Benji is 4 years old...

Saturday was the big "4" for our Benj. We took a few of his friends and went to Jungle Jim's and then had a cousin party at Kathy's that night. Check it...

I know...it is his birthday but I can't help posting a little "La-La!"

3 weeks old Today!

Another Baby La-La post...isn't she cute??!! A little post-milk nap.


Kite Flying with Luke...


More March festivities...Mom B's Birthday Party... And the baby cousins meet for the first time...

Settling in...

We are all getting used to our new roles in the family. Big brothers, big sister, Big Dadda, and Big Momma. BIG Family! YEaH for that!



These are the shirts I made for the kids to wear to the hospital that say, "I am the Big Sister" or "I'm the Big Brother!" Dan's says, "Who's your Daddy?"

The whole story...

As per your request Marie, I thought I would fill you in on all the details. I can't believe it has already been a week. It is kind of a blur! But in a good way!

First though, thank you for all your comments and well wishes! It is sooo nice to know I have such a great support system! I love you all!

So last Wednesday night around 10:30 the contractions started. Of course I was still wondering if they were for real or not. I got up and took a bath and watched a little "Conan" with Dan. He went to bed around 12:30 and I waited up on the couch. By 2 am I was sure it was real because they were getting hard and close. We called Mom and Dad B, and headed to the hospital. I was a 4 when they checked us in, and had us settled by about 3 am. I took another bath and used all my relaxation techniques I could think of. By 7 am when the doctor got there I was still only a 6. And I was done with techniques! He came back 20 minutes later and broke the water. Then the fun began! I was so out of my mind and couldn't think straight! About 30 minutes later and I was ready to push, so they said, but I was so freaked out by the pain I didn't think I could do it! I was saying, "I can't do this," and "somebody help me!" and "AAAHHH!" But after only maybe 10 or 15 minutes of pushing through extreme agony, (think tree trunk extraction) she was out. They held her up face up because that is the way she came. I was happy, but not clear in the head enough to be joyful yet. My amniotic fluid was full of thick meconium, so they took her over to the baby table with a pediatric team and checked her out. She wasn't too affected though and even scored a 8-9 apgar. When they finally passed her back I was so relieved it was over and she was mine that I was brimming with joy!! It was especially fun to call home and give the news to the kids as they were running to the bus. Also talk to my Mom and cry a little. And calling Aimee and wishing her a very happy birthday that she gets to share now with her darling niece! That was fun!

So that is how we welcomed our littlest "UTE" into the world. The sign says "Welcome baby Utes!!" in front of the nursery! She has already shown her BEAIRD appetite and gained her weighted plus a few more ounces back. She was a little jaudice, but has already cleared that too. It is so great I got to do this again because I am not bogged down by all the worries and expectations of past babies. It is harder however because their are 4 of them now to take care of! How did our parents do it??

Happy Valentines Day EveryBody!

THE WAIT IS OVER! SHE IS HERE!





LAUREN JULIANNE was born on February 12th (Aimee's 38th birthday) at 8:10am after 5 hours of pretty intense labor and 1/2 hour of out of my mind pain!!!! She was 7'11'' and 20 inches long. She is so cute!!! I love her so much, and I am so happy right now!



What a Beautiful Valentine!