Rockwell Devin Bennett's birth story

I think I must have been inspired to take this because Sunday evening I thought to myself that I ought to get a picture of my belly (and asap since my due date was just three days away). Sure enough, that must have been what Rock was waiting for. Bry had to go to a training at the church after dinner so I put the kids to bed by myself, still feeling fine. When Bry got home we turned on the television. Right before we went back to get ready for bed ourselves I had a couple strong contractions. I was suspicious but decided to try and sleep anyway. After lying in bed for 15 minutes or so I was pretty sure this was going to be the real thing. Things moved insanely quick after that. Bryson called our midwife Cathy and started filling up the pool while I labored. About an hour later I got in the water which gave me a lot of relief from the contractions. Cathy arrived shortly after that. She checked me and announced I was nearly fully dialated. Bryson called my mom and my sister Laura to hurry and come over. They walked in just as I started pushing and watched Rockwell be born a couple of minutes later. He was born at 2:07 am, just under three hours from the time my labor began.

Pushing is really painful for me and I'm so glad it was over quickly. I wish the labor part would progress a little slower though. Ever been hit by a freight train? I'm pretty sure it feels like going from 0 to 10 in 2ish hours. I love it when people tell me I'm lucky to have such quick labors-like they must be so easy. Ha ha! (Sorry about the sweaty cleavage. These photos definitely are the real deal. Not like the pictures people post of themselves and their new babies in which they've done their hair and makeup. lol) The baby was born in the water and I will never forget Cathy instructing me to reach down and pick up my baby. I was the one that lifted his body out of the water and into my arms. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life. It wasn't until nearly a minute later that I remembered we didn't know the baby's sex and thought to check. Sure enough, it was a little boy, just like Bry had predicted from the beginning. We sat in the pool for 1/2 hour just admiring our little guy. Cathy was wonderful through it all. She brought a calming presence into our home and it felt totally natural to have her be part of the birth.

The other person I couldn't have done it without was my angel husband Bryson. He got the pool ready, brought me a bowl to puke in-and disposed of it, sponged my forehead with a cool wash cloth when I got hot in the water, and let me squeeze all feeling out of his arm while I was pushing. I adore my better half.

It was really special to have my sister Laura and my mom present when the baby was born. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about people besides Bryson and our midwife seeing me in such a vulnerable state, but I was grateful for their quiet support and love afterwards. Laura even got to cut the cord!

It was such a nice change to be right there while Cathy gave Rockwell a checkup. I always felt excluded from all of that when I had my babies at the hospital. This time I got to be part of it and Rockwell and I didn't have to be separated. When Cathy checked me out I was stoked to learn I didn't tear at all! First time that has happened. It made my recovery a breeze.

That night, our home really felt like a temple. Heaven felt so close while we held our new little guy.

One of the things that really stands out about my labor was how ultra-aware I was of everything. I had a natural labor and delivery with Eleyna but I can't really remember anything about my labor except for the drive to the hospital and everything that happened after that. This time my senses were so heightened, especially during the breaks between contractions. It was almost like I was watching everything unfold from outside my body.

It was really fun to introduce Eleyna to her new brother the next morning in the familiarity of mom and dad's bed. I can't say how great it was to get to sleep in my own bed and use my own bathroom those first couple of days after the baby was born. Much better than the hospital! I feel so lucky to have been blessed with such an amazing birth and healthy little boy. I feel so blessed to be a wife and mother. Three kids is BUSY, but fun.The home birth experience gets an A+. I will definitely do it again.

Life is beautiful

We've had some good moments lately. On Wednesday, Hunter returned to preschool. We went as a family to drop him off for his first day. I'm happy he gets to have this experience. I'm sure he enjoys getting out of the house a bit and interacting with some different people. I'm holding my breath that he can stay healthy. It's so fun living close to my parents. We love it when they stop by to visit. This picture really shows how big Hunter is getting. He looks huge even on tall Grandpa Durrant.

Sometimes these crazy people tag along when grandpa and grandma come over. I have great siblings-Eleyna agrees!Eleyna is getting really excited for the new baby. Once we got out the bassinet, baby swing, Bumbo, etc. I think the whole thing really clicked for her. She loves it when my midwife comes and we get to listen to the baby's heartbeat. She always lays right by me during the whole exam. Here she is practicing her mommy skills with Dora.

The other day I turned on "Finding Nemo" for Eleyna to watch and she promptly snuggled in right next to Hunter on the couch. It's been so tender for me to watch a relationship develop between these two. She has become quite concerned for her brother and it really melts my heart to see it.

"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." -Sir Thomas More

Not ready

Summer is coming to an end. You can feel autumn just around the corner.

We just aren't ready to be done with our frozen yogurt runs,

Or our trips to the pool though.

So we're playing as hard as we can while the weather is still good-and we don't have a new baby!

Ryan's farewell trip to St. George

The week before Ryan went into the MTC we loaded up the kids and the boat and made our way to St. George for a "last hurrah" trip with the Durrants. Thank heavens for the dvd player in our van!My parents rented a really beautiful house that had plenty of room for all the married couples and the two grandkids. We went boating at Sand Hollow two of the days we were there. The weather was actually only in the 90's (which is pretty amazing for July) and the water at the lake was smooth-perfect for the wakeboarders of our group.

It was fun to just be together at the house after a long day of boating. We all took turns cooking meals and presenting a thought at our evening devotionals. Of course, the real highlight of the trip was spending time laughing and crying (and reading books) with Ryan.

The pool in the backyard was a huge hit with Eleyna! In fact, one time she was having so much fun she walked right off the edge and in to the water with no floaties on. Uncle Joseph had to make a quick rescue grab. My little daredevil...
The recap of this trip wouldn't be complete without a picture of me (7 months pregnant) in my swimsuit at one of our devotionals-taken by mom. Just trying to do what I can to maintain a faithful family history for posterity and serve as birth control for my married sisters. At least the couch is sort of shielding me. :)

I know that this is biased but I must say that family vacations with my family are the best. I'm sad we're going to have to do without Ryan for a few years. Sure love that boy!

The Latest of Leyna

Favorite foods: She loves popsicles, noodles and cheese, carrots, apples and Dora or Ariel fruit snacks.Outdoor activities she enjoys: Swimming, boating, pretty much anything involving water

Things she names while we're driving around: Library, church, temple, tractors, towers, balloons, yellow cars, flags, big trucksSongs she can sing: Twinkle, Twinkle, Rock-a-bye baby, I am a child of God, ABC's, Popcorn popping, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, I'm so glad when daddy comes home

Places she's always asking to go: Pirate Island, the pool, Kyser and Nash's house, grandma's, nursery

Cute phrases: "I have a question" "Too high, can't reach it" "Mommy big belly" "Stay in the jungle like Mowgli" (from Jungle Book) "Um hmm, ya sure" "Watch a show?" "Down the hill!" "Happy to see you" "Excuse me" "Nice to meet you"

Missionary

My cute brother Ryan left on his mission to Paraguay on August 5. The night before the whole family came to support him as he was set apart. It was a tender couple of days. We miss him of course, but are so proud at the same time.
Ryan has always been a special guy in my children's lives and I think that's what I'll miss the most. That, or maybe the frequent texts I got from him this past summer near dinnertime begging me to feed him so he wouldn't have to subsist on my mom's vegan cooking. It was kind of a nice compliment to my cooking skills in a roundabout way. :)

Eleyna prays for Ryan every time she says a prayer and it soothes my heart to hear it.

We love you Elder Durrant!

Provo Canyon

We needed a way to beat the heat so... we headed for the mountains!
Eleyna tried her hand at softball for the first time.We think she's got pretty good form for a two year old.

Coolin' their heels in the river

Munchin' an apple with Mom

Throwin' rocks

Life doesn't get much better...

What a glorious creation this earth is! We are so lucky we get to enjoy it.

4th of July

The Saturday before the 4th of July we got to go swimming at the Lindon pool with our cousins, Kyser and Nash. Afterwards, we went to their house for a bbq and presents for Nash's 3rd birthday. Bryson had to go patrol at the apartments once the Stadium of Fire started so we didn't do any fireworks that night.

(My little pool bum-so cute!)

However, we made up for it on Monday. Leyna was a little scared during the first couple of fireworks, but she warmed up once we got around to the sparklers. She thought those were lots of fun!!!


Uncle Ryan and Grandpa came down to watch the fireworks with us. It's so fun having family close by.

Boating on Utah Lake

Eleyna LOVES to go out on the boat this year. She has a little hippo floatie that we put her in so she can swim off the back of boat with daddy. Even when it is choppy she wants to be in the water in her hippo.She's fearless. We put her on the tube for the first time the other day and she did awesome. Smiled the whole time!
She's only two and I'm amazed that she is so adventurous. It is so fun to watch her experience things for the first time.
Hunter hasn't enjoyed the boat quite as much this year. As he has gotten older he has started to get overstimulated a lot easier. The heat, sunlight and movement is a tough combination for him to handle. We still like going out as a whole family though so sometimes we bring him anyway. Luckily he has a special spot that we can keep shaded for him. Thanks for being such a trooper little man.

Baby Eisley

(Doesn't Bryson look handsome in this picture? What a hunk!)

This is Bry and Eleyna with our new little niecey Eisley. She was born on July 9.
Holding Eisley made me ache for my own sweet baby. She's so cute!
Hunter isn't going to know what hit him when our little one makes landfall. However, I think it is going to be an even tougher adjustment for our toddler who is something of an only child at this point.
Nash and Eleyna were being too crazy to really notice the baby much.

Cousins are so much fun!

Laura's wedding

My sister Laura got married the end of June to Spencer Kirton in the Salt Lake temple. It was such a wonderful day! Now, whenever Eleyna sees a picture of that temple she says, "Laura married." She will also tell you that it is "Jesus' house." Eleyna pretending to be the bride with Grandpa Durrant.
No boyfriends for you!
The happy couple
It was really hot the day of the wedding. They got married just before lunch so we were taking pictures in the dead heat of the afternoon. We tried to spare Hunter the worst of it but it was a challenge keeping him cool. At least he was in his new stroller which provided some shade and was much more comfortable than the wheelchair would have been. He was even able to take a little nap.
The only man I want in her life--maybe forever. :)
Love this group!

I have two sisters married finally! It's so great to have siblings in the same stage of life as me.

Now I just need them to start having babies so my kids can have some cousins.