Family Time

These pictures are from when Cary, Brenda and Elizabeth visited us the last weekend in February. We had a great time that weekend and Ben had so much fun with his grandparents and aunt! Unfortunately, Cary had a mild stroke that Sunday while they were here and has been stuck in Kentucky since then. We have enjoyed being able to see Cary and Brenda so much and Ben is really getting to know them, but we are very sad about the circumstances that have allowed this to happen. Cary is in a rehab facility and is recovering but it will take some time. I just wanted to post some pictures from their visit.

I was sitting on Nathan's lap and Ben thought he would join the fun.

Mandy Marie Photography

My friend Mandy of Mandy Marie Photography in the Des Moines area is having a photography session giveaway on her blog!!! She is giving away two free sessions! She is an amazing photographer and this is a great deal, so visit her blog and leave a comment on her post to enter your chance to win! There are more details on her blog on how to enter! The link is below!

http://www.mandymariephotography.com/2010/03/session-giveaway.html

So so cute!

Can I just say how absolutely adorable our son is when he is not teething or sick??? Seriously, he cracks me up! Ben and I went to Lexington today to buy some softer crib sheets at Babies R Us. We also got some new bath toys and pants that were on sale. Then, we went to the consignment store and got Ben some pajamas and a couple of onesies because he is now in 12 month sized clothes. I think I have been in denial for a few days but the arms are short on all of his 9 month pjs. Some of his regular 9 month clothes still fit but some are getting too small or too short. This makes me a little sad but I am excited to see him grow and develop! We also went to Critchfield Meats to get Nathan some stuff to make homemade bratwurst. His newest hobby is making homemade sausage. He made Italian sausage the weekend of the Super Bowl and it was good. This will be his second attempt and I am sure it will turn out good too!

Ben is becoming impossible to change...diaper, clothes, anything really. It usually takes both Nathan and I to change him when he has a poopy diaper to avoid him taking off and getting poo everywhere! We just got back from Lexington and changing him involved about 5 minutes of him crawling around diaperless because he kept getting away from me. Now he is running around in his onesie, long sleeved shirt and socks...silly baby. He didn't want his pants back on. He is crawling around playing with his toys strewn about the living room and whispering to himself. It is seriously the cutest thing ever!

I am going to say his first official word is daddy. He has been practicing this a lot and will repeat it for us sometimes when we prompt him. He also says kitty and practices it over and over. So, right now, my adorable child (I say this because he is in a fantastic mood at the moment) is crawling around, playing with toys and whispering daddy and kitty to himself. I never want to forget this moment.

The following pictures of Ben and Leo crack me up! Leo has decided that Ben's toybox seems like a good place to hang out, so he keeps getting in it. This was the first time it happened. It was so funny! Ben was like "Hey, there is a kitty in my toybox! How did that get there? Hey, you guys need to see this." Okay, so obviously he didn't say that but his facial expressions as it was happening said a lot!


These pictures were from January and February 2010.

Yummy Yummy

Ben got puff snacks for his first finger food. I think he had banana flavored. He really enjoyed them and had the hang of it right away. He knew exactly what to do as soon as I put them on his tray. He is becoming a big boy fast! This was taken on January 28.



The following pictures of when Ben had yogurt for the first time and he absolutely loved it! Vanilla is his favorite flavor! These were taken on February 7.

Superbowl Sunday

Our friends Chris and Lesley came over for the Superbowl this year. We made seven layer dip, homemade taco pizza and sausage pizza and brownies and Chris made a hot dip and brought it over as well. Of course, the drink of choice for the night was Nate's beer he brewed just for the occassion! Chris and Lesley brought their new addition to their family...a Sheltie named Sydney. She is so cute and sweet and she loves Ben! Leo is not happy when she comes over and it is rather amusing. The food and company were great! The game was pretty good too! Nate and I were rooting for the Colts and we were a little disappointed in how they played, but we were happy for the Saints that they won! Its nice to watch a Superbowl where you will be happy with either outcome! Here are some pictures from that evening. I think Ben has a new buddy!

Look what I can do!

I worked on pulling up for a few days before I figured it out.


Now that I have figured it out...

I pull myself up every opportunity I get!

I also figured out how to move from one piece of furniture to another...after acquiring many bruises and bumps that I like to think of as battle scars!

This toy is so much more fun now that I can stand up and play with it!

Aren't I just the cutest?

Cute maybe, but definitely an ornery little stinker!

And the past few days, I have increased my cruising ability and speed...watch out everyone!

Crawling is so much fun!

This is the life...
Now what shall I do? Hmmm...
On a mission...

To get Mommy!

I got you! Big half menacing/ half cheesey smile (so funny)!

Mommy and Daddy stack the blocks for me, then...

I knock them all down!!!