Page 109 of Tangled Trust

"Oh, yay! I’ll get Woody’s bag," he yells, leaps off the chair, and runs to get Ella’s hospital bag.

"Here we go, Daddy," Ella says before she suddenly bends over and holds onto her belly as the first of many labor pains hits.

* * *

"You’re doing great, Jones," I say while my wife is sweating up a storm and breathing shallowly. "Come on, you’ve got this."

I’m holding her hand, and every so often I have to switch hands for fear that she may cut off all circulation to my fingers.

"Ouch!" she yells between pushing. "Come on, Junior! Mum needs a break!"

"You’re doing brilliantly, Ella," the midwife encourages. "The baby is crowning. One more push, and we’re there."

"We!" she grunts before she throws back her head and gives it one more loud push.

"There you go!" the nurse says excitedly. "One fresh baby."

Ella sinks back onto the pillow. She’s beaming with pride, and I'm sure she’s elated that the birth is finally over.

I kiss her lips and gaze lovingly into her tired eyes.

"Thank you, my love," I mouthe.

Ella grins and mouths back," I love you."

"Okay," the nurse says out loud. "Who had money on what sex?"

"Our son is hoping for a brother," I say, and I can tell that Ella is happy that I refer to Jagger as her son too.

"Well, I think your son is going to be pretty pleased with himself," she laughs.

Ella and I look at each other.

"Oh, dear," she says. "Who’s going to try and change his mind on the name?"

"Hey, I ain’t sticking my head into that beehive, thank you very much. The kid can change his name when he’s old enough to care."

The nurse brings our new baby son, all wrapped up, and places him on Ella’s chest.

"Here you go, Mommy," she smiles. "Meet your son."

I take in the sight before me. Ella is beaming!

"He’s so handsome, Carter," she coos. "He looks just like you."

"He has your beautiful eyes," I say, taking our son from his mother when she offers him to me. "Hey, little man. Welcome to the tribe. Your big brother is going to inhale you."

* * *

"Ella! Where’s the dinosaur I bought for Woody?" Jagger calls from the baby’s room.

"Probably in Dash’s bed," I laugh. "You know how he loves those soft toys. Either there or under the bed in your room," I call back.

"Okay, thanks."

Seth Woody Moore is one year old today, and he couldn’t be more adorable if he tried. Jagger eventually, albeit begrudgingly, agreed to the name Seth, when we explained to him that Woody was his own special name for his brother and something only he should have total dibs over.

We’re having a little birthday celebration at the house today with very special friends and family ready to celebrate our joy with us. Andrew and his wife, Sophie and her hubby, and two boys, Anna and Aunt Sue, are due to arrive any moment. I’m changing my shirt for the second time today, as the one covered in mud and chocolate isn’t really party appropriate.

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