Sharing Time

Bennett and Zoë recently got a package. Zoë got a new baby blanket and Bennett got a big bouncy ball that has something inside it that flashes when dropped. Bennett tends to play more independently, but yesterday he wanted to share it with Zoë. She didn't care too much either way, but Bennett seemed really happy. Zoë still loves being on her tummy and spends most of the day on it, until she needs to be flipped over because its too limiting. Bennett loves talking, and is copying more words. I'll try to see if I can get a video of that sometime, and of Zoë talking too. She is very vocal too! Two really talkative kids...no wonder I look forward to nap time! ;)

February Update

Here are some new pictures and a video. We are all doing very well. Benny loves running around and yelling (in delight), and Zoë is such a mover. Yesterday she mastered the skill of rolling from her back to her stomach. This is typical, but still really strange. Only because Bennett was on the later end of the gross motor spectrum. It just feels like she's growing up too fast.

She loves playing with the tulle of her Sunday dress

When this picture was taken, Bennett was 31" and Zoë 21", only a 10" difference!

Zoë rolling and Bennett Singing

Kandid Kamera Kids

A video collage full of fun things! ;)

Bennett the Birthday Boy

Its hard to believe that two years have gone by already. Our baby #1 had grown into such a big boy. Bennett has changed so much, he's gone from a quiet baby content to stay still, to running around and always on the go!

A homemade 2-layer lemon cake with sprinkles

Birthday cake and song

Learning how to use the Spoon

We're in the process of teaching Bennett how to use a spoon. So here's a video of that. Its great because it shows his own unique style before starting to get it, as well as how talkative he is now. He doesn't say many words, but loves to babble on and on and on and on...while running laps around the apartment. He's sure to have a field day in our new place! We're trying to introduce the cup as well. I caught him drinking from a cup that I use to rinse his hair during bath time. Can't be more ready than that! But while drinking tub water is easy, its a little harder to grasp the concept outside the tub. Yesterday he looked at it (I only fill it a little), dumped it on his lap, gasped in surprise, and promptly pushed the cup away. For the rest of the day he rejected the cup. Kind of made me want to laugh, how he "blamed" the cup for the accident he intentionally caused! But that's a 20 month old for you, I suppose.

Bennett Walking for Real?

Here's a little compilation video. Starts out with Bennett walking on his knees, then how he started really walking tonight. Then we just kept filming and talking while he kept practicing, so that's why its so long. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and that Bennett keeps walking.

Bennett learning to walk

For about a week or two Bennett has practicing walking. He practices a little, but never goes more than about 4-5 steps. But today he started taking some longer steps! We had a little game where he was "chasing" me, and here's part of it on video. Part way through he falls to one knee but picks himself back up and keeps going. And, of course, once the camera was off he did even more than what little was shown on video. But it seemed that he wore himself out after that and went back to walking on his knees. But its more progress! I always assumed once they learned to walk they'd never want to stop, but I guess its a more gradual process.

Bennett Laughing

This video is really cute because Bennett is laughing more and more. He's never been one to laugh. He used to just smile and pant. So its nice to hear him laugh now. What is also funny is how he tries to imitate the noise at the end. What a smart little guy! Unfortunately he tended to spray all over Andrew instead. Sorry about the cruddy lighting, our living room only has lights on one end of it. Its kind of weird that way.

Bennett's getting there

Here's a video of Bennett at another mile stone. He loves to crawl, but he rarely scoots along furniture unless you already propped him against it. He got this toy for Christmas but didn't care for it because it moves. But I occasionally prop him against it just to see what he'll do. Yesterday he started walking with it! I just had to record it! Especially because Andrew was napping at the time. He has had a pretty rough week.

Bennett Crawling

Here is a video of our big boy crawling!

November Pictures and Video

Check out our little Tummy Sleeper! Who would have ever thought huh?

Bennett is doing very well. He's seems to be past his "wake up at 2am and scream for 3 hours til I fall back asleep" phase and back to sleeping through the night. He also tends to sleep on his stomach too, how ironic since he used to hate being on his stomach even a few months ago! I guess lots of things change over time. We'll be leaving for Rexburg to spend Thanksgiving with Andrew's family. We look forward to it! We'll be sure to take lots of pictures and we'll post them when we come back!

P.U.!

All curled up in the corner!

Its so hard to get a video of him giggling since the stimulus changes. But for some reason he found the word "P.U." really funny that day

Greetings once again! Its sure been a little while since we posted anything. Not too much has changed. Bennett got his hands on an envelope and ate the entire thing while I had fallen asleep. He then promptly threw it back up with only the stamp remaining as evidence! It was so scary then but a little funny now. But now whenever I want to take a nap, I put him in his playpen.

In more recent news, Andrew appears to have a really bad cold and I am beginning to feel the effects of it myself. We're keeping an eye on it since there has been an outbreak of swine flu on campus. My main concern is keeping Bennett healthy! So we're opening the windows (you can feel fall in the air now) and trying to keep our distance from him and he's not happy about that at all! Hopefully we'll both be feeling better soon!

2 cute videos

Our Little Drummer Boy

I don't know what it is, but something about being a mom makes you so fascinated whenever your baby does something new. Maybe its a just a first-time mom thing. Anyway, here's a cute new thing that Bennett does now. I hope you find it cute too. He sure is growing up, our little 7 mth old!

Things are pretty slow around here, just waiting for the move to start, less than a month away! I think I'll really miss Rexburg, but Boise sounds like lots of fun too! Bennett and I intend to explore it via stroller. Speaking of which he rides in it regularly now. He's a real straight sitter, but he just enjoys reclining in the stroller, but it makes it look like his neck disappears. He's also been enjoying the cool shades his Grandma Harvey sent him as well as the hat too. Sure keeps him cool!

We're also looking forward, ok so its mainly me, to getting Bennett's new car seat! Its been ordered at Walmart.com and should be arriving at the store any day now! I'm not sure how much he weighs or how long he is, but last month he was only 2 inches and pounds away from the limit. It might be safe to say its time to upgrade.

Andrew is a little stressed with work and not feeling very well. He seems to be on the mend though and hope that he continues to be. And so far he's been able to donate on schedule, so thank you for including us in your prayers.

Talk about nails on a chalk board

Not all baby noises are cute, and this sure isn't one of them! This video is Bennett's newest sound, and sadly it doesn't quite do it justice! With this one he reaches an impossibly high pitches. But I think you get the idea!

In other news, we finally found our apartment in Boise and our tentative moving date in August 14th. We're really looking forward to it. We have experienced a bit of a set back, Andrew and I were both donating plasma to help with costs, making an additional $100 a week. But yesterday, something happened while I was try to donate. I tried using my left arm, which the vein is hard to find so once they stuck the needle in, they kept adjusting the stupid thing! I felt like saying, "Give it up already! Let's just switch arms!" Eventually they did, but the blood was clotting in two places. Nothing bad happened to me, but basically I was just being bled. They consider that a blood donation, the amount that I lost while they were trying to fix things, so now I can't go back for 8 wks, meaning now its all up to Andrew. I hope things will work out so he can, sometimes he gets turned away for his high pulse. But I know something will work out since we know Boise is where the Lord wants us to be.

Bennett's Big Smile

It is sooooo hard to get a picture of Bennett smiling! Because whenever the camera is about to go off, it makes a noise so its very distracting. So we turned the flash off and Andrew kept singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, which makes him smile every time. Also here's a video I meant to post a while ago.

Lets Make some Noise!

We hope you all had a great Fathers Day! I had hoped to get Andrew a present, but we're trying to save up money for our big move sometime in August. Its been a little stressful! But I did make him a really big breakfast! I made sausage gravy and biscuits, bacon, and hash browns. Andrew really seemed to like it. It was also exciting to know that my older brother was celebrating his fatherhood too, I hope he had a good day too.

Bennett is growing fast and strong: At his last appt last friday he weighed 18.5 lbs and was 27.5 inches long. He's fast outgrowing his old clothes, it was hard to back up his newborn clothes(0-3 mth ones, he skipped the newborn size altogether). Now he's beginning to outgrow some of his 6 mth clothes, he'd be chubby if he wasn't so long! Anyway, he has some new noises now. I managed to catch them on video, the last one is his favorite, especially in church! Andrew says if he keeps it up, he'll make a great brass instrument player! Its a bit of a pain when I try to feed him rice cereal though.

Bennett says Blah!

It is always so hard to get a video of Bennett doing anything because he clams up when he sees a camera! But this time luck was on my side! So here is Bennett's newest sound.

Trot Trot to Boston!

This is one of Bennett's favorite games! Here Andrew is playing with him right before he leaves for work.

Back online

This is our new and improved blog. Its easier to keep up a blog when it looks appealing. We'll see just how long I keep writing. So what's new with us, nothing much really. Bennett is still teething and depending on the day its either really bad or really good. He's big on mumbling through his fingers in his mouth. I'll try to post a video, but its hard. Once he sees the camera he just stares at it and stops whatever he's doing. But I did suceed in getting a video of his rolling over, and good thing too since he won't do it anymore!
Andrew is still working hard, though with wedding and graduation rush, it can be stressful sometimes. We'll be heading to Boise State in the fall, Andrew has been accepted to school there. Not sure when we'll be moving, but we're hoping its soon.