First Christmas

'Twas a wonderful, white Christmas for Bee Boppin' Bennett!

Bennett was very pleased with the amount of gifts he had to open.










Rory, not so much.

Oh, how the times have changed!








We had a pretty mellow Christmas overall. Woke up, started the breakfast casserole (Nana's yummy recipe), unloaded our stockings, opened presents (Bennett tried to eat them), played with Bennett's toys, Skyped with family, ate breakfast, cleaned up all the wrapping paper, gathered up kid & gear and heeaded out to the city golf course for some cross-country skiing, then went over to the Hardan's for an awesome Christmas dinner. It was a great Christmas Day - thanks everyone for all the gifts!!

more christmas goodness

one way to get a baby to sleep...

dog?

Bennett's new discovery this week: Logan!

I was sitting with BeeBop on my lap when Logan came over and sat right in front of us. Then, for the first time ever, Bennett reached out with his fingers spread wide to pet Logan's face! It was so cute. When Logan turned away, he simply put his hand down. Then when she came in close again, Mr. B tried to pet her again. It just seems so crazy for him to be at this stage already...but I guess he's been grabbing things for awhile now.

Logan & BeeBop will be BFFs after all!!

4 months!

We survived 4 months!!! Yay!!!



well, let's see...Bennett is now 14 pounds and 25 inches long - just your "average" baby according to the doctor, which is fine by us. We like "average" around here. He's rolling over, smiling, laughing, reaching & grabbing things, focusing on objects, following things with his eyes, sleeping in 4 to 7 hour stretches at night, "talking" a lot to himself and his funny lookin' Papa, and is getting better at eating oatmeal cereal. We haven't tried anything else yet, but he seems to be into the spoon thing. Good on you, Bennett!!

B's first tracks

Today we decided to get Bennett (and ourselves) out of the house after spending all week indoors avoiding the -20 degree temperatures!! If this kid is gonna be a rough and tough Montana boy he better get used to the snow, by gawd!! So we drove up to MacDonald Pass and tried out the new sled on the cross-country ski trails. A bunch of our friends pitched in to get us this sled for Bennett before he was born (thanks everyone!)and today was the first day out...it was awesome and he loved it!!

Don't worry, he was much warmer than we were!

the proof

thanks to Cassie!!

new tradition

This year I've decided to start a new tradition for the Christmas season. Last week the Helena Independent Record published Empty Stockings, a Christmas wish list for families & non-profit organizations in need. I was just heartbroken to read about some of the families. After reading the list over and over I just wanted to try to help ALL of them. But I knew I couldn't do that so I decided to buy clothes, shoes, diapers and wipes for a struggling father with 3 small boys. I ALSO decided that this would become a Christmas tradition that we can involve Bennett in once he is older. We can all go out together and shop for a family in need instead of buying ourselves so many presents. We'd like to teach Bennett to be a giving person and this new tradition might be a good start.

roll on

I guess we've hit a milestone today: Bennett's first time rolling over!! We placed him on the tummy time mat (Lily's ladybug mat to be exact) on the big green chair and he kept pushing up on his side but didn't have room to roll back.


So we moved him down to the floor and right away he rolled over! We put him back and wham! Rolled over again! After that his big ole head must have gotten heavy cuz he started to smother his face in the tummy time mat. So we let him have a break from performing tricks for the night. It was pretty cool to see though! This kid is growing so fast. I think I say that every day.

bloggin

OK, So after spending some time lookin' at other people's blogs I've realized that I haven't been very good at "bloggin" lately. I mean, I'm good at posting cute pictures and videos of the cutest kid in the world cuz they just speak for themselves. But since Bennett does have his own blog...maybe I should use it to its fullest and actually "blawg" about him!! So here goes...I'm gonna try to be a better blawger from now on and write more about the goings-on in the world of Bennett.

I apologize in advance for my terrible writing....I never signed up for this thing for my writin' skillz. Its mainly to keep the peeps informed on the life and crimes of B-Dizzle.

more giggles

snuggie

Lately since Bennett has been sleeping in his crib during the night we've been bringing him into our bed when he wakes around 5 or 6am. This way I can nurse him and try to fall back asleep until my alarm goes off at 7. This is becoming one of my favorite parts of the day...getting some extra snuggle time with warm and cozey B-Man! If only we could just stay snug as bugs in rugs all day...

alone

Tonight will be the first night I spend alone with Bennett. Rory left this morning on a work trip so its just me & the B-Man for the next 3 nights.
I hope we survive.

Bennett looks a little worried:

tummy time

giggle-mania

Remember when...

Bennett is 3 months old today! This kid is growing up so fast.

Gone are the days of:

*swaddling him at night
*sleeping in the bouncy chair
*shooshing him when he cries for no reason (he hardly cries anymore)
*holding him on his side to comfort him
*nursing him for an hour straight
*nursing him every 2 hours ALL day and ALL night
*worrying about his irregular breathing
*major sleep deprivation for us
*waking in the middle of the night and searching for him in our bed (when he was in the cradle all along)
*waking in the middle of the night and thinking I was still nursing him (again, in the cradle)
*crying uncontrollably for no reason (me, not Bennett)
*worrying about holding his head at all times
*teeny tiny clothes and diapers
*sleeping in his cradle by our bed at night :(

moving on to bigger places...

As I sit here writing this post, my little sweets is spending his 3rd night in his crib. He has been napping in the crib in his room for the past 2 months, but sleeping in the cradle by our bed during the night. He was doing really well in the cradle up until last week when he started shaking the thing violently as he woke up each morning. I guess we weren't getting to him fast enough when he wanted out! He's just gotten too big and strong for the cradle, so we decided to try the crib all night.

So Friday night I put him in his sleep sack, removed all the blankets and toys from his crib and laid him down in the middle of that big empty bed. I felt so sad leaving him all alone in his room ALL the way down the hall from me! I knew he would be safe yet it was still sad to have him that much further away from me all night. I was sad when I went to bed, but the next day Bennett was just fine in his big ole crib. I bet he didn't even miss me.

cuteness

This last picture has "Elmore" written all over it. Can you say Ed, Jr.??

Also known as...

I just thought I would take a moment and compile all the names Bennett has also been called:

Bee Boppin Bennett
Bee Bop
Mr. Bennett
Mr. B
Buddy
Bud
B-Dogg
B-Dizzle
B to the Rizzle
Bugaboo
Boo
Benny Boy
and just plain "B"

The past 2 days we've been getting into more of a routine with me going back to work and Mr. Bennett staying with Cassie during the day. So far he's been good. He's a perfect baby. What can I say?

Already reaching...

Already reaching for stuff...me thinks we have a genius baby on our hands!

when Papa is in charge...

This is what happens:

back to work

I can't believe I have to go back to work. BOOOO!

This week I've eased into things a little by working only 2 days. I can't believe I have to spend 8 hours away from this cutie patootie:

well, I knew the day would come eventually. Back to reality. Actually, Tuesday wasn't so bad. Leaving him that morning was really hard...I almost cried. But I sucked it up and went to work. Someone has to bring home the bacon I guess. Benny Boy didn't really approve of my "bringin' home the bacon" cuz he gave his Papa a hard time with the bottle that day. Hopefully tomorrow goes a bit more smoothly.

Fun with GranJan

new toy

For Bennett's 2 month b-day we got him a new toy

lazy saturday morning

TGIF

The second video was taken after he puked on his owl outfit. Poor owl.

Firsts

Over the past 2 weeks Bennett has had a lot of firsts:



* First long road trip (almost 1800 miles!)

*First time to Southern Utah

*First visit to a National Park (Bryce Canyon)

*First visit to a State Park (Kodachrome Basin)


*First time in a National Monument (Grand Staircase - Escalante)

*First time camping!!



*First real bath

*First time in Pack-n-Play

*First hotel

*First Oktoberfest (Snowbird, UT)

*First visits to Polebridge Palace and Glacier National Park

the current stage of developement...

We Out

Headin' out tomorrow morning for a week in Utah...Salt Lake and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Later Y'alls!

Just like Poppa

so at about 4:30 in the AM I awoke to the familiar sound of Bennett letting out a few grunts to tell us he's hungry. Shortly after the first 2 grunts we hear a loud "toot". And by "toot" I mean "fart". I looked at Rory who I thought was still sleeping and he let out a big laugh. We both started laughing. Then Bennett farted again. And again. Then he grunted. Then he farted. Then Rory farted. Then Bennett farted. Then Rory farted and grunted. Then Bennett grunted and farted a few more times before he let us know the laughing and the fun-time was over and someone needed to pick him up and stick a boob in his mouth!

New Discovery

New discovery this week: Armpit jam.

Yep, babies get armpit jam....yucky, sweaty lent jam crammed into his fat rolls under the armpit.

Scary stuff.

A much needed break

This week we started bottle feeding - just every now and then to give me a break. Its about time!

That makes someone else pretty happy too.

Sir Poops-a-lot

Today Daddy Bill, Gee Gee and I took Bennett on a road trip for his one month birthday...up the east side of the Rocky Mtns. We had to stop about every half hour to feed and change the little man. He sure does poop a lot. I shall call him Sir Poops-a-lot.




















Hangin in the backyard in our new chairs.

new visitors

Bennett meets Daddy Bill and Gee Gee...

3weeks

We've survived 3 weeks with child. Monday was not a good day for me and I had a few break-downs throughout the day. Bennett was just really fussy all day and I was running on an hour of sleep. Tuesday was much better and Rory even came home for lunch to help out. Wednesday he was back to being the perfect baby and my friends Sara and Shana brought me lunch and hung out with us for awhile.

Last night we took Bennett to Alive@Five for the first time. We hung out with Andrew, Becky and baby Adrienne (14 months) while they babysat. It was pretty strange to realize that this is what life is like now...instead of socializing and drinking beer after beer we were chasing around a toddler and gazing at a 3 week old baby.

weekend

This was a busy weekend...compared to the past 2 weeks.

Friday Rory took B on a hike with Zach, Marshall and Maleah.

Then we all went to the Blackfoot Brewery...again. Bennett was there twice in one week! He was very good, though. Then we had some friends over for dinner.

Saturday we took Bennett on his first road trip. It wasn't a very exciting destination (Butte) and only an hour away but it was our test run I guess. We were supposed to leave at noon, but after a serious poop explosion in the carseat (seconds after getting him strapped in) and an early feeding interruption we ended up leaving around 1:30. We had to stop on the way to change another diaper. Then when we got there we immediately had to stop at a park and nurse him again (and he spit up all over my shirt for the first time). Finally we made it to the Front Street Market. While inside he had a bit of a breakdown and we had to get out asap. After one last stop we headed home. He slept most of the way but I think he just doesn't like being toted around in that carseat. Next time we'll try something different.

Saturday night we hung out at the Veltri residence. The whole family was in town and Bennett got to meet Steve and Thelxi for the first time. Here he is with uncle Brett: