...Bennett...

I have so much to say about this little darling! I enjoy being a mom so so much but it definitely makes it easier with Bennett. He is two months old and so cute! Where has the time gone???? Lately he has been smiling much more and gurgling and cooing a lot. He also eats his hand when his passifier falls out, and tries to fit the whole hand in there! He has definitely been more content to play by himself and sit in his swing or lay on the floor. It will be nice when he can reach out and grab his toys by himself (I'll probably be kicking myself for saying that soon!) He has curly hair and light eyes (for now). Bry and I are both brown so I think his will go brown eventually but for now they sure look BLUE!! He is kinda small for his age (18th percentile for weight and 54th for height... tall and skinny!) but I think he will chunk out soon. He loves going outside so I can't wait for the weather to turn nice so we can go outside and play more. I feel so lucky to be a mother! I love you Bennett :D

Playin' in the tub!

...Deer in the headlights...

...Eating his hand...

... check out those nostrils!...

Bennett's Birth Story

I have procrastinated this WAY too long. It has already been a month, and I can’t believe how the time has flown by. I feel like I’ve had this little man in my life forever. He is just the sweetest thing and I can’t get enough of his cuteness! This a lot of reading, I know, so if you want, you can skip down to the end for pictures :D

I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for several weeks, although they weren’t anything to alarm me. However, in the few days preceding they had increased in intensity. On Friday (the day before), I went to Hobby Lobby with Grandma Duffin and we got some cute ABC blocks for your room as well as fabric for your curtains. I was having a hard time walking around because about every ten minutes or so I would get a contraction and would have to stop walking for a minute. Later in the afternoon, I went up to a lunch with all of the Bangerter aunts and uncles at Aunt Glenda’s house. On the way home, the contractions were still coming on strong. When I got home, Daddy wanted to go to the hospital, but I didn’t want to go unless they kept coming hard. We decided to go walk around the mall and if they continued, then we would go to the hospital. Lo and behold, my contractions stayed pretty steady (about 5 minutes apart) and so we decided to head to the hospital.

When we got there, they checked me to see how dilated I was in order to see if I progressed within an hour. I was at a two and so they wanted to see if that would change. Well, I didn’t change within the hour, but my contractions had started increasing. I didn’t want to go home because they were getting worse, but they wouldn’t let me stay because of my non-progression. So we went home heavy hearted, sad that nothing had come of the several hours we were there. I called Grandma Porter and she seemed sure that I was going to have you tonight, and so I shouldn’t eat anything. We stopped by the grocery store and got some popsicles so I could suck on something. Grandma Porter and Megan decided that they would come down then and stay with us until we went to the hospital. They came and we watched a movie until it got pretty late. Daddy and I went and laid down, but my contractions were extremely painful and becoming very frequent. For about an hour they were 1-2 minutes apart and super painful so we got up and went to the hospital!

I did NOT want to be sent home again because I was in so much pain. When they tried to check my dilation, the nurse wasn’t able to because my cervix was so posterior. She brought in another nurse and she wasn’t able to tell either! I was in so much pain, but they couldn’t admit me or give me my epidural because they couldn’t check me. After TWO HOURS of waiting, a doctor finally came up for a delivery and was able to check me, and I was at a three so they admitted me at 2:00 a.m. At 3:00 I got my epidural and they broke my water at about 5:00. After that we just waited for me to progress. At around 11:00 we started getting ready to push, and I only pushed for about 30-45 minutes, and you were born at 12:00 noon on the dot! It was such an incredible experience and I was so amazed that I actually had a beautiful son. They took you off to the side and cleared your mouth and dried you off. I was so excited when they finally brought you over to me so I could hold you. They put you right on my chest and you calmed right down. Daddy and I were a little emotional at the amazing miracle that had just occurred. We had lots of visitors and had a great hospital stay.

This first month has been so wonderful. You are such a great baby! You caught right on about how to nurse and have been eating so well. You also are THE BEST sleeper. For your age, you sleep so well at night (sometimes 6 hours) and I feel so lucky. You have been smiling a ton lately and are generally very happy. I think you’ve had a little tummy trouble or trapped gas lately because at times you are just a little fussy even with a full tummy and changed diaper, but you calm down quickly.

You love bath time. I’ve started giving you a bath every night, because you calm right down as soon as you go in the water. You just look around with wide eyes and love when we drizzle warm water all over you. Sometimes you pee and even poop right in the bath! Daddy and I just have to laugh when that happens because we knew it was coming.

You have started being more aware of your surroundings. You notice me and daddy walking around the room, and can really fixate on some objects now. I like feeling like you know me and notice me in your life.

Bennett, we love you so much and are so happy you are here. I am looking forward to the many exciting developmental traits we will begin to see emerge in you. I hope to be better about writing and recording my sweet memories of you! I love you sweetie pea!

Will it come?

I feel like every time I go to the doctor's, they tell me the same thing. I'm a LITTLE better than last week but not much. He's STILL not descended all the way. Oh and the same jokes: I won't have to be pregnant in the summer! But lets be honest... when the two girls before me get sent to the hospital and I am 39 weeks and my cervix is still not ready (excuse the blunt wording :D), it gets a little frustrating. My body is achy and I just want to meet this little boy! My doctor did say that I get the best smile award... like that makes a difference because I cried as soon as I left. Man! Pregnancy makes you emotional.

PS....

We're definitely going to Outback steakhouse tonight. I mean, we do need to get in as many dates as possible before the babe comes, right? I know. Hence the decision. I can't wait for that bloomin' onion!

PPS... Bryan and I went on a walk/hike today. When you go up around the Provo temple, it truly is a HIKE! It gave me contractions... is that a good thing? At one point I had to stop because I literally could not walk anymore. Kinda exciting, no? But then I got a blister on my heel and had to go home. haha

Pregnancy Journal

Alrighty Peeps.... We are getting down to the wire here! I am now 38 1/2 weeks, and I can't believe that it is time already for this baby to come! At the same time, I feel like these last few weeks are going slow and that this baby will NEVER get here. Nevertheless, I cannot believe that I'm gonna be a mama in just a few short days! I was just looking back through some of my pregnancy pictures, and I can't believe how much has changed! I now have this handsome little boy just waiting to come into my arms. :D Heres a little documentation of my pregnancy thus far:

16 weeks

(Back in the skinny stages!!!)

18 weeks

Big Jump: 27 weeks!

30 weeks

32 1/2 weeks

34 1/2 weeks

36 weeks

37 weeks

38 weeks

And thats just about it! I'm progressing right along, according to my doctors. Oh and by the way, no one told me how bad it hurts to be checked for dialation! Come on mothers!!! Its ok... now I know haha. I truly can't wait for this little baby! My one concern is my last Independent Study class! I am ALMOST done... two more assignments and a final, but I can DO IT! I truly don't have much desire to work on it, but I know I will definately not want to when the baby is here. I have to have them done by the end of March for graduation anyway, so I don't really have a choice. But its close! Bryan is so looking forward to being a dad, and I know he is going to be great. See you in a few days... with a baby!!!

Wedding

Well here are some picture of Megan's wedding! It was truly beautiful... even though it was raining at the temple! These are also the dresses that I worked very hard on! I thought that they turned out beautifully :D I might be a little biased though... I also made five others. Unfortunately, our other sister Megan couldn't make it to the wedding because of the weather! It snowed so terribly, and so they weren't able to come. Enjoy!

Bryan and I at the reception center

6 sisters!

Sisters... with Austin!

Me with baby Sage. She looked like a little puff ball in her dress!

The girls braving the storm :D

The beautiful couple!

In the waiting room at the temple!

25 weeks!

Well, here I am, 25 weeks Pregnant!

I don't like Pregnancy pictures of myself... because the rest of my body is looking a little rounder than normal too! It's all for the cause! This baby boy is very mobile, and I can't wait to meet and cuddle him.

Other recent activities:

We made Gingerbread houses at my sister Megans house, and were aided by two of my cute nieces, Ella and Lucy. I thought our house turned out cute! I added a shredded cotton ball to our chimney, and Bryan helped me make this ugly little snowman! We think it looks like Gonzo, because of the nose... that came about by pieces of gum drops.

We also made Pizza the other night. I got the dough recipe from Megan as well, and it turned out so good! I don't have a kitchenaid mixer or anything like that, so I kneaded it by hand... I just used those wonderful skills my mama taught me when I was a little girl. Punch and Roll!

Also, we have finals starting tomorrow. It will be SO NICE to have this craziness over with! These will be my last finals, but Bryan's still got a few more semesters. I am also making Bridesmaid dresses for my step sister's wedding... 11 of them! Call me crazy (I am) but its definately been an adventure. I am almost done with them, and then will have my kitchen table back! I know Bryan will be happy about that.

Right after the break, we will be moving! We need a two bedroom for this little munchkin that will be joining us soon, and unfortunately, we couldn't find anything in our ward boundaries. But we found a great apartment in Wymount (the newer, nicer side) and so we will be moving there in the beginning of January! I am very excited to get settled in, and start preparing a room for the baby. So many new and exciting changes!

Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you have a more relaxing week than me :D