Friday, January 13, 2017

Benjamin - 10 months

Happy New Year to our friends and family! I'm going to try my best to get caught up on posts (still haven't done Halloween yet!) But first I need to start with this little guy...he's 10 months old now! Actually, technically he is 10 months and 1 week but ehhh...I'm trying here!

Although we did not travel home for Christmas break it was still a busy month for you. You've gotten pretty good about keeping yourself busy while I am trying to get things done around the house. Here you're just doing a little low weight, hi-rep exercise while I put away clean clothes.
 And here, keeping a close eye on the laundry cycle. Spinning clothes are so fascinating.
But more and more, keeping yourself busy really means getting into EVERYTHING! Especially if its potentially dangerous or makes a huge mess. So more and more I find myself pulling things out of your mouth (what is the obsession with eating toilet paper about!?) and racing you across the room to make it to whatever item you've set your sights on. And man! You can move pretty dang fast!

You're also very eager to help with the morning cooking but I think daddy/chef has all the help he can handle for now!
Sleep. What a rare a precious thing. You struggle my little B. But it's coming along. Slowly but surely you are sleeping through the night more often than not. Although the crazy Norwegian winter storms we've had the past few weeks haven't helped matters. 
Case in point...10pm...Christmas night...not sleeping! UGH!
You took your 3rd international trip this month to Prague. And, just like every international trip we've EVER taken with kids, you decided to pop out a tooth while we were there. So that means, no sleeping, lots of being cranky, and lots of wine for mommy...I mean whining...or do I?
 I'll be doing a whole Prague post later but unfortunately this is one of the few pictures I took of you while there. In a pub no less lol! But it was very cold and so most of the time you were bundled up in your stroller.
Once we got home from Prague we realized we needed to take a last minute mad dash to get a few more Christmas presents for you and Xander. The best part of taking a baby to a toy store is that there are no EPIC meltdowns when we don't end up going home with something totally random. You were a gem and it was fun getting to spend time just the three of us.
Christmas eve we decided to have a little adventure, brave the wind and rain, and go to Stavanger Cathedral for a Christmas Carol service. We stopped by Starbucks on the way in to grab hot chocolate, and let you both eat dinner during the service. You were pretty good and really seemed to enjoy the music...and listening to your voice echo when everyone else was being silent! 
You had your first Christmas and although it was quiet, just the 4 of us, wait....who am I kidding!? Quiet!? No way! More relaxed maybe but you two are never quiet. Anyway, it was really special for us to spend it together and your dad and I enjoyed watching you two play with each other and with your gifts. 
We also celebrated New Years Eve as a family...with a special dinner made by your dad and a toast. Which sadly you did not get to partake in. And by some insane miracle you slept through the local neighborhood firework show...which was pretty loud and intense for a good 45 minutes. I have NO IDEA how a squeaky floor board can wake you but NYE fireworks go off for nearly an hour and you never stirred!
My silly little B...you are such a spitfire. You hold your own and ALWAYS make your voice heard (which is a lot to say when you're competing with a toddler.) You keep us laughing and on our toes and definitely keep me from sleeping but I love you to the moon and back anyway!


Friday, December 16, 2016

Benjamin - 9 months

NINE! Just like that y'all! It has happened so fast!

Unfortunately this has been a month of fevers, runny noses, coughs, bumps, and bruises! You've been sick off and on for almost 3 weeks. It's been hard on you but on me too! You've been reaaaaally clingy and fighting sleep, even though you desperately need it! 
So I can't blame the bumps and bruises on the fevers but I can blame it on this! Pulling up on anything and everything. Especially things that are top heavy, or on wheels, or that are just prone to falling easily. Things that shouldn't be pulled up on include side tables with drinks on them, doors that move, and 2.5 year olds! So you've had a few tumbles, a black eye, and tons of head bonks, but that hasn't deterred you. The countdown to first steps has begun! My money is 1 year or sooner!
You celebrated your first Thanksgiving here in Norway with some fantastic friends. You loved the turkey and dressing the most. You're eating like a champ and growing MUCH too fast! In fact, you're wearing the clothes Xander was wearing LAST WINTER! Ya'll! This is not OK! My 9 month old is wearing 12 - 18 month clothes!!!
Those gloves really do fit! Ha ha! You're just too much of a pro at pulling them off. We've upped the bundle game since it's winter and its pretty cold most days. I think you are just adorable all cozied up!
Tandem cheerio snacking in the morning. This is something we've passed down from when Xander was your age. We'd put a handful of Cheerios on a chair to keep him still and occupied long enough to get breakfast ready. You seem to enjoy it too and I guess monkey see, monkey do!
You make the BEST faces! You totally crack me up all day long with your squinty eyes and wrinkly nosed smile!
I have no idea where you picked it up from but I'm going to snap as many pictures of it as I can before you grow out of it!

My little B. You're such a mess (even Xander calls you a mess now!) You're into everything. You're a little bit ornery already (heaven help us) but you give the best cuddles and slobbery (snotty ewww!) kisses. I love that you pat me on the back while I'm holding you. I love that you look for your brother and that you crawl to you dad now for cuddles too. Happy 9 months sweet boy!