INTRODUCING BENJAMIN GRANT RENCHER

He's here!!!

Benjamin Grant Rencher has finally arrived. We are convinced that his Grandpa Rencher had a great deal of influence on this little man. Irvine Rencher (Mitch's Dad) was notorious for being early for everything. Being early, however, didn't mean he arrived at his destination quickly. Irv would avoid left hand turns if he could help it. He didn't like to drive on the freeway if at all possible and I have never been in the car with Irv when he wasn't driving exactly the speed limit or slower. Traveling with Irv was painfully slow sometimes, but he was always early.
Ben showed a little bit of this characteristic on his journey to this world. Ben's first due date was March 5th. The doctor bumped that up to February 26th at his 16 week appointment. Ben actually arrived on Monday, February 23, 2009 (3 days early of his early due date!). However, Ben did take his sweet time. I started labor at about 11:30pm on Saturday (Feb 21st). I was having major contractions every 30 minutes all night long with smaller contractions in between. I finally woke Mitch up at about 3AM and told him I was going to take a shower to see if the pains would slow down or become less intense. They didn't.

(Right before we left for the hospital)

At about 5AM Sunday Morning, we went to the hospital. They monitered me for 2 hours and confirmed that I had started labor, but I was progressing so slowly that they said it would be better for me to wait it out at home. We went home and all day Sunday the contractions got more painful and closer together until I couldn't even breathe through the pain. Mitch begged me to go back to the hospital to see if they could at least give me something for the pain so I could sleep - even if they didn't admit us that night. I finally agreed. We were checked in at about 9:30pm Sunday night and after some monitering of my contractions and Ben's heart rate, the doctor felt it was best to keep us there. Ben's heart rate was dropping after some contractions and by Monday morning, I had progressed so little that they threatened to do an emergency C-Section.

(Here we are with our nurse, Heather . . .

I was drugged up on an epidural and it was wonderful!!)

Mitch & my brother-in-law Andrew (Weber) gave me a blessing and our Heavenly Father promised this baby would come without surgery - and he did. Finally, after 36 hours of labor, Benjamin Grant Rencher entered the world. He weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and measured 20 1/2 inches long.

(Ben was in the birthing canal so long - he was a cone head by the time he came out!)

(Dr Harward delivered Ben - He was awesome!!)

Grandpa Rencher always gave his children an "Obedience" talk before they left on their missions or got married. I'm convinced that Benjamin received this same lecture because he is so good and he keeps both his mom and dad on track. He nursed like a champ right from the beginning and he loves to be awake in the day (some of the day) and sleeps through almost all of the night when he's not eating. He must have had a really good discussion with Grandpa because 36 hours is plenty of time to get any message across even for the long-winded-worry-wart named Irv (love ya Mirv!)

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY BENJAMIN!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

It's Real

(Please note: Commentary added by Mitch)

My work threw me an adorable baby shower (because they know as well as I do that he is an adorable baby--HoTtEsT FeTuS EvEr!) and I decided that I'm extremely spoiled. We got all sorts of blankets, clothes, socks, pj's, diapers, an umberella stroller, & bathroom items (and some stuff for the BaBy too!). When I got home that night with a car load of stuff, Mitch was freaking out (in a very manly way--"oh my heck...bLuE BoOtIeS!"...hey, I didn't know Trish was here). He went through all of the gifts and we both decided that this felt very real... we are really having a baby (or some life form--nanu, nanu!) Not that the pregnancy hasn't felt real - it's probably the biggest reality check I've had so far in my life (ya, it was about the size of one of those oversized lottery checks). However, it's been fun to have material items to show me this is for a little person (its confirmed, he'a a MiDgEt); this is for my son (I hope its mine too), not just some alien taking over my body (unconfirmed) and stretching out my stomach to no end. Soon I won't just be waking up because I'm uncomfortable and need to use the bathroom (she'll be waking up because 1,000's of spiders are crawling all over her body, oh and...) I'll be waking up to hold, nourish and care for our baby. It's absolutely thrilling (thriller...thriller night and no ones going to save you from the beast about to strike) and nerve wracking at the same time. We CaN't WaIt!! (True dat!)

Center of Attention

My adorable husband was feeling a bit down one day and, being the good wife that I am, I asked "What's wrong with you today?"

He turned to me and said, "You never post anything on your blog about me! Don't you love me?"
If anyone knows my Mitch they know how much he loves being the center of attention. I have added a few photos to illustrate:

Here you can see him showing off his mad basketball skills while playing with his eight year old nephew.

If anyone has seen the movie Dodge ball, you know how inspiring it can be. Mitch thought so too - here he is pummeling his mother with the ball.

Mitch has always been known for his musical talent, so him and Jenn (much to his mother's delight) put on a fabulous musical number during our Christmas Eve program.

If you need a good example of excellent manners, look to Mitch

He also doesn't like to feel left out of anything. Once I started showing, he decided he should start showing too... or at least when he pushes his stomach out really hard it kind of looks like he's showing.

At the Carter Cousin Christmas Party, Mitch made it his goal to be in as many photos as he possibly could.

Seriously, to Mitch's credit - I am very glad I married him. He's always trying to put a smile on everyone's face. He's quick to forgive and loves unconditionally. He works hard to better himself in everything he does. He takes such good care of me. One example was after the last October Priesthood session of conference, he made a point to do some extra acts of service. He had a week off of school and he took each day to work on something around the house. One day, he deep cleaned the fridge
He took another day and deep cleaned the bathrooms, kitchen & office. He would call me while I was at work and ask what project needed to be done and by the time I made it home, it would be taken care of.

This week was very exhausting to him, so I came home to him asleep on the couch a couple of days
I am very lucky to have such a wonderful husband to share eternity with. He has such enthusiasm for life and can't wait to share that enthusiasm with our baby. He'll be a great dad and is already a great Patriarch for our family. LOVE YOU MITCH!!

Walter's Hair Cut!

Walter went to the groomer and we think he looks a little, well ... different.

Do you see a resemblance?

WALTER: "Backpack, Backpack, Backpack, Backpack. I'm the Backpack loaded up with things and knick knacks too. Backpack, Backpack. Backpack, Backpack. YEA!"

FALL FUN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

The Johnsons celebrated Elisabeth & Haley's birthday September 27th

Johnsons like to have fun... and we're kinda weird,

so we thought it would be a good idea to have a huge WATER FIGHT!!!

We started out with launching water balloons

I just thought this was a cool photo

Levi/Capri Mitch holding his little Water Baby!

Then we played water dodge ball.

Mini water pools were the bases and you slid into home on the slip & slide.

Woody just needed a hug! Logan didn't, so they compromised and had a tickle fight!

AHHH!! So much love!

Robin danced with the ball while Hunter stole home.

Last, we did an egg toss. We paired up and tried to see how far we could throw the egg to our partner without breaking it!

Logan's thought process: "Me Want FOOD!"

Some got very competitive... you could feel the tension

(and see it on Laura's face)

"Praise the eggs!"

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Wachovia Securities is serious about the Holidays.

Jamie (left) dressed up as a 50's girl (she looked just like the star on Hair Spray).

Judy (middle) was "White Trash".

Haley dressed up as the "Goddess of Fertility" (much to Cherie's delight)

Walter was dressed up as a one-legged ghost... He didn't like it very much.

The funniest part of the video is that Mitch filmed it sideways!

CATCHING UP

So it's been a while since Mitch & I have updated our blog. We're going to do a little bit of catch up. Here are some things that have happened since our last post:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITCH
July 3, 2008

Since Mitch's birthday is the day before Independence Day, it seems his celebration gets jumbled in with the 4th of July celebrations. I wanted to make sure he felt especially celebrated this year and that he did something he loves... and what does he love to do more than GOLF?

We had our first annual Rencher Open. It was really such a hit! We had more than 35 people show up. Lakeside Golf course was extremely accommodating to allow me to rampage the golf course as I gave kids rides on the cart and took pictures (Much to Brad's dismay - it seemed every time he was up for his drive, I would come barrelling over the fareway. If I didn't have his children on the cart with me, I think by the third time he would have just taken his shot anyway.) Thanks to my mom, dad & sisters, we had a big dinner and fun prizes.

A LITTLE "RENCH" IN OUR PLANS

Announced July 3, 2008

During the buffett after the golf, Mitch & I announced that we have a little "Rench" in our plans! We gave the two "grandma's" a small adjustable wrench as a keepsake. I was only 6 weeks along, but since I was getting so sick I didn't want to keep it a secret much longer. And to be honest, I think that Mitch enjoyed announcing the pregnancy even more than the golf (which was a shocker!). He told me it was the best birthday present he's ever had. He'll be a great dad!

Before we announced the news, we had taken 2 pregnancy tests just to be sure. After each test showed up positive, he just couldn't wipe the grin off his face.

HAPPY 2nd ANNIVERSARY!!

July 21, 2008

We finally did it! To celebrate our second anniversary, Mitch took me on a real hot air balloon ride! I feel terrible that I don't have the pictures. I took them on my dad's camera and I can't seem to find them. We had to get up at 5:30 to drive to Park City, but it was well worth it. I finally fulfilled one of my life-long dreams! And I even got to share it with my dream man!