Introducing Diego Satoru Bergstrom

Thursday, 12/1/2011, 5 a.m.:  Molly woke up with contractions. We spent the day trying to keep ourselves occupied. We walked through the neighborhood (including a trip to Berkeley Bowl), spoiled Siena, and tried to get some rest. Contractions gradually increased in intensity through the day, and into the night. We didn't end up getting much sleep!

Friday, 12/2/2011: Contractions continue. Walks continue. Still no kid. Then Molly's mom came up from Monterey, and the contractions started kicking into higher gear! We ran some errands to keep us distracted, and the contractions increased in frequency. When we returned home, the contractions started to slow down. Yikes. Within a couple hours they got crazy, so we decided to start our trek out to Walnut Creek. 


We continued our distraction technique by taking a stroll through some Walnut Creek stores, perusing their handbag selections. Molly does love handbags, you know. It helped keep us walking around until the contractions were overwhelming.

We arrived at the hospital around 9:30 p.m., and by 10:30 p.m. they admitted us. 

Saturday, 12/3/2011: [Insert several hours of crazy labor], and we were finally able to hold Diego Satoru Bergstrom. 

Born: 12/3/2011, 8:05 a.m.
Weight: 7 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 20.5 inches

Yes, if you can do math, that's 51 hours of labor. We were lucky enough to have one midwife and one nurse manage our care from admission to birth, and they were amazing. 

At birth, Diego looked like an old wrinkly Asian man. He alternates between looking like Molly and looking like Josh, and to some degree, looking like Wolverine from X-men (long nails, fur on his back).

We ended up spending two nights in the hospital with Diego, arriving home to Siena and Molly's mom on Monday, 12/5/2011.



Now we're home, adjusting to life with a newborn, and getting to know the child formerly known as the Panda. (Current nicknames include: Senor Burbujas, Grumpy Bear, Old Korean Man.)

So where did this legal name come from? 

We both really like the name Diego. It makes Josh think about Allende's book, "Zorro", a tale of young Zorro's adventures in Spanish California. And Molly just likes how it sounds.

Satoru (悟る) is Molly's grandfather's name, and it means enlightenment in Japanese. He taught Molly to appreciate ice cream, and to always be punctual (which actually means early).