Benjamin, 7 weeks old

We just got back from a super-fun long-weekend in Virginia, celebrating with Conrad for his graduation at EMU!!  I"ll post more about our weekend later, but for now, just wanted to post a quick pic of Benjamin -- he's growing so much and does not look like a little baby anymore, in my opinion!  He is super-laid back and has a sweet little smile that we get to see often...

Benjamin, 7 weeks old

Welcome, Benjamin!

We are so thankful for the safe arrival of the newest Stotts boy, Benjamin Aric!  He was born at 6:36 pm on Tuesday, February 28, born at Mary Greeley Hospital in Ames. He weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 22 inches long.  

meet Benjamin... He is a very content, happy baby!
He appears to be thinking hard in this picture!

our newest family picture!

Daddy and Mama with Baby Benjamin....

Roman was excited to hold Benjamin at the hospital  - he did a very good job!

the Stotts men!

Benjamin with Grandpa Mark... 

Benjamin with Grandma Susan...

Benjamin with Grandma Rosie...

Aunt Britt made a surprise visit to the hospital to visit "Benny" as she calls him!  :-)

Benjamin's due date was February 16, so we were excited to finally meet him!  We were hoping that he could come on his own time, but we ended up going in at 7am on Tuesday to be induced. The day started out as a normal induction - I even got to chat on gmail with Britt and Lindsay while sitting on a birthing ball - a good distraction during some contractions! After several hours of  labor that seemed to be going well and then pushing for about an hour and a half, Dr. Downard suggested that Benjamin was not going to deliver as we thought because of his position. (I was dilated to 9cm; Benjamin was head down as he should be but face up, which was not allowing him to "drop" like he needed to.) So we quickly switched gears and proceeded to deliver via c-section. This was a big surprise to us and not the way we had planned or thought our day would go -- but we are so thankful for a healthy baby and delivery in the end! God is good!