The Beniks: The Birth of Lola

I never thought I would make it to the end. The last few weeks seemed to take for-ev-er!! I was so very uncomfortable and my back was achy all the time, the baby was so low in my pelvis that riding in the car and going over bumps was not enjoyable and I was constantly nagging poor Lucas about his driving like an Idiot! I couldn't sleep comfortably so the last week or so I didn't get much sleep (somebody's sneaky way of preparing me for even less sleep). At 36 weeks my Dr started checking my internal progress and I was dilated 1 cm and 50% effaced, at 37 weeks I was 2+ cm and 70%, 38 weeks put me at 3cm and 70%. At that point the Dr said he was very surprised I hadn't gone into labor yet and for sure would any day now. I immediately called my Mother with the good news and she packed her bags and was on the next flight out of Denver. We were ready for a baby! A whole week went by and still no baby. What?!? I couldn't believe Baby was torturing us like that. At 39 weeks I was 4cm and still 70%, the Dr did some stretching of the membranes and said see you soon...Yeah right. But he was! The next morning I found myself with my water broken and on the way to the Hospital!! Yay for Baby!! We were finally going to meet our little one. I was so excited and maybe a little scared :)
We arrived at the Hospital around 830 am and I was admitted, dressed and in the bed by 9. So far so good as I did not feel any hard contractions yet. My mom and brother Taylor accompanied Luke and I. We all hung out in the L&D room chatting it up while eating popsicles. Taylor worked on his homework and studied for his finals. Luke took pictures and video taped me with my soon to be gone belly. It was pretty uneventful. I progressed quickly and effortlessly. At 9 I was at 5cm, by 11 I was 6cm, and although I wasnt in any pain yet they recommended I get the epidural at 12 or I would have to wait until 130 or later. I was uncomfortable enough to get it then, thank goodness or come an hour later it would be a whole different story! Around 1 pm I was at a 7 and I will admit I shed 2 tears (one right before the epidural and the other while getting the epidural). That was the only time I felt pain... poor me :) By 2 pm I had progressed to 8 cm and at 3 I made it to 10 cm. It was time to start pushing!! It was just in time for Jonathan too. If you remember 2 years back, Jon shot our wedding and the pictures turned out amazing! He has talent beyond words and we were so lucky to have him come out to the Hospital and shoot Lola's birth. The nurse set up the table for the Dr and by 330 we were set to go. At that time everyone placed their guesses for when Baby would arrive and how much she would weigh. Just over an hour later (4:49 to be exact) our baby girl made her way into the world! It was an absolute miracle. I could not believe my eyes. She was so tiny and beautiful and so very precious. I cant even begin to put into words just how I felt at that moment. I could relive those few seconds over and over again... It was surely the greatest moment of my life and I cant thank my Heavenly Father enough for this. I am eternally grateful for Lola and all that she will bring to our family. I pray that we can give her a wonderful life full of happiness and love!!

Daddy and I anxiously waiting to see our baby girl

My beautiful Mother. Im so glad she could be there, she was a great support.

Cute Uncle Taylor wanted to be there for the birth of his "lazy" niece
(bc she waited a whole week after he and my mother came out to arrive, he dubbed her the lazy niece, and the following few days after being born she proved to be a very sleepy and lazy little girl)

Me and my new baby girl! I love her so so much :)

Daddy first holding his princess

Grammy and Lola are already best friends

Breecia is so proud to finally be an Auntie! She loves her sweet Lola.
P.S. Breecia guessed the exact birth weight ( I thought 7.1 and Dad said 6.2) Good job Auntie!