Growing So Fast

Well - at 6 weeks, Benjamin is just growing like a champ. At group today, he weiged in at 10lbs. 13.5oz. He's just filling out so well. We have retired most of his newborn clothes. The only things that still fit him are his newborn pants. The 0-3 month pants are still too big on him.

We have had a great week. The weather has been beautiful, so Sun., Mon. & Tues. we went downtown Parkville to English Landing (a small park with walking trails) and went on a stroll. I think I enjoyed it more than Benjamin. He just slept! But, it's been great for me to get back to being active and get some fresh air. And, I am getting some color, too!

This week we also started the summer reading program through the library. I read books to Ben every day. I can fill out a list of 20 books, then we get to pick a board book for free. We can do up to 5 lists of 20!! He got his first book yesterday! I don't think he understands me reading to him yet - but he likes hearing the inflection in my voice.

Another big note from this week. Benjamin started really smiling back at us! He is also cooing more and mimicing the sounds we make! It's so much fun.

July is a busy, busy month for the family. Tomorrow night we head to NE Iowa to spend the holiday with my family! We are very excited as most of my immediate family has not yet met Benjamin - including his Grandpa!!

Then, next weekend, our friends Boone & Heather and their 2 children MAY be coming down to stay with us.

Then, the following weekend we are headed to Cedar Rapids and New Hampton to spend some time with Eric's family.

Then, the next weekend my brother, his wife & 4 kids are coming to stay with us for an extended weekend. It's their vacation!

So, you'll be getting a lot of updates from those weekends, if I can get to the computer!!

Photos - Check them out

Hey everyone. I have some pictures up on Snapfish that you can check out. You can sign up - it's free. And, if you'd like - then you can purchase any of the prints! Enjoy!
http://www1.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=715301246386370260/l=1694888016/g=10623282/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=570872016/a=10623282_10623282/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=92%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

More pictures...

Here are some more pictures! Enjoy!
http://www1.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=644301246386185499/l=1694886016/g=10623282/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=785514016/a=10623282_10623282/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=28%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

4 Weeks & Growing Quickly

We've hit another milestone. Benjamin is 4 weeks old! We went to our breastfeeding support group today and Ben weighed in at 9 lbs 14 oz. He's a growing boy. Just 2 weeks ago at group he weighed only 8 lbs 4 oz. He has been sleeping great. The last few nights he's taken a bottle from Eric at 10pm. He's been asleep by 11pm and doesn't wake up until 4 or 5am. That's been very nice to get that long of a stretch of sleep.

Benjamin has also been awake a lot during the day. I love this time because he just sits and stares at me while I talk to him. He enjoys tummy time and he's starting to turn toward us when we talk to him. He also seems to be focusing in more on objects.

We've realized his fussy time is at about 8pm when he's fighting sleep. He gets very angry for about 10-15 minutes - and then he passes out! It's all trial and error!

This weekend is father's day and Eric's parents will be visiting us. We're going to the Royals game on Sunday. It's supposed to be 90 degrees - so Ben & I may have to drive separately in case he can't make it through the whole game!

Well - back to working on some stuff around the house while he naps!

Busy Family

Well - I've been thinking that I have to keep this blog up... and I never get around to updating it! Thinking something and actually doing it are quite different in the parenting world!

We are all doing great. Steph (my sister) & Emma (niece) just left this morning after getting here on Saturday. We had a very nice time. It was nice that I was up to doing things. We went for a very nice walk one day, baked another day and mostly just hung out. We did a lot of errand running and some shopping. And, yesterday was the best of all. Steph watched Benjamin while I got a massage!! It was amazing! Sunday night, she babysat while Eric & I went to dinner for our anniversary! That was also a very nice time! We enjoyed being able to sit and talk without having the distraction of crying Benjamin... not that we mind it!!

There were a lot of firsts this past week. Benjamin had his first time sucking on his pacifier:

Benjamin also sucked on his thumb for the first time:

He also took his first bottle from Steph while I was at my massage. She said he did pretty well, but apparently he's a very messy eater! I already knew this, as he tends to get my clothes pretty messy while nursing! Who knew I'd have to pack clothes for myself as well as for him in the diaper bag??

Nothing else is really new. I've been letting him sleep as long as he wants and not waking him up for feedings. That's made it much more bearable - I didn't like to wake him while he was sleeping. He's about out of his newborn clothes. I'm curious to see what he weighs when I take him to my support group meeting on Wednesday. On the 3rd - he weighed 8lbs 4 oz. That was up from 7lbs 11 oz at the pediatrician only 6 days prior! So, he's a growing boy! I've noticed he's eating a lot more as I haven't felt as "full" and he's eating for longer periods!!

Well - he's starting to stir. Time to eat again! I'll post when I can! Meanwhile - if you're on facebook I've been pretty consistent about posting photos there.

Labor & Delivery

Since many of you have asked - I figured I should let you know how labor went. We went to the hospital at 6pm on Saturday night 5/16. When we left the house, my contractions were about 3 minutes apart and getting stronger. But then, I got into the car and they were 7 minutes apart. By the time they hooked me up to the machines at the hospital, they were 9 minutes apart.

But, they wanted me to stay and be monitored. At about 8pm, the nurse told us Benjamin's heart rate was staying too level - it wasn't spiking the way they wanted it to with stimulation. So, we had to have a sonogram to see what was going on in there. The technician said he was running out of amniotic fluid. So, they said I was staying.

At 9pm I was put into a room and pitocin was started. The contractions got a lot stronger over the next few hours. At 1am I was in active labor and was having a very bad contraction. I asked Eric to rub my back and as he touched my back we both felt/heard a loud pop. We thought he had popped my back - until I felt it... my water broke. I'll never forget that feeling, and neither will Eric ;)

That's when things really heated up. The contractions really started to hurt and were progressing. At 2am I was finally 4 cm dilated and they said it was time for the epidural... thank the lord ;) The epi went great - I didn't have a contraction through the entire process. And, I even talked about the next child with the doctor - which he laughed at!!

My family showed up shortly after and I got to talk to them, then Eric's parents showed up and chatted for a bit. And, we even got a nap.

At 5am the nurse came in and checked me and I was 9 cm. It was about time to push. Eric thought it would be great to take a picture before I pushed - and I guess I'll share:

At 5:15am - they told me to begin pushing. I pushed for 45 minutes - Benjamin James was born at 5:59am. At first - I wasn't too happy about the pitocin, but I'm glad I didn't have to stretch that labor out and go through it all at home!! We decided to do the Baby First program and had Benjamin in our room with just the two of us for the first hour. That time was amazing!!

And - here's a picture of the end result: Benjamin!!

Baby Benjamin

Okay - I've been slacking - but I have a good reason. Benjamin James was born 5/17 at 5:59am. He was 7 lbs 9oz and 20.5 inches long. He is the most beautiful baby boy in the world - but we're biased ;) We've obviously been very busy with feedings, diaper changes and catching as many cat-naps as possible.

Don & Wanda stayed with us for the first week after Benjamin was born. They were a great help. Don helped Eric get a bunch of brush cleared out of our back yard and got the garden planted. Wanda was a great help in the house - and taking care of Benjamin when I needed a nap.

My Mom got the 2nd week of Sanderson duty!! She was just amazing. My whole house is cleaned, so now all I have to do is keep on top of it and it should stay nice. She even washed my windows and cleaned the upholstery on the couches in the basement. Oh - and she baked our favorite cookies, chocolate crinkles.

My sister, Steph, comes to visit with her daughter, Emma, next weekend for about 5 days.

Okay - back to Benjamin. He's been a great little boy. I have to wake him to feed him... but he's just starting to figure out that hunger reflex. He's been starting to stir about 15 minutes before I am about to wake him. We had his 1 week checkup yesterday and it went great! When we left the hospital he was down to 7 lbs 3oz. Yesterday - he was 7 lbs. 11oz. So, the doctor said I could let him sleep for one 6 hour stretch once a day. I tried it last night and he slept 5 hours before stirring. He also grew 1.25 inches. He's growing fast! I sent out pictures to many of you - but if I missed you, please let me know! I'll try to update as often as I can - but I feel guilty spending time on the computer when I could be cuddling Benjamin - or napping ;)