th, coached me through labor on the 7th. He then started off his 2021 goal of singing to Gabriel 250 days of the year with a sprinting start in the hospital. If I weren't Gabriel's sole food supply, I really think he would like Justin more than he likes me. What a man, what a guy!

Elinor has been the most adorable big sister in history. Her vocal chords have also shrunk since Gabriel's arrival, making all her utterances over her new brother come out several octaves higher than they would have before his arrival. And she alone calls him, "Gabey-Babe." (Just make sure to squeak it.)

All my boys!!