Benjamin's Birth Story

7lbs 12 oz

Benjamin,
My dear baby boy,
I am one year late in sharing the story of your Birth. You just turned One one week ago and what better way to celebrate you than to publish this.
Let me begin by saying, You are the light of my life! You're being has blessed our little family over and over again. We love you so much Benjamin.

A couple of days before you were born, I knew you wanted out sooner than your Due date.
We lived in Bakersfield when you were born but your doctor was still 2 hours away in Ventura County and we wanted to deliver you there so we made the sacrifice of driving back and forth 4 hours for your appointments. A couple of days before you were born, I began to have the hardest time even walking. EVERYTHING hurt and the pressure I felt in my pelvis had me in tears all day. I knew it was time to get checked out. We drove down to the hospital and they admitted me. I had dilated to a 2 and increased to a 3 but stayed there for a couple of hours so we got sent home. The nurse promised I'd be in here within 48 hours and to not stress it. She suggested we go walk plenty to progress things.
So we did.

walking up a hill to get you out

a day before (in labor)

We stayed in town at my Mother in law's house. We walked and walked and walked. We went to their community pool for a swim, we ate spicy food... I was ready to have you Ben!

That night, I remember , was the most difficult night to go to sleep. I knew I had to take action. If we weren't having you then, we'd have to drive back home the next day and Daddy would have to go right back to work. I remember feeling so much pain and pressure in my lower back and doing the "downward dog" position over and over again. I just could not sleep. By 2 am, I just could not deal with it. I wasn't in super horrible pain, but I just could not seem to rest. I woke daddy up, who was asleep on the floor with Levi in grandma's library, and told him I wanted to go ahead and go to the hospital.

We told your Grandma and Grandpa Ken, they woke up and hugged me tight and we left.

At the hospital, they checked me and I was at a 4 1/2 ! I was admitted!

From here on, it was a blur.
I remember not sleeping at all that night. In the morning, my mom showed up, along with my grandma.They waited and waited and still nothing.
The waiting on you is so blurry at this point. I remember having my mom and grandma in the room and I started crying because I was just so uncomfortable at that point, and I wasn't allowed to lay however I wanted because they needed to monitor you. I remember saying I don't want anyone in here anymore. And then your grandpa Britt and grandma Holly came in as my contractions spiked. Daddy was so anxious at this point, having anyone in there he was ready to call the doctor but I stopped him. Having them in there casually talking about their soon to be vacation was ironically super calming for me and for you too. The medicine had worn off and you were ready to come out. They stepped out and the nurses stepped in. They had me do a "test push" and you began to come out!

Your original delivery doctor was on vacation, of course, but the doctor on board was amazing. He came in and said " okay Susie, I'll give you ten more minutes and then he's coming okay?" and left the room. As the nurses prepped the room I told them " I need to push!" and they called the doctor to rush in. He stepped in and the fun began.

I pushed but only once and you were out. It was painful but so smooth. You were so ready to meet us and we were so ready to meet you. We couldn't believe our eyes and ears when the doctor held you up and placed you on me to hold you.

Baby Benjamin: Born March 13 2017 at 7:25 pm

7lbs 12oz & 20 inches long!

We finally decided on a middle name after meeting you. Benjamin David. 

Benjamin McDaniels, you were born absolutely perfect and so so beautiful. God truly blessed us with you. You were so precious!

Things went down a little bit differently after this birth. As much as I loved you, I was so incredibly exhausted. Exhausted and hungry ( I hadn't slept or eaten in 36+ hrs) that after holding you for only ten minutes into our "golden hour" I handed you to meet your papa. I felt like I could just sleep right then and there but we all know after having a baby there's a lot more that comes with it than just getting to rest right after. 

The following day was as pictured. Just bliss.

You with your papa (dad)

Those sweet plush red lips! I just love you!

Here's your great grandma and grandma anna holding you

teenie tiny foot!

Tio Eliud holding and meeting you .

getting all cleaned up!

Fresh and clean.

Tio came back to see you, he was in love!

Noah meeting you! How sweet.

The brothers meeting one another was so sweet. This is the only picture I have of that but I remember the moment so sweetly! Levi was super little but he was interested and Noah, he was ready to hold you!


Discharge Day! Getting some last minute photos at the hospital before we headed home!

Selfies, of course!

well that's a different setting! In a carseat!

And we were off!