The (newest) birthday boy

My two oldest sons share the same birthday, which was also the due date for our newest son. We thought that it would be pretty special to have three boys born on the same birthday (have you ever heard of that happening?), and so we hoped that baby boy would arrive promptly on his due date. I even tried to move things along with anecdotal techniques to induce labor at home. Just for the record, these techniques did NOT work for me:

1. Pushing a preschooler in a stroller for 5 snowy miles 

2. Snowblowing the driveway and sidewalk

3. Hauling 10 boxes of boys' clothing from the basement to their bedrooms

4. Cleaning four bathrooms and vacuuming three floors

5. Eating an entire bowl of the spicy salsa at Abuelo's

What finally worked was waiting until two days past the due date until the little guy was ready. I guess that he wanted his very own birthday.

The Story:

     Eric and I raced to the hospital at 3 a.m., just after I started having "serious" contractions--both my grandmothers had their fifth children in hospital hallways, and I didn't want to follow that family tradition! Eric was on call that night and was talking to one of his patients during the car ride, while I was trying not to scream during contractions. Instead I was gritting my teeth, repeatedly slamming my hand against the car door's interior. Can you believe that despite our hurry I still insisted on taking a picture in the hospital parking garage? 

Medication slowed the labor considerably so that I could have my four hours of penicillin (for Group B strep). Eric continued to take call in my hospital room during that time. Eric finished his call at 8 a.m., and the baby was born at 8:01 a.m. Here's the proud dad and his boy:

 Later on that day, my mom (visiting from MD!) and Eric brought the boys over to meet their brother.

 Even for young Adam, it was instant love:

 We're all in love!

 And how could we not be, with a pleasant little face like that?

After spending a day with the little guy, we decided that his name will be Max Raynor Brinton. Welcome, welcome, little one. Sure love you.