You learn something new every...

For Benjamin lately he's been doing something new about once a week.  In the past few he's figured out how to roll over onto his tummy and sit up with a little assistance.  He ate some rice cereal for the first time last night and looks like he'll be an eating champ.  Also he has 2 new bottom front teeth!  No more chewing on mom's fingers in church.
It's funny how much babies change in the first 6 weeks or so as they change from newborn to infant.  I feel like Ben's look has stayed similar lately but he's just proportionally getting bigger or doing new things.  I watched some video's of his first week at home lately and couldn't believe how little he was... or how many forehead wrinkles he had!

We had some great time with friends and family this weekend watching the Illinois basketball game the Bears game.  Joe's started his new class for the semester and I have gone back to running the CCD program at church.  Just when I thought I was out of it... :)  it was strange but almost comforting to be walking the halls of the school again making sure that all the teachers had what they needed and that the kids were able to behave themselves.  There's many days where I wonder how I did all that I did at work for those 5 years.

Here's a peek at our first try with some really liquidy rice cereal on spoon.  I'll try to get the video working...

Christmas Time...

Joe and I truly count our families as huge blessings.  It was so wonderful to see so much of them for the 2 weeks of Christmas.  We played games, laughed, ate way too much and just hung out :)  I always find it entertaining that both of our families have the tradition of waiting on the stairs Christmas morning.  No one can go down until everyone is on the stairs and ready.  Then when the parents have prepped the living room and say go we race down the stairs.

Benjamin did well travelling and hanging out for the most part.  He did better the more I kept an eye on his sleep and eating schedule making sure to accomodate his needs before he got too frusterated.  He's such a good sleeper whether it's home or either grandparents' place.  I'm pretty blessed to have my first child sleep so well. (I'm sure it's mainly his personality but I did try to do "sleep training" from the very beginning.  I read, or rather, skimmed, the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child which helped give me direction)  We did midnight Mass this year but since Benjamin sleeps from about 7:30pm to 7am getting up in the middle of the night sorta threw him a little.  I didn't do well with it myself though because I hoped he would just stay asleep the whole time but instead he woke up halfway through and got hungry/tired and we had to head home quickly after Mass.  Being a new mom I feel like every experience in a learning experience.

I tried to let Benjamin open gifts when he could which was pretty entertaining.  He's got a good grip, be it on hair, necklaces or gift wrap :)

5 months old!

Ben is now sitting up with a bit of help.  I can't believe my little baby is getting so old and so big!  I weighed him last week and he was 19 pounds!  His personality is starting to show through which is alot of fun.  More on Christmas stuff in a later post.


Happy Boy!



Whoa snow



my snow removal hero!






This weekend we actually had a blizzard warning... yes, blizzard.  We did venture out for Mass but decided that the rest of our Sunday would be spent inside with our 4 month old and lots of kitchen time :)



Homemade Take5 candies and lots of pretzels



Joe and I experimented with our candy making abilities and made some Take5s- pretzel topped with peanut butter mix, soft caramel and dipped in chocolate.  We didn't have any peanuts so I guess it's more of our Take4s.  We like them better than the candy- they're soft and rich!  Definitely a make again recipe.



Benjamin watched us and read his book :)



Benjamin is getting stronger and has been enjoying his high chair and walker.







Advent 2010

I've found that in the last 5 years of parish ministry and teaching I've done many different activities to celebrate and teach about the season of Advent.  This has, unfortunately, meant my celebration at home has been somewhat diminshed due to my enthusiasm to use any ideas at work rather than thinking of them for home.  It was never a conscious thing, it's just that time moves quickly in December and by the time I would think about celebrating Advent at home it was time to travel or host people...

So here's where the blessing of being a "SAHM" comes in. (Stay-At-Home-Mom)  This year (though a little later than I'd like) I got our Advent wreath and am starting to brainstorm on making a Jesse tree.  I'd love to do something connected with stained glass or fabric.  Many websites and blogs encourage families,especially kids to get involved making the ornaments.  Well, Benjamin can't hold a crayon yet and I don't want to wait until I have a brood old enough.  Perhaps in the future my kids will make a Jesse tree and all the ornaments, but I want to make something that will help us celebrate now until that can happen.  I also would like one that I feel is both very useable but nice looking to fit in with the rest of the decor of the living room.  In case you are unfamiliar with what the Jesse tree tradition is like here's a website, and feel free to search for more on the internet, there's lots out there!  http://www.catholicstyle.net/2009/10/the-jesse-tree-an-advent-tradition.html

I will update with pics/info of what I decide to do...

In other news, Benjamin has been enjoying the walker although stationary.  He gets a good workout with his legs pushing against the floor and practicing balancing standing up.  :)

Reflecting on my year and Giving Thanks...

Thanksgiving was, as always, a wonderful time for us.  I remember last thanksgiving being anxious wondering if I may be pregnant.  Wow, how time flies!  It makes me think of everything that's happened to me (and to this family) in the last year...  We found out we were pregnant, I taught middle school religion while I watched my waistline expand beyond all expectation, dealt with morning sickness, ate lots of potatoes and chocolate shakes, went to numerous appointments, unsucessfully tried to keep my ankles from becoming beach balls, walked around the neighborhood listening to "faster, stronger" by kanye in anticipation of being in better shape for labor, going through labor and delivery (life-changing), days in the hospital full of challenges with jaundice, breastfeeding, possible infection prompting monitors, IVs and a lumbar pucture for a 2 day old son; then came going to the pediatric urologist and waking up for night feedings. 

I'm most thankful this year for the life that God has shared with me.  Me of all people has been given the gift of this little person, this little soul that needs cared for and taught- a little one that needs love and has love to give.  I am ever saying those words that came to me in a prayerful way at 4am Aug 6th when the nurses brought Benjamin to me to snuggle because his temp wasn't going back up...  I rested in the hospital bed with Joe's sleepy breathing coming from the corner and the dawn light softly illuminating the twin spires of the Cathedral outside my window, and most of all the feeling of the warm little body moving ever so softly and steadily on my chest with tiny breaths... I couldn't help but just keep repeating.. "Who am I that God should give you to me?"

Home again, home again, jiggety jig...

Phew, it's been awhile since I've posted!  Benjamin and I took quite the vacation to my parents' house this past weekend.  Being that I "stay at home" now I can travel on Thurs and Mon. when the roads are free and the sun is out.  It gets me max time with my family.  I'm there when they come home from work, stay for the weekend and then leave after they leave for work.  I'm blessed to be able to make the trip so often! 

This past visit also included time with my grandmother which is always wonderful.  She is such an example to me.  She's always told me that I'm special... that's something that many people may say, but one look at grandma when she's saying that to you eye-to-eye and you know she truly means it.  Her faith and prayers has been and continues to be a source of inspiration and support.  If I'm half the grandma that she is when I'm a grandma I'll be happy.

You know what, as I typed the above paragraph I started to realize that I could say the same thing about my Nana too.  Her faith is also deep and integral to her life as well as something that makes me admire her.  My gosh I am blessed with amazing women in my life!!! 

Halloween 2010

Trick or Treat!

Don't you wish you could have this happy little Tiger on your doorstep? This one comes with a pacifier :)
Obviously Joe is a Zookeeper and I am the Tiger Trainer.  Dressing up in cute and clever costumes and seeing all the neighbor kids in one night are my 2 favorite things about Halloween.  The dark and scary stuff need not be a part of our day.  We got to spend ours with Joe's family socializing and eating great food.  Then we handed out candy when we got home and I watched part of the Addams family marathon as usual.  (and by usual I mean, that's what happened last year)




Three months old!

We've come a long way from this:



8-6-10

To this:

11-4-10

What have I learned in 3 months?  This vocation of motherhood is going to be an exhilarating ride, albeit difficult at times.  I'm doing my best to enjoy having one baby right now seeing as how I feel like if God graces us with more children the difficulty rating will go up with each one.  Right now my difficulties are, "he's awake already," "this shirt's got spit up on it too," and "Joe, it's 4am will you please help me with the poopy mess our son has become." 
Sometimes I feel like my time spent teacher jr. high was extremely beneficial in preparing me for this job- the need for endless patience, the knowledge that I'm not in total control, the need for a loving and compassionate heart even when I'm tired, flexibility, and I could probably go on... any teacher-moms concur???

It's a me... Benjamin!

Custom made onesies anyone?  See my crafty sister-in-law!  This is just one of many tees that Benjamin received and wears all the time.  Do not fear, Halloween pics coming very soon!