I LOVE tiny baby hands & feet...especially my own sweet baby's :)
she likes to "hold hands"
And unfortunately she has my big BIG toe...
"enough with the pics already"
Bennett is now two weeks...she is a good baby {though she's a LITTLE more demanding than Porter was!--guess that's a girl for you!}
Bennett at 2 weeks--still smiling!
like father, like daughter :)
She sleeps well, and gets up about every 3-4 hours at night but goes right back down after eating
she LOVES her hands, and there usually always in her face
she LOVES being held {hence the more demanding part}
she likes to sleep on her tummy--and of course she's supposed to sleep on her back {Porter also loved sleeping tummy down, and as soon as he could roll over, he would immediately roll over when you put him to bed}
she is so fun, and Porter still LOVES her to death!
She had brought so much joy to our lives, and we can't even imagine life without Bennett in it and she's only been here 2 weeks....in fact I almost forgot my birthday this year (today)...and seeing as I used to celebrate all week {or month!}, you can definitely tell that little Bennett (as well as Porter) have changed the priorities around here :)
Ok, back to the fun task of folding clothes while Porter's still at day care (which he begged to go to!) and Bennett is not demanding to be held! So yeah, birthday's have definitely changed around here!!
My BIG boy (no one tells you how fast your "baby" grows up when you bring a new baby home??!)
Porter had his first day of 3 year old "school" today! He was sooo excited! I woke him up early to take bath, get ready, etc. (since we've been sleeping in during the summer, I got him up extra early to have time for everything!) and apparently got him up TOO early, since he was fully ready a good 45 minutes before we had to leave...he was a little impatient, and asked 100 times could we go to school yet!!? He LOVES school, and was so excited to get back and see his "kids" (as he calls his friends!). He wasn't really in a picture taking mood, but I managed to get a few of him (none with us, since he wanted nothing to do with us and just wanted to get to school, already!)
**Ryan told me he was happy I put him in "normal" clothes--guess it's the end of monogrammed & appliqued stuff for my "big boy" :(
"high five" for little sis on the first day
I told her, Porter was an only child for 3 years...she gets 15 hours a week!
porter LOVES bennett...he tells me all day long that "I love my baby sister, mama". He also asks when I am burping her, "is bennett gassy?" and "why does she eat so much?" :) She spends most of her time in the bassinet in the living room, but last night I put her in her bed in her room, while I was cleaning and getting supper ready for Porter & I. Porter FREAKED out when he couldn't find her! I assured him she was safe in her room, but apparently he needed to check things out for himself, because a little while later when I went into her room, I found an upside down laundry basket next to the crib that was apparently used as a stool and her crib light/mobile turned on :)
He is always asking if she can lay down in his bed/sleep with him, so today while I was cleaning his room this morning, I brought Bennett to lay with him, while he watched a movie.
When she started fussing, Porter was so sweet and was talking to her so soft, telling her not to cry...
He also told her he was very sorry that he didn't have any "baby" books to read her...only big boy books :)
I started this post the day Bennett was born so I wouldn't forget anything...porter's "birthday" story is in his baby book, so I thought I better get hers written down (since I haven't even bought her a baby book yet!!)
I figure the only people who even care about this are me, and our family but I want to remember it and this is the best way ;)
Bennett's "birth" day:
Wow is about the only word to describe how we felt on Bennett's birthday! I had a very easy labor & delivery with Porter, and was hoping for the same with Bennett. I was a little nervous since I went into labor naturally with Porter {though I was started on Pitocin within an hour of being admitted to the hospital, so really it wasn't that "natural"} and was being induced this time {Ryan was leaving for the White House/New Englad preseason game on Sunday August 8 IF I had the baby--if she wasn't here yet, he of course wasn't going to go--, so we decided to go ahead and induce since I was already dilated to about 3-4cm anyway}.
We arrived at the hospital at about 5am on Wednesday morning, and were sent upstairs to get i.v's, paperwork, etc....They started me on pitocin about 6:30am slowly increasing the dose every half hour or so and I felt the first contraction about an hour & a half or so later, but they were never painful nor were they even a discomfort. My Dr. came in at 9:30 or so to break my water and said I could get the epidural at any time and I was a little over 4cm {I waited about 15 minutes then got it before I was in any pain :) I was also told this with Porter also, and waited until I was in pain before asking for it??? I said I wouldn't make that mistake again--if they offered it, I was taking it!} I got my epidural finished and was in no pain/discomfort (and hadn't ever been by this point) by 10:30 or so and was at 5cm. About an hour later the nurse just came to move me to my side to get Bennett in a better position for delivery and see if I needed anything and I told her I didn't think my epidural was working as well--I was starting to have some pain/discomfort and so she checked and I was at 7cm {hence the pain!}...she immediately called the antithesiologist who was on the floor already and he quickly (much to my relief!) came to add some more meds to my epidural to make me more numb...after a few minutes , it seemed to get worse, and I was having horrible back pain. He told the nurse to check me again {literally 10min after the last time when I was at 7} and I was fully dilated and ready to deliver!! We were shocked!! The OB tech started breaking down the bed, and they let me roll back over and as soon as I did the back pain immediately went away...That's as far as they would let me get as far as position wise--the nurse said the baby was so low, that if they put me in position to "deliver" the baby was coming! So we waited for my Dr. before going any further (good thing too!) It was about 11:45 at this point, and my Dr. arrived from his office across the street just a few minutes later; I pushed 1.5 times {for less than a minute} when he arrived and she was born at 11:53am!! We (Ryan & I) couldn't believe how fast she came--the nursery had not even had a chance to get their nurse/equipment in the room so my nurse rushed out to get Bennett's nurse ...she quickly came in and then they sent Ryan out in the hall to get her isolette and equipment that was left in the hurry to get the nursery nurse in the room!! She had an apgar score of 9/9 and came out crying and HUNGRY {which was so funny to all of us because I had talked all morning about how hungry I was, and I hoped I delivered by around lunch time so I could EAT ;)}. So I immediately fed sweet Bennett and then our family was able to come in and meet her--Porter LOVED her and was so sweet to his little sister!
He even offered her his blankie because he thought she was cold {and if you know Porter and his blankie this was HUGE}! He did ask if she was "free" or did we have to pay for her :)
She got to stay in the room with us for a few hours, and I was up and moving around by 2:30--I must say that I was extremely blessed to have such an easy time of things, and we are so excited to have Bennett finally here and home with us!!
AND this picture best sums up Bennett's first week of life:
Poor Bennett was a little jaundiced, and had to wear a wallabee (sp?) blanket for the first week and Porter wanted to "pet" her constantly!!
First thing he does when he wakes up is go looking for Bennett (bed head and all):
We have been to the hospital (for daily blood draws for her bili test) or the Doctor's office (for well checkups/weight checks) DAILY since she came home from the hospital (needless to say our pediatrician is a *little* cautious)! Today was our weight check at one week, and little Bennett had gained 5 ounces in two days, and her bili is going down so needless to say we're good to go and don't have to go back anymore until her 1month check up! Thank goodness...her poor little heels look AWFUL from all the sticks :( It was not fun for her or mommy!
She is almost back up to her birth weight at one week old. She was 7lbs 15oz at birth, and was 7lbs 6 oz when we left the hospital and today she was 7lbs 13oz!
So to celebrate her first week, AND since we don't have to wear the blanket anymore we had to come home for a photo shoot :) I had her professional newborn pictures done yesterday afternoon by Mandie Newsom and I can't wait to see those in a few weeks :)
so serious--so glad we got the newborn pics done yesterday, because she slept the ENTIRE time for her pics (like we wanted) and today she's been wide eyed!
she loves her hands :)
We've recieved a few packages/presents for Bennett and Porter keeps getting "big brother" gifts too :)
Today we got a HUGE package of things for little Bennett from Aunt Liz, Uncle Matt, Kensi & Erin! Porter was sooo excited when we opened it and he saw all of Bennett's "toys" as he called them! But when we got to the bottom of the box and he saw the wrapped presents for him, he went crazy!
After he opened them all, he told me, "mama, I LOVE all of Bennett's big brother toys"
so sweet!
He's still a great big brother, and loves Bennett so much. He is so patient when I am feeding her and I can't just get up and run do something for him, and he'll gladly wait until I'm done! He did ask me today if I could "put her in her cage" (bassinet) when I was holding her so I could turn on his new batman movie :)
I will say going from one to two had not been bad at all! We have survived almost 24 hours completetly ALONE, and I: got a shower, went to Dr. visit with BOTH Porter & Bennett, Target for some necessities (thinking the weather might be bad tomorrow--we couldn't run out of coke or OJ!), lunch with Porter (and bennett of course), 2 loads of laundry washed (but being honest they're NOT folded :)), and now here I am blogging :)
Bennett is (so far) a good sleeper, and goes anywhere from 3-4 hours at night between feedings, but she does go back down very easily which is nice! Porter was such a GOOD baby, and I was so worried that we wouldn't be so lucky the second go around but so far she's just as good! {knock on wood!}
I'm also working on her "birth day" post--another thing I was worried about since Porter's labor and deliver was so easy! (I've had most of it typed since she was a day old so I wouldn't forget!)
All in all things are GREAT and we're just ready for Daddy to get home from New England {and hear all about his big TRIP to the WHITE HOUSE!!}
AND just one more pic for fun in her cute hat and ruffle butts:)
she is just so sweet...and Porter is the BEST big brother. He LOVES her so much and is constantly wanting to help her, play with her, and just be right next to her! He gets so worried when she cries, or fusses--he even offers her his blanket {which is a HUGE thing for him}! We are home, but we had to come home with a bilirubin (sp?) blanket...her bilirubin level was high, so she looks like a little glow worm :) We have to go back to the hospital in the morning, and again on Monday morning for a check of her blood, so hopefully the blanket will help...since I'm having to nurse her every 2 hours while her levels are high, I'm hoping that the blanket helps quickly ;)
Other than that, things are GREAT and we are so excited to be home..more on her "birth" day later, but here's LOTS of pics from the last 48 hours!
porter, waiting on bennett to arrive...
our last "family of 3" picture...bennett would be arriving soon!
some last minute "only child" mommy time...he had no idea how his life would be changing in just 2 short hours!
she's here! All the grandmother's getting a quick peek
Porter was really proud of his "big brother" sticker!
And even more proud of his little sister {he asked if she was free or did we have to pay for her}
mommy & bennett
our first picture with bennett...Porter jumped off the bed about 2 seconds before we took this :)
big brother giving bennett some love
he was DYING to see her feet :) he loves her little feet!
found them!
daddy and baby bennett
first baby rattle?? :)
some more love from big brother
he kept telling us she had "fat cheeks" and even gave us a demonstration:
sweet baby feet
"baby girl hollern" and all her "stats"
she's just so precious!!
BIG yawn, and then she's OUT! She's a great sleeper so far :)
Labor & delivery was extremely quick & easy {I just thought I had an easy delivery with Porter; this one was so much easier!!} and Porter is so excited to be a big brother!! Bennett is healthy as can be and is now in the nursery for a bit and Porter is home taking a nap with Mimi! So Ryan and I are taking advantage & getting a little rest :)
More pics & info to come but here is our first picture as a new family of four {Porter wasn't being too cooperative--HE wanted to hold Bennett ;)}
I forgot to post this story last week, and just remembered tonight as I was getting Porter ready for bed and he was saying his prayers (which tonight included mommy, mimi, mamaw, and his cousins: allison, spencer & jackson {whom he informed me he missed very much} :)
Last week, I was tucking him into bed, and saying his prayers with him...at the end he goes through all the people he wants to pray for; I never tell him who to pray for, and he just comes up with the people all by himself. Usually it's: Bennett, Sissy {I'm staring to wonder if he knows they're the same person??}, Mommy, Porter, Daddy, Mimi, etc. But last week he goes through his list and at the very end added "....AND all the people at walmart...AMEN" So all you people at walmart, Porter is praying for you :)
Porter is down to his last few days of being the only child! He had his 3 year check up last week, and is perfect :) He was 50% for weight, and 80% height {I *think* he was 32.5 pounds, and 39 or so inches--I say think because I forgot to write it down, and immediately forgot!}
He seems so skinny to me!! Maybe because he never stops moving! He eats well, and we're lucky that he does like fruits and veggies {not to say he doesn't love him some candy, but he eats the good stuff too!} especially plain lettuce! Ryan eats a salad with just about every meal, and Porter has to be just like Daddy so he insists on his "salad" which to him is just plain lettuce!
Unfortunately it's wayyyy too hot here to do anything outside. We did grill this afternoon, so he got some running around time for a few minutes {and I mean MINUTES...after about 5 min outside, Porter was soaking wet and ready to come back in :( }
"it's too hot, mama"
Porter is definitely ready for "sissy" to get here! He was helping me put the batteries in her swing this morning, and ran and grabbed the pink teddy bear {which he calls baby} to test it out for me...he was being so sweet, rocking "baby" and kissing her, so I ran to grab my camera, but when I went back to her room he was gone.
I found him with "baby" along with some blankets of Bennett's in the living room in Ryan's lap, telling him how he needed to rock her, and put her to sleep :)
He was very specific and wanted to make sure Ryan was being gentle with her :)
He then decided she needed to be put in her bassinet in the pack & play...
Though I don't think Porter fully realizes how his life is about to change in a few days, I definitely think he's going to be a great BIG BROTHER!
