World of The Pacifier

The world of the pacifier (for Cade) has come to an end.

It has been 3 weeks and counting without this little mite!! Cade did great. He was ready. We had tried a few times and he would somehow miraculously find an 'intact' paci and we would tell him when he busted that one, there would be no more.

The week we had Ethan my mother-in-law was tending Cade (WHAT A BLESSING!!) and he busted his last one and she didn't want him to be without that and mummy so she bought him some new ones and within a week of me being home he busted ALL 4 of them and didn't want anything to do with them, so there they sat, on his bookshelf, looking perfectly new with a teeny tiny hole in the teet. He has had no interest whatsoever so we are paci free. He did awesome in my opinion. We haven't lost sleep over them (any of us, including Cade) and we still have a great nap time each day, I am praying that does not go away until Cade is in school!! Wishful thinking I know!!

To pay the paci some respect as he was more so a friend to me than Cade I am thinking... I will show him off in all his loveliness!!

Ethan's Blessing

On Sunday April 19th we blessed our beautiful Ethan.

We wanted to have the blessing before my mum went home so she could experience for the first time one of her grandbabies blessings. It was lovely. My in-laws came and Alisa and Jesse came too. Jesse just received the Priesthood so what a blessing to have him in the circle to bless Ethan.

Cory, Chad (my father-in-law), Jesse and Nolan (a good friend of ours), along with a member of our Bishopric participated in the blessing. I am so thankful for a wonderful, worthy husband to bless our children and the blessings and promises given were just so special and specific.

Today

...a month ago, Ethan was born (see previous post)... but also today, my mum went home to the land of Aus. I HATE saying goodbyes, not knowing when I will get to see her again here or there.

My mum was so wonderful to be here, she arrived the day I got home from the hospital and it has been such a blessing to have her here. Ethan loved her, he would save his talks especially for Nanny and even dished the most beautiful smiles her way. Cade too has loved it. This last week to 10 days he has been really good, it seems to take him forever to warm up to people but when he does he can be a really sweetie.

I am dreading the reality of her not being here this next week particularly as Cory is SUPER busy but such is life.

THANK YOU MUMMY BEAR for being here. I SO, SO loved it and SO, SO, SO appreciate you! I love you.

Now for some Nanny pics.

One Month

Ethan is one month old today. Time is just flying by and it makes me a little sad that's for sure.

Ethan is the most wonderful baby. He just loves Cade and SOOO loved my mum. The attention given by both of them toward him is definitely appreciated by Mr Ethan.

I am meant to take him for his monthly weigh in tomorrow so I will post back the details of that but I am thinking he is pretty close to 10lbs as he is a chunker. He has chubbed up around the thighs and particularly in the face.

Ethan has been smiling, real smiles too. He seems ticklish on the sides of his belly and loves to freely kick about. He is a noisy little one. That first week he was almost silent and I would have to check on him as he was SO quiet... not anymore! He grunts and wheezes in his sleep and talks and jabbers away when kicking about.

Both of my boys as newborns, look at you with what I call 'wise eyes' like they have known you forever and have something to tell you while they study you and I so love this about them both. Cade was far more expressive in his facial expressions and would scowl or furrow his brow like a bright light was on and even in his sleep, Ethan is far more relaxed it seems. He sleeps really well, still feeding about every 3-4 hours but doesn't fuss about with it so that is nice. He isn't really losing the darkness in his hair or much hair at all for that matter. I love that he is dark, definitely a genetic throwback with that but we gladly take it!! I love the feel of his hair when I brush my cheek against it and the smell... oh how I LOVE that baby smell.

Boys I swear grow so much faster (probably because that is all I have had)! Ethan is so strong in his head and neck and looks about. I love that!

He still very rarely cries except when naked or hungry. I hope this happy little boy always is so lovely and happy, I will for sure be trying my hardest to keep it that way!!

Happys....

Not only is it a Happy Easter Sunday today but it is also our Happy Anniversary!

Cory and I have been married 6 years today. It's kind of funny thinking of my life before Cory. Often I go to say, "remember such and such" expecting that he was in my life back in the day but that was not the case...
I love my life with such a wonderful and caring husband. He is so good to me and for me. He levels me and calms me as no one else can. He is caring and kind and such a fantastic father. What a blessing.

We didn't celebrate our anniversary as such as yet. We had plans to but were too tired to go out last night so we will take up that date night sometime this week I am thinking.

Here's to 6 of the happiest years and many, many more to follow. I love you babe!

Here are a couple pics of the growing us...

2 Weeks...

Can you believe Ethan is already 2 weeks old... I sure can't! He is still the most calm and placid little boy and is such a joy to us. Cade is still totally smitten and wants to shower with him constantly, is trying to carry him everywhere (which is not so pleasing)and is just loving him to bits. Ethan has become more vocal this week. He grunts and talks himself to sleep most nights and it is just lovely to hear.

We had his 2 week appointment today and he has put on a whole pound since birth. He is now 8lb 12.5oz (hasn't even reached Camryn's birth weight yet Mel!!). He is a great little feeder and sleeper and I seem to have oddles of milk so he gets done nursing in about 15 minutes which is great. He goes about 3-4 hours between feeds and is having a little more awake time each day.

I am feeling ok. I seem to be frustrated at myself, wanting to recover much quicker this time round which is just not possible. I have had a few tears about it. Just want to get out and about without hurting and Cade has so been on my nerves as he is demanding and bossy and I have to be on him constantly or he will rule the roost - this has nothing to do with Ethan coming into the picture, we have been contending with this for a little bit now but now that my mum is here and he is a dead set turd to her at times it has come to a head. I feel bad for him, he has cabin fever and so do I so that really doesn't help either. Cade is a wonderful little boy, one that just knows what he wants and he is very much a leader and that is hard when I want to take charge!! He has had some little friends come over this week and had some play time which he so needed and so loved so we'll see. He is getting better with me though... if I stay on him. I just love my Cade and want to bring out the best in him and not allow the tendancys of a 2 year old to take the forefront. ARGH... I have just pulled said child out of Ethan's cradle for the umpteenth time today and he is bawling!! Oh dear!! Better go love the boy's tears away!

What Would Have Been...

MY DUE DATE!! Today was my 'official' due date. I had mentioned before we had 2 due dates (the 28th or the 31st) but we ran with the latter.

Today my beautiful boy is 1 week and 1 day old. Ethan is a wonderful baby. I hope this sticks around, but he is so placid and content. He doesn't fuss unless naked and doesn't cry even when he has wind. He is an impressive sleeper and an even more impressive eater. He is quieter than Cade, doesn't make as many little baby noises. But he makes up for it with a louder cry than Cade! Not that you hear it much, both my boys aren't much of criers (so far...)

Cade is smitten. He is a smother but so tender. He says, "Cute!" all the time and wants to hold him, bring him to me, hold his hand and constantly is trying to wake him up. If he anywhere remotely close to Ethan he is rubbing his head, can't keep his hands off his little head. Ethan is handling it like a pro though, nothing fazes him at this stage. Just today I was on the phone with Cory and had to leave the room for a minute and when I returned to the room, Cade was in the cradle with Ethan! I would have got a photo but I freaked out, he had to climb over Ethan to lay by him so I had to make sure poor Ethan was ok. He didn't move a muscle, was sound asleep.

This morning Cade came into bed with us at some stage and I didn't know. Ethan woke for a feed and I sat up and got him out of the cradle and Cade woke and asked what I was doing and I told him just feeding little bubba and later I just lay down and held Ethan and Cade snuggled over and was touching heads with him and rubbing his head. It was so endearing. Cade is a beautiful child. He is caring and sweet (unless he is busy bossing you about and then all loveliness goes..) My poor mum has been chastised by Cade more than I can count and I am hoping he snaps out of this quick smart or it will be cause for some serious time outs to say the least!

I am doing ok. I was great yesterday but today I am back to hurting again. My incission just burns sometimes, well most of the time and it bugs me. My milk came in while in the hospital and it didn't hurt near as much as it did with Cade but my back KILLED from it. That has eased a tonne though so I can not complain. My mum is a fantastic second set of hands and feet I tell ya!! We have had some wonderful meals from wonderful friends, thank you so much and some great visitors drop by. It has been so nice as I am still house bound for a little bit.

Here are some pictures for you all to enjoy, hopefully as much as I do!!

Ethan... 1 Day Old

Ethan... 1st day home

Ethan... 1 week old

Ethan's Birth

Well I thought it about time I sat and collected my thoughts and recorded the events that made for Ethan's Birthday.

The night before my scheduled c-section was a sleepless one to say the least. For the longest time I have felt like me talking about the impending surgery was as if I was talking about someone else and even up until I was getting hooked up to the IV and having bloods taken it hadn't hit me. Cory's mom came to be with us at the hospital and arrived Sunday evening. I was awake from about 1:30am and Cade woke at 3am and did not go back to sleep. He too knew something was happening in his little world.

We arrived at the hospital just after 5am and got settled in a monitoring room and they took my vitals and listened and monitored bub, got me hooked up to the IV and bloods taken and then it was change of shift so we cat napped between people coming and going. At this stage, I had a freak out session. It hit me! I had a mild panic attack and Cory just reinterated all that I already knew and tried his hardest to change the subject of thought. I think I just realised that I was in for a full on day of poking and proding and the IV bleeding all over my hand was the least of my happenings...

Dr Keeler came in and gave me the run down of what was to happen and when and then the anesthesiologist came in and gave me his run down. After peeing for the 10,000th time since having the IV in I was taken back to surgery and sat on the side of the bed for the anesthesiologist to do his magic and magic it was. I had mentioned to others that I was slightly worried about the spinal as my epidural hurt when I had it administered, felt like someone was kicking my kidneys and putting complete pressure on my hips (but the epidural was heaven). Well, the same thing happened this time, that pressure but it was the local not the spinal and my Dr literally took 2 minutes to do my spinal. He was AWESOME!! I must say I think I like the spinal more, it seemed to take longer to wear off as I felt I was in recovery longer but it was well worth it. The anxiety I was experiencing pre surgery was totally gone when in surgery, I was smiling and talking the whole time. It was really special as I totally felt the spirit and taken care of. Dr Keeler removed my old scar so that took a little longer. He said, "Let's have a baby now Kathryn" and with that he states, "I see a hand and a foot AND a head of hair Kathryn!" Then I think it was Cory said "Kathryn he has a head of dark hair!" I was so pleased!! They were able to show me Ethan over the curtain when he was born which is something I didn't get with Cade and made for an extra special experience. Ethan was crying out the whole time, it was so cute.

Cory went with Ethan and it seemed to go much faster being stitched up this time. I think my anesthesiologist said it was about 45 minutes. My mother in law was able to come between Ethan and me in recovery and that was so nice. I just so appreciated her being there. Ethan fed right away and knew exactly what he was doing. What a blessing.

Cory was SO exhausted. Once I was in my room and settled he and my mother-in-law and Cade all left to have a much needed sleep. I was tired but just couldn't sleep. I took power naps here and there but by 10:30pm I was exhausted. Ethan really didn't feed during the night at the hospital, especially that first night which concerned me but they told me not to worry and I needn't have had any concern as he is putting on the weight perfectly.

Our stay at the hospital was good. My nurses were great, Dr Keeler was fantastic, Cade's Dr's were too. I didn't see much of Cory as he was so busy with assignments and presentations and juggling me and work was hard too but we got there. I missed him and Cade alot. Cade ended up going home with my mother-in-law for Wednesday and Thursday and he was TOTALLY Grammies boy I tell ya. It was a good stay for him.

What a blessing to have a baby in our home. Ethan is a fantastic baby. We love him to bits!

Introducing.....

Ethan Cory Benjamin
Born on Monday March 23rd, 2009 at 8:02am
weighing in at 7lb 12oz and measuring 19 1/2 inches long


I will have to share all the details with you in the next day or so, but can I just say what a delight it is having Ethan in our home. He is a wonderful little baby and we are all totally smitten!

The Countdown Is On...

This week has been quite an emotional and stressful one to say the least but we have been blessed with some happy news... MY MUM IS COMING!! yay is all I can say! I am super excited that she is able to come. We did not think that this would happen as she has been dealing with the settlement of her insurance case with her car accident she was in just before she was due to come for Cades birth, but things have worked out so she can swing it. What a blessing to me. She arrives as I check out of the hospital and my mother-in-law will be here with us at the hospital and I am SO thankful for that. I found it hard to be alone when in surgery when Cory went with Cade so I am glad my mother-in-law can step in. She is such a great help and I am thankful for her willingness to come. My mum will be here for 4 weeks and it is such a relief to me and to Cory to not have to worry about the adjustment and recovery. He can come and go as usual knowing I have constant support with my mum here.
Life has been so busy and stressful for Cory and this weekend is more of the same. He has a major presentation due this next week and with all of his group away on spring break and me in the hospital next week it makes for some cramming and stressful days. Here's hoping it all comes together for him. That he gets the grades he needs and we can all remain healthy and well with all the stress about.

But the countdown is indeed on... I got the call from the hospital this evening and we have to be there at 5am. Hello early!! We are having our good friend watch Cade and I wanted to wake him and take him on over to her so he wouldn't freak out when he woke and we were not here but I am hoping that perhaps we can keep him asleep or having my mother-in-law stay with him until he wakes and then jet on up to the hospital once she has dropped him off. I am hopeful he is calm and things work out as he is SUPER clingy for me of late and just tonight when I was talking to him about what is coming up he told me I need to be "home to sleep" and that "Cade stay here!" I am stressed about it but there is nothing I can do so I need to let it go.

I am praying my little heart out that things come together well and we are ALL happy, healthy and taken care of. I am a control freak and when I can not control the situation I stress about it, so now is when I need to show faith and trust in the Lord, knowing all is well and that I will be fine, baby boy will be healthy, Cade will be fine, Cory's work and school schedule will be fine, things will be fine!!