#175 - 4 weeks old

Benjamin is four weeks old today. It's hard to believe that he's almost a month old now, yet at the same time, it's hard to imagine life without him. Since entering the world just 29 days ago, our family has adapted and changed in wonderful ways - and we feel totally complete as a family of four. Owen is relishing in his role as big brother, and being parents to two sweet boys is a true blessing.

Both boys are doing well. We are adjusting to new sleep patterns. Owen has regressed a little bit in his sleeping and his potty training. He now wakes up in the middle of the night and cries for his daddy, which he had not done before, and since Benjamin arrived, we have not had an accident-free day in the potty department. But, I think both of those are to be expected. The good thing is that Owen loves being a big brother and kisses on Benjamin all the time. Benjamin wakes up about every 2-3 hours around the clock. We're looking forward to him sleeping a bit longer during the night, but that will happen eventually. Benjamin is still sleeping in the pack-n-play in our bedroom. We've delayed putting him in his crib simply because his bedroom is next door to Owen's and we're fearful of Benjamin's nighttime cries waking up Owen and vice-versa. I think that within the next few days we'll go ahead and make the move and hope for good results.

Benjamin is getting bigger each day. I can't believe how full his cheeks are. He's definitely a good eater and you can tell he's gaining weight. At his last appointment (10 days ago), he weighed 7 lbs, 15 ounces, after dropping down to 6 lbs, 5 ounces a few days after birth.

These pictures are a few days old, but they show you what life it like around here. Evening time is the best because we typically all hang out in Owen's room and play. Here are Owen and Benjamin checking each other out on Owen's bed.

Benjamin has two "wakeful" times a day - usually in the morning and evening between 6 and 9. He's got the most intense eyes, and looks very intently at everything. You can tell he'll be a curious little boy by the way he's checking things out already.

He loves being held, and especially loves sleeping on your chest.

Sometimes we fall asleep too!

And, just like his big brother, he likes to be swaddled up to sleep.

And, finally, this picture captures Owen perfectly - goofing off and trying to do things that Benjamin does. So far, Owen has climbed into Benjamin's car seat, his swing and his crib. The other day when I was in the other room, he got into the swing and fastened the belt and then couldn't figure out how to unsnap the belt, so he was stuck in there. He didn't want to get into trouble, so he didn't say anything. I found him rocking in the swing about five minutes later with a sheepish grin on his face. That little stinker!

#174 - Lawrence

Last year, the name Lawrence was ranked #458 on the baby name popularity list. It means "crowned with laurels". Common nicknames are Larry and Lars.

But, that's not why we chose Lawrence as Benjamin's middle name. We did it to honor my dad - Lawrence James Garces.


My dad, a/k/a Daddio, Larry, Lars, Road Man, Uncle Larry and now Grandfather, means the world to me. He is a kind, smart, hard-working man. He is a devoted husband to Catherine, a strict yet loving uncle to the boys, and a patient father to Jenifer and me. People like my dad - not just because he's a likeable kind of guy, but because he cares about people and takes the time to get to know them. He's very intelligent with a quiet confidence that people respect.


Growing up, we didn't get away with too much with Dad. But we had a lot of fun with him. He had an amazing ability to incorporate "teaching moments" into everyday life and common situations. He taught us the importance of manners, looking people in the eyes, and a firm handshake. His high expectations for me at times seemed daunting and unfair, but in retrospect, was his quiet way of encouraging me and fostering a drive for success. Still today, he reminds me of the importance of a quality education and a strong work ethic.


I'm proud to have him as my father, and even prouder to name our son after him.


This weekend, Grandfather, Grandmother and Uncle Robbie visited us in Savannah. It was a special time for each of us. They got to meet little Benjamin and Owen got to spend lots of quality time with the three of them. And Lou and I just loved watching our children get adored and spoiled by them.


On Saturday, Benjamin napped all afternoon on Grandfather. He was as content as could be - in fact, both of them were!


Owen was never far from Grandfather or Uncle Robbie.


And, Catherine was just in love with the baby. She held him and loved on him all weekend.


To make this weekend even better, Dad offered to help us restain our front door (that's another wonderful quality I neglected to mention above - he's very, very handy around the house!). So, early this morning, we made a trip to Lowe's for the supplies, and then the boys spent a few hours sanding and staining the door. It turned out beautifully (and saved us at least a few hundred dollars). Owen loved helping out like one of the big boys.


Thank you, Dad and Grandfather. We love you and can't wait to see the special relationship that you and Benjamin develop.

#173 - Dad's Day

Today we honor and celebrate all the Dads in the world. Without a doubt, Owen and Benjamin have been blessed with a wonderful, loving, patient father. I hope that one day, when they are old enough, they will read this post and know what a great dad their Daddy was when they were little boys. So, to their Daddy, on behalf of Owen and Benjamin:

• Thank you for making family the most important thing in your life, and never letting anything come before us. There is never a doubt that your family is your first priority, and we appreciate that.
• Thank you for being present when you are with us - not letting TV, the computer or other distractions interrupt your ability to be a great dad. It makes us feel important and loved.
• Thank you for teaching the boys the importance of learning and developing an imagination. Owen is read to every single day, and the creativity that is displayed as you two play together is impressive!
• Thank you for getting up with Owen and Benjamin in the middle of the night as much as mom does, even though you have to work in a few hours.
• Thank you for the countless hugs and kisses that you give the boys. There is no doubt that they are loved deeply by you.
• Thank you for creating special moments with Owen - special bonds that are unique between the two of you. I hope that Owen will always remember his first fishing pole that you gave him, the chalk fish you draw on the driveway at night, you carrying him outside in the dark to look at the moon, and the garden that the two of you planted and water each day.
• Thank you for being you. Happy Father's Day! We love you!

#172 - Two weeks old!

#171 - Brotherly Love

Benjamin is now one week old. Despite a case of jaundice, this past week has gone surprisingly well. Adjusting to two children in the house has not been bad, and Benjamin has, so far, been an easy baby. Lou and I have taken a tag team approach that has worked well - he typically tends to Owen, and I tend to Benjamin. Of course, since Owen is the ultimate Daddy's boy, he's quite happy with this arrangement.

Even though Benjamin was born a full pound and a half bigger than Owen, he seems so, so tiny to me! Maybe it's because I'm used to carrying around a 30 pound toddler. We have had a little issue with Benjamin losing weight. He was born at 7 lb, 1 oz. By Saturday, he had gotten down to 6 lb, 5 oz, but we've been feeding him as much as he'll take, and he's back up to 6 lb, 11 oz as of Tuesday.

I think he looks so tiny in this picture. It was taken when we got home from the hospital last Thursday.

As I mentioned, he came home from the hospital with jaundice. Owen had this too, so we knew before we even met with the pediatrician that he'd have to undergo phototherapy. The "baby tanning bed" is a little different this go around. Last time, there was a sheet that protected the baby's head. This time, the baby has to wear eye goggles. Benjamin absolutely hated wearing them! The first night he was on the therapy, none of us got any sleep because he refused to sleep more than a few minutes before pulling off the goggles. Fortunately, it only lasted a few days, and little Ben is on the mend and is not nearly as orange as he was!

Owen has done incredibly well with Benjamin. He absolutely adores his little brother. He loves being Mommy's helper and checking on him, or bringing me his paci. Benjamin must get a hundred kisses a day from Owen, and rarely does an hour go by without Owen asking to hold his little brother.

Owen tends to squeeze him a little hard, but it rarely bothers Benjamin.

Benjamin sleeps most of the time, and typically only cries if he is hungry or has a dirty diaper. Monday night he went two 3 - 3 1/2 hour stretches at night, and last night, he slept from 12:00 - 4:30. I definitely cannot complain about that! Let's cross our fingers that he keeps up the good sleeping pattern.

And, a few more pictures of the Saez boys. Let me just say, there is a whole lot of love going around this household!

#170 - A Family of Four

On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, our second child was born - a beautiful and healthy baby boy!

Benjamin Lawrence Saez

6/1/11 at 8:10 am

7 lbs, 1 oz, 18 3/4 inches

After nearly nine weeks of bed rest, and two bouts of pre-term labor, Benjamin is here!

On Tuesday, I went to my regularly scheduled weekly OB appt. This week, they also performed a growth ultrasound, which estimated our baby to be nearly 7 pounds. During the exam, our doctor told me that I was four centimeters dilated, and suggested we head over to the hospital. We were shocked! Just a few days before, I had not been anywhere close to labor, and I was having very few contractions. Still in disbelief, we headed home to pack our bags, get Owen ready and see how I felt as the evening progressed.

It wasn't long after we got home that we decided go to the hospital. We checked in around 6:45, and we were admitted to Labor & Delivery about 9:00 pm (they were very busy). Shortly thereafter, I received an epidural. The epidural felt great, and Lou and I settled in for the night, getting one last night of decent sleep before our world turned upside down.

At 6:00 am, I was examined again and was a little disappointed to learn I was only 6 cm. However, by 7:00 am, I was 8 cm, and when my doctor came back at 8:00 am, I was 10 cm, and ready to have a baby! They got the room prepped, and at 8:06 am, I started to push. Four minutes and three pushes later, our little boy was born!

We saw right away that it was a boy, and were instantly in love. We were both crying tears of joy at this wonderful gift. Little Benjamin loudly demonstrated just how healthy he was. After all the anxiety and worry we felt over the last two months, seeing and hearing him was one of the most profound moments of our lives.

He weighed in at 7 lbs, 1 ounce, not too far from the ultrasound's estimate of 6 lbs, 11 ounces. Can you see how long his little toes are? So sweet!

After the super easy delivery, I was one happy Mommy! Holding my little boy was the best feeling ever.

Because the delivery was so fast, Benjamin was very bruised and swollen. You could see the black and blue marks across his face and arms, and his eyes were nearly swollen shut. It took just a few hours for the swelling and bruising to go down.

Lou was there by my side the entire time. He held my hand, stroked my hair and supported me throughout the night. In fact, he was the most loving and supportive husband and father for this entire pregnancy. He went to every single doctor's appointment and took care of me and Owen when I was put on bed rest. On our darkest day, when I was rushed to the hospital at 7 months pregnant, he was waiting in the ER parking lot with a wheel chair, and ran me down the hallways of the hospital to meet with the doctor. He has been a full-time dad to Owen and part-time mom too, all while working hard to provide for our family. And he did it without complaint or blame.... just with love. Owen, Benjamin and I are so very, very blessed.

We are also so grateful that my mom was here. After learning I was in labor, she was in Savannah just two hours later. Not only was it a big treat for Owen to have Nana here, but like she always does, she stepped right in and took over for us - taking care of Owen, cleaning the house, cooking us dinner, making beds, etc. And best of all, she got to meet Benjamin when he was just a few minutes old. She loves her grandchildren so very much, and I can't wait to see what kind of special relationship Benjamin gets to have with her.

And, the very best part of having another boy....knowing that Owen and Benjamin will grow up together having that unique bond that only brothers can have. Owen could not wait to meet his little brother. Lou picked him up from Rebecca's that afternoon and brought him to the hospital. He ran into the hospital room like only a 2 year-old can, and stopped right at my bed, so eager to see the baby. The picture below captures the moment perfectly - the look of wonder and excitement on Owen's face when he sees his new best friend.

In a matter of seconds, Owen was asking to hold Benjamin.

He held him so close, as if Benjamin was his long lost friend. He gave him hugs that were a little too tight and kisses that were a little too wet, but he was the happiest big brother in the world.

And, finally, we got to sit together as a family of four. A proud Mommy and Daddy with their two sweet, sweet boys. Life is good. And, we thank God for our many blessings, especially these healthy children.

Finally, as June 1, 2011 came to an end, Lou and I took Benjamin to the newborn nursery for his first bath. I was not able to be there for Owen's first bath, and he loved it so much, so I was looking forward to watching Benjamin get his. Unfortunately, the little guy did not enjoy the water like his big brother did. He screamed and cried the entire time!

He stuck out that bottom lip and protested it all, including the mohawk at the end.

And, after all the excitement of the day, cleaned and swaddled, he was finally able to rest.

With much love and joy,

Katie, Lou, Owen and Benjamin Saez