Love at First Sight!

Since we left for the hospital to be induced at 7:00 in the morning, we all expected to have a baby by the end of the day (which we did...but not until 10:59pm!  And that was after the kids were all very disappointed when they had to go to bed at 8:00pm without any news of a baby sister yet.  So, the next morning when they woke up and Aunt Becky said "Erica was born late last night" none of the kids could go to school without seeing and holding her first!  So...off to the hospital they went to meet Erica!  Poor Erica was a little overwhelmed with all the love that came with these hospital guests!  Everyone wanted to hold her, give her kisses, look at her, LOVE her!!!  We are so excited for this little lady to be here...can ya tell??

The whole crew all together for the first time!!  

Aparri now has a Sister!!

Detric is now a big brother!

Preston is loving having a baby to love and snuggle!

CJ is an awesome big brother.

Aunt Becky....Erica's first visitor!!

Our Little Snow Baby

February 22, 2016 is THE DAY.  We walked from 7:30AM - 9:00 PM trying to efface and dilate.

Dad Smith sent us a "delivery tip" in the form of the popular doritos commercial where the baby responds to doritos during the ultrasound and then as the mom throws the bag of chips, the baby lunges out....well, we tried it, but didn't work for Erica. Dad said we needed a bigger bag!

Our Good friend, Dave Hickman, CRNA - gave an exhausted Laura her awesome epidural at 9:45pm!  Thanks Dave!  You were a life saver.

Erica was born at 10:59pm.  Laura didn't even have to push.  Erica pretty much delivered herself!  The nurse came in to check on the progress Laura was making and Erica was crowning and coming!  Jill, the nurse, quickly called for the midwife, Larissa.  As the midwife got ready, Erica continued to slide out and deliver herself!  When Erica was FINALLY ready to come, she was ready and not waiting on anyone!  When she came out, Erica was WHITE!!  Thickly covered in  Vernix Casoesa - the white cheesy substance.  Since it snowed earlier in the day and she was so thickly covered in the white filmy stuff, we like to call Erica our little snow baby!

Since she didn't cry very much when she was born, her oxygen levels were low and we had to give her oxygen for about an hour.  They even gave her a shot (Hep B) right after delivery to try and upset her so she would cry.  OUCH!! Welcome to the world, little lady!

Weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz. she is our smallest baby!

Our Two Awesome Nurses:  day shift (top) _______ and Jill (bottom) at night and during delivery

Tractor Lights

1. Detric kept putting his pants on backwards!  Laura and Clay would try and get him to turn them around, but to no avail.....what to do?  Somethings just aren't worth the fight.... so Clay and Laura just accepted the fact that their kid liked his pants on backwards...  Then, one day as we were putting on his pants...forward of course... (always have to try and start the day off right)  Detric said, "No, I need my tractor lights"  Laura and Clay were confused, "What???" Again.. "I need my tractor lights..."  Detric then pointed to the back pockets of his pants and said, "Tractor lights"  And from then on... we understood...Detric needed his tractor lights!  Oh boy!  I think we need to invent some pants that have big pockets in the front...but until then, if you see Detric he will more likely than not, have his pants on backwards - just know....it's intentional ... he's just got to have his tractor lights on!!!

Becky, the Pregnant Lady Torturer, Arrives!

We are all so excited to have Becky here....except for maybe Erica (who was about to be evicted from her nice warm cozy belly of a home!)  Becky came all the way from Washington state and is here to..... get that baby OUT! And boy did she try too!!! She was having Laura do squats, curb walks for MILES, eat spicy food, jumping jacks, leg thrusts....now this was rather humorous - - Laura was laying on her back, Becky held her legs and Becky would thrust, twist, stretch, and move any way Becky thought would help Laura dilate...Clay could hardly keep a straight face watching these two!  (In all honesty...Laura and Becky were laughing hysterically too...)  We TRIED to get that baby out before Monday morning (the scheduled induction)...but no such luck.  But, we sure made memories as we tried!!!  

**We did get some of the pelvic thrusts on video....but Laura isn't brave enough to post those on public domain for the world to see (so use your imagination....a 9 month pregnant Laura on the floor with Becky holding her legs and doing crazy motions...I'm sure your imagination is pretty close to the silliness of the real thing!!  Haha)  Watch out Becky, when you are pregnant - Laura is coming to help YOU!!!!  

All kidding aside - yes, Becky "tortured" Laura trying to get that baby out, but Becky was an angel and God send.  She was such a huge help.  When Laura was in the hospital  Becky watched the other 4 kids - got them ready and to school, packed lunches, ran them to their after school activities, ran the house, entertained Detric, cooked meals, did homework, she was no less than a miracle sister.  It was so nice knowing that everything at home was functioning and the kids were taken care of.  Clay was able to stay at the hospital with Laura and be a support to her.  Thank you Becky!!!  We love you!!!

**Preston has his own sense of fashion. He likes to tuck his church pants into his socks.  It goes back to the days when he was obsessed with George Washington and wanted to dress like him.  No pleading of Mom and Dad to take the pants out of the socks changes his mind either....oh boy!  Clay told Laura...I'm sure when he gets to church, he will untuck them.  Oh no!  Laura saw him coming down the hall for primary, pants in socks and all.  That's our boy.  Completely comfortable in his own skin and proud of it!

Pinewood Derby 2016

The Clay Ward Family was highly involved in the pinewood derby this year!  We not only had 2 boys participating, but we had Clay as the cub master who MC'd, prepared the certificates, and was overseeing the whole thing, Laura helped decorate, and finished the trophies.  Clay and Laura were up until past midnight getting things ready!  It was a full family affair, but it was worth it.  The boys had a great time racing their cars.  CJ's car was named "Black Bart".  CJ shaved down the body as much as he could without compromising the car!  Then he added weights to the hollowed out section!  It came out to be a pretty neat and fast car!  Black Bart took 1st place in the Webelos Den.   Preston's car was named "Eric Clapton." Preston wanted his car shaped into a guitar. It took some fancy saw work, but it came out perfect and very artistic. Most people didn't think Preston knew who Eric Clapton was, but oh no....he sure does!  and he named the car himself!   GO RACERS!  

(Boys with Preston:  Bennett, Preston, Porter, Cash)