6 month pics/Weekend News

We FINALLY took some nakey baby and post bath pics this weekend.  I won't put most on the internet, but will share a few suitable ones here. I've been bugging Ryan for what feels like months to help me capture that squishy tushy and thighs before they are gone!

We had the most wonderful weekend!  It was cool and drizzly outside and we had no big plans-perfection.  We made some good progress on the hall bath, finished the taxes, did an art project for the eating space with some ancient fruit crates from the Heimer grocery store, ran errands as a family, and watched almost the entire first season of Selling NY on HGTV.  The Nugget care seemed to go in concert with one of us sweeping in just when the other needed it, (this is not the weekend status quo.)  It was all very simple and that's what made it wonderful.

We completed said errands with Ben in the cart with his cart cover sitting up like a big boy.  By the third store he was laying down in the seat part of the cart but didn't mind any of it a bit.  I think he enjoyed looking around and being part of the "grown-up" action.  We sold his infant travel system on Craigslist and the expectant Momma picked it up this weekend.  She said she could never have afforded this safe system full-price and was so thankful to find it through us.  I'm thrilled to know another little Nugget will be safe and secure out in the world!

I made some green beans this morning that are freezing now so we will try our first green veggies in a few short hours.  Until next time.....................

Gained an Outfit (6 month stats)

As we sat in the Dr's office lobby this morning I pondered, "wouldn't it be funny if Ben weighed the same at 6 months naked as he did at 5 months with clothes on?"

As there is no 5 month well baby visit I had gone in to weigh him with clothes on.

Well....whadaya know??  In the last month, Ben gained just that, an outfit!!

His weight naked at 6 months and clothed at 5 were exactly the same!

So the official stats are:

19lbs 6oz=79th percentile

26.5"=51st percentile

43cm head circumference=25th percentile (this percentile has never changed-doc says that consistency is a good thing.)

His height and weight are coming together and word has it they will continue to.  All his milestones are met and we actually don't go back until 10 months.  I love our doctor and her attitude!! We have free reign on fruits and veggies with new ones 3 days apart-the next few months will be lots of fun!

The best news of the day .......(insert long, drawn-out drumroll here)...............

the Doc said it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY Ben's eye color will change.  They may turn green or hazel but will most likely not turn brown as we expected.  Looking to see if they'd changed overnight had become a part of my morning ritual.  I am so in love with those steel blue pools of wonder and I'm soooooo elated they may be here to stay.

(Sorry for the lack of focus on the scale pic.  Ryan's been honing his videography skills and I forgot to take the camera off Manual focus.  It is a true miracle the others turned out.)

6 Months Part 2

I didn't want to flood the teeth, and rolling, and fun with friends and MeeMee with my tearfest.  (According to spell check, tearfest is not a word.)  If you read this blog regularly, you know I cry most days.  I cry tears of joy and elation at the miracle I get to spend my days with, but the 6 month milestone has hit me hard.  I was able over the weekend to duck away and cry and try to be busy busy with all the fun going on.  Alas it is Monday, MeeMee is gone, and it's back to the grind.  The wonderful, perfect, wouldn't change a thing about it, (except a little less spit-up, a little less dog hair, and a little less laundry) daily grind of life with Baby Ben.  The tear inducing part is that the baby part of Baby Ben is half over.   Don't get me wrong, I get VERY excited about what the future holds for Ben and our family but the nostalgia for babyhood is taking over me these days and I hope it passes soon.............or I'll have to start buying waterproof mascara.

 

The first time ever I saw your face

 

Just before leaving the NICU

Seeing these pics from the week Ben was born remind me of Nana Pat and Grandpa Jim coming to visit us in Iowa.  When given the chance to feed Ben, Nana Pat said, "no, no. You should, you need to bond."  I told her then there was no worry of that-that it was love at first site, the first time ever I saw your face.

6 Months

Although the stats won't be in until Wednesday, Ben was officially 6 months old yesterday.  He had a great day hanging with MeeMee while Mom and Dad enjoyed a movie date, and going for a nice stroll with everyone in the unseasonable 70 degree weather.  In honor of his big day, he rolled from his back to his tummy for the first time with MeeMee and Mom cheering him on.  In addition, his lone tooth called a friend to the party and the adjacent front bottom tooth is just below the surface.

I used the nice weather as an excuse to get some friends together for dinner at a local restaurant, El Rodeo.  Even Ben had a margarita in celebration of his big 6 M-O!!

First Tooth!!!

yep! at long last-it's here!  We were watching an episode of Dexter Tuesday night and I was sitting next to Ben on the floor.  He started to get a little fussy-"it WAS jammie time, Mom," and I put him in my lap in hopes of getting through the last couple minutes of the show.  He forcefully grabbed my hand and started chewing my finger and OH! WHOA! What's THAT?  There were the little white ridges of his first tooth poking through his bottom gum.  It all played out as many friends said it would-with little warning or fanfare.  At least now I know that 2-3 weeks after a day of screaming and drooling like a faucet, I might expect a new pearly white.  Nana Pat had gifted Ben with Sophie the famous teething giraffe for Valentine's Day so I gave all the credit to Sophie for this one.  The only pics right now are of Ben with hand in mouth 24/7, but I will be sure to post a pic of that pretty tooth when it makes the rest of its way in!!

visitors, Valentine's and babies, oh my!!

Nana Pat and Grandpa Jim were here for a quick visit over the weekend.  We had fun playing and relaxing.  Ryan and I got more used to being ignored (mostly kidding.)  Ben rolled over lots for cheers and accolades.  MeeMee gets here Thursday so the unending attention will be back before the Nugget has time to miss it.

Blorrowed (don't know if I'm the first to come up with this but, blorrowed is to blogs as facelifted is to Facebook) this pic from Cadyn's blog.  Taken before our Monday walk on Valentine's Day.  Ben was happy to spend some time with one of his actual Valentine's on Heart day-Quinn, Kaia and Charlotte-eat your hearts out!

In the baby news portion of this post, friends Eric and Jana welcomed Grayson Matthew Earnest yesterday (Valentine's Day) at 7:05 PM.  He weighed 6lbs 1oz and was 19" long.  Jana the incredible labored for 13 hours without so much as a tylenol.  The elated parents report that Mom and Baby Grayson are doing great !!

From Tante

Because I couldn't say it better,  I've copied an email below that Ben received from his Tante Mollusk this morning.  It's a wonderful heart day to have two loves-my lovebug and a little love Nugget.  My heart has perhaps never been more full on a St. Valentine's Day than this one....

From:     edwards.molly@gmail.com

Subject:     Happy Valentine's Day!

Date:     February 14, 2011 12:05:58 PM CST

To:     benheimer@me.com

Hi Nugget,

Happy First Valentine's Day!  While a lot of people in the world have some rather cynical feelings on the holiday, you'll find that our family really loves this holiday.  It's one of my faves, MeeMee's fave and your parents are such little lovebirds that they like it, too.

Thank you for the valentine you sent me.  Yes, of course I'll be your Valentine!  Tante is a slacker and never got your valentine stuff off to you in time.  For shame.  I'll take you shopping when you are here next month instead.  How's that?  :)

Love you so much, little nugget.  Your mom keeps telling me all of these new things that you are doing...rolling over...drinking out of a sippy cup...it's crazy!  Are you going to be going to college next week, or what?  I am so eager to see you and see all the new things you are doing and saying!!  Sometimes, when I talk on the phone to Mom, she let's me chat with you and you just talk and talk and giggle and it warms my heart so much.

Happy Valentine's Day, Ben.  Tante loves you!
 

Some Recent Pics

Just a few pics from the last couple weeks that haven't made it into other posts......

 At long last the Guess jeans/tea sweater outfit from the Davis' fits.  You'll be seeing a lot of this one!

 Baby Guess butt

 Per Tante's request for a "head" shot

Whew!! (1st Rollover)

Just in time, after much fanfare, waiting, screaming, coaxing, practicing, and yes, a video chat with Dr. Aunt Towbin (Physical Therapist Extraordinaire) Ben rolled over yesterday!!  He did the hard one first...tummy to back.  He came very close to the other way too but my excitement at the first may have been all he could take yesterday.  I was yelling and screaming and calling Dad and he just laid there beaming and shaking his arms and kicking.  Maybe wondering, "I don't know what all the fuss is about but Mom sure is excited."  he was doing some tummy time while I was picking up in the kitchen and rolling on his side and back a bit.  He got close and I rushed to him and stopped short to avoid temptation of pushing him over.  So there I stood jumping and motioning from the next room and over he went.  If this is rolling over, what will the first left-handed lay-up bring?????

Jammie Time

Ben loves jammie time.  Well, Ben loves being naked.  It may not have anything to do with jammie time.  Jammie time is a blessing each evening when our little nugget is getting tired and fussy and suddenly smiles and giggles with delight at the prospect of some nakedness.  Ryan started leaving his shirt on his head and making "ears" or calling him the flying nun so that's now a part of the routine as well.  

You gotta fight

Anyone born between 1970 and 1985 should know how the rest goes, but I titled this post this way to remind me to introduce Ben to a little Beastie when he's perusing these pages.

Yes, this was a weekend of partying.  Our friend Peter Hall turned 2 and celebrated with pizza and cake on Saturday and the TS family kindly allowed us to join in their festivities of all things food and football-the Superbowl.  The Green Bay Packers packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in a pretty good game.  As per usual though food was the best part and there were a couple of good commercials.  Volkswagen and eTrade stole the show.  I know I'm a biased Mama but I do think Ben would be a good eTrade baby.

 

Peter talking on the phone Ben got him

 Ben with his faux hawk at Peter's party

 Intently watching the Superbowl

 "playing" at Cadyn's play-date

In other news this week, Ben tried sweet potatoes and, of course, loves them.  In fact, I'll be shocked if there is a food this monster does not like.  Acorn squash is up next.  We had another great play-date with Cadyn and Charlotte and their Mamas, (at Cadyn's house this time) and are looking forward to the next one.  Ben is OH SO CLOSE to rolling over.  I think he's gonna wait until right before his six month appointment just to keep me nervous.  Another blast of winter is on its way tomorrow and Wednesday but the pantry is stocked with hot chocolate and Similac, so bring it on.

Blog Life

"oh, yeah, the blog."  That's the response I frequently get from mostly older relatives when I say, "there were pictures on the blog," or "I wrote about it on the blog."

My blog is for me, for Ben, and for readers near and far to stay in touch and share in our lives in ways they wouldn't be able to without the blog.

I've been very surprised lately by how many of my adult conversations are centered around blogs we follow and how much following them is a part of my daily routine.  A blogger I follow recently posted about how she wishes her blog could make money for her family the way others do ie.-Pioneer Woman.  Now this blogger is also a photographer and has a HUGE following but still not enough to make money from it.  She was a little down and needed a little reassurance that profitable or not, her blog was meaningful to lots of us.  My response was meaningful to her and she posted this as follow-up to her post of defeat:

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Oh dear. You are all so kind to care for me and encourage me so much.

I wasn't really feeling sad. But that is what you heard. 99% of you.
I wasn't thinking of quitting at all, but gosh, it must have sounded like that.

I love you all so much. I am the lucky one.
I would miss you so much. I am not going anywhere.

Thank you for your support and love.


And guess what book I am reading?

Happy are you poor? by Thomas Dubay

Isn't that perfect?

The thing is. I am so far from poor it's a joke. I have an abundant life. Monetarily and spiritually.

Like Jess said in the comments....warm home, warm heart, happy baby. (babies :o)

That is more than enough.

Listen to this...

"Our destiny is literally out of this world. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard; indeed, it cannot even dawn on our unaided imagination the unspeakable delight God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor2:9)
Before this destiny all worldly glitter is dull, all tinsel is cheap, all adventure is prosaic, all attraction is unsatisfying."

And then this..


"In this new era happiness is found not in eating and drinking this or that but in personal goodness and in the peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit....The New Testament assumes that happiness is found not in things but in persons and especially in the Divine Persons."


I get a thrill out of reading things like this.

I need to read things like this. Words like these help me 'snap out of it'.

Watching too much glam tv and looking at pretty houses and dreaming of travel takes me down the
road of lusting after things.

To hear words that speak truth to me feels like a good spring cleaning.


I am thankful that this blog is accomplishing something important and I absolutely know that
the best parts are in the comments. No doubt in my mind.


I am thankful that God has allowed me to do this.

Mostly I just feel like a goofy girl.

The good parts come from God.


I'm pretty sure.

Yes, Donna Boucher's daily reminders of "encourage one another," and "love you, mean it!," and simple writings about every day life as mid-western mother and wife give me, as I told her:

You inspire me with your words everyday-to be a great mom and wife-to focus on what's really important-and to have confidence that it's ok if all I need to make my life great is a warm home, warm heart, and a happy baby.
Thank You!

You see, that's another part of what is so great about, "oh, yeah, the blog," they connect us, encourage us, and inspire us, over miles and oceans and years.