Teething.. can we please fast forward this stage?

It has been a rough couple weeks, but I think Ben is doing better. The last while he hasn't slept through the night, which is hard to adjust to. We are lucky that he is such a great napper. But I think he might be back on track.

He is also just so whiney, and more cling-y than normal. Doesn't want to sit with us, or play. Has been rough at daycare, too. Hang in there, Rebecca! It sure does feel terrible to not know how to console your baby.

Ben got his one year shots last week, and he is 24lbs and 31.5" long. I think he lost a pound or so from him being sick for so long.

Here are some funny pics of our hambone.

We now have his high-chair pulled right up to the table, so he can eat in between us, right off of the table. It is fun! He sometimes gets lazy and "slurps" his food right off of the table though.. sometimes gross, but super cute nonetheless :) He is always pleased as punch that he figured out to do it! And SHARING! The boy loves to share his food with us, especially Daddy. Raisins are a new favourite, and his toddler biscuits/Mum-Mum's, too. Here he is "sharing" his cookie with me. Look how happy he is!?




And Mike got another picture of him sleeping! Going on hour three of an afternoon nap, we decided to check on him, and voila! Sleeping Ben!

Sleeping..

Not very often that you get a picture of Ben sleeping.. we were going to our friends' place for lunch and Ben was napping for over 2 and a half hours already, so we decided to wake him so that he could eat. Mike managed to snap these without him knowing. He is teething again so he has been sleeping a lot more during the day.

Too bad you can't see his face, but that tooshie up in the air is priceless, sleeping with his buddies (Bruno the Rhino, Froggy, Teddy and Mr. Snowman..).

What a day!!

Today Ben had his very first dentist appointment!! Some of you might think that is silly, but I am trying to encourage excellent dental habits! And I don't think it's ever too early to start. He did so wonderful.. Dr. Fung-Wang was able to look into his mouth, check out his chompers with a little mirror, and he sat still through all of it! We go back in 6 months for another check up.

Ben was REALLY trying to walk today! For the first time ever Mike put him down from holding him and he didn't want to crawl — he went straight to walking and walked to his toys! Amazing.. He is getting more and more steady, he actually pauses now when walking if he starts to wobble, catches his balance then continues! Sometimes it is falling with style, but for the most part he is trying really hard to get it down pat. I have even caught him just standing there playing with a toy, while watching something on TV for a couple of minutes, not holding on to anything. My boy is getting so big!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It was a different Thanksgiving this year.. They have always consisted of dinner with my mum, Grandma in Kelowna, my sister or Mike's family. But we stayed home this year. I cooked a chicken (yum!) and had my Aunt Kelly over, as well as our good friend Dylan. Dinner was great, just enough for the four of us, and the pumpkin pie was devoured. Even by Ben!

This time last year we had just had Ben, were starting to move into our new home, and I think we had Chinese food with my dad, step-mom and Mike's parents! Talk about traditional dinner!! It was great though..

I am thankful for so many things, there are too many to list. The top 2 are Mike and Ben of course! I am so thankful for all my wonderful friends, a loving and supportive huge family on all sides, for my pets, a roof over our heads and jobs that allow us to have so much. The simple things we have seem to get put into perspective a bit more this time of year.

Now we get to prepare for Halloween, then Christmas. Lots of good times ahead!

Today we had a family afternoon in Fort Langley. It was a beautiful sunny day.. despite our lunch mishap (don't ask!) we had fun out and about together.

Here are pics of Ben dressed up in his fancy new birthday clothes yesterday (Thanks Uncle D!) and enjoying his pumpkin pie and whipped cream!

Happy 1st Birthday, Benjamin!

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy 1st birthday our dear Benjamin,
Happy birthday to you!

I can't believe that one year ago today I was going into labour to have this magnificent little human being! For a refresher, you can read my labour story here!

Here is my belly just a few days before his birth..


This is a picture of Mike and I before going to the hospital. And there is a story about Mike and his outfit.. he was going to wear a super casual outfit (which he ended up wearing!) and his mom joked and made a comment about him dressing better for the birth of his first child. This is what he came out wearing! Salesman Mike!


In the hospital.. having minor contractions, but not bad enough that I couldn't eat lunch and ice cream! Was waiting to be induced.


First picture of my wee little Ben, taken with my cell phone.


One happy dad! Picture taken just 7 minutes after Ben arrived!


Ben's sunrise..


And here he is, one year later!


Thanks for all the warm birthday wishes to our champ!

Ben's 1st Birthday Party!

Despite the chicken pox, we were able to have a small party for Ben :D

We had a lot of fun.. Ben was a great sport — didn't fuss once! The cake/cupcakes were really yummy, and I had a lot of fun baking and decorating them.

The decorations were all in blue, green and white, with some Sesame Street accents. Napkins, plates, balloons, streamers.. everything was colour co-ordinated! Mike was even making some balloon "animals" for the kids (and adults!)

Everyone was so generous and gave Ben the nicest gifts (thank you so much!). It was truly a happy day for all of us.