Busy bees

Wow, I haven't posted since March. How did that happen? Oh yea, we've been busy.



Ben has started swim lessons. I've started training for a 5K and my husband enjoying being a stay at home dad (for now).

We started the month off by heading to the Oregon Coast for a few days. It happened to be in the 70s and gorgeous out. Plenty of seafood and Rogue Ales we consumed and we learned that Benjamin is a good little traveler. He was great on the four hour ride there and back. He hung out in the Kid's Kelty and just went with the flow. He did great sleeping out of his element -- all while busting out his two front teeth. Oh and to top it off, the motel had a heated pool so Brian and Benjamin did a lot of swimming.



The evening we got home I noticed Ben was really warm and I took his temperature and sure enough, he was running a 102.5 degree temp. He stayed home the next day from day care but we had no idea why he was running the temperature. Our good ole friends at BMC Peds (disclaimer: I work for BMC) got us in and an ear infection was diagnosed.

Ben is fast. He crawls across the room so fast I'm amazed. He's also cruising pretty good and becoming a good eater though I can't get him to eat papayas. He now signs milk and all done. He is talking though I had no idea what he is saying.

The cutest ... when he is tired, he crawls to him blanket and drags it over signaling nap time.

I love this stage. All the learning and communicating. The hugs and kisses. The cuddling.

I'm sure that I'll love the next stage just as much.

Let the screaming begin

It has been a trying few nights in our house as our good little sleeper has decided that he was going to start waking up at midnight, demanding a bottle. I chalked it all up to a growth spurt but after five nights of this, I realized that Benjamin was starting a habit of this. Too lazy and tired to dig through my healthy sleep habits book, I called the pediatrican’s office and talked to the nurse for some hints. Lo and behold, night time feeding is a no-no at 10 months and so is falling asleep while drinking a bottle (NOT in his crib, we’re holding him). Since he started drinking a bottle, this has been his night time ritual – bath, pjs, books, bottle/rocking. Ben has been sleeping until 5 a.m. most mornings and when he has woken up at midnight or 1 a.m., I usually rocked him back to sleep or held him. Another no-no. So, we’re faced with crying it out, again. It wasn’t hard the last time but seems harder because he can now stand up in his crib.

Last night, we had decided that if he woke up at before 3 a.m., we wouldn’t give him a bottle. The last five nights, he’s woken up at midnight. Guess what – last night, he woke up at 3:30 a.m.

My point – kids are not predictable. You’re playing Russian Roulette every night when it comes to sleep. Someone said this lasts until they are 5! Yikes. Why do ppl have more kids? Maybe parents adapt to less sleep?

In a few weeks, we plan on making some changes to his nighttime routine. Bottle will come before bath and we’ll add just a couple minutes of rocking before we lay him down in his crib for sleep. Tonight he had his bottle, cuddled and I then laid him down drowsy. No fussing at all. Bam, went to sleep. So maybe he can fall asleep on his own? Oh well.

Let the screaming begin.

10 months old!

Dear Benjamin,
Today your are 10 months old.
Yes, I'm in disbelief because of this and I'm wondering where did the time go? It flew by so fast! The last month, you spent growing and learning and are becoming more and more aware of the world. You're also into everything. You're no longer army crawling and finally crawling though you prefer to belly crawl. You're into your toys, esp. the feel and touch cards and LOVE books. You've practically worn out Dr. Seuss ABCs.



You're new trick is standing. You want to be standing at all times it seems and it was a blessing once you figured out how to sit down without crashing to the floor.



As for eating is going, you're eating more and more table food and things off our plates. Yesterday morning, you took a bite of French Toast and demanded more off my plate as you were in love with maple syrup! You love juice in the sippy but won't take milk in the sippy. We hope you warm up to this idea as you're not always going to be sucking on a bottle.

With your new standing trick, you have taken a few tumbles trying to walk. Bumps and bruise are evident and I'm always there to snuggle up and make it better.

Son, you're an amazing gift and we're truly blessed. I will take a bet that this time next month, you'll be walking. Better go baby proof the house!



love,
Momma