Baby Bennett is here

Ok so here we are just before heading into the hospital. That belly was projectile.

Kristi had had several labor pains about a week before and had been dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced for a couple weeks - so based on the previous births we kept thinking she was going into labor but that kept not being the case! The little dude liked it in there. And the little dude was getting big... Cubby was 9lb 6oz and was born about 2 weeks early so when it got within a week and a half of the due date we decided to go in and have the dr. break the water. Here is the sweetness getting ready.

The Dr. checked and Kristi was 3-4 cm dilated and 85% effaced and some light contractions were happening so we went for it and she broke the water. After walking around for 30-45 min those contractions started coming strong and true with some nice solid pain. After a totally amazing natural birth with Cubby, Kristi opted for the epidural for this second 9 plus pounder! An extremely wise decision in my opinion! The timing was perfect and the contractions kept on strong without any pain. Wahoo! We even took a nap. It was so nice to just hang out and anticipate the arrival together. Just the two of us with nothing to worry about except what this baby will look like and what his name will be (thanks Susan! My mother in law was with the rest of the kids bless her heart). After a couple hours the doc checked progress and she was a at a 7! It seemed unreal that pretty soon that baby would be out and in our arms. Another 20 minutes and that baby's head was ready to come out!

Before we knew it with a simple push the head was out, charging into the world with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck once and one arm raised up just like Superman flies. It looked like this.

Add an arm to the head of a 9lb 8oz baby and getting him out was quite a feat! I am telling you - I am married to the most amazing woman alive!! That baby came out as purple as you can imagine. His shaky cry was slow to come but I don't think there is a sweeter sound in the world once it did finally come. The emotion of the moment was overwhelming. A beautiful baby boy, entering the world at that peak moment, almost in slow motion, a moment filled with spiritual depth, physical exhaustion, joy, unity, purpose, and wonder all together. I can hear that emotion come through in my own shaky voice as I try to speak to him. Wonderstruck.

9lb 8oz! This is one blocky kid.

Kristi's mom is here to save the day. Actually days. I don't know what we would do without her she has been a HUGE help. She was with our other kids and the morning after the birth, I went to pick up the kids and Grandma to bring them in to meet Bennett. We pulled McKay out of school and headed over and they were crazy excited. The look of wonder on their faces was priceless. They wildly excited about their little bro and Cubby has only whacked Bennett a good one on the head once so far.

Definitely out numbered at this point.

Bennett Richard is his name