The Holidays

What a busy time of year! As many large, blended families do, we have decided that to get together on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is near impossible and that its not the day that is important but simply that we all have a chance to get together. Which for our large extended family means that we have a Christmas get together every weekend the entire month of December! I love this time of year!! Especially this year!! Its been amazing to be able to share our blessing with our many aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins. I never thought it would happen and here we are, packing our to-go bag making sure that we have every last thing he could possibly need. When will it sink in that he's our's?? He's really our's!! Its been almost 8 months and I still feel that way! Through the sleepless nights, the crying fits, the getting thrown up on, the smiles and the laughing I still think this at least once every single day.

It has been a very long time since my last post so let me give you the low down on what's been going on.

The last 2 months has proven to be a huge growth spurt in Benjamin's development. Each stage has lasted about 2 weeks.

• Stage 1: (Thanksgiving) Ben started to sit upon his own.
• Stage 2: (1st week in December) He could get himself from the sitting position to his hands and knees and then to his tummy.
• Stage 3: (Christmas) As soon as he was able to get from his butt to his tummy he was on a mission. He started to get up on his hands and knees and rock but wasn't able to coordinate all 4 limbs and the brain yet. But he could swirm all over on his tummy.
• Stage 4: (New Years) Benjamin was crawling backwards on his hands and kness.
• Stage 5: (January 6th) Benjamin is an offical crawler!!

Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving went off without a hitch. Ben was a little overwhelmed at first but seemed to get a kick out of being passed around between the family members. Which was great so Momma could entertain and cook all while the baby was perfectly happy cooing with Grandpa, the Grandmas, the uncles, aunts and cousins! Yet, no Thanksgiving would be complete without a little drama but the little tyke topped the night off with a little fever. Pretty sure it was all the activity, the lack of napping and his teeth bothering him but that night he slept like a rock!

6 Months Old

Its hard to believe that Benjamin is 6 months old already!! He is 28 inches long and weighs in at 19lbs 10 oz!! He is in the 95th percentile for height and 85th for weight. We hope that he is going to be tall like his Grandpa Larry and Great Grandpa Clarence! Happy and healthy is what we like to hear!!

Momma loves cuddle time!




Benjamin is mastering sitting up, digs his lightup music ball and loves to look at himself in the mirror.

5 Months Old

Chad, Ben and I spent a lovely afternoon at the apple orchard and pumpkin patch and spite the chilly temps and wind we had a great time! Who wouldn't with this adorable boy!

Ben is working on rolling over from back to front, however right now it looks more like the back crawl. Using his head and his legs, he arches is back up real high so that his butt is off the ground and does a kicking motion that skooches himself backwards. A little more umph and he'll be over! In the mean time the poor boy is wearing a bald spot on the back of his head with all this back crawling action. :)

He is just starting to really enjoy the exersaucer. When we put him in it the first time he wasn't too keen on it. Now we set him in it and throws himself from front to back, back to front, side to side, up and down. I get the feeling that we are going to have a rambunctious little one on our hands.

4 months old

My little boy is growing like a weed! He's weighing in at 16 lbs 5 ounces and is 25 1/2 inches long!

Genetics are a funny thing. Most children suck their thumb or a pacifier, well, not my husband. He sucked on 2 fingers upside down so that his finger tips were on the roof of his mouth. Check out this picture!

Like father, like son or what?!?

Our favorite time with Ben is the morning. There is nothing better that seeing his face light up when we come into his room to get him up for the day. Everyday is like this but on Saturday and Sunday mornings after he eats, we bring him back to our room to play. He lays between us kicking, swinging his arms, smiling and giggling as we tell him stories and sing songs. Eventually, he wears out and we all take a little nap.

At 4 months old, Benjamin:

• lights up when he sees Momma and Daddy!
• loves to splash during bath time
• loves to talk and be talked to. He gets frustrated when he doesn't have a chance to answer
• Waits for you to say "fudish" after he sneezes and "saha" after he caughs. He even fake caughs just to get you to respond. little stinker!
• is switching his toys from hand to hand
• is putting absolutely everything in his mouth
• has discovered his hands and is starting to be interested in his toes. Can't wait until those go in his mouth too :)
• Has tried carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas and pears but his absolute favorite ..... peas! I can't figure it out but am not complaining!!
• has his first tooth starting to poke through

Beautiful boy

Could he be any cuter??

A weekend to remember

We spent a wonderful Labor Day weekend up north. Benjamin experienced lots of firsts. He had his first pontoon ride, which was lovely and so relaxing that he slept through most of it.

He went in the pool for the first time for a little swim. He wasn't so sure about it at first but he quickly got the hang of it and before long he was kicking, splashing and squeeling with pure excitement until he splashed himself in the face and that was the end of the fun.

There is definitely some truth to the fresh air tiring you out because that boy slept for 13 hours straight both Saturday and Sunday!! Wooo hooo!! Ben is in full teething mode. He is a drooling machine and cannot seem to chew enough on his hands. His gums are swollen and there is a little bit of a tooth starting to poke through. For hurting he had a pretty good weekend.