Welcome Baby Benjamin Ikaika Ngayan!



February started off with Benjamin's Baby Shower that my sister threw for me. It was so much fun and my Aunt Cindy flew in from out of town to make all the delicious food (as seen in this picture).

Diaper Cakes from family and friends

My sister made these stork cookies. They were so good!

My aunt made home-made cup cakes! Yummmm

Opening the gifts for Benjamin. This little boy got a lot of love and very cute things!

On this table were cards for guests to fill out called "wishes for Benjamin". It was really cute and I had fun reading them. They are something I will save forever.

Heather, Me and Kristin

Yvette and I

Javiera and I

my sisters Katie, Heidi and I (just missing one sister though!) 

My friends I've met from church also threw me a baby shower. It was a lot of fun and I can't thank them enough!

My sister Whitney came to visit (and was hoping to meet Benjamin on his stay but he came the day she left)

I kept walking every SINGLE day (rain or shine) to make this baby come faster. This walk was awful though and I came home completely soaked. It was hardly raining when I left and started to pour during it. Bad idea but shows my determination! ha ha

Benjamin arrived four days after his due date, and you can imagine how much those days seemed to last forever! I had my first real contraction Friday February 24th around 10pm. They were consistent and five minutes apart even after we got to the hospital. We started to finish getting the hospital bag ready, thinking that we would be heading to the hospital by mid-morning. I had my doula (birth coach) come over to help me through labor Friday in the middle of the night. I was exhausted by the time we got to the hospital, Saturday around 3pm. By this time I had been in labor for 17 hours striaght with contractions still five minutes apart lasting 30-40 seconds each when we arrived. When I got to the hospital I was sure I would have Benjamin on Saturday. All the other labor and delivery story details I will spare you, but I was in labor without medication (the way I intended it to be) for 28 hours. By that time, I couldn't endure it anymore due to Benjamin being in a bad position for natural delivery. In the end I had to have a c-section, but by that time I was relieved and had been in labor 34 hours total. I was actually looking forward to the c-section because I was so ready to be done and just meet our baby finally!

On Sunday February 26th at 9:45am, Benjamin Ikaika Ngayan arrived! He was 8 lbs 12 oz and 21 and a half inches long.

The picture above is Derek cutting Benjamin's cord.

I really became a mother right when I first saw this little boy. I have been a changed person since then. They held him up for me to see him and he was crying so loudly. The second they layed him on me he was silent and stared at me. I started to kiss his little hands and he continued to calm right down. The whole experience was amazing.

My mom got to come into the recovery room and meet Benjamin. I was still really out of it and waking up from the surgery here. I don't even remember this.

Grandma Mary and Benjamin

Great Grammy and Benjamin

I love little baby feet..especially Benjamin's!

We are proud and excited parents to finally have our cute little boy here!

He's two weeks old now. He makes my heart melt and I love being a mommy!

January: my birthday month!

For my birthday Derek and I went to San Diego for the weekend. It was also our last trip before baby comes too. So it wasn't only a bday weekend trip but a "babymoon" trip too. My birthday marked exactly one month until baby's due date this year...which couldn't come sooner!

We had a lot of fun in San Diego. We went to Old Town (where I had never been)  had delicious mexican food and walked around the area. There are lots of beautiful historic parks and fun shops.

While we were driving along Old Town SD we saw this building. They give free tours and we took one. We learned about members of our church who joined the Army and moved West to San Diego a long time ago. It was interesting to learn a little more about history and members of our church.

At the end of the tour they had a bunch of things to look at that were similiar to what they used in the Army.

 

Derek and I had a great time in San Diego. The last FULL weekend that Derek and I spent just together (without having to work) I can't remember. My time with my husband I never take for granted!

Well here are the belly photos you all have been wanting to see! I must admit I hate taking photos of my belly right now. I'm 9 months along now (pregnancy is actually 10 months) and ready to pop. I have 4 weeks or less left.

Baby boy doesn't have a whole lot of moving room anymore. When he moves now my stomach skin moves all around too in waves. He pushes out and in and I can feel the pressure on my skin. He hiccups a ton too. Its time for him to come because Mama is so done being pregnant!  

For my birthday Derek suprised me with tickets to the BEST show Cirque Du Soleil's Michael Jackson Immortal in San Diego. It was SO much fun!!! I didn't get any pictures of it but we had a great time and I highly suggest everyone go see it!

We got a new couch and we love it. Its nice being able to have more space and recliners!

 They love it too!

I've been taking Bella on 30-40 minute walks everyday once I come home from work. I love our walks because she is always so happy on them.

Then she comes home and sleeps (usually just like this) the rest of the night.

I'm still reading pregnancy books. This one is more pregnancy stories of other woman and information about natural childbirth. It is written by a very well-known midwife (I'm coming to find out) who has delivered countless babies naturally.

I had forgot to post this picture of Bella on Christmas day at my parents house. She got to lick the ham leftovers....this was pretty much her yummy Christmas gift.

The baby room is coming along...kind of. This is our bedding set we have for the room. This picture isn't taken in our crib though. The theme is cars, trucks, sail boats and airplanes. I love the theme! I will post a picture once the baby room is all set up.

Our sweet animals love to cuddle with us and each other. Kitty actually came and layed right in the middle of Bella's leg and Bella didn't react or care. I love our little fluff ball pets!

This month Derek layed tile in his parents living room/walk way. This is before the grout was layed. They used to have carpet all in this area. My handy man did a great job!

Well this is the last time I will post before baby is here. What a crazy thought. My pictures for February will be of baby! :)

DECEMBER: Merry Christmas!

December quickly started off with my Dad's birthday Dec 9th. It was the big 60 for him! We all went out to dinner as a family. It was fun to spend a night walking around Fashion Island with my parents and (almost all) of my siblings.  I can't remember the last time we did that without spouses or their kids.

This is a picture at my mom's neighbors annual cookie party I go to every year. I forgot to get a picture with anyone here..opps. I am really forgetful these days. It was fun! We had a delicious brunch and stocked up on tons of cookies.

My sister katie, my niece and my parents and I went to Aliso Viejo one night to look at the christmas lights. This house was all crazy decorated on the outside and inside too. People were actually walking in and taking tours. They had the house more decorated than I've ever seen any other house. This is the most beautiful christmas tree I've seen before and it was in the house.

 It's Skiing season for Derek now!

Here he is skiing with some friends of his from work

We are really feeling tired lately....

...and take lots of naps! I am almost 32 weeks along..which is exactly 8 months! This pregnancy is really flying by and I feel baby boy kick a lot! I am not too good with taking belly photos lately...I will try to take more.

 My family's 18 yr old cat tigger passed away this month. He lived a great life and was always such a good cat. He would let anyone hold him and was comfortable with most people. It's sad to see him go, but I know he's in a much better place.

My mother-in-law Mary found a baby photo of Derek. I think he was a few months old. This picture was taken in 1986, the year he was born. He was such a cute baby.

We just about a month a half left until we meet our baby boy! I am starting to feel really anxious and getting more excited.

NOVEMBER: Happy Thanksgiving!

On the VERY first day of November my sister had her 3rd child, and second girl, Abigail (Abby) Marie. I have yet to meet this little one (since this sister lives back east) but I can't wait to finally meet her soon and neither can her soon-to-be cousin (our baby boy) Benjamin!

Abby's little baby feet. I absolutely love tiny baby feet!

She's so sweet and little. That makes me an aunt of 9 now!

Bella had been sleeping with us at night lately (out of the blue), and so we decided to get her a comfy dog pet of her own so she could stop her new bad habit. Kitty took to the bed faster than Bella did.

And then they layed on the bed together! Bella wasn't too sure about this...as you can tell. Happy though to say that Bella has finally stopped her new bad habit!

These two are just little fluff balls and I love them!

Bella watches Football with Derek

Happy Thanksgiving! We celebrated Thanksgiving at my parents house this year with most of my family. I have never looked forward to thanksgiving so much in my life. Its all because this pregnancy and my intense cravings. It was a fun day! 

My mom, sister Katie and I on Thanksgiving. We found out Katie is Pregnant with her 2nd baby and due beginning of July. That will make two out of my three sisters that I have been pregnant together with. Its been fun being pregnant with my sisters at the same time and pretty humorous to my dad and brother. 

My brother Michael, Brother-in-law Thoby and Derek on Thanksgiving

I had lunch with my friend Heather and Brittany this month. Brittany lives out of state and so it was fun to be able to see her again and catch up!

I had another ultrasound! This was the most amazing thing to see on the screen. Baby boy moves a lot now and he was moving throughout the whole ultrasound. At one point he stretched out his whole leg (as seen in this picture) and kicked me. It was so amazing to be able to see his kick coming before it happened.

 I saw this quote at my doctors office and loved it.

My pregnancy has been going well still and baby boy is healthy. I have 8-10 wks left and just reached week 30! I can't believe how fast time flies.

Two of my friends had babies this month and so I got to hold and meet their tiny little newborns. Reality really set in each time for me. Congrats to Vanessa and Luis, and Liz and Mark on their new babies!