Exhaustion Takes Over

Here is the drool smile

"Reach for the Stars"

This is his new thing . . .reaching for everything. It is funny because he reaches for things like lights and other objects that he can't reach.

I took this to show you two things: 1) You can see the shape of his head from the Craniosyostosis, and 2) You can see how he laces his fingers and sucks BOTH thumbs. He likes them both at the same time.
Another shiney drool smile . . . the blue makes his blue eyes shine :)
This was taken just about 10 minutes ago. His 4 month mug shot :)

This morning after feeding Benjamin, and getting ready, I left for town. We left about his nap time so I thought he would fall asleep in the truck . . . not to be. We went the Sharpeta's to feed him and then to the DeForest Collision Center to get an estimate for the dents in the truck. While we were there the owner Todd came and talked to Benjamin . . . Benjamin just laughed and laughed no matter what Todd said. He was so tired everything was hysterical to him. I have never heard him laugh so much or so hard at me or his dad ( I was excited, but a bit jealous, which you can understand)! I told them he thought everything was funny because he was so tired. Todd jokingly asked if I could bring him by a couple times a week to play with him. We left the collision place and drove maybe a mile and Benjamin was down for the count. He slept from noon until 2 p.m.

4 Month Check-up

Everything went fine today. Benjamin got three shots again. He was a trooper. He did cry, but after cuddling with Mommy for a few minutes he was okay. He actually weighs less than I thought he would. His naked weight is only 17 lbs. and 12 oz. I still think that is heavy enough. His length is 26 1/2 inches. He has a small head, which the doctor said probably won't change a lot after the surgery. He is in the 90-97 percentile for his weight and length, and the 25th percentile for his head.

Right now he is napping. I had to wake him up from his morning nap to go to the doctor and then he started to fall asleep on the way home around noon, so I am hoping he will sleep until about 2 or so.

It is a beautiful day out, not too hot and not raining. Enjoy the day.

Changes Always Come

Mr. Benjamin has been waking up around 6:00 a.m. for the past week or so. I want him to sleep until 7:00 a.m. Some mornings I give in and feed him at 6:30, some mornings he fusses and goes back to sleep until a little after 7. This morning I gave in. Nearly every morning Daddy goes in to look at the baby. Lately Benjamin has been awake and looking around when Daddy goes in. Greg comes to tell me the baby is up. Most mornings I say, "Too bad." This morning he was awake and being so sweet I couldn't find it in my heart to leave him there and wake up to a unhappy baby if I went back to bed.

Miracles of miracles I have not taken a nap like I normally do when I get up that early. This may be because I didn't stay up as late as I normally do working on my correspondence class. Last night Gregory went up to bed and left me listening to my class. The next thing I know, I wake up, the c.d. has finished playing and it is 10:00 p.m. I got up and fixed Greg's lunch and put it in the fridge, went upstairs to give Benjamin his last feeding, and went to bed.

POTATO PATATO
Today I fixed potato salad (the way Greg's mom fixes it-except I had no sweet onions so I left out the onions). I never knew fixing potato salad was such a long process, or maybe I did and that is why it has taken me until today to make it. The last time I tried making potato salad was last summer and I had too many onions.

GOOD READS
I am currently reading Created to be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl. It is a good book and very challenging. I am also reading the articles from the No Greater Joy magazines, also published by the Pearls.

Tonight we are going out calling for our Wednesday night kids program, so I will end with this . . .
I Corinthians 4:2
"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

Many Thanks to Jason's Computer Saviness

Happy 4 Month Birthday to Benjamin!

Here he is celebrating with all the animals :)

Here is a cool shot Gregory took while Benjamin was standing up on my lap.

Look at those strong fat legs

Please, enough with the pictures Mom

Hi everybody

A "Fountain" of Joy

Yesterday Benjamin was in three different outfits in half an hour's time. He is spitting up a lot more than he used to. I put him in the swing and he spit up in the tray (very convenient). I pick him up and he wants to stand and sit, stand and sit. This does a number on his stomach, so up comes his meal.

We have his 4 month check-up on Tuesday. I am sure he is close to 20 lbs by now. He is almost needing to wear his 6-9 month clothes, but I am holding out for as long as possible. He is in size 3 diapers. Speaking of diapers, yesterday the little angel peed right out of his diaper while I was burping him which resulted in an outfit change for the both of us.

He is doing much better holding his head up and getting objects to his mouth on the first try. He likes to naw on my fingers. I try to give him teether keys and he makes a funny face and spits them out. I guess skin tastes better to him.

Benjamin has started wanting to eat every three hours instead of four and has started waking up at 6:00 a.m. (which I am not so happy about). Benjamin may need to eat some cereal in addition to nursing, we shall see. Since he is getting up at 6:00 a.m. I am taking a nap when he does around 8:30. I don't understand how a person can be soooo sleepy.

Daddy is being helpful: he was willing to take on a stinky diaper and change Benjamin's clothes last night. Daddy likes to hold Benjamin when he can sit in his lap contentedly.

Today we went to the post office, pharmacy, library, bank, and gas station and made it back in a little over an hour! yeah!

Benjamin and Daddy in pjs

Benjamin with a smile for you

Here is the cute little boy 

I am working on figuring this out, so have patience 

Here is the whole family at church 

Benjamin's Surgery

For those of you who have not heard, Benjamin's surgery is set for October 17, which is a Monday. If he should get sick and cannot have it that day, he will go in on October 31st.

When we went to the doctor on the 24th he weighed 17lbs! He is a very heavy boy for Mommy and Daddy to be carrying around.

Mommy and Benjamin plan on visiting VA sometime around/after Christmas. We look forward to seeing the VA family and new cousins :)

Benjamin and Mommy's Day

Here is the typical day for the two of us:

5:50 Daddy and Mommy wake-up & Mommy packs Daddy's lunch

6:00 a.m. Daddy leaves for work (most days) unless he is starting work earlier and then he leaves around 5:00 a.m. Mommy goes back to bed :)

7:00 a.m. is our wake-up time
Benjamin eats his breakfast, gets a diaper change, and outfit for the day.

7:30 a.m. Benjamin lays on his blanket in Mommy and Daddy's room while Mommy makes the bed and takes a shower.

8:00 we head downstairs for time in the bouncy seat or swing while Mommy eats her breakfast. Benjamin gets a bath if he needs one.

8:30 a.m. Benjamin goes down for a nap

9:00 Mommy takes time for praying and reading the Bible

9:30-11:00 a.m. Mommy does laundry or other cleaning that needs to be done

11:00-11:30 a.m. Benjamin eats his brunch
Gets a diaper change and we head back downstairs

11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Mommy eats her lunch

12:00-12:30 Free time with Benjamin

12:30-3:00 p.m. Naptime

3:00-3:30 Benjamin eats and gets diaper change

3:30-4:30 Mommy works on Dinner for Mommy and Daddy while Benjamin is in the swing or bouncy seat

4:30 Daddy gets home

4:30-6:00 p.m. Benjamin gets a nap

6:00-6:30 p.m. Benjamin eats dinner, Mommy or Daddy changes diaper and puts PJs on Benjamin.

6:30-8:00 Time with Mommy and Daddy, ride in swing or in bouncy seat.

8:00 Mommy rocks Benjamin while listening to Baby Lullabies.

8:15 Benjamin goes to bed.

9:00 p.m. Daddy goes to bed

9:15 Mommy wakes Benjamin for last feeding

10:00 Mommy goes to bed