eli(aka bruce wayne) turns three

I’m going to borrow an idea from a friend, and share Eli’s birth story. 

Eli was 8 days overdue, when my midwife decided to induce me.  It was a Friday morning when we went in to get things started.  Mike and I were so excited….I remember the night before thinking how this would be the last night of our life alone….also our last night of sleeping through the night for a while!  That morning it was warm – I remember what clothes I wore as we walked into the hospital – a purple tank top, jeans and sandals.  It was dark as we walked into the hospital.  Around 8:30 a.m. I got the induction pill and nothing much happened for most of the morning.  I remember that the Early Show was on with Justin Timberlake(It had been declared ‘Justin Timberlake Day’).  We spent our time talking, watching T.V. and trying to pass the time until our little boy would arrive.  Mike and I walked the hospital halls most of the day, trying to get labor going.  Around 1 p.m. my midwife broke my water, and still we walked and walked, with nothing happening.  Around 4 p.m. Sarah, Oscar, Alex, Grandma Pat and Grandpa Dobie came.  I was still feeling good, and sent them off for some supper around 5, as I was getting a little crampy, and Grandma Pat was getting nervous.  Sarah and Mike stayed with me, and around 5:30 p.m. (abruptly) the labor pain started….from that time until 9:30 p.m., I went from the tub to the bed, trying to get some relief.  Around 9:30 p.m. it was time to push, and after about an hour of pushing(which seemed like an eternity), Eli came into the world.  He seemed so small, and was just perfect.  My first response was “He’s a peanut.”  It was so great to have my sister, husband, and great nurses/midwife to help me through labor.  I really wanted to try to do it without drugs, and without them I wouldn’t have been able to do it.  Eliott Dale Dingman was 7 lbs. 13 oz., 21 inches.  He had dark hair, daddy’s fingers, and mommy’s nose.  It wasn’t ‘til the next day that he had the name Eliott.  We picked Dale as his middle name, after my dad, but hadn’t decided on the first name yet.  Before we went to bed that night, Mike told me I could choose between a couple names we had picked(after he watched me go through labor).  I stared at our new baby the night he was born(when up feeding him), and decided he looked like Eliott. 

back to 2009…

Eli’s birthday fell during the week, so we had a little party at home one night on the actual day then had family over on the weekend.  Here he is with his 3 cupcakes on the night of his birthday.

He was so excited to get a batman costume.  He LOVES costumes, and had been admiring this one in the stores.  He said, “This is what I wanted!” as he opened it.

He was so excited, he had to put it on right away.

Silas enjoyed some frosting in the meantime…

Here’s the day of his party….lots of kids and lots of costumes….it was fun.  Here he is opening up a Spiderman costume.  (It has had LOTS of use, and has a few holes in it since getting it 2 months ago.)

Cousin Paige as a vampire.

Si taking a break.

Fireboy.

He looks kind of scared of himself.

Independent alligator.

Roboguy.

Trying the skates on for size.

Silly clown girl.

Eli with his Batman cake and cousin Paige.  What a fun day with lots of family to celebrate.  What a joy you’ve been in our lives these last 3 years Eli….we love you!