Anna Siobhan Sutherland Matthews

After many years of needling and cajoling, I finally got the rest of the family to come up to Williams Lake for a visit. Not only that, I even got the old boy to bring his (gasp!) mountain bike for a little jaunt through the Chilcotin Plateau.

He picked a good day for it.

Perhaps not the usual challenging terrain that we seek out, but to cruise for miles under a fall sky in interior grasslands is pretty awesome in itself.

We had to keep it sort of short. Not only is Dad a bit unused to the fatter tires (he’s a roadie….), but I was under some pressure for the second part of today.

Still, it was tough to hurry things along much with vistas like this at every turn.

However, it was Barb’s triumphant return to the bike after the whole pregnancy/giving birth kafuffle.

Hard to find a better place for it, really.

Typical, after only riding twice in almost a year…

…she’s harly missed a beat.

Pop is feeling a bit slow after his morning ride. Look at how long it’s taking him to take a picture.

Siobhan is suitably impressed by Farwell Canyon.

Oh right… airtime.

Welcome back, Barb.

And now the conclusion to yesterday’s cliffhanger. Barb had gone in for a regular check as she was now 10 days or so overdue. Which is a long time. Seeing as there were absolutely no signs of her beginning labour, I fugured we were still a few days away from any action.

Well, my phone rang in the middle of the second run saying otherwise. I guess the doctor wanted to talk about hurrying things along, and someone sounded a little anxious. I shortly found myself unshowered and unfed, but wearing this badass teal ensemble.

Barb had an old friend to keep her company too.

She was definitely a bit nervous about the impending situation. Who wouldn’t be?

Barb, our awesome midwife, was on hand to explain things. The doc came by to reinforce it. As things weren’t even close to happening naturally, and with Barb’s size and what appeared to be a big baby, it looked like a C-section was the best course of action. We were all ready to try the natural route, but our chances of succeeding weren’t great, so we opted for the surgery. It’s a mild disappointment, but really…it’s about the baby not us.

So off to the OR we went, at just after midnite. Have a look at my Mom. See how youthful she looks? Next time you see here she’ll be a grannie.

Well, it didn’t take very long. Lacking in romance perhaps, but highly efficient. As I expected, we got a girl.

8 lbs, 14oz, and about 21″ long. Also, she shares a birthday with Madonna.

Barbara Anna, meet Anna Siobhan (you pronounce it Shivon. It’s gaelic, and as most gaels are completely illiterate you are allowed to get creative with the spelling).