Beginning the Season

We got ready for the Christmas season immediately around here!  Thanksgiving morning Anna-Kate was the coordinator for tree-decorating.  

What do you think...how many ornaments can you get on one branch?  (Ssshhh, don't tell, we may have redistributed the ornaments Thurs evening when a certain 3 year old decorator was in bed.  And, there may not be many ornaments in the lowest foot of branches, thanks to a certain crawler and walker!) 

Saturday morning we tried our luck with the crowds and with the preschooler's mood to visit Santa.  It went great!

This picture sums it up:  Santa is gracious.  Benjamin is curious.  Anna-Kate is wary.

I took for granted that Anna-Kate understood that there is a month of anticipating gifts.  When we walked away, she immediately said, "Mama, I saw Santa.  Where is my Barbie?"  That has been her consistent request for the last month.  I think our very wary Santa-lap-sitter was only doing it because she thought she was going to walk away with her new Barbie.  Ooops.  I think she understands now!

The reindeer headband just doesn't quite equal a Barbie.

So excited for a Christmas season full of family, fun, anticipation, and

Christ's Love!

10 Months

Benjamin!  You are 10 months!  How did that happen?  10 months old means that you are almost 1!  Little man, you are loved!

This past month he has perfected crawling.  He is quite deliberate as he goes for whatever he wants.  He has a little temper when you keep him from his desired goal, like the dish-washing soap in the cabinet or the glass top in the other cabinet.  Luckily it is truly a short-lived temper!  He remains our happy little man....well, unless he is tired or hungry.  

He also has a strong "homing instinct" for his mama.  He is underfoot while cooking, at the bottom of the stairs if I go up for a quick chore, and if it is near a meal or bed time, watch out, he his finding his mama!  

He also has started waving, not great at on-cue yet, and is clapping (been doing since 8 months forgot that in your last update buddy).  

He is still nursing 5 times a day and eating 3 meals with one snack.  He sleeps 2 naps and 12-12.5 hours each night.  He likes his sleep, and demands it at 6:35 every night!  Makes evening activities a little bit of a gamble.  

We go for his allergy appt in 2 weeks; luckily there is no update on that one!  

Benjamin, your dad is loving that you are mobile and enjoying a bit more being tickled and tossed about.  Your sister doesn't enjoy that you can go after her toys, but she absolutely l.o.v.e.s that she can make you laugh!  And, your mama is just not loving that you are growing so quickly, but boy does she think you are a handsome little man!

Family Time

This week, we were so thankful to get to spend so much time with family!  There were lots of family members that we missed, but we were excited for the time we did spend Thurs thru Saturday with different people from our family.  Extended family we don't see often.  Brothers and sisters together.  

And, of course, littlest cousins learning to play together at the holidays!

The big kids were playing BLAST (our church evening program) lunch time was "time for snack."  Love seeing all three play together!  

All that fun family time and I took those above 3 pictures!  Gotta get better at pictures on the holidays!  I did however get a picture of the turkey Will and I cooked!!  Our first Thanksgiving turkey....not bad!

Now and Then

Remember this sweet little baby,

this tiny little guy on the day he came home from the hospital...

...9 months later

Does anyone else think it is time to graduate car seats?!

Love those puckered little lips!

Nanny Update

It's been a while since I have shown you much around our house.  Okay, lately, I am a blogging slacker.  Mainly because I am either not as creative or mostly  just less time.  See previous post about my preschooler being joined by a now crawler and a now walker!

Remember what June looked like...

This was my bright idea for a "quick trip" to Target...

 did you know that a quick trip to Target really doesn't exist when you have three children to get in and out of the car and in and out of the cart?

So, the next time we went to the store, I thought it was time to train the future shopper!

Mondays have largely become my errand day.  Yes, I said 

errand day

 with all three.

Normally I try to figure out how to get anything we need from BJs.  The cart is the easiest configuration of all three kids.  I can do lunch there if needed.  This past Monday, by the suggestion of Natalie's mommy, we went to the small playground at Brier Creek community center before heading over to BJs.  

This park will be great next spring!  Two young toddlers will love this!  

AK loved making Nat laugh by surprising her at the end of the tunnel.

Remember I mentioned a new crawler and a new walker...

Getting ready...

wait for it....

Here We Go!

 I think they are saying to each other:

Okay Benjamin, you go that way, and I will go this way!

Hahaha, Mama will not know which one to go for first!  

If we time it just right, we can both put a leaf in our mouth at the same time.

Good idea, she'll love it!

Meanwhile, Anna-Kate had made a friend right as we got there.  She had fun running with him in the field beside the playground.  

Glimpse into life with a preschooler, a walker, and a crawler!

Why Daddies are Cooler

This mama will take her role of Nurturer and let Daddy be the cool one

if this scene from today is what makes daddy cool....

Mommy, there is a snake at the door!

Yes, that is a snake!  (insert silent, cry of desperation, "Why is there a snake by my door?!"  ....harmless or not!) Instead I just watched and listened to

Anna-Kate, look

Anna-Kate do you want to pet him?

Well, I don't want to pet him.  Because he is moving.  So, I don't want to pet him.

See his tongue Anna-Kate.  That is how he smells.

Mommy, a snake smells with his tongue, like this.

Do you want to go with me to put him away?  I am going to put him on the wall if that is okay with mommy.

Uuummmm...a wall that is approximately 8 feet from the back door just might not be far enough away...

9 Months

Weight -18 lb, 1 oz - 12 %ile

Height - 28.25 in - 50 %ile

Head Circ - 27 cm - 90 %ile

Before we say anything else, Benjamin you are loved!  You and your sister are such great buddies!  She loves to make you laugh; she gets v.e.r.y upset if she thinks she is the one who made you cry.  She says at least a couple times a day, "Put him here; I want to play with him!"

Notice those stats, long and quite lean this time, apparently!  I do have to giggle a little that your weight is in the 12th percentile, but your head remains in the 90th!  

You still nurse 5 times a day.  But now, you eat 3 meals a day.  You have just started fussing for a little snack after your afternoon nap.  The newest addition to your eating repertoire are more and more pick up foods!  You absolutely love feeling like a big boy eating diced carrots, green beans, squash/zucchini and peas (so far).

Allergy watch:  you have eaten Cheerios and Puffs with no repercussions!  The doctor thinks that is a good indication that you do not have a wheat allergy!  As we introduce more breads and pasta, we will be watchful but not wary.  Yay!

However, the doctor did refer us to an allergist to talk about the dairy allergy (and maybe peanut allergy; you have had a hives reaction after I kissed you with lips that had recently eaten peanut butter and another time after drinking a latte!).  We will talk to that doctor to determine whether we test soon or wait closer to the 2 year mark.

This was a HUGE month for mobility.  By 8 months you could move backward and sideways.  By 8.5 months you could sit yourself up!  When I went into your room and found you like this, I couldn't believe it!  That always makes a baby seem so big!  

In the days before 9 months you were rocking back and forth, getting your muscles ready to crawl.  At 9 months and 4 days, you crawled forward a few spaces.

The next day you went deliberately forward 6 feet.

The next day you went anywhere you wanted to!

There are still no teeth.  My mom remembers that I didn't cut my first tooth until I was 11 months old; maybe you are following after me in that one.  

You remain the most content little man!  You only fuss when food is not in front of you when you get hungry. Otherwise, you are smiling!

We love you, our Benjamite!

Breaking News...

It's official!

Benjamin,

at 9 Months, 4 days

is a crawler!  

Traditional position, going forward!

Benjamin has been going sideways and backwards for a while.  In the last 10 days or so he has perfected sitting up.  So, yesterday  he started crawling forward!  Mobility is here.

(full 9 month update coming after tomorrow morning's doctor appointment)