It's a BOY!

Yeah! He's here! Benton Parks Brown was born on Wednesday, March 16th, at 5:30 PM. It was the first day of my 36th week (5 weeks longer than Adaline!), and I was getting ready for work. Around 7 I finished up my cereal, and on the way to the sink with my bowl, my water broke. I called to Shane, and after mom arrived to help with Adaline, we were on the way to the hospital. I spent the day trying regular labor (with only a one sided epidural), but after getting to 8 cm, the doctor decided I would not get any further and this baby would have to come another way. I went in for a c-section a little after 5:00 and soon after, Benton was with us in the world. He arrived at 8 pounds, 15 ounces (just a few ounces short of his estimated weight) and was 20 and 1/2 inches long.

We spent the next three nights in the hospital. Many people helped us out so much with Adaline back at home to allow for Shane to be at the hospital as much as possible. Thanks! It was difficult for both her and us to be apart, and we were excited to get to come home on Saturday.

The first night home was tough and a new challenge began with two children so young. Adaline has been a bit confused as to who this new little creature is in our house. She wants to touch, poke, and grab at Benton a lot, and we can't let her. She also is showing us that she may be a bit jealous and needs some extra loving. It is hard to tell her I cannot pick her up and play with her as I normally would because I am still healing. She doesn't understand, and I look forward to feeling normal again soon so that we can play as usual.

On Sunday, some family came to visit, including my grandmother and aunt from Colorado. It was a fast, but wonderful visit, and we were happy that we got the opportunity to get together.

Adaline watching Benton / Great Nanny with the great grand-kids

Since we have been home we have been getting settled and enjoying life as a family or four. It will still take some adjustment, but we are so blessed and happy!

Still Cookin', Still Waiting...

Two more weeks have gone by and we are still waiting for our new arrival. Cheri is just over 35 weeks pregnant now and is still doing relatively well. We had another ultrasound appointment last week and the doctors estimate that the baby is just over nine pounds already! It is hard to believe the new baby could easily be over twice Adaline's birth size by the time it is born. This of course is all pretty nerve wracking, and Cheri continues to have contractions at various intervals all of the time. The doctor wants us to keep hanging on as long as possible to give the new baby as much time to develop as possible and said that by the time the baby is born it could weigh in the high 10's. None of this helps Cheri feel any more comfortable trying to sleep at night or get around during the day. It is hard sometimes to stay patient and just wait for the baby to let us know when it is ready.

Adaline is pretty much oblivious to our stress level and continues to grow mentally and physically every day. She is saying "uh-oh" pretty regularly and seems to be trying to work on other words too.




Adaline really likes it when we sing to her and has been working on the motions for Itsy Bitsy Spider, If You're Happy and You Know It, and Row, Row, Row Your Boat.




Adaline seems to finally be feeling better after a double ear infection diagnosis and a quick round of antibiotics. We were able to get out and enjoy the great weather last weekend at Adaline's favorite place - the park.




Life for the Brown's rolls on and we will just keep waiting, watching, and praying. Who know what the next update will bring...