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.

Our Day...

They are opening up a new Children's Museum over at the National Harbor the end of the year.  In the meantime they have a 'Launch Zone' over there, which we decided to check out today.  Jim had a lot of fun playing there, checking out the little table top 'exhibits' that they had.  And then got to play with the big blue blocks!  They did have some trucks there, which Jim had to take a handful of those.  And then at one point I looked over, and there he was laying on the floor lining up all his trucks!  Ben was very well behaved for us - sleeping pretty much the entire time! 

After we were done there, we went for a little walk - got to see the Awakening Statue.  But it was pretty sunny and hot, and we weren't prepared to be outside, so we called it a day.  Enjoy the pictures!

The first picture was when we were getting ready to leave.

 You know someone had a great time when he can't even make it home before falling asleep!

A quick update.

As usual, I am just updating you all with pictures.  Everything has been going great here!  Celebrated my birthday this past weekend.  It was lots of fun, Jim wished me a Happy Birthday many times throughout the day!!  It was the best!  We all went out to dinner, and we ordered dessert - and when it came out, Jim goes "Mommy's Happy Birthday cake!!"
Both boys are doing great!!  Ben is growing so much.  Love his little laugh - which we hear all the time now.  As well as many, many conversations.  Jim continues to be a great big brother!  He's had a runny nose that past week - am wondering if his top 2 year molars are coming in.  He has the bottom ones already.  We're keeping busy during the week with the playground, and playdates with friends!  Think the boys are enjoying themselves. 

Okay, onto the pictures:

Mr. Panda seems to be a favorite for both Jim & Ben -

 

All dressed up to help celebrate my birthday! 

It was rainy and chilly when we went out to dinner, so Ben wore jeans and shoes.  Think we'll wait to wear shoes again, those ones gave him a blister!

Boxes are the best toys ever!

Jim & Ben playing trains together the other morning -