Running

I started running again recently, and thought this was so fitting.

Marcel Calder Photography

My talented friend Marcel is doing a giveaway for her birthday. Check out her blog here. Wouldn't that be fun to win a free photo shoot with her? Hope I win!

Smart Kid

Tyler is such a smart kid. He speaks really well and picks up on things really quickly. Last night I was making dinner and Ty was watching his Curious George DVD (this kid LOVES Curious George!). Benny started getting a little fussy and so Ty said, "Mom, can you turn it up a li'l bit?" Me: "I can't right now buddy, I have chicken on my hands." Ty: "But he's distrackin' my movie!" Ha ha. I've told Tyler a few times not to distract Bennett while he's eating and he remembered how to use the word... pretty much anyways. I love that kid. He keeps me laughing all day. P.s.- listen to the first song on my playlist. Especially if you have boys. Such a sweet song.

I'm going there someday

Last night for Family Home Evening we were talking about the temple. We looked at pictures of the temple and of a bride and groom out in front. We then talked a bit about how mom and dad were married in the temple so our family can be together forever. Yadda, yadda, yadda, stuff Ty's already heard before. I'm always so amazed at how much Tyler understands. In the middle of the lesson he pipes in, "Mom. When I'm older I'm gonna wear a shirt and go to the temple!" "Huh?" "Yeah, I'm gonna wear a shirt, and a tie, and a flower when I get married in the temple. Are you gonna be there Mom?" "Yep, I'll be there." "And you, and Daddy, and Benny are gonna be there?" "Yep. We'll all be there. Because 'We are a happy family!'" I love being a mom and seeing my children learn such important, simple gospel truths. Today while we were playing with some blocks in his room, Ty plopped down on his bed and looked up at the picture of the temple across his room. Then he said, "Mom. Let's go to the temple now." "Well, let's go in a couple of days with Daddy so we can take some pictures there together." "Okay. I wanna go to the temple. It's Jesus' temple house." Thanks Ty for already loving the temple.

Jumping Feet

Yesterday Tyler was doing a puzzle on the lds.org website. There was a children's song on in the background- Stars Were Gleaming. Yes, I know that's a Christmas song, but if you know me at all you know I start asking what people want for Christmas in July. Anyways, Tyler was tapping his feet and said, "I like this song. It makes my feet jump!" Ha ha. What a cute way to describe a song with a good beat. Thanks Ty for always making us laugh.

Need a good laugh?

Oh my heck! I was seriously crying while I watched this. Go ahead and watch it for a good laugh... and if you laugh hard enough it will make for a good cry too!

Bennett Dean Richardson

Our little guy arrived Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 2:10 pm. We are so excited to have him with us and love his sweet puppy whimpers and big man burps. Here are his stats:
Name: Bennett Dean Richardson
DOB: 4-27-2011; 2:10 pm
Weight: 9 lbs 3 oz
Length: 20 inches
Head: 14 3/4 inches
Mode of deliver: Cesarean Section
Hospital: Banner Gateway
Delivering Dr.: Russell Beck

Now for a quick recap of the special day. Feel free to skip over the mundane details and on to the darling pictures of our sweet Benny boy, this is just for my own record.

My water "trickled" a little around midnight, but after no contractions and no further signs of labor I chalked it up as an embarrassing bed wetting experience at age 25. Well, around 1:15 am my water really broke- Niagra style- and contractions followed shortly after. I was pretty encouraged because I didn't feel any contractions with Tyler after my water broke, so I figured things must be progressing along and perhaps the c-section could be avoided. I got ready, Jake finished packing our bag, and contractions were coming in pretty strong at 3 minutes apart for 45-60 seconds long. We dropped Tyler off at my angel sister Cindy's house around 2:30, and only had to run one red light in the 2 mile trip :) Then we headed to the hospital, checked in, and got set up in triage. They checked me and said I was pretty thinned out, but only at a 3 and narrowed to a 1 (whatever that means!). Checking in!

My nurse came in and much to my surprise it was Toni Ebert, a lady that I know quite well who lived down the street from me and was in my same ward growing up. What a coincidence. She was really funny and took great care of me. She kept saying, "Well, sorry but I'm going to have to get to know you a little bit better here" before she would check me. Anyone who has had a baby knows that all modesty and care for who sees you goes out the window, so it didn't bother me at all. Anyways,contractions continued to intensify and came every 3 minutes, like clock work. I was given some medication to help take the edge off, but it unfortunately slowed down my contractions. When Dr. Beck came in to check me around 7:30 or so I was only at a 2 and the baby was still really high so they got me on Pitocin. The contractions kicked back in and after awhile I went ahead and got my epidural. Oh those blessed epidurals, you were heaven sent! I don't remember what time it was when I got my epidural, but I remember feeling pretty proud of myself for going as long as I did without one.

Dr. Beck came in to check me again around 1:30. After all that time of strong, consistent contractions I hadn't progressed past a 3! Dr. Beck took sometime to talk with me about options and his concerns. He expressed that he knew it was really important to me to do a trial of labor and try for a vbac, which is why he wanted to let me try. He felt that even if we were able to get the baby's head to engage in the birth canal, there was a high risk for something called shoulder dystocia. Basically there was a risk of Bennett's shoulders getting stuck (because he was so big and I'm apparently narrow "there"), which could result in nerve damage and even brain damage. Dr. Beck was very sensitive and said that we could try a bit longer to labor, but after his 10,000+ deliveries he kind of knew what to expect and felt there was about a 1% chance that I would have a successful vaginal birth. It didn't take long for Jake and I to decide that a c-section would be the best for our little guy. Dr. Beck and the nurses immediately kicked it into high gear and within about 10 minutes I was on the operating table. I was so relieved when Jake came in to sit next to me so he could hold my hand. He wanted to stand up and watch all the action, but I wouldn't let him let go of my hand (plus the thought of him seeing them cut me open was making me nauseous, and I really didn't want to be vomiting while my belly was cut open, although I came quite close... that would have made things exciting). 10 minutes later Bennett Dean Richardson was born. When Dr, Beck pulled his head out he and all the nurses were like, "Whoah, that's one big head!" The nurses began placing bets on how much they thought he was going to weigh. Dr. Beck commented, "This guy wasn't even trying to come out!" His head was perfectly round and nowhere near descending into the birth canal. Stubborn little guy! The anesthesiologist was super supportive the whole time and talked with me and told me what was happening. As they pulled him out she said, "Wow. He's all covered in jewelry! That cord is wrapped all around him!" My kids must be pretty active in the womb, because Ty also had the cord wrapped around his neck... twice. Anyways, as they brought Bennett around the curtain I couldn't help but get teary eyed. I was so relieved, excited, and thankful that our baby boy was here and healthy. The nurses cleaned Bennett up a bit, measured and weighed him, and then sent him over with Jake to recovery while they stitched me up. It's amazing how you can feel like you're in heaven as your belly is sliced open and getting sewn and super glued (yes, really) back together, but I really was floating on cloud 9. My baby was here! When they were all finished with me, Dr. Beck (aka the man that shows no emotion), patted my arm and congratulated me on my special baby and bent down to give me a hug. Oh how I love that man for helping to bring my children into the world!



Dr. Beck with Bennett just before we left to go home

We stayed in recovery for about an hour and a half and ooed and awed over every perfect little detail of our baby boy. He looked a lot like Tyler did when he was born, so we immediately knew he was going to be handsome :) Yes! Daddy's genes were victorious again! Once I was hooked back up to all the right monitors and whatnot they let me feed my little guy. I was shocked at how quickly he latched on. Breastfeeding was already 10 times easier than with Tyler, probably because I wasn't so freaked out about it as I was with Ty.



Things seem to be a blur after that. That or I'm just tired of typing and want to go hold my little guy. We had lots of visitors that immediately fell in love with our new baby, especially his big brother. I was quite surprised at how much Tyler understood- he knew that this was his brother, that he wasn't going to be in my tummy anymore, and that he would be coming home with us. We have yet to have a major issue between Tyler and Bennett (but I'm sure we'll have many coming our way). Tyler just loves on him and gives him kisses when he cries and says, "Oh, it's okay baby brother. Be happy." He is so willing to help out and seems to understand pretty well that I can't pick him up. He'll kiss my tummy and say, "Is your owies all better?" He also tells us all the time that baby brother has an owie on his belly button and that when mommy feeds him it makes it better. I love how simple things are to a two-year-old.Aunt Cindy

Aunt Alison
Uncle Jason
Raylene
Aunt Lisa and JoLynn
Grandma Merrell
Grandpa Merrell
Grandma & Grandpa Richardson
Big Brother Tyler
Daddy & Ty


We are all doing well now and are adjusting to our new sleeping schedule and life as a family of 4. I'm keeping the Percocet and Ibuprofen nearby, and that helps keep us all in high spirits. :) Welcome to the world Bennett. We love you!