Contemplating the Face of God

I was talking with someone the other day and was reminded of a phenomenon God has graced us with. It has to do with Heaven and our children. It is said that when you make it to the pearly gates (if God has so had mercy) that we will forever contemplate the face of God. I personally have always kinda struggled with this concept, thinking, "I am just going to stare into His face for all eternity? Really?" And then I had this sweet baby boy, who I could just look at all day long. I never get bored staring at him and each moment I do flies by so quickly, making time very different now. So, this is what was explained to me the other day: Heaven will be much like staring into the eyes of your child... the closest we can come here on earth to contemplating the face of God. Now, I can't wait. The motivation to get there is even greater. God has a tendency to do that to us... He gives us gifts in which we just can't help but love Him more. He will never let us outdo Him in generosity.

Gabriel's Baptism!

Gabriel was baptized last Saturday, May 23. It was an amazing celebration of the "greatest day" of his life, as Father Baker so aptly stated! Thanks so much to all of our friends and family who were able to participate in the sacrament and welcome Gabriel into the Body of Christ. Our world is just a little bit more Catholic now.

Please look at our photo album of this great event on phanfare: click here.

PURE JOY!

The first two weeks have been exhausting, but totally awesome! We are madly in love and continue to be amazed that God would grant us such a gift.These first weeks have been full of excitement, including sleeping, pooping, peeing on both of us numerous times, finding our thumb, watching TV with dad, and making silly faces. The most important of the adventures was being baptized this weekend and becoming a member of our Family, the Church. Gabriel has his second doctor's appointment this Friday, so we can see if he has grown some. His cheeks do look chubbier to me, but we'll have to wait and see. He has been sleeping well and only wakes us up once or twice a night for a diaper change and to eat. We have been pretty lucky. I hope to share more pictures soon! Thank you to all of you for your warm and loving welcome to our sweet little boy... the generosity has astounded us.

My Story

I have my own now... a story to tell about how my first little peanut entered the world.

It all started last Saturday evening. The back pain had begun and as my instinct told me, I just knew the time was near. Patrick and I finished cleaning out the cars in the midst of the discomfort because I knew the more I was on my feet, the sooner my sweet one would be here. So, finishing our last, of MANY might I add, of cleaning sprees, we finally looked at eachother and said, "We better get to bed fast. We don't know how much time we have!" We slept for about 6 1/2 hours and at about 6am I sat up with some real pain and thought, THIS IS IT.

My contractions were kinda irregular for the first few hours, but quickly turned regular and more intense (about 5 minutes apart) by 10am. At that point we had told the doctor we were coming in and Patrick was finishing packing the car. Fr. Baker had already stopped by to give us Holy Communion and in the middle of his blessing over me, I laughed as I made it through one more contraction! So, we were ready to go.

I stood up to walk out the door at about 10:15am and BAM or should I say GUSH... water broken. I had no idea I was going to have a waterfall come out right there in the dining room, but we did. Needless to say we were delayed some, but soon off to the hospital.

We made it there by about 10:45am and checked in and got the confirmation that yes, I was in labor! They didn't know it, but I wasn't going back home if they told me to. For the next 3 1/2 hours I managed to make it through the contractions, which I must say, I am really proud of now. I didn't know it at the time, but they were the longest contractions my doctor said she had ever seen. They were lasting well over 2 minutes. So, without being boastful I have to say, I am awesome! Ha. After we made it to 6 1/2 cm we opted for the epidural. I couldn't see straight anymore and my body was shaking pretty bad from the pain. We just knew I wouldn't make it through. I had reached my limit. Within 10 minutes the horrid back needle was in (the least painful part of the whole labor) and I was able to rest some.

At this point, like epidurals tend to do, my labor slowed. It took me another 2 hours to make it to 7 1/2 cm when Dr. Barrett decided to dose me up with some pitocin. From there it took no time at all. Even though I was numbed up, within about 10 minutes I told the nurse that this baby was ready to come out. She was like, "Well, I can check you again, but I don't think so." Think again.. this mama went from 7 1/2 cm to 10 cm in 15 minutes. So, we started pushing.

We pushed for one whole hour when Dr. Barrett decided to call the troops in. The NICU had to come because little one decided to poop before he came out and then all the others who would step in for potential problems, etc. Little did we know that once this baby crowned, he was going to stay that way for 30 minutes. His little fist decided to get stuck under his chin and he just stayed. I could tell it was getting frustrating for everyone because we just wanted him to be here, so I told Dr. Barrett between contractions that she was doing a great job. She stopped, smiled and said, "I really needed to hear that," followed by, "Alright, let's get this baby out." I am so grateful she patiently waited because it prevented all sorts of problems (including tearing). So, after an hour and a half of pushing, Gabriel Patrick Bentley decided to join us. It was so funny because Dr. Barrett was holding him in such a way that Patrick could not tell if it was a boy or girl, so she spread his legs and Patrick yelled, "It's Gabriel!"

They handed him over to the NICU and cleaned out his throat and lungs to make sure he didn't swallow any poop... sounds lovely... and within about 5 minutes, they handed him to me. Before I was able to hold him, I could see Patrick across the room watching them as they cleaned him off and got him wrapped up. He was glowing and crying the biggest happy tears I have ever seen. Nothing like the look on the face of a father the first time he sees his son. I will never forget it.

Soon mom, dad, Eric and Mrs. Bentley came in. My brother says that this was his favorite moment. I didn't realize it at the time, but he said I was laughing so loud and crying at the same time. I couldn't believe it. How did he get here? Why do I deserve this? And most of all, God must really adore me to let me be a mom.

We moved to recovery and tried to sleep some. Patrick slept great. I just watched my little miracle through most of the night. What a dream! What an outerbody experience! What a gift!

So there it is. My story which officially initiated me into the mom club. This has been my greatest accomplishment yet.

I'm in love...

Welcome to the World!!!

Updated with some new photos!!!

We would like to announce to you the birth of:

Gabriel Patrick Bentley


5lbs, 13oz and 20in.
at 7:36 central on Mother's Day,
May 10, 2009

Mamma Kristi and Baby Gabriel are both doing great! Thanks for all the prayers!

Now I am going to have a story...

I have found that many women find much pride in their infamous "Labor and Delivery Story." It's almost as if you are officially part of some new club once you have delivered a baby; a new and very special club, where only those who have faced this unbearable pain and pushed something so huge through something so small have room to talk and be proud... and now I am going to get a story too... it has just begun...

I am fully effaced, 3cm dilated, and have cleaned every last inch of my apartment. I feel as if the baby is so low that I can barely sit up straight. We are ready. So, now we wait for those "toe curling, make your eyes water, every 5 minutes for 2 hours straight contractions" as my doctor calls them and then we can leave for the hospital.

My story has begun and it already sounds like it's gonna be tough, but the ending is so sweet.

So we wait... for the rest of the story and my initiation into the club.

Our Lady of Fatima Pulls Through

So, my husband totally got to the blog before I could... so, you know now... baby anytime! Wow. I am still in shock.

Alright, so, as most of you know I have been praying to Our Lady of Fatima. It all started when I knew I was due around her feast day (May 13th) and then it went from Judy Dreher buying Baby Bentley a bib from Portugal, Fatima before she even knew I was pregnant, then I read the Last Secret of Fatima and then we moved into apartment 513. Yeah, God is simple with me like that. He always lets me know who is watching out after me and who to pray to for intercession. And at this time, who better than a mom.

Well, the next part of the story goes: I was praying on Sunday at Mass and begging Our Lady to be with me because I was getting really nervous about labor and delivery and like a mom always does, she listened and answered. I ran into a woman that very day after Mass who I know through working for Fr. Baker and she asked me when I was due. I told her I would like to have the baby on the 13th, although I was due the 19th. And she said, "For Our Lady of Fatima?" and I said, "YES!" Well, what do ya know... this woman had the Nashville Diocesan Traveling Our Lady of Fatima in her home!! So, with no hesitation I responded with, "Can I have her?" The lady told me she would put in a good word for me, although the schedule had already been made as to where she would travel next. I didn't care. I knew she would call. And yesterday, it was confirmed. Our Lady of Fatima will be coming to the Bentley's on Thursday morning (the 14th), the day after Patrick and I will finish our Rosary Novena to her. Wow! What a better person to be there when we bring our sweet little one home!

God is so good!

Classes over! Baby, here we come!

Well, that's my classes and the classes that I mentioned in my previous post - baptism, birthing and breastfeeding.

So, some exciting news! Kristi is 3-centimeters dilated! The doctor told us this morning that she hopes to have a baby here in the next 3 days or so. To help it along, Dr. Barrett stripped Kristi's cervical membrane while she was checking her cervix. This was a surprise to us both, but we can't wait! So, I guess "Here comes Baby!" would have been a more appropriate title for this post. I am so excited!

The classes last week were ok. From best to worst, I would order them: birthing, breastfeeding and baptism. Coincidentally, this is also from longest to shortest. All of them incorporated videos: women screaming and babies being born in the birthing class, babies rooting and feeding in the breastfeeding class and babies being baptized in the very corny, very dated, awful baptism video. Too bad there wasn't a little more meat to that class because I think it could have been very helpful for all the participants.

Alright then, I'm going to be a dad soon. Let's get this show on the road.