Daddy (Mitch) Rocks!

I just wanted to say a public "THANKS" to Mitch! He has worked long and hard to make our home better. Check out the flowers and bushes he planted! He is great and does much more for us than just yard work. So Mitch, here is a BIG thank you and we love you!!!

LOVE,
Amy and Benson

PS. Benson and I share a similar amount of enthusiasm for yard work. (See picture to the right)

Sitting and Spitting

Benson is growing so much and so fast! He's got some new tricks. The first one is him sitting, not on his own, but that is becoming his preferred position. He'll stick his elbows back and push his head forward trying to sit up. The funniest part is the labored look on his face. We have been playing a little game where I help him into the sitting position and give him a horsey ride on my leg while holding his hands. (We've even been seen in the office of Syracuse High School playing on the floor. No shame, none at all.) He loves it so I of course love it too.

Benson is learning that if he reaches his hand out when he sees me he can also feel me. It's so dang cute. This means that he can also reach out and hit his toys and play.

Then the spitting. This isn't the spit-up spitting. This is raspberries and slobber spitting. He's showered my face several times and seems to get a thrill doing it. He's growing so fast and learning so much. Being a mom is more fun than I imagined!

Benson visits the Chiropractor

If you can't tell, I'm definitely back in school. I haven't posted for so long. It's hard to get around to the fun stuff when work is hanging over my head. But, enough complaining. . .

A few weeks ago Benson went to visit the kind people at the Health and Wellness Clinic. My mom has worked there for years and wanted to have them all meet little Benson. When we were there they asked if he's a good baby. I told them that he's PERFECT, except for a little spit up problem. They suggested that he get an adjustment, so after some deliberation I agreed. Benson didn't fuss or anything during or after the adjustment which consisted of just a little tap from a hand held triggery thingy (that's the technical term I'm sure.)

Immediately after Benson spit up. Dr. Hendricks said that it's actually a good sign. A little later that night Benson had his first major blowout. He also was burping on his own. The spiting up lessened. He even SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT. I took him back only days later for a follow up and the same things happened: immediate spit up, burping, and lots of pooping (this time he pooped in Dr. Hendricks office for all to hear!) He again SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Benson went in for a total of 6 visits. While I was somewhat skeptical and others were completely non-believers I must say that it worked! He was taking medication for it, but the chiropractor helped much more. There was a noticeable difference after the first visit. He still spits up some, but not nearly as much and not nearly as often. He now SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT 5-6 nights a week!

I recommend just trying it for almost any ailment. The chiropractor has worked for me, and now it's worked (amazingly well) for Benson! Everyone is SLEEPING much better now. Thanks Dr. Hendricks and Health and Wellness Clinic.

Call them at 544-4333. They are on Main Street and Gordon in Layton across from Krispy Kreams.

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?