Three Years and a Lil' Lady

Though this maybe a play on words from the hit 1990's movie staring Ted Danson it couldn't be more fitting for our lives these days.  Three years ago Todd and I met under a white gazebo in Jamaica and exchanged vows with the ocean as our backdrop.  It was a beautiful despite the 100 degree weather at ten in the morning.  I remember not being nervous at all just in a hurry to get there so that I could marry Todd--this was a hard feat considering most Jamaicans are on Jamaican time.  I remember arriving for my hair appointment about ten minutes early (standard here in the states) and tapping my foot impatiently for twenty-five minutes.  Regardless of how the day began it ended with Todd and I lying next to each other on the beach, a cold drink in our hand, and a shiny wedding band on the other.

                                           

Three years later we are no longer just two, but three---a family.  Presley couldn't be more of a lil' lady these days. She laces her fingers together and gently lays them across her her chest while she eats, followed by and extremely loud belch and a polite little smile.  She has brought more joy and laughter to our marriage and makes me feel complete. 

Three years ago it began with a smile and a kiss and ended like this

Happy Anniversary!

Two Months....

It has felt like a horse race this month and Presley is in the lead!  We ended last month with a short trip to Kansas City to visit Aunt Jennifer and Cousin Max before we jogged over to Cameron for Todd's family reunion.  There, Presley got to meet her new cousin Alex that is 5 months old and she kindly shared her play mat with him after lunch.

Carolynn (Lee's Sister) hosted the event and was all about Presley.  The two shared secrets in the bedroom and had girl talk for about 5 minutes straight.  Presley did EXTREMELY well on the long car rides, she slept the entire way up and back. I don't know how much longer she will be able to hold out however, we might be buying our time on quiet car rides to northern Missouri (please make through MU football season?!)

As for the developmental milestones this month Presley has made new friends..yes a monkey, fish, and frog.  Todd's good friend from college (Chad Jansen) sent us an item that was not on our registry, but he swore by it.  He was right! She loves this lit up sound machine.  She garbles and coos at the animals and really gets excited when I sing along with the melody.

Presley has been working out too.  Reaching and grabbing for rings, doing baby push-ups, mountain climbing (or just on the floor and our stomachs), swimming (watch out Michael Phelps)as well as---drum roll please---rolling!  She has done it both ways now on her own.  It is still not a common occurrence in our home, nonetheless we are extremely proud of her.
We also had to endure something I have dreaded since the day she was born....SHOTS! I swear it, I even had it in my birth plan to wait to give her the Vitamin K shot till after she met me because didn't want her first thoughts about me to be literally painful. Presley went to her two month check up and I am happy to report she is as healthy as a horse.  Here's her stats:

• 11 lbs. 7 oz.
• 23 1/4 in.
• 75% tile for height and weight
• Meeting all milestones

The shot part you ask?  I did more crying leading up to the appointment than I actually did that day.  Todd was there for moral support and he really thought that he was going to be the one that would have to hold her hand and embrace me afterwards, but I did really well.  I held Presley and loved on her so much after she got poked THREE times :(  Shots are the necessary evil in my book and with as much research and reading that I did leading up to the day all my fears and anxiety dissolved after she made it through the weekend fever free and happy.

SHOOOOOOOO! What a month it has been.  I am a glutton for chaos can't wait for next month!

Being Mom and Dad

Thanks to my wonderful mom (Nana) Todd and I were able to get out of town for 24 hours to St. Louis.
Months ago I bought tickets to the St. Louis vs. A's game for his birthday/Father's Day.  It was hard work getting out of town, but once we were on the road it all came back to me---that is how to just be a wife.

I have read in several of my magazines and doctor books that it is hard work getting back into the groove of being with just your spouse sometimes and I always thought---ahh not us!?  It really is tough.  It took 45 minutes for Todd and I to get the conversation rolling in the car, never mind just sitting next to each other in the front seat seemed foreign.  Typically one of us is in the back on binky patrol.

Once we arrived in St. Louis we were well on our way to an enjoyable weekend filled with hot dogs, nachos, and a few Bud Lights. It took me back to about a year ago when Todd and I were talking about starting a family and "living up" our last summer "together."  I am so glad to know that after this weekend we can still "live it up together" as husband and wife and mom and dad.  It's a different kind of fun and it takes a lot more work to clear your mind and focus on just the two of us, but I feel it is well worth the effort.

I love Todd dearly as a husband and now as a father to Presley.  What a wonderful man for Presley to have in her life; the perfect model of how a man should treat her and believe in her, just the way Todd has me. 

I am glad that we were able to celebrate his first Father's Day together just the way he would have wanted it:

The Cardinals and Presley!

Love you Big Papa!

It's only been a month...

Presley is growing so fast, weighing in at a little over 10 lbs. and 22 in. she is our "lil' butterball."
Todd describes this past month as evolving.  Presley grows so fast and learns new things everyday and just when her daddy and I think we've got her figured out she goes and changes on us again.

I would have to say that one of the most special milestones this month was the morning that she smiled at me when I said good morning to her.  It absolutely melted my heart and the more and more she smiles and coos the more reassuring motherhood becomes.

You go so long with little to no repsonse from your child:
* I massaged you after a bath, do you like it? No response
* Yum lunch...is it good? No response
* Good morning! Straight face

Now she and I can chat all day long! I love it!

I also go these stickers called Picky Sticky, you put one of these decals on a onsies once a month and ta da! Watch your baby grow!

I am looking forward to all the next major milestones like rolling over and a small attempt at crawling maybe by the end of the summer!

Our First Week

We have had a wonderful and tearful first few weeks with Presley Ann.  The first night was all that we expected, up every hour to eat and cry a little, before she would nuzzle down into our arms.  I knew that babies slept a lot, but this girl would have slept all day if I would have let her.  We went to Presley's pediatrician Dr. Steele about 5 days later and she had gain 4 ounces already, what a chunk!  I dread the two month check up because they informed us this is when they will get their first round of shots--ouch!

Todd went to Minneapolis this week and was gone for three nights, when he came home on Wednesday after midnight I was so glad to see him, I kissed him, and then looked him square in the eye and said, "Don't ever leave me with a two week old that long again."

We have realized that being a parent is hard work, it's not like we weren't aware of what would happen, but living it out is a different story.  The bad days have been greatly out numbered by the good days and watching her grow and change each day makes it all worth it.

It still strikes us when we look at her or put her down at night that she is all ours! We get to keep her forever!

First day: Bath, clean diaper, nap--not too bad

Momma and Presley trying on hair bows

Our friends the Gredell's---first visitors with dinner.

Introducing PJ to Presley---he is adjusting well

First doctors appointment--she had gain 4 ounces and was told she was extremely healthy

Visiting El Taco our favorite, but after a battle of soiled diapers and throwing up I don't think I will eat it again and nurse.

Presley LOVES bath time, I think it is because I took a bath every night when I was pregnant.

She looks so small in our big bed, but still takes up so much room.

Nana and Presley on Mother's Day

The new Bennett Family on Mother's Day

Momma and Presley. My first Mother's Day

Mom and me on Mother's Day

Green Grandma, me and Presley, and Brown Grandma on Mother's Day
Ma Bennett and Presley

Presley Ann Arrives

April 29th 2010 will now be a very special day in our home.  Presley Ann Bennett graced us with her arrival at 2:17 p.m.

Todd and I came to the hospital around 9 p.m. the night before to be induced with a cervical ripening agent.  I went from 0.5 cm, to 2.0 c.m within about 4 hours.  They decided to give me another dose of the ripening agent around 4 a.m. then the contractions began to get a little worse and I woke up Todd and told him I needed him to just hold my hand.  Turns out I needed a lot more than that, within the hour the contractions were so bad (5 in a row with no breaks and very high) I begged for an epidural that took about an hour and a half to get (I don't like waiting).

Once I got the epidural though I was a happy camper, I even offered to share my orange popsicle with Todd.  From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. I moved from 4 cm to 8 cm, my WONDERFUL support nurses (Summer Azeez--Linda's daughter in-law, Kegan, and Kim) let me rest for about an hour and then I was at 10 cm +2 and ready to push.

I didn't know how I would do having Todd right there in my ear coaching and cheering, I never did picture him being the kind that turn it into a sporting event of sorts, but he was the best.  Telling me how impressed he was and what a good job I was doing.  Never once did he say anything along the lines of "I know this is bad" or "yah I feel the same way," he knew I was the only one that could feel this amount of pain and pressure to "birth" a child.

After three long, very tiring hours, we finally had our little girl!

Daddy Cut the cord and was so proud to do so!

7 lb. 2 oz. 20.5 in

Everyone has been telling Todd and I for months about how special this day is going to be and I feel that we knew good and well what was in store for us.  In all honesty I don't think we had any idea of how miraculous this would be.  I was so proud and in love the moment I saw her and the whole time I pushed, sweat, grunted, and just felt exhausted I kept going because I knew my little girl needed me to do so.

It still surprises me when I look at her to know that she is ours, that they are going to let us take her home when the week is over, and that she is the result of love, patience, and true bliss.

Bennett Family First Photo

April 29, 2010

Waiting.........

I went to the doctor on Tuesday and we have made no progress since last week....disappointing I know!  We only have to hang in till the 29th, Dr. Lehnert said if she does not come on her own that we will go in on Wednesday night for a cervical balloon, stay the night, and then start pitocin Thursday morning.  Though I did not plan to have the tail end of pregnancy so thoroughly planned out, I have come to accept that whatever is best for me and the baby will just have to be done.

This really makes me begin to wonder what kind of personality she is going to have.  Will she be a home body?  Stubborn?  Hard to get out of bed in the morning? Always late (like her mother)? I may be reading into it too much, but I feel like she has developed such a personality already I can't imagine how this isn't part of it as well.

Keep posted and no later than Friday the 30th we will have pictures and an update of lil' Missy!