Morgan Sims Gue

Morgan Sims Gue

June 15, 2009

4:34 pm

8 lb, 3 oz

19 1/2 inches

Wade met a new chick on our way home from the beach. She's a CUTIE! Morgan is the daughter of our friends, Thomas and Ashton Gue, in Orangeburg, SC. We all met in Charleston and have stayed close since. We've been lucky enough to take some fun trips together, but now that we all (including the Kennemores twins-to-be) have kids we've had to learn how to tailor our vacations into "family" fun trips. Different....but just as fun :)
Proud Mama and Papa!

Please notice Beau's hands out and ready to catch Morgan if Wade launches her across the room in the swing

Wade was very gentle and softly rocked Morgan. He did great with her (as long as I didn't hold her for too long).

Happiness is...

Oh the joy of watermelon juice dripping down your face...

What a DAY!

Today was a beautiful unseasonally cool summer day with an awesome breeze. It felt like early October....not mid July! We had a busy Saturday planned. Beau was in a dental course all day, Wade with his favorite sitter Erin, and I was on my way to celebrate Stephanie's 30th bday at the lake. That was until Wade fell....

Erin called me pretty upset to say Wade fell off the pool table (don't judge. he begs to get up there to roll the balls in the holes, he just lost his balance and fell off the side). He seemed okay, but honestly I first turned around for Erin, not Wade. By the sounds of things, he was fine, but she was so upset that the accident happened with her and I didn't want to make it any worse for her. I seriously thought, I'd run back home comfort them both and be on my way shortly. But to make a very long story as short as possible, after hours of appearing fine Wade started vomiting and acting very strange. We knew these were red flags in case he had hit his head, so we rushed to the ER. I can not express the panic I felt at that point wondering what was happening to Wade. I thought of all the stories I read, hear and FEAR. The nurses took us really quickly and I'm so thankful for that. I could NOT have sat in a waiting room wondering if my child's brain had been bleeding for 5 hours. Not acceptable. His doctor exam appeared fine, but considering the turn of events they recommended a CT scan. Poor little man had to be sedated which meant every tube, IV, and monitor on the planet. You can imagine how much he loved all the poking and prodding. But he did great and came out of the sedation well (THANK YOU GOD!). The CT was negative and we were given the all clear!!! I was so relieved to walk out of that hospital with my sweet baby healthy who was acting like nothing ever happened. By this evening, he was swimming in the tub, teasing Cali with chips and cheese dip, and running around laughing and screaming "DADA". Music to my ears.

As I continue to replay the day, I first think of our panic, Wade's pain, and everything that went WRONG today. But then I truly realize how much went RIGHT. There were so many small (and BIG!) things that gave today the happy ending I was praying for instead of the nightmare I feared. I know it wasn't a coincidence, it was God looking out for us. He was guiding us through every step of the way.

THANK YOU Erin for taking such good care of Wade. It was an accident and could happen to anyone. We love you in spite of your request to be fired...

THANK YOU Nonna for helping us at the hospital and supporting us through the ordeal.

THANK YOU Scottish Rite for having the technology and doctors to give Wade the medical attenion he needed.

THANK YOU God for protecting our son and healing him today and everyday.

Fripp Island 2009

My family spent a week together on Fripp Island. It's a wonderfully secluded little island between Savannah and Charleston. We had never been there and it was such a treat to enjoy all the traditional summer beach fun along with seeing all the wildlife, biking everywhere or driving golf carts everywhere, fishing, golfing, walking to the Pirate Playground, endless Frog slides, and spending great time my family.

Since last year's beach trip to Tybee, we've added 2 more grandkids so it was imperative that we find another house to fit our growing brood. I'll admit things got a little hectic at times trying to feed, sleep, and "enjoy" 9 adults, 3 kids, 1 toddler, and 2 babies. Could you imagine if we ever added the 6 dogs to the mix? Pure insanity. But so much fun.

I felt like I got to know my nieces and nephews again, was forced to take a siesta every afternoon while Wade napped, and even pulled out a deck of cards to play rummy in honor/memory of Grandma Ceil. Love you Grandma OXOX!

Till next year!!!

This is only a sample of the pictures I took! But you get the idea....

Dance Party @ the beach

Every evening at the beach, the kids got a little crazy before bed. So in an attempt to drown out the screaming entertain them, Shawn was the DJ for a dance party.

A Poem for Busy Mommies

I just found this poem and instantly loved it. It makes me feel better about my dirty house. I was actually just comtemplating whether to take Wade to the pool tomorrow or do some much needed laundry???
I think we'll go to the pool because babies don't keep...

Song for a Fifth Child
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

A Frippin Good Time

We're home from the beach and still unpacking. I need an unpacking fairy. Anyone want to volunteer?

We had the best time with my family on Fripp Island. I only took about 1,000 pictures and have since edited them down to 654 (with more editing to go). But while I edit away, I'll post a few of my favorites so far....

The Greer-Reuter-Benich Crew

Wade and his Dada

Baby Lauren getting spoiled by her daddy. Being the only girl, it's easy to see why she's our little princess.

Unlike sweet innocent Lauren, this group of nose pickin-rough housing-beach racing boys kept us on our toes. Phew. We need more dainty girls in the group.

The 6 PACK!

I've never seen a happier child at the beach. Wade was in HEAVEN. I seriously considered not going back to Atlanta and asking Nicci if we could come live with her for the summer in Charleston.

What a hunk. (Colt,the one on the right, not the dork on the left)

Sheesha and Beau swinging away

Beau and Shawn mesmerized by the deer that will eat out of your hand (or if you're completely crazy, your mouth)

Please notice the tongue to lip contact. Angie I wouldn't kiss Shawn for at least a year.

4th of July

The Benich family has a fun tradition for the 4th of July. We stay at Beau's parent's condo in Buckhead, run the Peachtree Road Race, and enjoy the Lenox fireworks that evening. It's such a relaxing fun way to spend the holiday.

The hovering helicopters wake us up as soon as the sun rises. So you might as well get out of bed and the do the 10K Peachtree with 50,000 of your closest friends, right? This year I did it with my friends (Wade's babysitters) Kelsey & Erin Little. We were all planning on walking so it worked out well. It only took us about an 1 1/2 hours :)

(Kelsey - on the right - wearing her sash for her upcoming wedding! Can you see why Wade has no idea Kelsey has replaced Erin? Did I blog that Erin recently got engaged and asked Wade to be her ring bearer? I mean, how stinkin' cute is that going to be!)

Beau finished in his best time ever, 43:18. I'm so proud of him!!! But as luck would have it, we accidentally mixed up our numbers and he raced under my number. So the records show that "Kriya Benich" finished in 43:18, making me the 15th woman finisher in all of Cobb County. My name was listed in the newspaper as a top finisher!!! HA!! My neighbors were congratulating me not knowing that I barely hobbled across the finish line many hours later after the real runners. Poor Beau, no credit for his hard work. Next year, "Kriya" should qualify for a seeded race number. So if Beau wants to race with the Kenyans, he's going to have to pretend to be me again.

After naps (for all of us!) we spent some time at the pool. This fish towel is so appropriate for Wade. He is my little fish!!!

(Snacking and lounging on the balcony after pool time)

Beau's parents invited a few friends up later that evening for the fireworks. We just ate and relaxed until it got dark. As soon as it's dark enough, you can see fireworks lighting up the sky in every direction. So instead of seeing one show, we get to see most of Atlanta's fireworks. You can't beat that! But as soon as Lenox shot of the first one, Wade's eyes never blinked. HE LOVED THEM. I mean REALLY. LOVED. THEM. He kept pointing and "talking" so excitedly. He wasn't the least bit scared. It was magical to see him experience his first fireworks! As soon as the ended, he just kept pointing to the sky asking for more. He missed them so much that he woke up at 3:00am and made me take him on the balcony to look for them. Again he pointed to the sky asking for more. If I hadn't been so tired, I would've thought it was really cute.

(Our little patriot)

(Some of the girls from Beau's office (and significant others) joined us too!)

Hair Dryer Wars

This was from a few weeks ago, but I finally downloaded it. Wade loves playing with my hair dryer. He thinks it hilarious when I turn it on, he runs away, I turn it off, he comes back, and again and again and again. It takes forever to dry my hair, but at least he's entertained while I'm doing it :)

Emery at 2 weeks

Alicia, Wade and I took a road trip to Greenville to visit Ashley & Emery for the day. It was quite an adventure!!! Ashley's doing great and way more coherent than I was at 2 weeks post Wade (and I had my mom with me 24/7!). I know Ashley's tired, but she's holding up well!!!They've gotten into a pretty good routine and Emery's just a little eating machine. She completely skipped the newborn prune look and has catapulted into the full blown "I'm a cute little baby don't you want to pinch my cheeks" look. See these pictures. Am I right?
We were able to give Ashley some adult conversation, fold a little laundry, Alicia held Emery for a record breaking 3 hour nap, I took some pictures while Ashley took a long shower, Wade tortured played with Maddux, Ben came home and avoided the chaos by productively mowing the lawn, then we all ate dinner, I chugged some caffeine and it was back on the road to Atlanta.
Wade was a good sport throughout the day, but it was definitely like 2 worlds colliding...the toddler and the newborn. I never take Wade to visit friends/family with newborns and now I remember why. Ashley was so gracious and didn't mind one bit, but I know how hectic it feels with the 9lb screaming child, so adding the 23lb screaming child can't be good. He was destroying every room he went through like a human tornado. He even went into Emery's sweet little perfect nursery and started body slamming all of her big teddy bears. And if that wasn't enough, then he threw them all down the stairs. Nice. Daddy would've been proud of his little wrestler. I followed behind him like a maniac trying to clean-up but you know how that goes...you're always a few steps behind. So after a couple meltdowns, crushing goldfish in the carpet, and eating a selection of new treats (tin foil, dog biscuits, and a Japanese beetle) it was time to go! Phew!

Luckily Ashley makes the trek back to Atlanta all the time, so we'll be able to see Miss Emery again soon!
(funniest attempt at a family picture I've ever seen. Emery screaming, Maddux playing dead so he won't get picked up, Wade running and down the "hill" in the background)
(this was the best I could do!!)