The past couple of days . .

Asher offered to hold Benson, what a nice brother.

We went to visit Great-grandma Zohner and Trish and Great-grandma and Grandpa Pond today. Benson was quite comfortable on the couch. I love this outfit, and I think he'll be grown out of it before Israel gets to see it on him in person!
The puppies were quite a hit with Asher. And they really liked him too, especially after he fed them his cookie :-)

Don't look at me too closely, I just wanted to show that I really do hold Benson once in a while, it's just usually in the middle of the night! I'm loving all the help I'm getting. There's always someone - usually my Mom - who is willing to get him and calm him and help feed/change him. It's such a blessing.

This was on Sunday. Asher likes to sit on the stairs, but he REALLY likes having company while he sits on the stairs. Jaxson, Austin, and Porter are his preferred tenders. He'll pick them over Mom and Grandma anytime. Their only rival is Grandpa.

A week at Grandma and Grandpa's

Asher, Benson, and I are here with Grandma and Grandpa this week - and we had to leave Daddy at home. Hopefully he'll be able to get his homework done! Since babies change so much so fast in this second week, I'm trying to keep the pictures coming for Israel.

Grandma is getting the house all ready for Christmas early

and Asher really liked the Santa hats.

Here's Benson just after a meal today. He still isn't opening his eyes too often,

so these moments are rare - and darling.



I was trying to catch his little sleeping smile.

I miss you Honey, and the boys do too. You're so wonderful, I love you.

Welcome Baby Benson!!!

Benson J Montano

Born November 6th, 2008 - 11:55 a.m.

8 lbs 13 oz

20 1/2 in long

Isn't he SO cute? :-)

I was scheduled to have him induced early on the 7th, so of course I went into labor around 1:30 a.m. on the 6th. I decided to wake Israel up around 3:30 when the contractions weren't pretending to go away. He gave me a blessing (how I love the priesthood!) and we woke the Kramer's up (Thanks guys! soo much) and Austin came to watch Asher. We left for the hospital at 4:30 and by 5 I was in my room and already dilated to a 6. They got my IV going so I could get my epidural ASAP. Israel and I got a short nap and I noticed that my epidural wasn't working extremely well. After a few extra doses that didn't work, they got a new one in for me, which I was very thankful for. My Mom and Jaxson got there just as I started pushing, and a littl less than an hour later, Benson came! I was surprised to see that he was so different from Asher. Different shaped nose and mouth, less hair, and more chubby :-) I'm amazed how two different kids can both be the cutest kids ever in my eyes :-)Everyone at St. Al's was great, I was very impressed with all of my nurses and the services and everything - the massage was wonderful. Overall, everything went and is going extremely well. I am having the exact same problems with nursing that I did with Asher, so we'll see how that goes in the next little while.

Looking forward to the epidural kicking in! I'm glad I remembered the iPod, I think I was listening to Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Peace like a river. It was great, very soothing.

It seems like I have always been the last one in the room to hold my baby. There was a meconium scare, so the NICU people were all there ready to clean him out as soon as he came. They apparently did a great job cause there haven't been any problems. I don't remember his eyes being open at all, good thing we've got this picture!

Here he is after being all wiped down and stuff. They sat him up so I could get a look at him, so this was my first glimpse of him. He was happy to get a blanket wrapped around him. Chubby compared to Asher, who was 7lb7oz. We just got back from his first doc's visit and Benson now weighs 9lbs 1oz at 5 days old. So, he's not starving.

Benson checking out his Daddy :-)