Martin- 3 weeks

Yes, go ahead and say it....long time no post! I know I know--I have a 3 week old, so cut me some slack. Thanks. We are all doing great, and adjusting well to life with a newborn. He is absolutely precious and so much more than we could have ever asked for. We have done so much since my last post. We went to our 2 week check up and got a great report! He was up to 8 pounds and had grown to 21 1/2". Wow!! This boy loves to eat, no question there. He has had all kinds of visitors and still is expecting some more really soon. Last Friday we went to see the lactation specialist to be sure everything was going ok with breastfeeding, and I had developed mastitis earlier in the week, so we wanted to follow up. She said everything looked good, and Martin appeared to be doing great, but she weighed him just to be sure. Well, she was right, he was doing great....that little stink had gained 7 ounces in 7 days. He was up to 8 lbs 7 oz. I think he is just fine!! At the two week mark he started sleeping in his own room. Before then, he was in our room in a cradle, but I will say we all sleep better with him in his own room. That night was the first night he only woke up once during the night. But, the trend has continued, because he is still only getting up once during the night to eat and get a diaper change and then back to sleep until usually about 7 am. Pretty awesome I think! I can't believe a week from today he will be a month old. Although I can't remember my life without him. He is too cute for words!

Hopefully it won't be as big of a break in my posting for the next time. Martin has the cutest Halloween Costume, and I can't wait to take pictures of him in it. We will be here at the house passing out candy to the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween Y'all!!

First Check-up

We went for our first pediatrician visit after leaving the hospital. Everything checked out great. At birth, Martin weighed 7 lbs 9 ozs and when we went home from the hospital he was 7 lbs 3 ozs. At the check up the doctor said they just want babies to be back to their birth weight by the time they come in for their 2 week check up---well drum roll please....Martin is already back to his birth weight--only 3 days after discharging from the hospital. Apparently breast milk does a body good. Figuring out the whole breastfeeding thing in the hospital was TERRIBLE. Martin cried, I cried, Martin got frustrated, I got frustrated, but we both pushed through, and he certainly has the hang of it now. It feels so good to know we finally both figured it out because it was so stressful until we did. That is probably my favorite time of day when we sneak off to the nursery to have mommy baby time. Although, dad is always right there--it would be so much easier to nurse if you had 4 hands. I am starting to feel a lot better, and Martin is doing awesome. He is such a good baby at night. We get up to eat, and to change a dirty diaper, but other than that, he is pretty content at night (fingers crossed it stays that way). I appreciate all the prayers and well wishes people have been sending. We know this is just the start of something amazing and appreciate all the prayers along our way.

MARTIN IS HERE

MARTIN BRYANT BENTON

October 1, 2010--6:54 pm

7 lbs 9 ozs and 19 3/4 inches long

Martin decided to make his debut and boy was it awesome. I will keep the post simple for now, but I will post all the details soon! I woke up Friday morning about 2 am having HARD and very PAINFUL contractions that were about 10 minutes apart....didn't get any sleep and decided at 7 to get up and shower. Took a shower and sent Bryan to work thinking we still had time since we were still about 8 minutes apart....well about 10 minutes after he got to work I decided "IT WAS TIME" and called Bryan at work to meet Mom and I at the hospital. We got there about 10, and they finally put me in a room at about 12. I got my epidural and everything was in fast motion from there. I pushed less than 45 minutes, and it was an awesome delivery. He is here, he is beautiful, and yes I am biased. I am absolutely in love with him and I know you will be too.

I love Epidurals!!!!

All puffy faced from the fluids.....but just about ready to push!!