BENJAMIN EVERETT: MONTH TWO

Easily following toys now

Was constipated for over 48 hours but karo syrup and a warm bath helped that

Went over 12 hours with only nursing!

Starting to coo and smile at everyone

Loves looking at our ceiling fan and lights

Still pulling his hair with his right hand. (Stopped around 6 weeks)

Watches tv.

Can breast-feed without a Boppy now.

Smiles and gives smirks with giggles. W

ent on his first picnic with Rory and aunt Nikki at larriland farm. Has had 4 picnics, 3 trips to restaurants with momma, 2 pumpkin patch visits and 1 leaf-tastic afternoon photoshoot.

Visits Grammy d on lunchtime walks

Momma takes me on morning outings during my morning nap.

Love to snuggle in bed with mom and dad when I wake up around 7. I'll sleep an extra two hours on mommas chest.

Gets extra happy and smiley at night when dad gets home from work, in the morning and at night. Loves giving smiles!

Officially outgrown all of my newborn clothes and outgrowing his 0-3 month onesies and some shirts.

Weighing a little over 10 pounds at 6 weeks and a little over 12 pounds at 8 weeks.

Made Halloween cards for all of my grand and great grand parents.

Loves to eat and having his diaper changed.

Started sleeping in his crib at 7 weeks but momma still lets me sleep in the Rock and play if I have gas.

Starting to sleep on my tummy during naps at 8 weeks.

Figured out our nanny situation.

Drinking over 30 ounces a day.

Went to a Halloween party at papa duke and Grammy pammys house for my first Halloween.

Took his infant insert out of the car seat.

Visited Annapolis with Grammy d and great gramma Schaub.

Still loving tummy time (especially on the boppy) and playing on my play mat, but my favorite thing to do is be perched on someone's shoulder or sitting so I can look around.

Loves being outside!

BENJAMIN EVERETT: MONTH FOUR

12/14 you officially rolled from back to your side! We've been practicing rolling for a week or so and we are so proud!

 On your third month birthday 12/10 I weighed you and you were 15 and a half pounds! Y

ou smile all the time!! Still! So happy all of the time!

About to bump your bottles up to 5-6 ounces for each feeding :)

 On 12/29 I weighed you and you were 17 and a half pounds!

You have rolled from your back to your tummy now a few times!

You love love standing! It's your new favorite thing. We hold onto your little hands and say up and you will go from laying to standing in a second flat! You're so strong!

You had your first Christmas where you were spoiled with love and presents! Some things you got were: an embroidered leather chair, a push car for you to sit in, a plush car and toy car for you to sit and play in, lots of toys and clothes!

Your aunt Lauren came to visit and she instantly loved you. The way she takes care of you makes mommy cry because I know she loves you so much and she was such a natural.

We asked aunt Ali and aunt Lauren to be your godmother - they said yes!

You were asked by aunt Kiki and uncle Albert to be their ring bearer and you said yes! You play with a ton of your toys now and grab the ones you want if they are next to you.

You are so close to sitting up by yourself!

Going to bed around 9pm every night that we don't ruin your schedule

Went to Terris for the first time and you had so much fun. You were wiped out and went to bed early!

Mom started working 4 days a week

BENJAMIN EVERETT: MONTH 6

Oh Benjamin! You are changing so so much every day. From the moment you turned five months I feel like we've been saying you are a man on a mission!

I shed a few tears after you decided to start going to bed between 7-7:30PM. You did this right at the five month mark. I knew this day was coming and you need the sleep so you can grow big and strong, but I miss you so very much when I'm not with you. Sometimes I will sit in your rocking chair after putting you down to sleep and listen to your sounds. We started a bedtime routine with you and we never miss a night! We start by giving you dinner (solid foods) a little after 6PM, followed by bath time, then we wrap up the night with a bottle. You've recently decided that you are a big guy and want to sit up in the bath tub, rather than relax and recline in the baby bath. We know you will be a big boy sitting in the bath tub in no time, but no rush!

Rolling from back to tummy is a given if you are on a flat surface - even when sitting in your black chair, you can't help but to lean forward to grab at something or trying to flip over to get out and explore. The only time you sit still now is when watching Mickey Mouse after your morning bottle - which allows mama and dad to get ready for the day! Diaper changes are a challenge and I've found if I give you something to grab onto or sing really loudly I can grab your attention for a few moments so you won't flip half way through. The week you turned 6 months old you rolled from your tummy to your back!

You love playing peek a boo and belly laugh at so many things - which is the best sound in the entire world. You are still the sweetest ever and smile constantly throughout the day. You've started to smile and interact with strangers when we are out in public and you even babble now while out! Your personality is growing so much week-by-week. You really love watching other kids and love hanging out with Jax and Rory.

You are still an awesome eater and love helping me feed you. You still love to put the spoon in your mouth all by yourself! This month you started becoming interested in watching mama drink her coffee. I let you reach out for an empty mug and you immediately grabbed it and brought it to your mouth - you're so smart! I know that in a few weeks you'll be sipping water out of your very own cup!

This month we have had some nice weather! We took you to the zoo and bought a membership so we can go back all throughout the year. You loved the monkeys! We saw a mama lion, penguins, giraffes, monkeys and farm animals (plus more). You experienced your first trip to the park and you went on the slide and swings. I was afraid to push you very high, but Dad wasn't worried - you loved it! You would smile and kick your little chubby legs. The week you turned 6 months you started sitting all by yourself for long periods of time! Working those abs out - you only tumbled over after 10 minutes the first couple of days and then you decided it was time to sit all by yourself one day we were at the park with Aunt Nikki and Rory.

We found out that you have eczema and you broke out in hives when I washed your clothes in our laundry detergent, rather than your baby detergent. After taking some Benadyrl the hives cleared up the next day. We now do a mini massage after your baths with eczema lotion.

WELCOME BENJAMIN EVERETT LUCAS: OUR BIRTH STORY

On Thursday, September 10th I woke up after having a sinus infection for two days deciding to stay home from work and go to the doctors to get a prescription for antibiotics. I didn't want to ignore the cold and, in turn, not be able to kiss our sweet Ben when he made his arrival.

Chris left early that morning to play in a golf tournament with his dad up past Frederick. We both knew it didn't make sense for him to stay home waiting for something to happen - especially since we weren't even at his due date yet. At this point, I was sure he was going to come after due date since he didn't make his arrival on my birthday. The midwives had all told me the same thing - that he would be making his arrival early, but as each day came and went I found myself more impatient and more discouraged.

I made an appointment to go to Urgent Care after calling my OB/GYN office and was prescribed Amoxicillin. Around lunch time I drove to CVS to drop off my prescription and came back home to continue working. Around 3PM I decided since my prescription still wasn't ready and having only two more hours in the work day, I would try a trick to stimulate my nipples that Tammy told me could help start contractions. I walked upstairs into Ben's room and grabbed the breast pump out of the closet. I came back downstairs, saw a text that my medicine was ready to be picked up and plugged in the machine. As soon as I sat down on the family room couch I felt a "pop" of water - I had a feeling that I didn't pee my pants... I remember thinking that I may be pregnant, but I should still know the difference between peeing my pants and my water breaking. Half nervous and half excited I waddled to the bathroom. As soon as I sat down I felt liquid instantly gush out of me. I couldn't believe this was it!

They tell you that once your water breaks you have about 24 hours before they want the baby to come since after your water breaks, it leaves you open to infection. Since it was only 3:30PM at the time my water broke, I knew my doctors office would be open. I called the office and asked if they wanted me to come in to be checked. Instead, they told me to go straight to the hospital. I called Chris almost in a panic. I needed him to head home. I called my mom and asked her to come over and called Tammy letting her know I was 99% sure that my water broke. She was already at the hospital working and told me she would stay until we came and were checked in .

Once my mom got to the house, I jumped in the shower. At this point I wasn't experiencing any contractions. I knew they could take their time and it could be hours before they progressed. I remember feeling like I was constantly leaking, even after getting out of the shower. By the time I started to blow dry my hair I could feel the contractions starting. They weren't too strong and about 5-7 minutes apart. I decided to wait to time the contractions until we were in the car on the way to the hospital. Trying to track them and get ready would be too much. I got dressed and made sure our bags were packed as the contractions started getting more intense and closer together. I called Chris asking where he was. By the time he got home I had my mom start and put all of our bags and the car seat in the car so we would be ready to go. The contractions were getting stronger and I just wanted to get to the hospital.

Chris got home, sweaty from playing golf all day, and by that time I was afraid to wait any longer. Without showering we were off to the hospital. I started timing my contractions in the car on an app I had downloaded months ago. They were consistently about 3-4 minutes apart by the time we got to the hospital. We grabbed our bag and headed up to the labor and delivery unit - around 5PM.

As soon as we got to the nurses station we saw Tammy. I was breathing through my contractions, waiting to be checked into a room while a girl was crying in a wheelchair because of her contractions. In the room across from the nurses station the door was cracked and you could hear screaming. She was pushing and Tammy told us she waited too long to come to the hospital and wasn't able to get an epidural. Needless to say, I was terrified of what was to come. I was able to walk and breathe through the contractions at this point and seeing/hearing these two women made me panic that the worst was still to come.

After about 20-30 minutes we were headed to our room. I changed into my gown and our nurse hooked me up to a fetal heart rate monitor and a monitor to track my contractions. She asked if I wanted an epidural (which I said yes) and explained that I needed a full bag of IV in me before they could administer it. I called my mom and told her to head to the hospital since we were checked in!

I continued to breathe through the contractions which were about 1-2 minutes apart at this point. We had a nurse change at 7PM and I was given the epidural at 7:30. Everything the nurses told me about what to expect (feeling wise) with the epidural happened and I remember it not being as bad as I had anticipated. I just kept trying to focus on my breathing. I remember Chris trying to comfort me by telling jokes and rubbing me, but until the epidural kicked in I just needed my space and to focus on the waves of contractions! They best way to explain how the contractions felt is the feeling of having to hold your pee really badly, the cramps you get in your stomach would also wrap to your back.

Once the epidural was given they monitored Ben's heart rate. It was spiking after each contraction, but the midwives were amazing and made us feel that this was common. We tried to help Ben by rolling to my left side and finally they put me on oxygen so he would receive extra as well. Thankfully it worked! The midwives told Chris and our family to go get some dinner, that since this was our first labor, it could go on for hours before he arrived. I remember this was about 8:30. Everyone left the room and the midwives fluffed my pillows and told me to rest. We could potentially have a 9/11 baby.

Shortly after 9, the midwife came in to check my progress and saw I was fully effaced and dilated. In fact, she told me that Ben had hair on his head - that's how far down he was! I was anxious and excited to start the process - I remember texting Chris to come up since we were ready to start pushing as soon as they were finished eating. He came up while everyone else finished and I remember looking at him asking him if we were actually ready to do this - to become parents - and more importantly, was I actually ready to push out a baby.

My mom met us in the room and we started pushing! After pushing normally for 15-20 minutes, I turned to my left side and pushed him out after an additional 10 minutes. While pushing I kept thinking what will be the first thing I say to him? How will I act and then all of a sudden he was here! He was perfect.

Born September 10,  2015 at 10:12PM. Weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces and 18 3/4 inches long. 

I remember saying "Hi Baby!" and looking around the room at everyone's faces. His hair was dark and so curly, I was for sure he would have Lauren's curls.

He started to latch and the midwives and nurses said because of the large bruise on the left side of his head, they wouldn't be shocked if he wouldn't nurse right away. He probably had a huge headache - it was from how he was positioned and came out through the canal. They weighed and measured him - which I was in disbelief of how short they measured him to be. We later found out it was a mistake since he wasn't fully stretched, but forever he will have his tiny length on the birth certificate.

The rest of the family came in before they stitched me back up for the night and I remember all of their proud faces. We're so lucky to have them all right outside cheering us on.

We were finally transfer to our room around midnight/1AM and went to bed that night as a family of three. I remember waking up with the sunrise, holding Benjamin and crying the happiest tears. I've never felt more joy than every day he has been in our lives.

We're so very lucky and blessed.

BENJAMIN EVERETT: THREE MONTHS

Got his first shots. Two in his left thigh and one in his right thigh. He was fussy that evening from his thighs being sore. We gave him Tylenol but he spit most of it up.

Weighed 12 pounds 10 ounces and was 23 inches long at his doctors appointment. Doesn't have another appointment until 4 months. Drinks 32-33 ounces a day. Mom produces about 20-21 ounces a day.

 Mom ordered and got our Christmas pajamas in the mail. All of us and aunt Lauren will match.

Beginning to talk to mom and dad with my cooing.

Mom and dad made me giggle at week 9. I would imitate their giggles. I especially love when they put the burp cloth on me because it means I get my bottle.

Smiling a lot now! Confirming he is a happy happy baby.

Loves the song the ants go marching - gets excited when we say hoorah!

 Grammy took care of me one night because mom was sick with a sore throat. Gigi watched me one day so mom could clean the house. Mom and dad went on a movie date and to the Ravens game.

Rarely gets fussy over gas now. Holds onto blankets a lot now. Loves kicking his feet and kicking toys

 Clasps his hands and open and closes his hands more often now Loves sitting up on his changing pad and looking in the mirror with you. He will giggle and smile at himself.

Visited moms work for a work thanksgiving.

Met his Reid cousins who love him so much. Every time they would walk by him they would put their hand on his head like they were blessing him.

 Watched mom and dad put up the Christmas tree and decorate it with lights and ornaments!

Went to lunch with mom and aunt Alex to aunt Mandy's job.

Had his first thanksgiving / went to Grammy d and great aunt Kim's house.

Sleeping in his crib!!

Sleeps through the night on his belly. Mom was nervous at first, but she's been using the monitor Terri gave her to make sure he was ok.

Tried taking Christmas photos at the tree farm but I had a blowout in my skinny jeans. We came home and set something up at the house and the photos turned out great.

Went for a nice long walk the day after thanksgiving at freedom park. It was in the 60s!

I am starting to talk a lot more now! Maybe I'll be a talker like my mama.

Loves kicking the water in his bath tub

Had your first belly laugh one day shy of your three month mark.

We didn't catch it on tape but mama cried happy tears!

Wants to sit up all. The. Time! You try to do crunches to sit up because you want to see what's going on.

Mama put you in your high chair for the first time and you played with toys - speaking of toys you grab your toys now! Your favorite is the wrinkle rattle and the links!

Mom went back to work :(

Exclusively pump now - which has helped increase my milk supply! we typically only need to give you 8-10 ounces max rather than 14!

Loves looking in the mirror!

He smiles immediately when he catches your eye!

 Size 2 diapers and just about outgrown your 0-3 month clothes!

Saw Santa and the Christmas tree lighting in downtown sykesville. Decorated the Christmas tree and hung your stocking! Your hands are in your mouth constantly and you no longer take a pacifier. we think we have a thumb sucker on our hands and it's adorable when I hear you sucking on your hands in the morning in your crib.

Blows spit bubbles all the time! Lower lips kill me! I'll pick you up and snuggle you at any sight of the lower lip.

BENJAMIN EVERETT: MONTH FIVE

This past month you have become SO FUN! You love looking around and responding to sounds and people talking to you. I remember the first time you were sitting on my lap and twisted your body around to look up at me to see me talking to you.

You started eating real foods this month! Your first taste wasn't what I expected AT ALL. You pushed out the sweet potatoes and made the cutest faces. Since that first experience, you have started looking forward to eating solids. You are so smart and even grab the spoon from my hand to help me feed you. You'll put the spoon in your mouth all by yourself! So far you have tried: sweet potatoes, green beans, apples, pears, prunes, oatmeal and bananas. Your favorites seem to change on a daily basis, but if I had to pick a favorite so far, it would be a tie between sweet potatoes and green beans.

Another huge change this month is you never want to lay on your back now! It only takes you 2 seconds to roll from your back to belly and we can't get you to play any other way on the floor now. You twist your little body around when we change your diaper and most of the time I'll let you flip to your belly naked to hang out before putting a new one on. You're SO proud of yourself and we are so very proud of you also!

Your hair is coming in so much now that by your 5th month mark, your birth mark is becoming less and less visible. Your eyes are still a deep blue, but they are lightening just slightly.

You are still in size 3 diapers and are transitioning to 6-9 month and 6-12 month clothing now. We have no clue how much you weight, but you are thinning out slightly and definitely getting longer!

Your favorite toys this month include your bouncer - you LOVE to bounce up and down non-stop in that thing. You enjoy hanging out on your tummy on the boppy playing with your activity table and making the music and lights play. This month I have also noticed a big increase in your love for your blankies - you love holding onto your swaddle blankets and it's just about the cutest thing ever.

You've started to condense your naps and take a solid morning and afternoon nap on most days. We started swaddling you for naps at the beginning of the month, and by the last week you've decided you are a big boy and can nap with one arm out of the swaddle or on your tummy in your crib.

We've packed up your baby swing, your baby bathtub and the rock n play. You are such a big boy now!

You continue to be a great baby out in public! I just stick you in the wrap if we are going to Costco or you hang with us at a restaurant without fussing. You did grab for Mama's iced tea one night at dinner and spilled it all over us and the diaper bag. We've learned our lesson!

You survived your first blizzard! We got over two feet of snow and enjoyed being "snowed in" together. We blew bubbles, set up different play activities and took lots of photos. You were only out in the snow for about five minutes - long enough to snap some photos.

This month you had your ear appointment at Hopkins. You slept the entire car ride there and were such a good patient. You failed the left ear test where it measured how you respond the sound by the vibrations in your ear (I believe) but passed the test where the doctor placed head phones on you and went into the other room and called you by your name in each ear. You responded (and even looked each direction for her) at the same sound level in both ears. Because it is a state mandated exam we are going back on February 11th for the sleep deprived test. It will be a hard morning keeping you awake so you eat and fall asleep at the appointment, but we don't want you to have to be put under for the test.

You went through a growth spurt this month and were up every 3-4 hours for a solid 4-5 days. Mama's immune system crashed on the last day and she got sick, but we both got through it! I missed snuggling with you in bed in the mornings after you started sleeping through the night again.

We purchased an air purifier for your room so you can breathe easier at night! With the air purifier running, you don't seem to inch your way across the crib now so we think you are sleeping more and tossing/turning around less.

Social events this month included: Rory's first birthday, Grandpa Pete's birthday and the Superbowl! 

Benjamin, you continue to amaze me. Your smile is contagious and you are the sweetest thing I've ever known. You are growing to be such a fun, smart and active little guy and I hope you feel how much we love you every day. I look forward to snuggling you when you wake up in the morning and smelling your hair after you take a bath. You have such a wonder when you are in new environments - you are observant and study your surroundings. You feed yourself with your left hand (with a spoon), but like to hold onto toys with your right... totally confusing my opinion of you being a lefty! I wish I could stay home and play with you every day, but I am so looking forward to the next couple of weeks as the temperature warms up enough so I can take you on walks again. You are the favorite part of my days. I love you!

BENJAMIN EVERETT: MONTH ONE

Nicknames: Ben, Benny, Benny Bear, Benny Boo

About Me/Milestones/Measurements:

•  Has dark blue eyes with a grey ring around the iris. Mama thinks he may end up with hazel eyes
• Has lots and lots of sleep smiles. Mama and daddy are waiting to see his first real smile!
• Will roll onto his side when on a flat surface
•  Went through a couple growth spurts! Can drink from a bottle and we started supplementing him with formula after 2 weeks
• Becoming so much more alert!
• Is the sweetest baby ever who captures everyone's heart he meets
• Makes the most adorable cooing noises when nursing on mama. He made them since coming home from the hospital and it melts my heart
• Sleeps at least 5 hours at night
• Snores and grunts!
• Looks for mama and daddy when he hears their voice
• Newborn fits perfectly and will probably only fit for another week
• Just about outgrown newborn size diapers
• Weighed 8 pounds 3.5 ounces and measured 21.5 inches at his one month appointment
• Mama and daddy left him with Grammy D for the first time at one month
• Still sleeping in the rock and play
•  Has a strong neck! Can turn side to side and loves lifting his head. Since coming out, he has always wanted to be looking around
• Finally starting to latch onto my breasts without the nipple shield. A huge accomplishment!

Oh, no!

• Had only one colic night when mama ate chipotle and chicken fajitas. Gripe water helped!
• Both ears have passed the hearing test, but not at the same time
• Was scared by a loud fart (his) while nursing 

 Loves:

• Loves his activity mat and doing tummy time in his crib
• Loves his dragon toy - the noise of the wings flapping always catches his attention
• Loves his hands and hates being swaddled and not being able to have his hands by his face
• At just about one month discovered his tongue and loves kicking his feet
• Has some serious mean mugs with his daddy's eyebrows! But loves having his head rubbed since mama rubs his head and plays with his hair while nursing
• Loves his newborn Avent pacifier and sleeping on mama and daddy's chest. We are guessing he may be a tummy sleeper!
• Loves looking in the mirror
• Loves car rides and walks with his mama, daddy and friends

Dislikes:

• Hates wet diapers and being cold
• Cries when he is taken out of the warm bath water

-------

Dear Benjamin,

You are hands down the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every time I look at you, my heart warms and I feel so at peace with the world. You've been the best gift I have ever received in this life and I can only hope that I can show you love, the way you've effortlessly have shown me. I love all of the little noises you make and playing with your baby duckling hair while you nurse. There is nothing else in this life that I want more than to be your mother. Every day your dad and I are in awe of how sweet you are.

Mom Life:

The first two weeks after delivering Ben were the hardest days of my life. I had an easy pregnancy and delivery, but the worries and sleep-deprived nights are something I wasn't fully prepared for. When we came home we initially tried to place Ben in the bassinet, swaddled. After a few failed attempts we finally brought up the rock and play, which Ben took to instantly. I remember Chris and I asking the nurses to swaddle Ben in the hospital because our attempts weren't working.

Breastfeeding has been such a love-hate experience for me. I tried not to go into motherhood with any expectations about how breastfeeding would be for me. I knew it was different for every woman. Worrying about how to position Ben, if he was getting enough to eat, what things should I stay away from, can I pump - how much should I pump, how to store and heat and use the pumped milk... it all was so overwhelming. I would just cry and make new milestones for myself because I knew that my goal was to provide my son with as much breast milk as I could produce. I feel like I stayed in bed for the first two weeks of Ben's life for the most part because it was truly one of the only places in the house that I felt comfortable nursing. I would stack a few pillows next to me and nurse him in the football hold position. I was too nervous to try the Boppy - I wanted to stick with what had worked rather than rocking the boat. Ben had issues latching and staying latched so I was given a nipple shield and it was a life saver. We bought a few extra pairs because it became annoying having to wash it over and over and would get lost in the bed sheets.