Hello baby girl!

We are proud to announce the birth of Scoffield baby #4- Stella Sherrie Scoffield!  I want to make sure that I record all of my thoughts and feelings about this beautiful little one. We had to try hard to get Stella. She was a VERY wanted baby.  I had to be patient and wait month after month- I know that many of my friends have dealt with infertility on a long-term basis and this gave me a glimpse into how hard that is.  When the stick was finally pink- our little family was extremely overjoyed.  Then Mom got sick- and stayed sick right through delivery.  This pregnancy was definitely my hardest one as the 'morning sickness' never subsided and already having three other munchkins to keep up with definitely took it's toll.

It's a fun idea to have a baby on Christmas Day- until it becomes a actual chance that you might.  I was really worried about going into labor on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and not being around to be with the other kids. I sweet-talked my doctor into inducing me three days early on December 22nd.  Stella was my longest labor- and I was kind enough to let Shelby and my doctor finish watching the BSU football game before getting ready to push.  Stella was born at 5:01 pm- face up- with the cord wrapped around her neck. There was about ten minutes of lots of nurses and doctors in our room before she perked up and decided to stop scaring her mommy.  She is my biggest baby- weighing in at 8 lbs. even and 19 1/2 inches long.  Lots of beautiful, crazy hair, crooked toes, and long fingers.  We think she is just beautiful.

She is very, very, very loved by her brothers and sisters. She will be very spoiled because she hardly ever gets put down when all the kids are home.  I feel like a broken record most of the time- 'Be Gentle! Hold her head! Don't hug her so tight! Don't touch her face! She's not a doll!'  But it's really fun how much they all love her.  Every night after the kids are tucked in, she is wide awake and ready for her attention from Mom and Dad until about 10:30.  We love having that time to talk to her and enjoy her.

Stella's name is also very special to us.  Stella was my great-grandmother's name on my Mother's side. Sherrie was Shelby's grandma's name. He was very close to her and she died when he was 10.

Many, many, many times over the last couple of weeks I have been overcome with how incredibly blessed I am. I'm so happy with my wonderful husband and four crazy beautiful munchkins.  It's humbling to remember the things that truly are important.  I'm so grateful.