Did Aiden have that much hair???

That is the question! I remember thinking, and being told, that Aiden had a lot of hair. But I had to go back and look at his earliest pictures to compare the boys side by side. To me, Zack still takes the prize, but Aiden did have quite a bit.

Do you think they look much alike? Sometimes I see a resemblance, most of the time I don't... What do you think?

Aiden at about 3 weeks...

Zack at 6 days...

Zack

Zachary David Benson
March 25, 2008
4:28 PM

7lbs. 6oz.

20 inches

HE'S HERE!!!!!!

We are SOOO happy to have this little one finally join our family. He is wonderful. He was born Tuesday afternoon by C-Section. I was scheduled for a 2:30 operation, but at about 2:25 they rushed in to do an emergency c-section on another girl. Bummer! So we just hung out with the nurses for a little while until the O.R. was ready for us. When it was all said and done, I am just fine with having the repeat c-section (Aiden was breach... that's why he was a c-section). The doctor had said maybe he'd be able to break my water and let me go into labor and I had hoped I could deliver normally but when it came down to it, the hospital didn't have room for that type of "induction". We had to make the choice whether or not to go home and come back when there was room or just go ahead with the c-section. We feel comfortable that we made a good decision and that the Lord supports us in it.

Here are a few pics from the last few days.

Daddy & Zack

Our first "Family of Four" photo

In the operating room

Me & my boys

Everyone needs a Mom

I have, as you know, been getting very impatient for this baby to come. There is a light at the end of the tunnel because they will do a c-section on Tuesday afternoon if I don't go into labor before that. Disclaimer: I know there are so many of you that probably think I'm the biggest wimp because I still haven't even reached my due date. To those of you who don't deliver until week 40+, I'm soooo sorry!

I don't post all of this because I want anyone to feel bad for me or think that I am under some false impression that my life is harder than anyone elses.

I mostly write today for my journaling purposes. And cause I want my mom to know I love her.

My mom has been waiting anxiously for the phone call letting her know that "its time" for just as long as I've been waiting to make it. I'm so blessed that she isn't tied down to a job and has literally been on call for the last 2+ weeks for me. I have been just as excited for her to come stay with us as I have been for this baby to come.

All along I have hoped and prayed that the baby would be here before Easter. This morning our ward and two neighboring wards had a giant easter egg hunt at the park. I told Jeremy two weeks ago that he would need to plan on taking Aiden to it. Instead, we all three got to go. It was fun and I am glad I was there. I am really hanging on every minute of my time with just Aiden.

When we got home though, the realization that I never planned on going hit me.

I decided that I didn't want to wait any longer for my mom to get here. After all... she and I have a little control over when she comes. And since I obviously have NO control over my unborn child (not to mention my 2 year old :} )... I called her begging (it didn't take much) her to come a few days early. Within an hour or so my Dad, Emily and Jake had rearranged thier plans for the weekend too so that they could all drive down and spend Easter with us. (Ironically Josh would be coming too but he has an EMT clincal in the Labor & Delivery Ward on Sunday) They'll leave my Mom here and she'll be here to help with Aiden and the baby until I kick her out. When life gets tough we all need a Mom. I'm so blessed that mine is able and willing to drop everything at a moments notice for me. Becoming a mom (even the second time... and I'm sure the third and beyond) makes me need my mom more than anything else I think.

( just for clarification this is my mom with Aiden)

Thanks, Mom, for being awesome. I love you.

Broccoli & Chicken

Caution: This is not good reading material for the week stomach.....

Aiden hasn't been feeling super great for the last few days. He has had bad diarreah most of this week. He does really well during parts of the day... he runs, plays and is his happy self... and then it hits and he's whiny & lethargic. Poor kid. I don't know what to expect from one minute to the next and neither does he.

So the reason for the post...

We went to the grocery store yesterday to get broccoli and chicken for dinner. He didn't want to ride in the cart and since I only needed a couple of things, I let him "help" me push it. We got the broccoli and headed for the chicken. He kept saying he needed to blow his nose, but it wasn't running so I figured he could deal with it for a few more minutes. Then he got really whiny and when I knelt down next to him to see what was wrong he barfed all over (and it came out of his nose too!) - Right in front of the chicken. As if raw chicken isn't gross enough as it is... now there was throw up all over the floor in front of it. YUCK. I decided I didn't want broccoli and chicken for dinner. Imagine that! So I grabbed my purse out of the cart and headed for the door with my puke soaked kid.

But then I got a second wind of motivation. So I opened a box of wipes from the baby isle, cleaned both of us up as best as I could (I managed to escape most of it, luckily) and went back for my broccoli and chicken! When we got back to the scene of the crime Aiden looked at his mess and apologetically said "Mama, I spilled!"

I didn't know whether to feel bad for him, be embarrased for myself (luckily no one else saw any of this) or laugh out loud. But it was soooo funny!

We didn't have broccoli and chicken for dinner. And hopefully none of you are thinking twice about your dinner selection because of my post. But I had to share.

Baby....

No, he's not here yet. Aiden would be making his debut in the next few hours, but this little munchkin is holding out for a while longer. 3 weeks ago I would never have imagined that I'd go this far. I felt so ready and 'done' with being pregnant.
My biggest struggle right now is the night time. I was comfortable on my back for a lot of this pregnancy but that luxury is long gone. I hate being on my side most of the time. And right now it seems that I get comfortable on one side, fall asleep and then a contraction wakes me up and I have to heave my belly up and over to the other side. Now... these contractions aren't painful. They aren't intense. And they definately aren't consistent... but they are just strong enough to wake me up several times a night.
Sigh.... I know, poor me! Everyone goes thru it. And I am so blessed that I am dealing with this end of pregnancy instead of being like so many of you who are in the beginning, sick, stage of your's.
My mom has said that if the end of pregnancy didn't make us completely miserable, we'd never be willing to go thru the pain of child birth. Its SOOO true. I'm willing! I'm ready! Bring on the labor! We can't wait to meet this little man!

Almost 38 weeks

Here you go Cassie - and all the rest who are wondering how huge I am... This is VERY likely the last pic I will be taking this pregnancy. Maybe one on the way to (or at) the hospital. But no promises. I've had another GREAT pregnancy overall, but I am so glad that its almost over.

WOW!

Yes, I am his mother. Yes, I am biased. But this is the most adorable picture EVER!

Does EVERY kid do this?

Aiden fell asleep in the car when we went to meet Jeremy for lunch last week. After Jeremy & I ate, Jeremy went back to work and I drove around while Aiden slept. Pretty soon he woke up and before I knew it he had pulled my makeup bag out of my purse and had made himself "pretty"! Do you laugh, scold or WHAT!?!?!?! I didn't say anything. I just took the picture and then took the stuff away.

Pancakes & Sugar

I made pancakes for breakfast the other morning and Aiden wanted to "help." So I let him sit on the counter. He managed to get the lid off of the powdered sugar container and "spill" some. Its okay though.... cause he was more than willing to clean up this mess.

Dave & Buster's

All the Bensons were here a couple of weeks ago and we went out to dinner at Dave & Buster's. I'd never heard of the place, so for anyone else who lives in a cave... its sorta like Pistol Pete's Pizza, but geared towards an older (but not necessarily more mature) crowd. We had a yummy dinner (Aiden especially enjoyed his ranch dressing) and then most everyone played arcade/skee ball/"ticket winning" games. Jeremy had fun with the car & motorcycle racing games and Aiden got to join in on a few of them. Candy played "Whack-a-mole" with Aiden and we all had a good time.

Fun with Grandpa Benson

Jeremy's dad is living with us for a little while right now while he starts a new job here in Arizona. Aiden looks forward to Grandpa coming home at night almost as much as he does for Daddy to come home. Most nights Aiden sits at the kitchen table with Grandpa and they both have a glass of milk. Aiden rarely drinks milk unless it is laced with chocolate syrup, but when Grandpa pours it he gulps it down in its original form. Here are some pics of Grandpa throwing popcorn into Aiden's mouth. We're happy to have Grandpa living here... especially Aiden!

Jake's Homecoming

We had a great time in Vegas when Jake came home from his mission in Tacoma, Washington. Aiden and I flew in to Vegas on Sunday night and Grandma Robyn & Grandpa Steve picked us up at the airport. Jeremy had the awesome idea to let Aiden ride the suitcases so he didn't have to walk. Aiden thought he was pretty cool when Grandpa let him do it too.

At the Phoenix Airport there are TVs at some of the gates that only play kid shows. What a great idea! Aiden was fully occupied during our wait to board. What a blessing to a very pregnant mom who really wasn't looking forward to chasing a 2 year old for 30 minutes!

Grandpa Steve was planning to plant his garden while we were there so he went and got Aiden his very own shovel. Aiden was excited to "help". My mom and Emily and I went to see 'P.S. I Love You' while grandpa and Aiden worked in the garden. When we got back we asked if they got anything done and my dad, trying to be positive but clearly a little frustrated, said "NO!" And then headed out to the garden by himself to get the tomatoes planted. But to this day Aiden talks about his shovel and working in the garden with Grandpa Steve. Thanks dad, for putting up with him. It meant a lot to Aiden.

Jake got home on Tuesday. Here we are waiting anxiously for him at the airport...

Me and Emily

Josh and JenAiden enjoying the chocolate syrup that was left over on the straw and lid of Josh's Starbucks drink.

Grandma & Aiden

And the moment we've all been waiting for... And the cutest of all, of course, is Aiden and Jake. What a good uncle to read to him! We're so glad you are home Jake-o.

Birthday Dinner

I know I posted a while ago wishing myself a happy birthday, but I never put up the pics from my birthday date with my hubby. He took me to Chevy's for dinner. Just him and I. Our friends Julie and Josh took Aiden for us. They fed him and even bathed him. That was a great gift all by itself. Here are a couple of pics from our evening.

I totally forgot that when you tell Chevy's its your birthday, you get a HUGE sombrero. I was so embarrased when they put it on me! Luckily when the pic of us was taken, they hadn't sung yet. Cause Jeremy tried to make me wear that hat the rest of the night. It is now in Aiden's toy box!

No Baby Yet

I am my own worst pet peeve! I get so antsy when people are so close to having a baby and I don't hear from them (or they don't post on their blog) forever!!! So my apologies to anyone wondering if I've popped yet. We are all doing well and I am getting very anxious for baby to get here. I have a ton of pics that I need to post but just haven't uploaded anything yet... so there will be something to read before too much longer. And I'll make someone post for me when the baby comes so you are all informed. If you care. Sorry for being a crappy blogger :)