Walnut Babies

I had a wonderful Christmas surprise this year that deserves it's own post.
I'm warning you now that this is a LONG story, so stop reading now if you're not up for it!
As a child in Montana I enjoyed an annual tradition of heading out to a snow covered old teacher's college in some tiny town on the weekend after Thanksgiving.  They had the whole thing (lots of tiny cottages) set up to sell different holiday handicrafts.  In one section the buildings were short and adults were not allowed. Each year I would purchase different ornaments and gifts, but there was one thing I got most excited for every year...Walnut Babies.  Each year I would pick a new special little one to add to my collection and oh how I loved them.  They alone probably held over half of my childhood excitement about christmas each year-all in a tiny little walnut shell.
3 years ago when Luke was on the brink of adult puphood and gaining more and more freedom by the day, he made a choice that would send him back into the doghouse and was the demise of nearly all my walnut babies.  Ryan and I were meeting eachother and friends downtown for a holiday celebration and I left Luke out and free in the house, as we had done several times.  On the way to meet Ryan, I called him and said, "what if Luke lays in that crate all day staring at the Christmas tree thinking how much he can't wait to get his paws on it?"  We collectivley decided he would be fine and had a great evening.  As we drove separately Ryan was walking back out of the house to meet me when I got home.  He gave me a big hug and told me to take a deep breath.  Luke had DESTROYED more than half the ornaments on the tree.  The low hanging fruit were obviously the first to go and he had definitely shaken the tree to get the higher ornaments to fall.  I mean he chewed multiple glass balls to bits.  Was one not enough?  I did not speak to him beyond necessity for at least a week.  I was very sad.
Christmas Eve after dinner, Molly insisted I open a gift.  She said it was from her boyfriend, JP, who I affectionately refer to as J. Pizzle, and that it was appropriate to open early.  It was a small package wrapped in tissue and the minute I got one peak at that precious little cuteness, my head fell into my hands in tears.  I had told JP the Luke story when we were in Denver in early December and he took it upon himself (with no help from Molly,) to make me a family of Walnut Babies-one for each member of our family.  The little blankets even coordinated to the point that Ben's is a mixture of mine and Ryan's.  Because only joyful tears can express my thankfulness, all I can say is, 
                                     Thank You J. Pizzle.  You brought joy to my heart this Christmas.

All that remains of my childhood babies.  The shell is crushed so she lives in this plastic baggie.

Our Walnut Family

Little Ben Walnut

Ryan Walnut

Jess Walnut

Famous

So, a couple weeks before Christmas I finally got around to putting Ben's room on Rate my Space.  For those not in-the-know, it's a part of HGTV's website where you can view and rate people's real spaces, renovations, decor, and offer ideas for updates.  
His room received rave reviews and one extra pleasant surprise.  A very sweet woman wrote to me and asked if she could feature Ben's room on her Buy Modern Baby blog!!  She runs a Buy Modern Baby website and complimentary blog where she features products and "real" rooms.  Of course I obliged and feel absolutely thrilled.  I believe all decor should be done for yourself and/or your family and not to please others, but to have someone who does modern design for a living compliment my choices meant the world to me, especially because Ben's room was a departure from my typically more traditional decor choices.
It may be as close to famous as this housewife ever gets, but I'll take it!!

http://buymodernbaby.com/blog/2010/12/28/real-room-tour-racing-inspired-modern-nursery/

First Christmas

...................and first cereal and first attempt at the johnny jump-up and first time to Lucciano's.
Ben's first Christmas festivities began when Meemee arrived Wednesday afternoon. Neighbors Bruce and Cheryl stopped by in the evening to exchange gifts and enjoy some goodies. 
We spent Thursday doing last minute grocery shopping and planning Meemee's bathroom renovation at the HD and Lowe's.  Ben actually slept through the whole thing-yep-four hours! and of course finally needed to eat just as we were leaving the hot mess called a grocery store the day before Christmas.  Nothing a little Starbreak couldn't handle :).
Friday we relaxed and waited for Tante's arrival.  We were unable to go to Mass on Christmas Eve as even 15 minutes early there was NO room at the Inn.  We headed home where friends Rob and Lynn joined us for dinner and merriment.  We were all asleep by 10 with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads.  
I got up at 4:30 to finish my Santerly duties and Mom and Molly were awake shortly after 5.  We convinced Ryan to get up and open adult stockings as we waited and waited and waited for Ben to awaken.  He finally did shortly after 6 and the real fun began.  The biggest surprises were Molly's unexpected snow shoes that Santa set up and even set on snow for display purposes, and the TRAIN!  Yes, doesn't every 4 month old little boy need a real deal Lionel O gauge train???? Meemee says it was as much to vex his parents as bring him joy and I think she's right as I've already asked Ryan to build a platform and begun dreaming of the adorable town I can create in the center.  We enjoyed prime rib, au gratin potatoes, brussels sprouts, and salad for Christmas Dinner along with a delicious Beaujoulais (thanks Rob and Lynn.)
Sunday included some post Christmas shopping and our first movie in a theatre since Ben's arrival.  With Meemee babysitting, Molly, Ryan and I saw Little Fockers, which was just as hilarious as expected.  We celebrated being together one last time at Lucciano's on Sunday night, (thanks again Mom.)  Ben was great at dinner and really loved the live music and smiled adoringly at the keyboard player. 
Mom and Molly headed home Monday and the preparations began for Nana Pat and Grandpa Jim's arrival on Tuesday......

Getting a little more in each day!

The jumping, too has improved immensely in the last week.

Family pic-thanks Molly for the matching PJ's.

Tuckered out after all those gifts.

Max the Grinch dog has become "the one."

Opening the first present

Ben's overflowing first stocking

With the train

Holy Moly!

First Family Christmas

4 months!!.......

seems like such a small amount of time, but OH MY!! how Ben has changed.  Just a reminder to all you very new moms to soak up every second.  We had his 4 month check-up today and everything looks good.  He is meeting all his milestones and is ahead on a couple but apparently should be squealing more-which he only does a couple times a day :(.
Our goals by our next visit at 6 months are to roll over both ways and to put something from one hand into the other-we'll get started stat! Actually, I think milestones and tracking are great tools, but you could also drive yourself crazy comparing, tracking, and worrying.  Sometimes you have to throw all that out the window and enjoy who your little person is today because tomorrow he'll be different :)
Just like last time, we both cried at shot time.  I should say I cried and Ben, well, Ben turned blood red could hardly breathe, and then wow! did he scream.  And cried real tears-which he rarely does.  Absolutely broke my heart.  I guess I have 2 months to prepare for the next one.
I know you're only here for the stats, so...
Benjamin Ryan Heimer at 4 months and 1 day old weighs in at 17lbs. 3.2 oz-86th percentile, is 24.5 in. long-33rd percentile, and has a head circumference of 41.5 cm-30th percentile.

We got the go ahead for rice cereal, so we'll try that in the next few days and yellow veggies in a month!!  I must share that the PA said, "well if he seems unsatisfied by the formula, you should try the rice cereal right away."  

In my head I'm thinking, "lady, does that naked perfect chunky monkey with thighs as big as your arms (and screaming to be nibbled) laying before you look like any part of what he eats is unsatisfying???" but I politely say, "yeah, we'll give it a try."