Spring Blessing, I mean BREAK

I couldn't have timed it better! How great to have Spring Break after only a couple weeks of work. It's given me needed rest and some very special times with my little Benson. He is becoming so much more aware and so expressive! I used to have to work to get a smile out of him and now he gives them out just for looking at him.

Benson has been trying so hard to get his thumb. He will try for hours but he keeps it tucked in like he is doing the letter "T" in sign language. Another big even was the night that Benson slept through the night. When my alarm woke me up, I ran in to his room and immediately touched his face to make sure he was still alive. I totally startled him and he gave me a dirty look like "geez mom, give me a break!" His spitting is getting better with the medicine that the doctor gave him. This comes as a major relief to Mitch. Although, last night the unthinkable happened, Benson spit up on his biking clothes. Mitch stated "I'm done with it (the spitting up)" handed the baby over to me and immediately went to wash his biking gear. It's funny to me that it still freaks him out so much, but I know that he's only been spit up on a handful of times, not hundreds of times.

How grateful I am for my awesome little family. Mitch couldn't be more wonderful! He is patient with me and my drained, grouchy self. He motivates me to be better and compliments me on my progress in my new mothering skills. He is much more than I give him credit for and I want the world to know that I know he is more than I deserve! (Just don't get any ideas, I'm still keeping him even if I don't deserve him!) Thank you Mitch!

Back at school

I'm at school right now writing this blog post. I wish I was with my baby!

I know this is random, but I am showing an awesome student how to blog. It's basically a lesson on technology and how to use it for a leisure activity! I DO wish I could be with my baby 100% of the time though. Spring break is coming soon. . .

More Photos

I told some of you that I would post more of the pictures taken by AK Studios. So, here they are! Enjoy and feel free to comment on how gosh darn cute he is! It helps me to maintain sanity during the late nights. (Yes, still. From what I hear it goes on for months and months.)

Talkin' 'bout the Daycare Hotties

I know that this is starting to be "Benson's Blog" but compared to how cool Benson is, Mitch and I are totally lame! For example he was smiling a lot this morning so I got down by him and started to talk to him about the cute girls he'll be meeting in daycare. I asked him if he's going to flirt with them and what he'll say to them. To my delight he started to coo back and gave me a semi-giggle. He likes to make the "ahhhhhh" sound and the long "eeeeeeeeee" sounds with some "geeeee's." Now, if I told you that Mitch did that same thing, you'd think I'd gone crazy. Wouldn't you?

A few weeks ago my friend Amanda's friend (Abbey - AK Studio and Design) came over to take photos of my Benson. He was exactly 1 month and 2 days old and cute as can be. I wanted to post some of the funny photos and others that I like. If you want to see the pictures that she enhanced and made gorgeous go to www.abbeykyhl.com and look under "bellies and babies." She did a great job. The day of the photo shoot he spent a lot of time naked. I was peed on several times and even pooped on. Mitch ended up with a handful of Benson's bum stuff. I was surprised he didn't lose his lunch when that happened. Even though it got messy, the pictures turned out and as you see, we did have some fun!

Here are a few of Benson's favorite things: (Yes he did tell me himself!)

• Staring at the dark walls where they meet the lightly painted walls
• Looking at the photos of himself in the living room
• Having his bum patted
• Mommy kisses (that might be MY favorite, not his)
• Tub time
• Pooping while having his bum wiped
• Sleeping in the Boppy pillow
• Grandmas - they are the BEST
• Chilling with dad on the couch watching Jazz games
• He also started blowing little spit bubbles today - not sure if it's a favorite yet
  
• And finally waking mom up to hang out in the dead of night!

Blessed

Last Sunday Benson was blessed. Mitch was pretty nervous, but did a great job. It was a really sweet blessing. I was surprised at how nervous I was! As we got ready that morning I didn't get myself or Benson dressed until the last minute. I just knew that I would change a diaper only to end up soiled and I didn't want Benson soiling his blessing outfit either. My efforts paid off and we both stayed unsoiled.

The after party at our house ended up going much better than I expected. We don't have the largest home, but somehow we all fit and no one suffocated due to overcrowding. Thank goodness we finished a room in our basement. The only rough part of the day was the dead mouse that the nieces and nephews found in our backyard. After it was disposed of, the rest of the day went smoothly!

I am so blessed to have such wonderful family! I couldn't have survived the blessing day without all of their help. So many people offered to bring food and treats. It made the dinner PERFECT. I also know that I have the greatest husband ever! How blessed we are to have the priesthood in our home. It meant so much to me that he gave a thoughtful and inspired blessing to our little Benson.

Mitch is so willing to do so many things for me and I know that I don't always express how grateful I am for all that he does (dishes, laundry, yard care, garbage management, house decorating, and exercise motivation). Not many girls can say that their husband is a better homemaker than they are! His kindness never ends.

What did I do so right to be so blessed?

Rejected

I got a glimpse into what it will be like when Benson decides that mom's not cool anymore and won't let me talk to his friends when they come over. Two days ago Benson took a nap in his crib and slept awesome. So, after his 9:00 pm feeding I thought I'd give the crib a try again. Did AWESOME. After the midnight feeding. . .yep, he slept in the crib again and did AWESOME. It went like that until morning. I felt rejected!

I thought the bassinet right by "mommy" was perfect. I was right there in case he needed me, or the binky. Unfortunately, Benson is independent like his father and has decided that he wants his own room and own bed.

It also could be that my snoring was waking him up. I guess I still have a while though until he gives me the boot when his buddies come over. So for now, I'm still cool!!!

Benson has also taken a liking to the bath tub. He loves it. Isn't he so cute naked?

Too Cute!

Benson got a bath yesterday with Aunt Shanna and another one this morning. His new thing. . . Pooping in the tub! It's gross, but when you are so dang cute, somehow it doesn't matter. Just before his bath yesterday Shanna was holding him and he was making so many funny faces. We got out the camera and caught some darling photos! The one of him smiling makes me beam with pride and Aunt Shanna said that his smile makes her "melt." I couldn't agree more.


Another noteworthy event. Daddy has now changed 3 diapers! He's averaging one per week. I wonder how he'll do alone with Benson for 2.5 hours on Saturday. He may need to increase the diaper average. . .Good luck Mitchy.

Baby Benson's Here!

I only have a couple of minutes before little Benson will be hollering that he is hungry yet again. I will try to quickly share all of my excitement that has happened in the last 2.5 weeks.

I went to the hospital at 8:00 am on Sunday January 18th. After a ridiculously long day, Benson arrived at 11:52 pm. I was exhausted but so full of joy that I didn't care. When they handed little Benson to me I was shocked. I was told that no matter what I would think that my baby was cute, but I didn't realize that he would be THAT CUTE! To our surprise he had dark hair (a tiny tint of red can be seen) and all the rest of him is perfect! It was the most amazing experience that I've ever been through. This is one of those times in my life where I am not sure what I do so right to be so blessed. I truly have been given far more that I deserve.

Benson has been changing and growing even in these short weeks. He has been smiling in his sleep and sometimes when awake. I refuse to believe that it's only due to gas. He's liking to take baths and hasn't peed on me in two days! He has his daddy's toes and I'm sure he'll be using them to pinch me when he's mad in no time. He's just too perfect and it makes the late night feedings bearable.

Daddy has been so great! He's changed 2 diapers; one without any prompting from me! He insists that I sleep when Benson sleeps and does the grocery shopping. I now feel the full meaning of the primary song "I'm so glad when daddy comes home." GLAD AS I CAN BE!

I love this new adventure. Both the fun stuff and the difficult.