Monday, November 26, 2012

Update on Benny's Continued Cuteness...and Thanksgiving!

Its been a little while since I updated on what's new with Benny.  Here goes....

1) He's been pulling himself up to standing for a while now.  Right when we got home from the camping weekend, he became a pro at it.

2) This week he is starting to take steps if you walk with him.

3) He loves you to read books to him.  He really has a long attention span for it.  He lets you read several books to him at a time.  Some of his favorites are Brown Bear Brown Bear, Bunny on the Beach, and I Am a Baby.

4) Sharing is caring.  When he eats crackers, he takes a bite then extends it out to you and wants you to take a bite.

5) He is learning to wave.  He waved bye-bye to Kevin when he was in the basement and we were walking upstairs and when Annie, Aron, Ella, and Luke left on Thanksgiving Day.  He waves 'hi' to me when I get him out of his crib in the morning.

6) He is doing better eating solid foods.  There is no doubt about it.  Benny has been a BIG fan of his liquid diet.  Its taken some persistence, but now he eats a decent variety.  Bananas, clementines, my beef and barley soup, raisins, lasagna, pasta, etc.  It should be noted that I gave up on him ever eating jarred baby food.  He sees a jar of baby food and he is instantly making faces and turning his head away.  Can you blame him?  Do you want to eat pureed peas?  I'm glad I didn't waste time and energy making homemade baby food.  Seems like a decent idea, but Benny does just fine eating normal food.  And, he's only got one tooth.  Nevertheless, I certainly wish he were a better eater.  He is still a fickle pickle.  Sometimes he will eat and sometimes he won't.  Very opinionated.

7) He is growing!  It seemed like during month 9 that he really didn't grow much.  Before that he seems like he kind of stretched out and got thinner.  Now he is taller and filled out again.  He is heavy!!!  My guess would be that he weighs 25 pounds by now.

8) He continues to be a social butterfly.  He seems to readily enjoy all the attention he gets whenever we are out and about such as at the grocery store.  Random people playing peek-a-boo with you?  The best fun ever!  However, I've noticed that, while he loves the attention of others, he doesn't want me  to leave him with unfamiliar people anymore.  For example, I was at church this Monday for a meeting and to have some rehearsals with people.  I was going to leave him with someone for a minute to get something from another room.  He definitely didn't want to be left behind without me!

9) He can climb stairs.  He climbed stairs for the first time at Adam's house because they were carpeted.  Now he can climb our wooden ones at home.

Last weekend, we had tons of fun going four-wheeling at Adam's house.  Benny loved it!  Adam held Benny while he drove him through their woods and trails.  I had a good time too.  Fact:  I am not very good at driving the four-wheeler.

This week was Benny's first Thanksgiving.  I talked to Ella on Monday to wish her a happy birthday.  She told me she was excited for Thanksgiving because she is going to give me a make-over.  My Thanksgiving make-over included the following:

-eyeshadow (she has lots of different colors)
-glitter dust eyeshadow
-hot pink fingernails with silver glitter french tips

After my Thanksgiving Day make-over, Kevin was thankful for his really hot wife :)

Our Thanksgiving table with Lindy's yummy pies.  Apple, pumpkin, and pecan.
 
Fun with Granny.

Stories with Granny Lindy.

These two cuties are ready for the Thanksgiving feast!
 
Part of the Thanksgiving gang.
 






Thursday, November 8, 2012

Camping 2012

Last Thursday, we headed off to Chain O Lakes Indiana for the 2012 Camping Extravaganza!  Those in attendance were as follows: Grammie, Grampie, Chris, Angie, Faith, Callie, Craig, Beth, Caleb, Katie, Eric, Kevin, Benny, and I.  Also known as the Fabulous 14.  We are all scattered about across the USA, so we don't often get to be together.  Also, we are a group of a lot of church workers.  Eric is a pastor.  Craig is a youth director.  I'm an organist.  Chris and Angie and Grammie and Grampie volunteer a lot at their churches.  SOOOOO....holidays are a bit difficult to get together.  We thought a Camping Extravaganza would be a good way to celebrate!

We headed out first thing Thursday morning and returned Sunday evening.  Time flew by too quickly but we had a great time.  What did we do?  Hike, play football, swinging, playing on the playground, roasted marshmallows by our cabin fires, talked, and ate a lot of really good food.  Grammie and Grampie were kind enough to supply our cabins and most of the food for our Christmas gifts this year.

Another highlight...Benny and Caleb are 'birthday buddies.'  Both born on 1-2-12.  This was only the 2nd time they got to hang out together.

Here are some of the best pics :)


Go Bucks!
 
Enjoying the porch swing.

Hey that's my birthday buddy Caleb!


One of my favorite new pictures.
 
Yet another cute family pic.
My two sweet blueberries :)
 
Benny LOVED riding on Daddy's back.
  
 
And Aunt Katie!
 
Playing on the steps in your jammies is FUN!

All the grandkids.
 
Leaf fight!

Snuggles with Aunt Angie.

Happy Hikers.
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Makin' History

Yesterday Benny's first tooth emerged!  (Bottom right.)  Bring on the steak! {Oh yes.  And Obama was re-elected as President.}  A monumental day for history making all around.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Happy Halloween!

My brother and sister-in-law had their annual Halloween party this year.  This year's was entitled the SOUP-er Halloween Party.  Everyone brings a crock pot of their favorite soup to share.  We eat outside with a toasty bonfire, lit jack-o-lanterns, and of course the football game projected onto the back of their barn.  All around, a fabulous fall fun celebration!  And, who doesn't want to dress up their baby as a pumpkin!?

Mama and her little pumpkin.
 

We did go to a few houses to collect candy---to give Benny his first trick-or-treating experience.
 
Luke--the Ninja

Ella--the Vampire Girl.  Benny liked her vampire teeth.
 
Setting up for the party!
 
The cutest little pumpkin.

With an apple!
 
Hanging out with Granny Lindy.

Grandpa Stevie.  (At this visit, Benny discovered Stevie's mustache.  Very fun.)

Mommy and Daddy!