Ben

Benjamin Richard

We checked in last Thursday morning at 7:30 for the c-section. They took us back a few minutes before 9 and told us that we'd been bumped, as had the first scheduled c-section of the day, due to emergencies early that morning. Nurses came in and out of the room, gradually getting me prepped. Around 11:40 or so, they took me to the OR.

Rodgers had to stay in the recovery room until we were ready to go. It was 11:53 when we started, and Ben was born at 12:03. There was a bit of excitement as Ben tried to swim away from the Dr when she was delivering him. It was a completely relaxed, uncomplicated c-section. I had a spinal, but could feel movement and pressure. I did feel Ben trying to climb inside my ribcage.

When Ben was born, the Dr told us that he was still a boy and that he was awake, alert, and looking around. I imagine they were sucking fluid from his mouth and nose with a bulb syringe like they did with Nate. Then, he started crying, and I did, too.

They brought him around for me to see, then carried him off to clean up and get checked out. Rodgers made sure I was ok, then went with them. When they had Ben wrapped up, they gave him to Rodgers, and he brought him to me and laid him down on the table with me. Another 30 minutes, and we were back in the recovery room. I got to hold Ben as we transferred.

No one was expecting him to be small. Ben was 7 lbs 8 oz at birth, and 19" long (though I was sure I heard them say 19.5", and that's what I told everyone the first day). He's 1 oz shy of a full 2 lbs smaller than Nate was at birth. He is so tiny! He is long, but super skinny. Our NB clothes are way baggy on him. I am glad that we went ahead and got some NB clothes (some hand-me-downs and some new), despite expecting him to be close to Nate's size and not needing them much.

Here are Rodgers' pics from birthday.

Nate is adjusting to having a baby brother. He likes to love on Ben when Ben is upset. But if Ben is happy, and we are paying attention to him (i.e. feeding him), Nate gets very jealous.

My recovery is easier than I expected. Ben is eating well and sleeping well (for a newborn). He doesn't sleep well at the right times of the day for us to sleep well, but we are coping with that. Nate had us well prepared due to his recent sleep regression (which really has been better). Today, Ben's been waking up to eat every couple of hours, but is otherwise passed out, except for a brief time this morning when he got a sponge bath (in the kitchen of course).

in the meantime

I am writing this post in advance, scheduling it to be published tomorrow, September 15.


Today is the day! BB should be born any minute now. I will be publishing his beautiful baby pics as soon as I care about my blog again, but in the meantime, for your viewing pleasure, here is a slideshow of my growing baby belly, which should be (mostly) gone by the time you're reading this. :)

From 12-18 weeks, I was excited enough to be taking pictures weekly. From 20-34 weeks, I was tired, lost enthusiasm, and only took pictures every other week. The last month, I took pictures weekly again because I was growing exponentially...



And a comparison: (left) the night before Nate was born, 41 weeks; (right) the night before BB will be born, 39 weeks.

last week

Not as in the week preceding this one, but as in the last week of pregnancy. It's here. At once it seems too fast and like we will never make it to Sept 15. 

I suddenly feel huge. This is what I think of as the "beached whale" phase. My big chair + ottoman + 6 pillows is about as comfortable as I can be at this point, but it's going to take me awhile to get up! It's a series of wiggles and flops until I work myself to the edge of the chair and lean over until my weight is all on my feet. Nate is frustrated because he wants me to hold him and rock him in the rocking chair before bed, but I have no where to put him. This would be a really great time for him to have a big boy bed because we could just lay in his bed and cuddle, but he's still in the crib. The majority of my maternity clothes no longer fit. Shorts and capris don't fasten; tops aren't long enough. It's a good thing I only have a week to go! But don't be surprised if I wear the above outfit every day for the next 7 days. It's very stretchy. :)

I was just reading my post from 38 weeks last time. It's pretty much the same this time, except that I am sleeping better than I was then. Not sleeping great, but I'm not up all night like I was before Nate was born. So that's a plus. Also, I haven't gained as much weight but at this point, the difference in weight gain = what I didn't lose between pregnancies.

Anyway. I'm ready.

In other news (and this is about bathroom stuff)...

I've learned a lot about cloth diapers. I am working on building up a stash. I have a few different types and brands already, and a few more coming in the mail. I was a bit reluctant when we decided that this really would be the best thing, but now I'm actually excited about it! (Of course I'm excited about the shopping and new stuff, but I don't think that's all I'm excited about.) Also, Mom wants to make me some covers, and that's exciting, too!

Nate is making progress in daytime potty training. He says "pee" and "potty" now, but he doesn't tell me he needs to go. He just says "pee" if he sees himself peeing, and he says "potty" if I ask him if he wants to sit on the potty. I have a few pull on training pants for him, which will make sitting on the potty less trouble, but we aren't using them because I haven't washed them yet. I've just been letting him sit on the potty before I change his diaper. He tries to pee every time, even if he doesn't really need to, because he LOVES peeing.

cookies for Nate

I think I may have mentioned that Nate tends to be constipated. It doesn't help that he looooooves food that stops him up even more. In an attempt to remedy his last bout of constipation, I looked up some constipation cookie recipes. One recipe was really yummy, but he wouldn't eat them. He at least tasted them. I tried bran muffins, but he wouldn't even touch them. So I took a recipe he loves already and made some adjustments. This is based on Quaker's Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies recipe.

1 stick of margarine, softened
1/2 cup pureed prunes (this is about 2 plastic tubs of Gerber 1st Foods prunes)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup black strap molasses
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup raisins

Heat oven to 350
Beat together margarine, prunes, sugars, and molasses until creamy
Add eggs and vanilla; beat well
Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; mix well
Stir in oats and raisins; mix well
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown
Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack

He loves them. And they help him stay semi-regular. Sometimes I let him have one for breakfast. I haven't calculated the nutritional value, but I figure they're better for him than cereal... The other recipe I tried subbed the sugar 100% with molasses and honey and the butter 50% with pureed prunes and 50% with peanut butter. They would be more healthy, but what's the point if he doesn't eat them? Rodgers and I liked them, but the texture was a little off.

My little secret: I divide the dough in half before adding the raisins, then add raisins to half of it for Nate and chocolate chips to the other half for me. :)

QOTW: Me not *take* cookies, me *eat* the cookies.