Jim is 2.5!!!!

I've been doing monthly updates of Ben - and I figured it was time to do a little update on Jim - and what perfect timing he just turned 2 1/2 (on 10-11-12!!!)

You love, love, love being outside!  Love playing get-you...playing baseball...football...golf...riding your bike and truck...coloring with chalk...

You look forward to the weekends.  You know that on the weekend Daddy's going to be home and you get to do jobs together.  Some of these jobs include mowing the lawn (he follows Mark around the entire time with his lawn mower)...using the rake and shovel...using the lawn mower...using the ladder...cutting down branches...picking up leaves...using the weed wacker...and chain saw...using the broom...the list goes on and on.  And sure enough when we ask you what jobs you want to do you list all of those!!

You love your baby brother.  What a wonderful big brother you are!  You are such a big helper to us!  And are very good to Ben.  I love watching you two interact which is more and more everyday.  And  love the way you can make him laugh!

You are a great sleeper.  We go upstairs at 8:30 to start getting ready for bed.  PJ's, brush teeth, and then story time, before going down around 9:00.  (You love reading your dad's airplane books!)  And lately you've been sleeping until 8:00!

You're starting to recognize more and more letters...are counting up to 14, although lately you've decided to skip 5...

You really aren't interesting in potty training.  I can get you to use the big boy potty, and you have no problem with that.  But you aren't really telling us just yet when you need to go.  I know one of these days it's just going to click with you.

I am loving being home with both you and Ben!  We get to do so many fun activities together!  You love going for ride in mommy's car - whether it's to a friends house, to the playground, or some local activity!  We have a blast together.

You are a crazy boy!  You love taking all the cushions off the couch and jumping all over them!  You love climbing up the ladder when you're outside with dad...and just the other weekend I saw you climbing up the fence in the back.

You love anything and everything to do with trucks and trains!  You get so excited to see the garbage truck come by - and have even made friends with the garbage truck workers.  They are always waving to you, and you wave back to them.  You love seeing how many big trucks you can find when we're driving places.

What a wonderful little boy you are Jimma!!  We love you so much!!!!

Ben is 7 Months!

Happy 7 months Benjamin!!!  It's hard to believe that it was 7 months ago when we were welcoming you into the world.  It's also hard to believe that he's now less than 1/2 a year away from being one!!!  How is that possible?  What a wonderful 7 months it has been!

This past month has been a little rough.  I think when I go to do his 8 month post there will be lots of new teeth to talk about!  I think he's having a hard time with teething.  Any day now and his top middle teeth should be breaking the surface.  And I'm wondering if it's more than just those 2.  I'm not sure if it was because of the teething or not, but he had a runny nose and a little cough for a week or so.  The poor guy was having trouble sleeping, often waking up a couple of times a night.  Waking up at all in the middle of the night is very unusual for Ben - as he's been sleeping through the night right off the bat!  But I am happy to say that his sleeping has gotten a lot better. 

What Ben is up to at 7 months:

- Has his 2 bottom middle teeth.  (And like I mentioned, he should be getting his top ones any day now!)

- He's gotten a lot better at solids!  He prefers his fruits over his veggies - and has tried bananas, apples, pears, mangoes, squash, sweet potatoes, green beans - all which he has loved!  He's not a big fan of zucchini, carrots or peas, which I think is more of a texture thing, they are a lot harder to puree smooth for him. 

- Wearing 9 month clothes.  (I packed up all his 6 month stuff last week :( )

- Still in size 3 diapers.

- His nap schedule is no longer.  With the cold / teething he's been sleeping all over the place.

- He's trying really hard to pull up on things.

- He can go from sitting to laying down - but hasn't figured out how to crawl yet.  He does scoot himself backwards - his preferred method of movement!

- He was 18 pounds on our scale here at home.

- No longer using his binky.  He was having a real hard time with it when he was stuffed up, and I've tried giving it to him a couple of times and he spits it right out.  The same thing happened with Jim around this time when he was getting his top teeth.  Not sure if it has bothered both of them when teething. 

Here are Ben's 7 month pictures.  Not sure why the last one won't post the correct way for me. 

I finally realized why I was having such trouble uploading pictures.  Apparently I have reached my limit on the storage of pictures allowed.  I think I found a way to fix this - so stay tuned! 

I still need to catch up with our trip back up to New York in August...

Nothing overly exciting in September - lots of playdates and having fun with our friends!

And then I need to recap Grandma & Papa's October visit, as well as Aunt Ashley & Aunt Allison in town. 

I was hoping to get this all caught up before Ben's 7 month post - but I doubt that will happen.  So I may have to just work my way backwards. 

Okay, I may have lied about finding a way to fix posting pictures.  I'll have to keep working on that, and once I figure that out be prepared for lots of posts!  (I am only able to upload one...)

Brothers

Just a couple of pictures of Jim & Ben together.  You can see why I take a couple of the same pictures - in hopes of getting one good picture.  We'll see if I ever get a handful of these shots where they are both looking and smiling at the same time.  That'll be a good post!

Papa & Grandma visit!!!!

Papa & Grandma came down the other week and stayed with us.  We had a great time together!!!!  (well now that I'm just getting around to posting this - it was actually the other month that they came down!  They were down here the begining of August!  I think they like to pick the hottest weeks to come down and visit.  It was pretty warm when they were here so we really didn't do much.  But we were all okay with that because we got to enjoy each other's company!  With that I'll just leave you all with pictures -

1/2 a Year!!!

Happy 6 months to my baby Benjamin!!  It's hard to believe you're half a year already!  Where does the time go?!?!  What a wonderful 6 months it's been - that's for sure!  I love how much you're changing, and watching you take on new adventures :) 

What Ben is up to at 6 months:

- He has his first tooth!!! 

- He loves sitting up!

- Growing out of his 6 month clothes - and he fits into all his 9 month clothes.

- Still wearing size 3 diapers.

- Still doing very well with the nursing.  He eats every 3-4 hours. 

- Goes to sleep around 9:00 - and is up by 6:00.  Lately he has been falling back asleep once I feed him @ 6.

- Isn't really on a consistent nap schedule.  It usually depends on what we're doing for the day.  He is usually good with taking a nap after lunch time...and the rest depends on the activities.

- We've started solids,  but it's been going slow!  He's had tastes of avocado, sweet potato, and oatmeal.  I think he's finally getting used to having food in his mouth and figuring out that he's supposed to swallow it.

- His 6 month stats:
Head - 18.25" - 99th percentile
Height - 26.75" - 57th percentile
Weight - 16lbs. 15.6ozs. - 40th percentile.

His head and weight stayed in pretty much the same percentile.  But his weight dropped a bit.  It's hard to believe because he definitely is not a skinny baby by any means!

And finally I'll leave you with his 6 month pictures -

Big brother wanted to help out with the pictures as well!!!!  Love both of these boys!!!!

I owe you all...

I know, I know, I've been a big slacker updating this!!  We were back home in New York for 2+ weeks, so that put a little hold on the blogging.  I do have lots to catch up on. 

I realized I still have a draft post from when my parents were here....Then there was the awesome 2 weeks when we were at home...We have Ben's 6  month update post, which includes his first tooth!! 

I promise you all I will slowly get caught up!  For now, I will leave you with a picture of Ben's first Syracuse football game!!!  And one of Jim's first boat ride!!!

Well, the picture of Jim on the boat will have to wait.  It's not letting me upload anything else!!!

 

Making Pizza

These pictures just crack me up.  Jim helps us make pizza - and yes that would be him picking the peppers AND cheese off the pizza...stuffing them into his mouth...and then going back for more.  And yes, we still all ate the pizza.  The hot oven burned off all his germs, right?!  Pizza anyone?!

Ben is 5 months!

Happy 5 months old Baby Ben!!!  It's amazing how much you've changed in the past month.  You're at such a fun age (but really, isn't every age fun!?!?!)  Love to see how much you and your brother are interacting - it's more and more everyday!  Love your smile and your laugh - surely can brighten everyday!!!!!

What Ben is up to at 5 months:

- He's sitting!

- He's such a happy, happy baby!  Always smiling, and only starts to get fussy if he's tired or hungry.

- Loves to bounce in his exercauser.

- Had his first bite of food the other day - didn't really seem to be much of a fan - we'll wait awhile to try again.

- Still goes down at 9:00, awake in his crib, and has no trouble falling asleep.  Is usually awake by 6:00.

- Nursing about 5x's a day - every 3-4 hours.

- He's wearing size 3 diapers.

- Wearing 6 month clothes - and some of that is starting to get small on him.  He fits into some of his 9 month stuff, and it fits him just fine!
- Is rolling over all the time - he likes rolling from hi back to belly a lot more.

- He loves his tongue - constantly sticking it out at us.

- No doctor's appointment this month - but I'm guessing you're around 17 pounds or so.  We'll find out for sure next month @ your 6 month check-up.

And like usual - here are your 5 month pictures -- look at that smile!!!

 And look at that tongue -

Friendship Firehouse Festival

The Friendship Firehouse in Old Town was having a festival this past Saturday, so we thought it would be a perfect thing to take the boys along with my parents.  Jim didn't want to get close to the fire truck at first - he was content looking at it from the distance.  But we were finally able to convince him to drive it - and once he got in it, he couldn't get enough of it!  He loved it! 

Jones Point Park

Last Sunday we met up with our friends at the new playground @ Jones Point Park.  We didn't get there until 4:00ish, but the sun was beating right down on the playground and it was pretty hot!  We didn't stay long there since the boys were so hot, so we decided to walk around the park instead.  Jim had a great time running after Connor!  And we had a great time checking everything out (including one of the markers that show one of the four corners of the District of Columbia (D.C.))  And as usual, I'll leave you with some pictures from that afternoon.  And yes, Ben did enjoy himself as well - as long as we were moving with him.  He wasn't happy to stop to take a picture.