Ben's Blessing

Benjamin Grant Rencher was blessed by his dad on April 5th. Since it was Conference Weekend and the family would all be together, we thought it would be good to do a private blessing at Grandma Rencher's home. Mitch & Ben spent the morning contemplating what would be said in the blessing.

The whole thing was making Ben a little nervous.It took a while, but we finally got Ben calmed down before the big event... but we discovered this was just the silence before the storm. Ben screamed through the entire blessing. Mitch was almost yelling out the words so people could hear.

However, Ben wasn't the only one with tears by the end. The blessing was beautiful! There were some sweet promises made and the spirit was definitely felt. It was wonderful to have so many family members present!In the circle were great Grandfather Lael carter, Bradley Rencher, Andrew Rencher, Brandon Green and David Rollins of the Rencher Family. Irvine wasn't there physically, but everyone felt his spirit present. From the Johnson Family were Grandpa Steve Johnson, Woody Johnson, Logan Johnson, Donny Anderson, Andrew Weber, Joe Johnson and Andy Bingham.Isn't Ben lucky to have such wonderful supportive uncles like these two yahoos?

Easter Golf Tournament

The last few years, we have had a Easter Golf Tournament. This may seem a little odd since Easter is all about the Atonement and is a more serious / spiritual holiday. However, if anyone knows my family they know that the men feel that golf is definately religious.

"...wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round..."

1 Nephi 10:19

We lined up and started our round.

Sophie, of course wore flip flops and it was about 30 degrees outside, so we improvised and put golf covers on her little feetsies!
We even decorated our golf balls like easter eggs and or easter-bunny-eating-freak-o-nature eggs!
And since Ben couldn't decorate his own ball, I decorated him.

Strike one, Elisabeth! But can you blame her with that oaf in the golf hat jumping around behind her?

Ummm... Well, we decided to turn the event into a charity event to help special children learn how to golf...oh no that's just Levi, silly Levi...need I say more?

Here we have the old duffer, I mean old pro, who is not to be confused with the old goat - Grandpa Steve with the perfect swing!

And then there were some golfers that turned their round into a sort of Easter Egg Hunt of course

But we still had so much fun!! Like mother, like daughter...and now if they could only quit posing and hit the ball.

Beautiful swing, Robyn! And it only took three takes!

Maybe Lurpdog /Andrew needs bigger clubs, eh?

Some golfers got a little carried away and still sank their birdie putts amidst the distractions.

Is someone announcing a pregnancy? No, it's just Woody's belly announcing that it's time for lunch!

Mitch discovered that bringing his son golfing is a good luck charm. He played his best round of golf ever with Ben as his caddie. The final score for Mitch was one under par. Congratulations, Dad!

Obi Ben Yoda

Help us Obi Ben Yoda! You're our only hope!

(Uncle Woody says Ben looks a little like Yoda - I guess there is a slight resemblance)

My New Life

Once upon a time, I worked in the heart of Salt Lake City in a beautiful high-rise building. My company was one of the most successful in the New York Stock Exchange. I was assisting the management of millions of dollars during one of the most volital times in the market. I knew what I was doing and I was good at my job.

I would go to work every day and my work was appreciated and my skills were sought after. I received a pay check every couple of weeks to help me feel even better about what I did. On February 23, 2009, that life vanished overnight...

I grew two milk cartons on my chest and I am milked every couple of hours; Mitch calls me Bessie. This does mean, however, that my skills are still sought after! It is rare that I leave my house because by the time I get Benjamin ready to go, it's time to nurse again and I have to start all over. I don't have a clue what I'm doing minute to minute. But Matlock is great!

I've become a human diaper. Nobody told me how much urine a newborn can produce! My little angel can fill up a diaper in record time and manage to soak whatever outfit I'm wearing at the same time. I have discovered green rocket poop! Last night, I was putting Benjamin to bed. I took off his onsie and was chaning his diaper. I've become pretty good at dodging the "water fountains" that Benjamin likes to make when his diaper is being changed, so I was being very cautious about removing the diaper too soon. I started to take it off and heard a disturbing rumble. I quickly put the diaper back on and held it there for a moment until the rumbinlings were done. I decided it was safe to take a peek. The instant I pulled down that diaper an exposion went off! I screamed and before I could replace the diaper, I was covered in green rocket poop! When I say covered, I'm not exaggerating. It was on my shoulder, face, arms, chest, stomach and even my pants. I looked down at my sweet little boy and he had this huge grin on his face as though he had planned it all along. My husband was no help - he was having a hard time catching his breath because he was laughing so hard. Here is what was left after I rinsed my body off and wiped off what I could from my shirt.

But how could I be mad at this face? Even though my laundry has more than trippled, I haven't had a full night of sleep for months, I can't walk to the mailbox without peeing my pants, and my emotions are a little unpredictable I couldn't think of a better life than the one I have with Benjamin.

It's definately been a huge transition going from a fast-paced work environment to baby talk and changing diapers all day - including my own :), but every time I look at my little son, I'm convinced I've picked the better life. Besides, the volitile market conditions have nothing on the volitile green rocket poops that I have discovered!

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!!