tv dinner

So, Bennett has his first cold and double ear infections. I know, bummer, right? Well, I knew it was bound to happen at some point and actually feel really relieved that we made until almost a year old to have a pediatrician appointment other than a scheduled check-up. Although, I will have to say the only way I truly knew he was sick was due to his runny nose, because his disposition truly was sunny up until he had trouble breathing through his nose and sucking his paci all at the same time, which of course, was in the middle of the night. So to the doctor we went Tuesday morning. After our first day of antibiotics and Claritin to treat his cold symptoms, Big Chunk was on the fast track back to good health. He is a little more whiney than usual and really fights naps during the day, but who can blame him when you have a Mommy who will hold you all day long and it hurts to lay horizontal because of the pressure on his ears. But he was a trooper today and even made it through a family pre-birthday celebration. Did I forget to mention how bummed I was that of all the times he had opportunities to be sick, he chose his first birthday week! But he is sleeping through the night again and has been really happy during the day, and absolutely loves his Amoxicillin, bumble gum flavored, of course :) I knew these times were coming, because there is only so much you can protect your precious child from. However, you are never really fully prepared to watch your baby hurting and miserable and just feel helpless in the meantime. But I will say, it has been nice snuggling with the Chunky Monkey every morning and night - he is so good at snuggling!

With all the sickness going on with Mr. B, he hasn't really had an appetite and doesn't really finish any of his bottles. And if you know my child, you know he loves food! When I was a child, I remember being sick meant there were certain exceptions at home that normally weren't allowed. Whether it was sleeping in the bed with your parents for comfort, or staying home from school and watching movies all day, going to MawMaw's to sew doll clothes and quilts, eating roman noodles with saltine crackers or drinking all the Gatorade and Sprite you could consume. No matter what the exception was, it just made being sick feel a little extra special. So, why not start our own tradition, right? Well there's not much you can do with babies that's extra special since everything is new and special to them, but I think I actually came up with something Big Chunk enjoyed... His version of a tv dinner! I just parked his high chair in the playroom and pushed play on the DVD player and boy, was he in heaven. Don't get me wrong, he loves eating in front of Norman everyday, but even Bennett likes a little change from time to time. He was glued to the movie, not even taking his eyes off the screen for a second to see what the next item of food he was inserting into his mouth. So even with little appetite I was able to get him to eat more than just a cheerio! Successful for him and me - he received vitamins and I didn't have to fight him to eat :) TV dinner is a winner!





This doesn't look like a baby with double ear infections, does it?!?




- 08.30.11, 11 months

random thoughts

Bennett had dinner with this lovely lady last Saturday night :) Stella just melts my heart - and I think B is pretty sweet on her!




- 08.27.11, 11 months

So Jon walks in the house on Sunday afternoon with this pile of Tervis Tumblers... And he says his truck is never dirty or junky! And he still begs to differ even after this photo was taken. He says this is a lot of cups at one time, but not his record - haha!



Leigh and Chad - If you are reading this, I found a WTW Tervis, which I'm pretty sure is Dr. Wilson's!!!!! No telling how he got it and how long it's been in there. We will return asap :)

- 08.28.11

frank's first

Yesterday we ventured on over to Frank's first birthday party. He is one of B's little buddies and exactly seven days older than him. It is so exciting thinking about the future and these boys all growing up together. I was lucky enough to go to middle and high school with Frank's daddy... and now to think that our kiddos will grow up together too! We had so much fun at the party. Playing in the pool with friends, eating cupcakes, walking/crawling in the grass, picking up monkey balls that had fallen from the trees. What a great Saturday to spend on Mobile Bay, celebrating such a sweet little boy! Happy first birthday, Frank!















And this would be the dads' at the party 'watching' the kids from the beer cooler :)

rub-a-dub-dub

This is just too much!






- 08.23.11, 11 months

dee dee

I can't even explain in words how thankful we are to have Dee Dee in our lives! She is full of love and happiness, which she shows Bennett day after day. When he hears her voice, he lights up with a big grin and anxiously waits for her to walk through the door. Dee Dee (also known as Diane) is one the most loving, giving, caring and sweet people I have ever met. She is so thoughtful and full of wisdom, especially when it comes to children. She worked as a school teacher for years and once she retired, she began to nanny for families. I feel so lucky to have met her through some of our dearest friends, Leigh and Chad. I know Dee Dee will be a huge part of Bennett's life, and it makes my heart melt to know how much she loves him :)

Dee Dee called last week to see if it was okay to bring Bennett's birthday present a week early. Why, of course, who can resist seeing Chunky Monkey tear through paper and marvel at curly ribbon! When she arrived last Tuesday morning, she gave Bennett a wrapped gift. He was so excited when she started tearing the paper and quickly joined in on the fun. Sweet Diane gave Bennett a Leap Frog Birthday Cake which sings Happy Birthday and cheers. From experience, she said many children get so overwhelmed at their 1st birthday parties when it comes time to sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles. When I thought more about it, I can completely understand. Imagine lots of family and friends surrounding you, singing loudly and clapping, and all in unison! That would be overwhelming for the first time. So this birthday cake not only talks to Bennett about pushing yellow and red buttons, but it also sings Happy Birthday to him, tells him it's time to blow out his candles and then claps and cheers. What a thoughtful gift for our sweet boy. And of course, he LOVES it!

Thanks, Diane, for loving our baby boy :)

boo and moo

When we first brought Bennett home, Miller was so protective over his little brother. If someone came to the door, he was the first to alarm us an 'intruder' was approaching. If B started fussing in his bassinet, Miller would jump up on the bed and run to the edge to look down on him. If Jon or myself went to get a bottle from the kitchen, or a diaper from the back room, MIller would be right there assisting our every step. And when it came to those long, long nights, well that was the only time Miller was no where to be found... which who can blame him? Within a few weeks, Bennett and Miller picked up the nicknames Boo and Moo. Well, technically we have always called Miller, Moo Moo, but it just seemed appropriate to shorten it when Boo came along. So, there you have it, Boo and Moo... two peas in a pod, a perfect pair, best friends, brothers... or so we thought?

When B started rolling over and reaching for things, he always seemed to find a big handful of Miller's hair. Even being that young, he could really get a nice grip on Miller's coat and hold on for dear life. And when big chunk became mobile, the perfect pair that once was, was no longer. Miller would do everything he could to get out of dodge when he heard Bennett approaching a room. Sometimes, just to be funny - although it seems kind of mean, Jon would place Bennett right behind Miller and let him pet him while Miller wasn't looking. The second Miller would realize whose hands were touching him, he would freak out and away he went. So that has been our life the past couple of months. One sweet baby and one sweet dog. But never sweet together.

Until recently...

When Bennett started feeding himself solids, their two worlds collided once again. Bennett figured out not only how to feed himself but also how to get a little entertainment out of meal times. He will throw, toss, pass and insert whatever he is eating straight to his big brother. So each meal, Miller sits under Bennett patiently waiting for a treat. Following him all over the house in hopes that B has a snack tucked away in his chubby little hand. And the world makes sense again!

teresa

Teresa is our sweet cleaning lady that comes every few weeks, and my oh my, does Bennett have a crush on her. When she first arrives, he always tucks his head in my shoulder, like he's shy, but with a flirty grin. Then he immediately jumps out of my arms trying to get to her. She is from Puerto Rico and always sings to him in Spanish and he loves it! Once he checks her out, he wiggles himself to the hardwood floor to check out her cleaning bucket and supplies. Sometimes I wonder if he's more excited about seeing the vacuum and dust rags than her! He follows her around the house, watching her work and trying to 'help'! He likes to sit on her hip while she dusts and when he hears the vacuum crank up, he's off crawling full speed ahead looking in every room until he finds her. It's hysterical how nosey/inquisitive/curious he is.

This past week I had to shut the two of us in my office because he absolutely would not allow her to get anything done. When she was packing up to leave, she showed Bennett how to turn the vacuum on and off. He was floored with excitement! He found every button on the contraption and pushed it back and forth like he was cleaning. When she left he stood at the front door, peering through the window with the biggest grin and waving bye bye as fast as he could. I think we may have to start leaving the house when she comes, because now that he is transforming into a walker, I cannot imagine how much harder it will be to keep him away from her stuff! Although, I truly believe she doesn't mind, because every time she walks in the house the first thing she does is say 'Hey handsome' and sweeps him out of my arms. And of course, you know Miller doesn't let her get by without throwing the ball a few times! The only difference between Bennett and Miller's visits with Teresa... Miller is scared of the vacuum - ha!