Megan Thurman Photography

The fire truck bed, that is. As I type this, Connor is sleeping in his big boy bed for the first time. But that’s not the only momentous thing about tonight. For about the past week I have been trying to get rid of Connor’s pacifiers (a.k.a. his ducks). I have been slowing cutting the nipple off. Up until tonight he has needed his little nub of a duck to go to sleep. Yesterday he went to bed without it and I thought we had conquered the duck. But, about 10 minutes after he was tucked in he needed it. Tonight I figured the same thing would happen. The only problem is that I couldn’t find the duck. It got lost somehow during the room rearranging today. But, thanks goodness it turned out to be a non-issue. Connor has fallen asleep for the first time without needing his paci! I’m so happy-but a little sad that my baby is grown up. Now if we could just conquer the potty…

Connor is thrilled with his new bed. As soon as it was put together, he gathered up his trucks and started playing on his bed. He couldn’t wait to go night-nights. I was a little worried that when bedtime came he would do more playing than sleeping. But this was also not an issue. He put on his firetruck pj’s, got his firetruck book and his softie and climbed right in. I can’t believe how smoothly this transition has been. Now as soon as Logan starts sleeping a little longer at night, my two boys can share a room (and I can finally stop waking up a million times because of the dinosaur noises Logan makes.)

Playing on the new bed.

Peacefully sleeping.

And just for good measure, a picture of my three boys.

Gotta love the smiles!

This picture of Logan reminds me a lot of Connor at this age.

Mama’s boys.

I don’t like worms. I don’t like that you can cut them in half and they live. I don’t like that they are hermaphroditic. But, How to Eat Fried Worms was one of the great books of my childhood. It was disgusting, yet fascinating. Who would actaully EAT worms? I don’t remember too many details about the book, but I do remember that he ate them with ketchup. Maybe this book is one of the reasons I don’t like ketchup either.

Somehow, I have ended up with a son who is currently fascinated by
worms. I can thank Derek for this fascination. I was pleased that the first time Derek showed Connor the worm farm outside he wanted nothing to do with them. Connor has always been a little bit leary of textures (i.e. he HATED the feel of grass when he was younger, he can’t stand to have sand in his shoes, and he compulsively wipes his hands when they get food on them). I’m not sure if Derek kept pushing the worm issue or if Connor has just turned into a typical boy. Whatever the cause, Connor loves the worms. When he woke up this morning, it was the first thing he asked for. “Outside? See big worms?” Derek, of course, thinks this is great. It’s like Derek is reliving his childhood through Connor.

As much as this new phase grosses me out, I am a compulsive picture-taker. click here to see more pictures of wormy Connor.

Since I haven’t really had the time to scrapbook lately, I put together a little video of Logan’s birth.

Warning: This video contains actual footage of Logan being born. But don’t worry-it’s not a health video. My doctor wouldn’t wear the helmet cam.

Click here to see the video.

For the past few days I have been wondering if Logan’s little smiles were more than just gas. Today, I am sure of it-I even caught it on film. Here are Logan’s very first smiles!

I’ve decided it’s time to move Connor out of his crib and into a bed. You may be wondering why I didn’t do this before Logan was born. I had several reasons.

1.) I really thought Logan would be less than 3 months old when we moved. I figured I would want Logan in our room until then so he wouldn’t need the crib.
2.) I didn’t want to buy a toddler bed for Connor. I wanted to go straight to a twin size bed, seeing as he is a freakishly large two year old.
3.) I like the confinement the crib provides. Even though he is freakishly large, he has never ever tried to climb out of the crib, so I didn’t see the need to move him.

However, I started to think that maybe I did want to move Connor to a bed. For one thing, it’s not that great having Logan in our room. As soon as he’s sleeping longer at night I want to move him in with Connor. I also decided that I don’t want Connor to think he’s being kicked out of the only bed he’s ever known just so Logan can have it. And, I decided that it might be a little too much change to move to a totally different place and take Connor’s bed away from him. Because of space issues, I decided that a toddler bed was the way to go.

Last week I was at Baby Depot trying make a return. While I was waiting in line, my eyes fell upon this fire truck bed . I didn’t seriously considering buying it because I knew it would be too expensive. But I did think about how much Connor would love that bed. He absolutely loves fire trucks, or “fire bire bucks” as he often calls them. I left Baby Depot and didn’t give the fire truck bed any more thought.

Last night I was bored and playing around on the internet. I decided to peruse Craig’s List. For anyone who doesn’t know what Craig’s List is, it’s basically a classifieds site. I frequently look at the baby and child stuff that is for sale just to see if there is anything I can’t live without. I used to check it out almost every day, but it has been several months since I last looked. My pulse started to race a little bit when I saw “Fire Truck Toddler Bed” listed. My heart skipped a beat when I opened the link and saw the exact fire truck bed I had just seen at Baby Depot, but for half the price! With my fingers crossed, I emailed the seller to see if it was still available. I received a phone call this afternoon from the seller letting me know that it was in fact available. The ad didn’t say where the bed was located; it just said that she would deliver the bed. Although she had lots of interested buyers, we were her first choice because the bed is in storage in Pasadena. So tomorrow afternoon, a fire truck bed is going to be delivered to us.

I just love when things work out like this. I think it’s pretty cool that I checked Craig’s list on the very same day the bed was listed. I think it’s even cooler that in a region as huge a Los Angeles the bed is located less than ten minutes away. Not to mention that we are getting the bed for 50% off. I can’t wait to see Connor’s face when the fire truck bed gets here. Stay tuned for pictures tomorrow!

So most of the posts here have been about Connor and Logan, but I thought I would branch out a bit. The first blog I ever read was my friend Alison’s blog. She did this and I thought it was pretty cool. So, here it goes. 100 things about me.

1. I have 2 sons.
2. I love strawberries-epsecially chocolate covered strawberries.
3. It has been almost 10 years since Derek and I went on our first date. It was August 14, 1995.
4. We went to Spaghetti Warehouse and to see Nine Months on our first date.
5. I was born in Olympia, WA.
6. I’ve lived in 3 states.
7. I think Texas is the best state.
8. I hate peas.
9. I got engaged in a tree.
10. I never appreciated all that my mom did until I had kids of my own.
11. I love thunderstorms.
12. My favorite new show to watch is Lost.
13. Felicity might be my favorite show of all time.
14. I think Pop Secret homestyle popcorn is the best microwave popcorn out there.
15. I know how to play the cello.
16. I love volleyball.
17. I could shop at Target or Wal Mart every day.
18. I have credits from 5 different colleges, and I only have my BA.
19. I love to scrapbook.
20. I want to have 4 kids.
21. But no more until Connor starts school.
22. I once trained for a marathon, but quit when I got to 10 miles.
23. I really hate running more than 3-ish miles.
24. I love tank tops.
25. I love the snow. Derek’s says it’s because I’ve never lived anywhere where it snowed a lot.
26. I know how to surf.
27. My favorite colors today are pink, yellow, and green.
28. I’ve been to Europe.
29. My dad lives in Australia.
30. I hate staying in bed once I’m awake.
31. I’m not a night person.
32. I’m not a morning person.
33. I’m an early evening person.
34. I have one sister, one step-sister, one half-sister, and two brothers.
35. I love John Denver.
36. Camping is fun.
37. I don’t go camping enough.
38. I think I got pregnant with Connor while camping.
39. I love boogie boarding.
40. I think Veggie Tales is a great kids show.
41. I love flip flops.
42. When I was little I wanted to be an astronaut, a teacher, and a mother when I grew up.
43. BJ’s and Chili’s are my favorite reataurants.
44. I hated California the first year we lived here.
45. Now I am sad to think about leaving.
46. I sell Mary Kay.
47. My first job was at a retirement home.
48. I’ve had 2 boyfriends in my life.
49. I used to have my belly button pierced.
50. I have a tattoo.
51. I want another tattoo.
52. I just sold my first car a few months ago.
53. It was a 1991 Toyota Celica.
54. I hate traffic.
55. I love to laugh.
56. I wear a size 9 shoe.
57. I love Carter on ER (aka Noah Wyle)
58. In high school my dream car was a bright yellow VW covertible bug.
59. Now my dream car is the Honda Odyssey with all the trimmings.
60. I have a fake tooth.
61. My hair tured wavy when I got pregnant.
62. Someday I want to go back to school to be a nurse.
63. Someday I want a vegetable garden in my backyard.
64. I love getting pedicures.
65. I have killed every plant I have ever owned.
66. The first concert I ever went to was Michael W. Smith.
67. The last concert I went to was Bebo Norman.
68. My middle toe is longer than my big toe.
69. My ring fingers are crooked.
70. I’m 5’9
71. I subscribe to 4 magazines.
72. I don’t like naps.
73. I love baths.
74. My mom wanted to name me Caitlin.
75. My middle name is Warner after my grandma.
76. The best vacation I ever took was a cruise.
77. Derek is my best friend.
78. I have my ears double pierced.
79. Washing dishes is my least favorite chore.
80. I love vacuum lines in carpet.
81. I can’t stand to stay home all day more than two days per week even though I am a stay at home mom.
82. I can do some fancy tricks with a jump rope.
83. I have lived in 4 apartments in 5 years.
84. I’m married to a computer nerd.
85. My favorite food is my mom’s flank steak.
86. I’ve had stitches in both of my knees.
87. The only bone I’ve broken is my little toe (it was at a 90 degree angle to my foot).
88. I don’t look down when I walk so I constantly run into things below my knees.
89. I got married when I was 19.
90. I want to learn to take good pictures with a fancy camera.
91. I hate the Cortislim ads-their slogan is “It’s not your fault you’re fat.”
92. I think childhood obesity is a huge problem in our society.
93. I had 3 majors in college-speech pathology, P.E., and Liberal Studies.
94. I have purple couches.
95. I graduated from Azusa Pacific University.
96. I wear contacts.
97. I didn’t get stretch marks on my stomach until I was pregnant with Logan, and I got all 6 of them in the last 3 weeks of the pregnancy.
98. I love hydrangeas and daisies.
99. I hate long car trips.
100.I hate feeling rushed and being late.

Look how strong my neck is!

Our little munchkin.

It only took a little bribing with jellybeans to get Connor to hold Logan.

It’s been less than two weeks since Logan was born and I feel like I am already forgetting the details of his birth. I’ve decided that I should write it down. It really was a great experience, one that I don’t want to forget.

My mom flew in on March 14 to be here for the big event. Since Connor was almost three weeks early, we all figured that Logan would follow suit. On March 15, I went to my weekly doctor’s appointment only to find out that I was barely dilated and not effaced at all. We were all a little bummed that he most likely wouldn’t be born that week. But, no ones ever been pregnant forever so I knew Logan would join us soon enough.

Fast forward one week later. I was anxious as my mom, Connor, and I headed to my weekly appointment. Would I be more dilated? Had all the contractions I’d been having done anything? Would my doctor want to talk about inducing? My doctor checked me and much to my relief I had progressed a little bit-I was 2 cm and 50% effaced. Dr. Araki decided to strip my membranes. Basically, this means she gave me the internal exam from hades! She ran her fingers (not gently, I might add) between the amniotic sac and my cervix. The theory is that this releases oxytocin and can stimulate contractions. She couldn’t tell me if it would work for sure or not, but it was worth a try.

After the internal, Dr. Araki and I talked about an induction. Because Connor was a vacuum delivery and Dr. Araki really wanted to avoid that with Logan, we decided that I would go to the hospital that evening to be induced. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. Appearantly, the anxiousness of it all caused a little bit of high blood pressure. My blood pressure is normally 120 something/ 70 something. That day it was 125/95. I was monitored for about 20 minutes and it didn’t go down. Because of this, Dr. Araki sent me right to the hospital. I didn’t even get to go home and get my stuff. I drove to the hospital and my mom went back to the apartment to get Derek and my stuff. We would be having a baby very soon!

It was about 11:00 a.m. when I was finally checked in, situated in the room, and wearing the oh-so-lovely hospital gown. I figured it was going to be a long day and night. Dr. Araki wanted to start with Cervadil, something they put in my cervix that will help it dilate and thin. If in 12 hours I wasn’t in labor, she would start the pitocin. However, Dr. Araki never had a chance to do either of those things. By 12:30 p.m. I knew I was in labor. The stripping of the membranes worked. I was contracting every 3 minutes or so and they were painful. There is no mistaking real contractions with braxton hicks!

At 2:00 p.m., Dr. Araki came in to see how I was progressing. I was 4 cm and 80% effaced. While she was checking me, my water broke. No turning back now! If my labor was anything like Connor’s from this point on, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was ready to push. At 3:00 p.m., it was time for an epidural. Coming into this labor, I thought I might try and do it without drugs. Forget that! Once the contractions got really painful and I was only about 5 cm I knew I wanted the epidural. It was wonderful. It took away the pain, but I could still feel the pressure of the contractions. It was about 3:30 when my epidural was finished and I was 5 cm dilated.

Right after the epidural, Logan’s heart rate dropped drastically. It was in the 70s and 80s instead of 140s like it had been. I’m sure it was only a few minutes, but it felt like forever. Suddenly my room was filled with nurses. They put an oxygen mask on me, flipped me around in all different positions, and immediately put in an internal monitor to get a more accurate reading. The epidural made my blood pressure drop, which caused Logan to wig out for a few minutes. Luckily, his heart rate came back up pretty quickly.

At this point, I figured I had some time to sit back, relax, maybe watch a little Oprah. Boy was I wrong! Less than 30 minutes later I had this overwhelming pressure. I have never felt anything like it before. I was sure Logan was trying to enter the world from the wrong opening. My nurse checked me and I was ready to push! The pressure was Logan’s head, right there ready to come out. My nurse ran out of the room to get Dr. Araki. I did not believe her that it was time. I didn’t know it was possible to dialate so fast. Five cm in a half an hour?! No way. But, it was true. Dr. Araki came in and I started pushing.

It was so much easier this time because I could feel when I was contracting and I could feel the right way to push. I pushed through about 4 or 5 contractions and at 4:18 p.m., Logan Bennett entered the world. It was so amazing. They put him right up on my belly for a few seconds. He had a good, strong cry after just a minute or so. I remember looking over at him and just immediately being in love with him. It’s an amazing experience, one that doesn’t compare to anything else.

So, that’s the story. I feel so lucky to have had such a great birth experience. And I feel even luckier to have been blessed with not one, but two beautiful sons. Does life get any sweeter?

In the nine days since Logan was born, I have noticed something about babies in general. People are fascinated by them. And I can’t help but ponder this fascination. I mean, when it comes down to it, babies really don’t DO much. Logan’s day pretty much consists of eating, wiggling a little, and sleeping. But I just can’t take my eyes off of him. It just amazes me that Logan started out as two single cells and in nine months formed into a tiny, perfectly formed, distinctive person. It really is a miracle. I don’t want to miss a second of this miralce.

That leads me to my next thought. In my quest to soak up every minute of Logan’s life, I have managed to take 202 pictures related to Logan in 9 days. Right now, Logan is about 216 hours old. That’s almost a picture an hour! Out of control…maybe just a little.

I’ve posted a new photo album (don’t worry-not all 202 pictures are in it!) For a brief glimpse of Logan’s first week home, click here.