Becoming a family of four

Once it was inevitable that this little boy was on his way and he was determined to enter this world ass first, I had to embrace the fact that I was mere minutes away from going under the knife. A big thumbs up to that...boo!

It's go time!

He came out quiet and alert...and has remained this way ever since. He has a content little soul and we rarely hear him cry. We have actually had to set the alarm in the middle of the night to feed him. Check out those frank breech legs...straight up in the air for a couple days.

My first peek of Big Ben. 7 lb 8 oz almost 3 weeks early! He would have been a 9 lber had he made it to the 26th!

Even though he was considered term, I'm a crazy NICU nurse and requested that a level 2 nurse be at the delivery. Believe it or not, his nurse Alethia use to work with me in the NICU so I had a sense of calm knowing that she was there in case he needed some extra support.

The touch of your newborn is something indescribable. It was at this moment that I knew he was going to be alright.

He looks like his big sister in this picture

BREECH LEGS!!!!

7 lb 8oz

I'm glad Dr. Evans was in such a good mood that night. And that nurse at the head of my bed took such good care of me all night long...I wanted to kiss her every time she came in my room with my pain meds.

First kiss

Mimi's first glance at the rug rat who's gonna drive her crazy for the next 16 years before she moves out

She brought him a present and basically threw it into the bassinet

Another grand baby under Nanny's belt

And Benham got Maryn a gift too

Grandma and Nanny soaking up the glory of holding their grandchildren

Poppop Loeper

Poppop Cummings

Grandma's heart melting...he was named after her

I made Uncle Nick sit down to hold:)

Mimi was excited to see her momma. Last thing she remembered, mommy was just leaving to get her hair done and returned home with a tiny human being.

She will forever be my special first born

Matching shirts

I want to blow this up poster size to remind myself why I exist. These children are my everything and the love I have for them grows stronger every minute. How is that possible? To be filled with so much love?

Becoming our family of four. Life takes turns and circumstances occur in order to line up these exact passing moments.

A kiss for you

And a kiss for me

"Me no likey diaper changes"

This started late Thursday night and hasn't stopped

"Please, pretty please God....I hope these people have a dog"

42 hrs after his birth...we were running for the door

"Now where's that dog?"

Surprise! Benham is here!

So, I head to my regularly scheduled 37 week OB appointment on Thursday to find out that I'm 2 cm dilated and my cervix is very thin...they didn't think he would stay put until Tuesday to try the version. So, I rush home and throw a couple things in an overnight bag just in case things didn't go well with the procedure, head to my already scheduled pre-baby hair appointment and then head straight to the hospital for the version. They put me on the monitor while they start my IV and get things ready and the nurse looks at me and says "do you feel that?"...huh, feel what? I was having regular contractions 2-3 minutes apart! What!? I felt tightening but I've felt that for most of this pregnancy. 30 minutes later the cramping started and it was obvious...I was in labor! They tried the version (which didn't hurt at all) but he wouldn't budge. I was now 4 cm dilated and not allowed to leave...he was on his way.Of course my doctor was out of town but my next favorite doctor was on call...she actually delivered Maryn as well, my doctor always seems to miss all the action. So, via c-section at 37 weeks and just shy of 3 days, a baby was born!

Benham Austin Cummings

April 7, 2011

11:26 pm

7 lb. 8 oz.

(can you imagine how big he'd be if he made it to his due date!)

21 in.

My babies like to come just a couple weeks early...to get on their mommas good side. Besides not having my hospital bags packed or the house cleaned or my 'to do' list crossed off or a pedicure done, I really wasn't ready to not be pregnant. I feel like my pregnancy was robbed from me...which only means I need to do it again some day:) We were going to be busy this weekend...cleaning windows, putting away Maryn's outgrown clothes that are piled up in a corner of my bedroom, dusting off the infant car seat, swing and bouncy seat and putting the finishing touches in the nursery. Someone, on the other hand, had quite larger plans of his own.

I get ants in my pants and always leave the hospital asap. 24 hrs after Maryn's birth and 42 hrs after Benham's.

Eat, sleep, poop, sleep, sleep, sleep...that's what we've been up to.

Graciously blessed with another healthy child to love.

37 weeks...and Bayley Boy's Birthday!

Our sweet Bayley would have been 9 years old today...and we still should have had about 4 more birthdays to celebrate with him. Some things in life are difficult to understand. I have a tendency to ask "why me...why is this happening?", when things don't go quite as I had planned. Mac is my strength and most times, before I can get the "is this happening?" part out of my mouth, he's already interjected and reminded me that I need to stop asking why?. We had 6 great years with this dog who taught us the real meaning of unconditional love and sacrifice. He will forever hold a very special place in our hearts and a place in my memory that will never forget. He absolutely was the greatest dog on earth!

Happy 9th Birthday you Ol' Man!

I hope that you're treated like a king today up There! I can only imagine how delicious the cake must taste in heaven. Save me a slice, buddy.

As I wipe away my tears, I find such joy in my anticipation for this new little boy to arrive. Pregnancy and new life is just about the coolest thing I have ever experienced. The fact that I have my son just chillin' in my belly never becomes mundane or ordinary to me. I have enjoyed every minute of this pregnancy, even the non existent immune system that he's given me. I'd go through anything for this child...even last months bout of pneumonia...ten times over again! He is still breech and I (or Mac) keep catching myself asking 'why me?'. He's found a comfy spot and hasn't moved since he was 26 weeks, I admire his conviction. He's going to be my stubborn one. I have an external cephalic version scheduled for next Tuesday...my doctor is going to try and work her magic to help my little bull headed boy flip. Say a little prayer that God gives her guidance and that Benham obeys orders. Maryn arrived at 37 weeks and 6 days and the version is scheduled for 38 weeks to the day...so he needs to NOT follow in his sisters footsteps by at least a day!

Benham's first photo shoot

Around 32.5 weeks, on Mac's birthday, I treated him to his favorite activity...family pictures! He just loves being cheesy. Benham's maternity pics were taken by Sarah Rogers...who just happens to be due with her second baby, a little boy, on my exact due date! Sarah is gracious to us NICU nurses because we cared for her first son a couple years ago. It's always really cool to see our NICU babies thriving, happy and healthy. Thank you Sarah for the beautiful shots!

This boy is already smothered in kisses...daily

I'm not sure where the last two years have gone but I know that I've packaged them tightly in my memory.

I'll be 37 weeks tomorrow...considered term! Can you believe that??? I just can't wrap my brain around the fact that this pregnancy has just about come to an end and I'm about to have TWO children! My prayers consist of requests from the Man upstairs that He not just make me capable of sharing my love but that He doubles my capacity to love. This little blue-eyed blonde has made me ooze with love. I love her so much and I hope that baby Benham is one of the greatest gifts I can give her.