Benjamin is almost 2 weeks old...

It's so hard to believe that we've already accomplished so many things!! Like, his first bath, learning when he's hungry or needs a diaper change.

Benjamin Lawson is here!!!

On September 22, Ben and I went in to Dr. Cooper's office for a regular doctor appointment. When we got there, I was weighed, checked for protein in the urine, and sent to a room. While we were waiting in the lobby, Ben asked if I had dilated any. I told him no- I felt the same as any other day. Once we got into the room and Dr. Cooper checked me, I was at 3 cm!! Ben and I were so shocked and when she said "Do you want to come in tomorrow morning to be induced?", we didn't know what to say. She said she'd come back in a second for our decision. We decided on Thursday, his actual due date. Tuesday I lost my plug, Wednesday night before the induction, I had my bloody show and Thursday morning we went to the hospital at 6 am!

Once we got there and I changed into my gown, I got into the bed and answered a few questions. Around 7:15 am, the nurse started my IV and Pitocin. I was still answering questions until 8:15. I got situated and decided to get on my birthing ball. At 8:23, my water broke! We knew he was going to make his appearance THAT day! Started having contractions maybe 30 minutes after my water broke and IT WAS ON! I remember crying during a contraction with Grand parents, Wendy and Ben, in the room. After they left, I asked for my mom to come on back. Once she got in there, I asked to be checked and was at 6 cm! It was like time was flying by. My Grandma Sally came into the room when they were checking me again. This time, I was at 9-9 1/2 cm! Nurse said if I felt the urge to push to go ahead and start. I WAS NOT READY! I told her I was scared and I couldn't! She told me it wasn't the time to be scared- he was coming no matter what! She called Dr. Cooper and she was there at 11:58 and that's when i started pushing.

I was pushing with my feet on the stirrups and had 2 bars in my hands. It didn't seem to be working so, I grabbed my ankles and went from there! Everyone was saying "A FEW MORE PUSHES AND HE'LL BE HERE!!" I didn't think he was ever going to come. Once they saw his head and were screaming "HE HAS HAIR", I knew he was about to come!! I ended up having an Episiotomy because his head was so big (13 1/2"). I asked Dr. Cooper if she could just pull him the rest of the way once his head popped! Everyone in the room was laughing but I was dead serious. A few more pushes, and he was out! On Thursday, September 24, 2009, at 12:22 pm Benjamin took his first breath. Dr. Cooper sucked all the fluid out of his nose and mouth and laid him on my chest! Ben cut his cord and right away, I was in love! All of the pain went away once he was in my arms.

They took him to be weighed and measured. He was 8 lbs and 10 oz and 20.5 inches long. His head and chest were both 13 1/2 inches. They put his feet print on daddy's shirt and in his baby book. They wrapped him up and gave him back to me. After everyone left the room, he nursed for the first time! He was a hungry little boy!

An hour later, we all went to our personal room and everyone came to visit! From the beginning, everyone said he looked like Daddy with Mommy's nose and that's exactly what I wanted! I have no idea where he gets his brown hair from but, I think it'll change to blonde!!

SO SHOCKED!!

Went to see Dr. Cooper today and while Ben and I were sitting in the waiting room, we were just talking- he asked if I though I had dilated any and I said no. Well, once we got back to the room and she checked me, she said, "you're dilated to 3 cm!" I was in total shock and so was Ben! Then she's going to say, "wanna come in tomorrow morning at 6 am to be induced?" I was still a little overwhelmed to know that I had dilated to 3 cm and she's asking me if I want to be induced!! We decided on Thursday and if I'm at 5 cm at 6 that morning, she's going to let me have him without Pitocin to make my contractions start.

I was thinking I wasn't going to be dilated any and therefore, I wanted to be induced but, if I had dilated, I wanted to go on my own.

I can't believe that NO MATTER WHAT, Benjamin will be here in 2 days!! 2!!! I'm so excited.. I don't think Me nor Ben is going to get sleep tomorrow night!

I can't wait to hold him!

We'll both be parents soon!! I can't wait to have my happy little family! Doesn't seem like I've waited 9 almost 10 months!!

Going to be a Mommy SOON!!!

Went to the doctor again yesterday. Thought I might have Toxemia since I'm showing all of the sypmtons except for high blood pressure and protein in the wee. They took blood just in case and sent me to hear Benjamin's heartbeat! It sounds great and I'm measuring at 38 1/2 cm to 39 cm (weeks). The nurse was pressing on my ankles and feet to see if it left indentations. Dr. Cooper was at the office (which normally the doctors only come on Monday's) and told me I needed to come to her office if I haven't had Benjamin by next Tuesday.

I'm thinking she's going to lay everything out with me and then go from there. I'm hoping when she "checks" me, I've dilated and I've thinned out a little and he'll come on his own!

I'm still hoping for the best and I can't wait to see my baby boy!

I can't believe he'll be here so soon! I'm so excited but so nervous- all at the same time!

I'm definitely ready to begin a new chapter in life with my boys!

37 weeks and 6 days

Went to the doctor again yesterday! She could feel his head and says he's far down!! It's so exciting to know that he could be here any day now!! I'm ready for him!!

Seems like 15 days is too long of a wait but, I'm still hoping for an earlier baby! So, Benjamin Lawson, come soon! :)

His heartbeat was 162 bpm and I measured right at 38 weeks! Hopefully he'll come tomorrow and if not AT LEAST by Friday or the next Friday!

I'm getting more and more anxious as the days go by and I just want these contractions to start so I can just get the pain over with and enjoy my baby boy!

Doctor's Appointment

Monday was our doctor's appointment and I saw Ms. Reed! She's one of my favorites! She always goes over everything to the best of her ability!

Just like every visit, she let us hear Benjamin's heart beat which was 141-146 bpm. She then measured my uterus and surprisingly, it was a 1/2 cm smaller than the week before! She felt on my tummy and told me Benjamin's head was really far down and he had his back turned towards mine and that's why I'm having lots of back pain.

She told me a few exercises to do to get him to roll over and have his back to my belly so when I go into labor, I don't have back labor. I'd sure hate that!!

We've decided on not having any guests besides close family because of the flu going around. I'm so terrified of us getting the swine flu and then giving it to Benjamin.

On the bright side of things, I've got 21 days until my due date. As the 24th gets closer, I'm getting so anxious! Pretty soon my baby boy will be here! I can't wait to hold him in my arms and see him face to face! I know he's going to be such a cute little baby look just like his daddy!

36 weeks and 1 day pregnant

I'm finally getting closer to my due date! It seems so unreal that my little man will be here soon! I keep telling myself he will come on the 10th but now, I have a feeling he's going to wait until the beginning of October!

I had a dream last night that he was born with red hair and weighed 7 lbs and 11 oz! I couldn't see his face but, I know it was my baby! Even though I've had the 3d/4d ultrasound and basically saw his EXACT features, I still can't imagine what he looks like!

In the pictures, he looks a lot like Ben and that makes me so happy! I wanted him to have my nose but, who knows if it'll be like mine! I hope he has his daddy's eyes and has super blonde hair!!

I can't wait for him to be born! I'm so ready to hold him in my arms and each day I'm getting more anxious!

Once I'm able to hold him, I'll probably wish I was still pregnant and watching my belly grow but as of today, I'm so tired of having a big belly! I'm so uncomfortable and I can never get in a good position to fall asleep. I stay up tossing and turning all night. During the day, if I'm not going to the bathroom, I'm trying to catch my breath because Benjamin's so big and squishing my lungs.

Only 1 week and 6 days until the 10th but, I really have 3 weeks and 6 days!!

I've started going to the doctor every week now and hopefully soon, I'll be checked to see if I've dilated or if my cervix has thinned at all!

I hope by next Monday, I've dilated a few cm and Thursday my little man will be here!! I'm looking forward to holding him and giving him all of my love!