First trip to Disneyland

Benji had his first trip to Disneyland yesterday. It was a spontaneous trip with friends Mel and Theresa. Theresa works for Disney, so she was able to get us into the park for free on her pass. We had a lovely time and Benji spent a lot of the trip just observing everything going on around him. I really was expecting to just walk around the park, but we got to do several things. First, we headed to Sleeping Beauty's Castle where they have opened the ability to walk though and see the story told though pictures. Our first ride was the Merry-go-Round and once we got going Benji had a very serious face on (biting his lower lit). Next, we headed over for some food and then stopped by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Benji seemed to really enjoy the ride and looked around at everything. As we got off, we saw a character meet and greet with Pooh and the line was quite short, so we headed over there and Benji got to meet Pooh and Tigger. He wasn't so sure what to do about them.
Our last stop before heading out was Pirates of the Caribbean. Benji was a little clingy on the way to the ride and got a bit scared/unhappy during. He also fell asleep near the end of the ride and then again on the way home. It was very nice, all in all. One last thing on Disneyland for those who have little ones. At the end of main street in Disneyland and near the Tortilla factory in California Adventure they have a baby center. In the baby center are high chairs, baby food and supplies available for sale, a quiet area with rocking chairs for nursing, and very nice changing tables and small people toilets. A definite plus on finding it while there.

Other news/things since our last post: Benji is exploring his surroundings a lot now and goes just about everywhere in the apartment. He is not yet walking but getting more comfortable with his balancing and moving. We had a wonderful visit with my parents (Bubbe and Zayde). Benji enjoyed spending time with them and cuddling with them. We also had fun celebrating Hanukah (a few pictures available on Picasaweb). Benji enjoyed looking at the candles and by the 4th night really had the hang of tearing paper. He didn't care about what was in the paper, but it was fun to tear it off none the less. There is video of that, but I need to upload those when I have a chance. The last thing was Benji and Jeff had a great chance to bond and spend more time together over the holidays as Jeff had off of work for 2 weeks.

I am amazed to think that Benji will be 10 months old this week. I love all the developments, his sense of humor that is developing, his love of music, his observing people and things around him. I still wonder where my baby went. He has grown and changed so much in the short 10 months. Quite amazing.

Gymboree costume party

On Tuesday we attended one of the costume parties held by Gymboree. We had a lot of fun. Ben dressed up as a turtle (thanks to Aunt Cristin who sent us costumes Taylor and Cody have worn).
More pictures are available on the picasa link to the right. Here are a few favorites.

Movie crazy

Well, I've been a little crazy with making movies of Ben over the last month or so. Friday and Saturday I uploaded 5 to youtube and I took another today. I'll try to load it to the computer soon.

6 months old

Ben is 6 months old today. I'm amazed that 6 months ago today I was unaware as the time passed waiting for Ben to be born (and trying not to scream through the contractions). The time has passed so quickly.

Ben will be starting his next solid today. We took a break after his second time eating broccoli as his system wasn't quite ready. He had broccoli again over the weekend to much more success. Today we will be trying carrots.

Ben is now barrel rolling (front to back to front...) and moving across the floor. He is playing with his toys regularly on his own and passing them back and forth between his hands. He continues to rock on hands and knees and tries to launch himself forward and scoots backwards. He loves to grab anything, especially if it's something someone else has. He regularly grabs my glasses and hair and Jeff's beard. He wants to play with pens, remotes, and phones, which trump any toy that is his.

He giggles at funny noises and faces now. He still loves to be sung to and it is the one way to keep him happy when he is getting tired or grouchy (unless he is hungry). I have more pictures and videos to upload, and will hopefully get them done before the end of the week.

We also went and had our first professional photos done. Ben did wonderfully and the pictures are adorable. I'll be loading a link on here in a few weeks if people want to order some pictures in addition to what I ordered.

I am continuing to love being a mom and am amazed daily by the joy Ben brings to our family.

6 month check-up

Wow, it's been a hectic couple of weeks. Our Internet has not been working well which has made being online tough as well. Ben is doing great. He continues to have good and bad days when it comes to teething. He's becoming more independent with so much. He now is willing to be left alone to play on the floor regularly and often wakes up in his crib and just hangs out talking to himself and playing with his hands and feet.
Ben is moving a bunch now. He is never in the same place I put him in the crib when I go and check on him. He even woke me up one night with all the moving around and running into the crib walls. He can roll from back to stomach and stomach to back but thankfully hasn't figured out that if he does it over and over again he will travel. He is scooting backwards and rocking on his hands and knees and launching himself forwards. He loves to grab anything and everything, but I think his favorite things to grab are my glasses, my hair and Jeff's beard. He interacts with people and toys regularly and has started to enjoy throwing things to the floor and fussing so someone will pick it up. He also fusses if he can't throw it to the floor. He is absolutely amazing. I am truly loving the interaction and playfulness.

So, today was our 6 month well baby check. Ben is doing great. The doctor is impressed with how strong he is. She asked if he could sit up and was amazed that not only could he sit, but he balanced himself as he began to tip. Ben now weighs 16 lbs. 10.5 oz. and is 26" long (although I think he is longer than that). On the charts, he is 50% for both height and weight and 75% for head circumference (17"). He was really good at the office considering it took us 25 minutes to be taken back to a room and then another 45 minutes before we saw the doctor (and that was only because I complained). He seems to be doing okay tonight. No more fussy than he was this morning due to teething despite the 3 shots he had today. We'll see how he's doing tomorrow and if he is running a fever.

Play date Pics

The boys hangin' out

NT pulling in Ben's bib and rolling over

holding hands?

Our boy has big feet!!

Ben in NT's Jumperoo

Our first play date

Ben and I went to visit a friend, Sandra, and her 5 month old for a play date yesterday. We had a great time (as Sandra and I always do). The boys are a bit young to do much interacting, but her son was having fun rolling over onto Ben. It was really nice to just sit and chat and talk about baby things from someone who is going through similar things.

I was able to weigh Ben, since they have a scale. He is now 13 lbs. 11 oz. Oh, and he is also able to wear a couple of 6 to 9 month outfits without looking like he is swimming in them.

Other updates....Ben is fighting naps. I have come to count on this time to get some stuff done, have some time free, and not have him in my arms. I think it may be the pre-teething that is making him uncomfortable. The only time he naps anymore is in my arms. He wakes within 5 minutes of being put down. He is also sitting, unsupported for 4 to 7 seconds. Not much, but quite good for his age. He is also regularly rolling to his side from his back, sucking on 3 fingers (on both hands, no choice of which 3 and sometimes from both hands at once), and playing with rattles and grasping them a bit.

We have some fun pictures from the play date, but no time to upload them now. They will be coming soon.

3 months old and EC

Benjamin turned 3 months old on Monday. He is doing quite well. His pre-teething continues. We are getting lots of drooling, putting his hands in his mouth, and wanting to put our fingers in his mouth. He bites quite hard when given the chance. Ben has begun to be able to entertain himself for longer periods of time. He is playing with his hands and enjoys playing in his gym. A few days ago, Jeff and I were in the kitchen while he was playing in his gym on the floor and he made a complaining cry. When we came in to see what was the matter he smiled up at us and kicked the ball on his gym. It was very cute that he wanted us to pay attention to what he was doing. He has also been scooting himself across the floor a bit on his back when playing in his gym. We continue to enjoy Gymboree and are learning lots of fun things that we are able to do at home as well that help him with his development. He is beginning to hold his toys for short periods of time and bring them to his mouth to explore them. His smiles and giggles are such a reward everytime we play with him and he has started "talking" to us.

I have been interested in practicing EC since before Ben was born. For those who are unfamiliar with it, EC stands for Elimination Communication. Just as parents learn to read their baby's signs for sleep and hunger, they can also learn to read their baby's signs for needing to eliminate. In fact, most parents already know what some of these signs are, such as the straining facial expression or the telltale grunting and bearing down that precede a soiled diaper. Practicing Elimination Communication (EC) is just a matter of responding a little differently to these signals from your baby by taking your baby to the potty. To find out more about EC, you can check out the website Diaperfree Baby.

I did a lot of reading about EC and decided that we would take a laid back, part-time attitude towards it. My main goal is to help Ben be aware of his body functioning. It has taken me a few months to feel that we are really making progress. Ben rarely makes any sort of signal that he is going to eliminate, but I can often tell when he is going. Recently, a pattern has become apparent that has made a more conscious effort of EC an option. Ben also has become comfortable being held in a way that allows for us to practice EC more effectively. We have been able to make increasingly more catches each day and Ben smiles each time he is offered a "pottytunity" (any opportunity to potty the baby).

Each day offers new excitement and rewards.

Getting out and about

We've had an active few weeks. We are getting back in the hang of things and thus had Cat over for Shabbat dinner. We set up Ben's highchair, and although he is not able to sit unassisted as required by the instructions, we have worked it out.

That Saturday Ben and I went to a Girl's Lunch and Tea which was quite enjoyable. Lots of just hanging around having adult conversation.

Ben and I started going to Gymboree last Tuesday. He really seems to enjoy going and seeing the other babies. I like having somewhere to go twice a week. We also decided to brave going to a two day event in Bakersfield (about 2 hours away) over the weekend. This required me to get some sewing done for both Ben and myself. I started on Sunday and I managed to get an outfit mostly completed for me (finished the closures on site and still need to hem the skirt) and a shirt and had done for Ben. Getting the sewing done in a weeks time was a bit of a challenge. I managed to sew while Ben napped and a couple of times while he just hung out in his high chair or swing or on Jeff when he was around and awake. Friday, Cat was kind enough to watch Ben while I got my hair cut and then we decided to get together for Shabbat dinner. Cat was kind enough to offer up her home and cook a lovely meal. I got little sewing done there, but it was nice to have a break. We got home and Ben headed right to bed while I finished up what machine sewing I needed to do. I ended up staying up too late between sewing and packing getting to bed around 2 am. We got up around 5:45 so that we could hopefully be on the road by 6:30.
We carpooled and our rider was a bit late getting here on Saturday morning, so we had everything packed and ready to go once he arrived. We got on the road at 7 and made it to the site by 9. Knowing I had a baby who would be unlikely to sit quietly for any lengthy time, I spent most of the day in the lobby talking with friends and caring to Ben's needs. Unfortunately, it was quite warm and since the doors remained mostly open, the AC did little to help. By about 5, Ben was tired, overheated, and hadn't eaten well most of the afternoon, so we headed to check into the hotel. Ben then alternated between sleeping and eating for several hours while the 5 of us (Jeff, me, Eric, Cat and Kim who was visiting from MN) hung out in the room. We headed out to get some dinner. We got back and Ben was quite awake for a bit. He and I finally got to sleep around 11 while the others hung out in the room.
In the morning we got up and headed to breakfast and then to site. We joined Lyondomere for the day under their shade. Despite the heat (in the 90's) I was able to keep Ben cool by wetting his hat.

He slept and visited all day. We got to watch Jeff in each of his fights and he ultimately won the tournament. The day went longish and we didn't get on the road till 7:30. Jeff had to be at work by 11, so we knew we needed to get going on our 2 hour trip. We got packed up and on the road, but Ben was quite fussy. We ended up pulling off to get gas and try to get Ben comfortable. I fed him again, changed his diaper, and then put him in his car seat and wrapped a blanket around him so he felt swaddled. He was asleep before we even got onto the freeway again and slept until we were almost home. Once home he ate and went straight to bed while Jeff left for work and the rest of got some nourishment and then talked a bit.
Monday, I got some laundry done and then Ben and I went out around Long Beach with Kim. That evening we went out to dinner. Ben was not his usual happy self in the Moby and at dinner, so it was an interesting meal. We packed up Kim's stuff into the car after dinner, Jeff dropped Ben and I at home and then took Kim to the airport.
Yesterday Ben and I went to Gymboree, but otherwise stayed home choosing to skip the fighter practice we usually go to with Jeff.

Short movie