Sterling Williams Beck joins our family

 

 

Sterling was born after intense physical exertion to bring on labor.  We went hiking the day before and then climbed dozens of flights of stairs while in active labor.  We were so tired when he was born that initially we didn't even try to name him.  They took me to the recovery room with him and I tucked him in the nook of my arm and we went to sleep.  I effectively managed to get every nurse and managerial do gooder to leave me alone so I could get some sleep.

 

The pediatrician came in to check him out in the early evening and we were allowed to leave. 

 

Sterling was born in Phoenix AZ because my Mom lived there at the time, as well as the same midwife, Lisa Sherwood, who delivered Caroline.  It ended up being a great blessing because Eldon had to be back at work on Wednesday.  I stayed at my Mom's house until Sunday afternoon when she drove me halfway to meet Eldon.  What a blessing.  She took such good care of the other kids and me.  It was a nice way to adjust to a newborn.

Overview of Sterling

STERLING WILLIAMS BECK!

This kids is incredible.  He is bright, he is fast, he is strong and strong willed.  He can be sneaky, and he can be sooo much fun!

Sterling as a newborn was calm and peaceful... that all changed when he was about three weeks old.  He screamed, and screamed, and screamed.  There was nothing I could do to help him feel better.  Then on a whim I decided to cut out all dairy, wheat and sugar, and walla!  I had a happier baby.  He has always been quite an intense individual.  He loves to push boundaries and test his limits.  He loves electrical anything and has shocked himself a fair number of times, but that hasn't stopped him from plugging things in.  "At least he would put plugs into the outlets and not other things I would tell myself"  Then one day he had seen enough remodeling and decided to stick a screw driver into the outlet.  He quickly called attention of anyone who would listen and explained that he had started a fire.  With close examination we realized he was indeed correct.  He had flipped the breaker and started a small fire in the outlet.  He didn't ever try that again, thank goodness!

Sterling takes independence to a new level.  He LOVES it!  He can do anything and wants to do everything by himself.  He loves to be with his Mom, but adjusted well enough when we would leave him for an evening or temple trip because he was surrounded by his siblings.

As we remodeled the deck, demolished our house and rebuilt it, Sterling wanted to be a part of it.  Sterling was always into something.  The picture etched into my mind of him as a near two year old is him standing on a stool in the bathroom, in a onesie, with goggles on his head, a full piece of bread in the toilet and him holding a soap bottle above the open toilet.  I have no idea what went on in his mind, but I'm grateful I reached for the camera before I cleaned up the mess.  That scenario is indicative of my daily life with Sterling around.  Quiet and missing, usually mean mischief.