My 3 Boys at a Glance

Luke Bennett --
He is my 3 yr and 3 month Big Boy! He is such a big helper to me, and has done so well adjusting to having a little baby brother. He loves to hold Seth and is always asking about him. He plays well with Daniel and by himself, and especially likes to build with Legos, read books, play with race cars, color/paint, and swim. He has a big heart and is quick to give hugs and kisses!

Daniel Cole --
He is my 21 month old getting Bigger Boy! He has become so much more independent in the last few months, and definitely has an opinion on things! He has the occasional pre-2-yr-old temper tantrum, but they are usually short-lived and then he is happily on the the next thing! He loves to read books -- especially about animals -- play with cars, chase after his big brother, and swim. He is doing pretty good with little Seth -- he usually just ignores him, but is still trying to figure out what all is going on and why he isn't the "baby" any more! He is also quick to give hugs and kisses, and overall a laid-back boy.


Seth Vaughan --
He is now 2 weeks old, and doing great! He weighed 8 lb, 3 oz today at his check-up, and his bilirubin levels are continuing to go down (what an answer to prayers, since both big brothers had problems with high bilirubin levels for several months!) He is very calm and laid-back and just goes with the flow of our household (sometimes pretty loud and busy!) He is only ever fussy when he is hungry. He is a great nurser and is sleeping 3-4 hours stretches at night (a wonderful treat to Mommy!) He has joined our family and now it seems like he has always been here! We are in love with him and so thankful for this little blessing!



All-in-all everything is going really well, and we are all adjusting to life with a newborn baby. I am trying to take time everyday to savor these precious moments and I am constantly in prayer throughout my days -- prayers of gratitude and thankfulness, prayers for patience and endurance, prayers for God's plan and will for each of my 3 boys and our family!

Seth's Arrival -- Recap

So here's the story of little Seth Vaughan's arrival:

A bit of a backtrack first -- so I had been for my 36 week and 37 week OB appointments and was told that I was already dilated to 3.5 and 4.5 respectively and that things were "looking ready to go". So having that in mind, the end of June and beginning of July, I was really thinking that ANY DAY/ANY MINUTE, Seth would come. Of course, we were wanting him to stay in long enough to be fully developed and not have any breathing problems, etc, so we were just waiting it out -- plus Robert was working until July 1st, so we really wanted him to stay in until then.

So starting the night of the 1st, I started walking around the neighborhood -- anywhere from 1-3 miles at a time 1-3 times a day to see if it would get anything going. I was SO ready to meet Seth, and a little tired of being big and hot and pregnant! But the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th all came and went and no signs of Seth coming. Incidentally, we had both my family and Robert's family down to visit during those days, and to be ready just in case he came, but we are pretty sure that was jinxing us!

So Monday we sent everyone home, and enjoyed a quiet evening catching up on some DVR shows. I decided I had had enough walking and ended up going to bed early that night.

Tuesday, July 6th: (I was 38 2/7 weeks pregnant)

3:30 am -- I woke up to pee (nothing unusual, since I have needed to pee during the night since I first found out I was pregnant!) Noticed that I was having some uncomfortable contractions, but nothing too weird.

3:45 am -- Tried to get back to sleep, but noticed that I was having more of those uncomfortable contractions -- about every 5 minutes

4:15 am -- Woke Robert up because the contractions were coming every 5-7 minutes for the past ~45 minutes; called family to let them know things were happening

4:40 am -- Called my dear friend Dee and asked her to come down to be with the boys until our family could get here, since I was pretty sure "this was it" and me and Robert headed up to the hospital

5:00 am -- Got checked into the hospital L&D triage and waited to be seen by a doc to make sure I was really in labor; I was dilated to a 6 at that point and the contractions were coming every couple of minutes. I told anyone who would listen to page my OB since I tend to progress FAST and to page anesthesia with an epidural ready ASAP!

5:30 am -- Dr. Sparkman (anesthesia) arrived and started my epidural -- he is my hero! He worked as fast as he could to get me as comfortable as possible over the next 1.5 hours.

6:15 am -- OB doc on call checked me again and I was dilated to 10, head practically crowning, ready to go.

6:45 am -- My OB arrived (thank goodness!!!!) and he quickly pulled on his gown, mask, moon boots, gloves, etc and got ready to catch little Seth!

6:52 am -- After 2 pushes, Seth Vaughan came out into the world wide-eyed and alert! He weighed 6 lb, 11 oz and was 18.5 inches long.

We stayed in the hospital all day Tuesday and Luke and Daniel got to come up to meet their new baby brother in the afternoon. Then, Wednesday after a few standard tests and procedures, we were released home.

We have had a busy and wonderful week since then. We are adjusting to a family of 5, and the big boys are getting used to having a baby around. Luke just adores Seth and wants to hold and kiss him constantly. Daniel mostly ignores him, but will stop playing occasionally to give him a kiss too. Both boys are doing great with him, and Seth is a beautiful little addition to our family! I am truly amazed at how my heart just multiplies and my love just abounds with each child! It is a wonderful blessing and miracle that God gives to parents! I am richly blessed beyond measure and thank God daily for the calling He has given me to be a Mommy!

Yes, I have my hands full -- but so is my heart, FULL OF LOVE!!!!!

Family of 5

Introducing our newest bundle of joy!

Seth Vaughan Anderson came into the world Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at 6:52 am. He weighed in at 6 lb. 11 oz. and 18.5 inches long (the biggest of our 3 boys!)

Just moments after being born! He was wide-eyed and awake!

Getting all cleaned up with the nurse.

Little Seth looks alot like his big brothers -- definitely a little Anderson boy!

Getting to hold that sweet little baby!

Daddy's turn to love on him!

My OB was there for the delivery!!! (A first for me!) So thankful that he made it!

The big brothers getting to see him for the first time... we are all just smitten by our little man!

An attempt at a family picture... not sure if we will manage to get one of everyone looking... and smiling ;)

Pops and the 3 Anderson boys!

Getting ready to leave the hospital and come home! Seth is wearing the same little outfit that Luke and Daniel wore home from the hospital.

We are just enjoying loving on our sweet little Seth and adjusting to having a teeny tiny little guy in the house. It has been such a wonderful week, and we feel truly blessed to now be a family of 5!