Road Trip to Dallas

Ben's good friend, Scott Craighead, and groomsman in our wedding just got married on September 12th, 2009. Although I knew I wanted to go, there was much skepticism on whether or not Kaden & I could make the 6 hour car ride from Amarillo to Dallas. 

The wedding took place at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden. Unfortunately, the Dallas area received about a foot of rain that weekend (the rain guage was literally spilling over!) and the wedding took place under a tent.  Regardless, Tara and Scott looked stunning and vows were exchanged.

Ben's parents, David & Shanny

Professional Pictures

I had a photographer/friend, Megan Carlton, come to the house when Kaden was only 6 days old to take pictures of our new family.  I always want to remember how small he was when he was born, and how happy we were/are... even when I'm not feeling so thrilled at 2:30 a.m. when he wakes up hungry & mad.

She did an amazing job!

To view these photos, go to:
http://www.megancarltonphotography.com/
click on: client login at the bottom of the page
scroll to the bottom and click on Kristin D
login: kristindow@gmail.com;  password: kaden

A "Miracle"

Thanks to Uncle Kyle, Kaden is calm & relaxed in his "miracle blanket".  (I don't think we would survive without it.)

In his monkey towel after his bath

THEN taking a much needed nap

Auntie Dorothy came into town from North Carolina over Labor Day weekend.

 

Greg, Kristyn and Sam also came by the house on their way back to Fort Worth.

 

It's so nice to finally meet you!

The night before...

Ben & I headed to the hospital around 7:30 on Sunday morning, just after my family arrived from their all-night drive to Amarillo.  By 8:30, I had slipped into my cute BSA tent and Brenna placed my IV to start my pitocin drip.  Ben was with me the whole time and things went very smooth; the contractions weren't any worse than uncomfortable cramps until Dr. Baker came in to break my water. 

Whoa mama!  Praise God for epidurals! 

Kaden made his way into the world just a few hours later.  I shouldn't have worried so much because I had one of the smoothest deliveries possible thanks to Ben, Brenna- my delivery nurse, and Dr. Theresa Baker.

Mr. Kaden Benjamin Dow was born on Sunday, August 23rd @ 2:31 p.m. weighing in at 8 pounds, 2.6 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches long.

This was truly one of the happiest moments of my life.

Beyond words...