Three months already!!

Bennett is 3 months old at the end of this week!!  It is crazy how time flies.  If I would have blogged a couple months ago then this picture would have about summed up everything I was feeling at the time.

I was super exhausted.  Sam is even a super hands on dad and pretty much takes over when he gets home from work.  He was getting up for some of the feeding also.  I can't even imagine how I would have felt if Sam wasn't there to help out.  Bennett had a hard time breast feeding so we decided to go the pumping and then bottle feeding him the milk route.  It does take extra time but it is worth it to me.  So I had to pump every time he was feeding.  He did have a hard time with acid reflux for the first 6 weeks and would burst out crying mid sleep and mid eating.  It was so sad that we couldn't help him.  My doctor gave us zantac to give to him twice a day and that has been a lifesaver.  He is so much happier and does a lot better now.  We also have him sleeping in his bouncer and that has helped a ton with the acid reflux.  Crazy all these new mom things.

I feel like we are getting the hang of things this past month and things are sooo much easier and better.  He is eating better, doesn't cry as much, sleeps at least a 5 hour stretch in the night (sometimes treats us with 8-9 hours) and I have gotten it down to only pumping 4 times a day and I have enough milk to cover it.  So nice not to have to pump in the middle of the night anymore.  Bennett is such a joy to have in our lives.  He has been smiling for about a month now and we just love it.  He definitely knows who we are and recognizes our voices.  His personality is showing through.  So much fun.

At his 2 month doctor's appointment he was 13 lbs and 23 1/2 inches so I imagine he is about 14 lbs now.  He is our little chubby baby.  So cute.  I find that I could really just stare at him all day long and never get bored.  Motherhood is by far the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life but I wouldn't rather be doing anything else.  I would do all of this over and over again knowing that we may possibly have another one just like him!!

Here are some pictures from October:

First trip to Mt Rushmore.  I am sure there will be many more!!

 

 

Gotta love the tongue!

He just loves taking baths.  He is super nervous at first but then is just so happy.

All ready for Church!

Bennett just loves this little firefly toy.  I always give it to him sideways on his lap and it ALWAYS ends up upside down close to his head.  I think he likes to be hands free while he licks it.

This is him this morning just happy as can be!!

Here are a few videos.  The first, I love how he gets super concerned midway through he raindrops song.  The second, he loves to just sing along with me.  The third video is the first time he was full out laughing.  He just loves his daddy pretending to snore/snort.

 

Hospital Days!

Here is our super long birth story from Sam's perspective (with a little input from me) since I was a little busy at the time.

There are a lot of things about being pregnant and delivering a baby for the first time that can maybe be scary or you just aren’t sure about or you are completely clueless about, but there is one thing that Ginger has always known pretty much since the day she learned about childbirth, she definitely, absolutely, positively, without a doubt wants to have an epidural…

Ginger’s contractions started early in the morning on Wednesday and started pretty mild and only lasted a few seconds.  Throughout the day they started getting more frequent but still not too bad (her words not mine, keep that in mind whenever I say it wasn’t that bad).  She was still over a week from her due date and at this point, we just figured this was one of those pre-labor, false labor thingies.  So we go to Target and Arby’s (Ginger’s one big pregnancy craving, we go at least twice a week, they all know me by name) and Ginger is just breathing through the contractions and still thinking, no big deal.  Ginger called her Dr. earlier and they told her not to worry about it until contractions are “consistently” 2 to 3 minutes apart.  Later that night it starts becoming more frequent and painful and around 1:45 AM its 2-3 minutes apart and we are wondering what the heck “consistently” means and say forget it, it’s consistent, and we take off to the hospital.  “Father of the Bride” and other movies start coming to mind and even though we aren’t panicked I figured, eh, how often do you have a good excuse and hit about 85 mph on the way. 

When we get there, we leave everything in the car because we think we’re in for a long night and I can come out and get everything or they’ll send us home or whatever, we’re just not thinking it’s actually happening.  We get through check-in and during the triage they tell us she’s dilated to 6 cm and she’s definitely having the baby.  Ginger asks if she still has time for the epidural and they say yes and so what can we do but trust them, we don’t have a clue.  They then move us from the ER triage area to the labor area and instead of a wheelchair they have us walk down the 10 mile labyrinth of hallways and I’m thinking, are they dumb or am I, maybe it’s just the movies where they give wheelchairs cause Ginger is stopping every 1-2 min and leaning up against the walls while the nurse is just saying “good for you” and “we can stop as much as you want.”  So I’m thinking the nurse isn’t in any hurry so I guess we’re okay and I don’t want to be freaking out and all hysterical so I let it go.    

We finally get to the labor area and Ginger asks about the epidural again and they tell Ginger that she needs a liter of fluid before and that it’s going to take another 15 min for the IV to work.  Ginger is in a lot more pain at this point and we’re asking them to hurry it up and get this thing going.  While they are putting in her IV another nurse asks if they can take blood samples from the IV so that they don’t have to “stick” Ginger again.  The nurse putting in the IV says no and then says that maybe they could and pauses to ask Ginger if it would be okay.  Ginger looks at them like, “Really?   Does the immense amount of pain on my face give you any sense of urgency?” and asks, “Is it going to delay the epidural?  Because I really don’t care if you stick me again, you can stick me again, just hurry and get me the epidural.”   I couldn’t help but laugh a little to myself, but at the same time I’m getting frustrated because they’re so dang slow and Ginger is in a lot of obvious pain.

One of the other nurses then checks Ginger again and says that she is 9 cm and that her cervix is really flat and that at this point it’s too late for the epidural and when she says the last part, she is practically whispering with this guilty look of “I’m so sorry” on her face.  Ginger is then a little scared and says, “Are you serious?”  I start freaking out a bit and asking them what took them so long and why were they being so slow and casual.  Ginger then says, “I don’t think I can do this.”  At this point I realize I need to stop berating all the nurses and start paying attention to Ginger and encourage her.  I’m telling her that it’s going so fast, that he wants to come out, that she is strong and made to do this, that she can do it and every other dumb halftime, rah rah, speech I can think of, but I’m not even sure that she can hear me or is even paying attention. 

We are now just waiting for the Dr. to show up and you can tell the nurses are panicking a little and we’re asking if there’s another Dr. in the hospital because Ginger is feeling herself push.  They just keep telling her to hold it in and at one point they even tell her to keep her legs together, umm… yeah, that sounds like a perfectly normal medical technique for preventing a birth, who knew that the way to hold your bladder and delay a birth were one in the same, come on, I’m pretty sure that holding your legs together to prevent a birth is about 9 months too late at this point.  So, anyway, Ginger is doing awesome with her breathing, she’s really working the whole “he he he phooo” thing and toughing it out.  I’m thinking that maybe some of that scared adrenaline is kicking in or something, because she’s being really strong.  She later tells me that she would’ve settled for the janitor, it didn’t matter who delivered the baby, she just knew he was coming. 

Every time the door opens, I’m just praying that it’s the Dr. and after about what seems to be the one hundredth disappointing nurse to enter the room, the Dr. finally shows up.  He looks all sleepy and starts putting on his gear and for some reason I’m thinking, “I didn’t see him wash his hands” but whatever, I’m just glad he’s there and they start taking the bed apart and sitting Ginger up.  The Dr. gets into position and I swear I can see the baby’s head and he’s already crowning.  The Dr. says to push and Ginger gives one big push and the kid flies out all at once, the Dr. literally had to catch him like he was getting a football hiked to him.  When the baby came out he still had the sac around his head and parts of his body and I couldn’t help but think it looked like a sausage casing and a lot like how sausage is made, it’s weird some of the thoughts that come to you in these moments.  Then I start thinking that the sac probably shouldn’t be there and the Dr. quickly rips it off his head and suctions out his mouth and nostrils, ties off the cord and hands me the scissors.  I looked at him and said, “That’s all you.”  I just don’t get the appeal, Ginger just spent 9 months carrying and producing a baby and then just pushed it out of her body, without an epidural mind you, and somehow my special contribution and achievement is to cut the cord?  I don’t get it.  Now I know pulling out a tooth and having a baby isn’t the same emotional experience or whatever, but wouldn’t you think it was odd if a dentist was pulling out someone’s third molars and loosened it all up to the point of coming out very easily and then handed the instruments to their spouse and said, “I know it’s a little bloody and frankly kind of weird, but here, why don’t you finish it off.”?  Oh well, I guess it’s just me, since every other father I know has happily cut the cord.

Anyway, we arrived at the hospital at around 2 AM and just over an hour later, Bennett was born on Thursday, Aug 2 at 3:15 AM, 7 lbs 3.3 oz, 18 ¼ inches.  I admit, he looked a little like E.T. to me when he first came out, but believe me, I was just thankful that he was and is healthy and that Ginger did so awesome.  I was just so relieved afterwards that it was so quick and everything went well.  It went so fast I was still kind of amazed and stunned at everything.  In fact, Ginger and I keep talking about how it feels like we’re babysitting and it still doesn’t seem real.  We’ve been waiting a long time for him though and are truly grateful for Bennett and all the new experiences, it’s been a lot of fun.

Bennett just loves his head under the water.  He still gives this same relaxed face at home.  I just love it.

The hospital outfit while we were there, I wish I could have taken it home.  A nurse made these hats for each one of the newborns in the hospital.  It will be fun to break out in the winter again.

Right before we were loaded up and headed home.

He looks so tiny in his carseat for the first time.

 All ready to go home.  When we were walking out to the car we just couldn't believe that they just let us leave with this little baby and it is all our responsibility from now on.  We are ready for the challenges and the fun times with our precious little boy.

He is Here!

Bennett Samuel made a surprisingly pleasant arrival Thursday at 3:15 am.  We were almost positive he wouldn't come for at least another week.  He is 7 lbs 3 oz and 18 1/4 inches long.  We just love him.  We are all doing great.

More pics and birth story to come. 

Spoiler alert... I had him natural and that was for sure the furthest thing from my mind but I guess Bennett just wanted to come here quicker than they could give me the epidural.  My doctor almost missed the birth but made it just in time 2-3 minutes before his arrival.  Fun times!!

Surprise! It's a....

BOY!!!!

Sam and I went to the doctor today and found out we are having a BOY.  We are soooo excited.  I kept thinking it was going to be a boy because we really can't think of many boy names that we like.  We will have to get cracking on that now.  I have always just been drawn to looking at girl baby things because there so many but the last couple weeks I have been concentrating more on boy things and I have found some really cute things.  Not as many, that is for sure, but there are still some really cute things out there.

This was the big ultrasound where the tech measured everything.  It was so fun to see each foot, each hand, his heart, his brain, the bones in the legs, arms and back.  It is just so amazing that God's creation is growing inside of me.  It is just so wonderful.  I have been feeling him kick for a few weeks now and I absolutely love it anytime it happens.  We could not be more grateful!!

I just love that I no longer have to call him "it" or "the baby".  I really can't even stop smiling.  Right after the ultrasound tech told us we were having a boy, Sam said that he could almost see him holding a football in the ultrasound.  Haha.  Sam already has so many plans for him.  Poor kid!

Exciting News!!

Yes it is the news we have all been waiting for.

SAM AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!

I am 15 weeks along and due August 11th.  I know you have all been thinking that Ginger and Sam would be awesome parents, well we have thought that too of course.  We have always known we would have children either by adopting or having some on our own so we weren't discouraged too often these last 7 years of marriage.  It is just so amazing how Heavenly Father can comfort us so much during these hard times in our lives. 

My doctor here in Rapid City is amazing and made it all possible.  I went to the doctor yesterday and it was the first appointment that I didn't feel anxious and nervous at.  It was such a relief and so much fun to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time.  We are so grateful and excited for this new journey.  It honestly doesn't even seem real at all yet.  I am sure it at least will once we bring home our new baby in August.

(side note: I did want to post a pic of me and Sam making really exciting facial expressions but Sam thought it was a lame idea so I tossed out that idea.)

Miss South Dakota Pageant

This last weekend Sam and I went to see the Miss South Dakota Pageant.  We thought it would be entertaining and worth our time.  It did not disappoint at all!!  I told Sam that when we move away from here I want to come back every year around this time just for this pageant.  It really lifted our spirits and was so worth every penny.  It kind of reminded me of a high school production.  The musical numbers really made the whole show.  There were at least 10 different ones.

It won't let me upload the videos from my camera so these are just the ones from my phone but you can get the idea.

These guys were in many of the musical numbers.

The swimsuit competition is always so awkward.

This is Miss South Dakota 2010.

Here are the final 5.  Miss Rapid City is in the gold dress.

This is the winner.  She did a great job and we knew she would at least be in the final 2. I am excited to see her in the Miss America pageant.

Trip to New Hampshire

A couple weeks ago I made a trip to visit my sister, Kelly and her family in New Hampshire.  I hadn't seen them since we moved away from Boston more than 7 months ago.  My mom, my sister, Cami and niece, Amelia flew from Utah and met us out there also.  The main event was to see my niece, Natalie in a musical she was part of.  It was called "All Shook Up" featuring Elvis songs.  She did a fabulous job!  It was so much fun to spend most of our time there just hanging out and playing games.  I didn't get the chance to go visit my old ward down in Billerica so I will have to save that for next time.

Here is a little video that my niece, Brooke made.  We were being a little crazy one night reading "Goodnight Moon" to Amelia and Brooke's rapping skills and my beat boxing skills started to come out.  I may have found my new calling in life.  Brooke is so talented to make this video.  We always have a fun time.