Chris Came ...

Three years after Scott came into the world, he was blessed with a little brother ~ Christopher Mark Westra. 6 pounds, 7½ ounces, 19¼ inches long. Born at 11:42 am. You might wonder why there is a picture of Dad with a fish combined in the collage of photos of baby Chris, but it's because while the grandparents were up to see the baby, Rex and LaMar went fishing on the Columbia River and caught a steelhead that weighed more than Chris did!

Here's some of Mom's memories from the big day ...

Since Scott's labor was only maybe around 4 hours, I expected Chris to be even quicker. So we went to the hospital and I was dilated only to 3 and they sent me home. I was in labor all night with the pains 5 minutes apart and scared I would wait too long, but didn't want to be sent home again.  When I was admitted, I remember being in the delivery room and the pain was so bad, they gave me gas and put me "under" for a bit. When I regained consciousness, I recall thinking "somebody is screaming," then  realizing "Oh, it is me screaming...."  Chris was born on a Monday and I never missed a week of church. September 5th was Labor Day in 1966. The Labor and Delivery dept. was very overcrowded that day and there was no room to put me in after he was born, so my bed was just out in the hallway. I was sitting up and a nurse came by and said, "You shouldn't be sitting up!" She thought I hadn't had the baby yet and was in labor. Chris's was my hardest and longest birth, which surprised me because he wasn't that big.

Some memories from the baby book ...

• Dr. Robert E Chase. Nurse Beulah Liechty. 
• Kadlec Methodist Hospital/Richland, Washington. Room 419C.
• Hair was dark brown at birth, lighter later on, very sparse on top, one inch in back.
•  Blessed October 9, 1966 in Richland 1st ward. When Chris was held up after the blessing, he spit up at the congregation. Two other babies blessed that day.
• Very spitty baby (more than any of the other kids). Had to have a burp diaper on every chair around the house to grab quick when needed.
• Red birthmark on the forehead.
• Noted Events: The war in Vietnam. The popularity of the Beatles. Fashion trends - long hair on boys, miniskirts, granny dresses, the twist (dance).

Here's a little look at what else was going on in the world in September 1966 ...

 I just paid $1.09 for a dozen eggs in 2020 ... no inflation for eggs?

Check out the blog post "Baby Books and a Chris Questionnaire" for more memories of baby Chris!