Vocabulary

A quick entry to document Bennett's vocab at this point. Today he is 12 months and a couple of weeks old. He says the following words clearly - "mama" (yay! finally!), "dada" or "dad", and "uh-oh". He sometimes says "what-oh" instead, which is really cute. We're working on "milk" and "up" but he does put his arms up when he wants to be picked up. And he points and "eeeeee" or "ehhhh"s to get his point across.

He is banging his head on the floor less and less, thank goodness! I think he made it through the entire day today without a single frustration-based head bang. That's doubly impressive considering he didn't get an afternoon nap.

I'll report back when there are more words . . . perhaps get some on video.

Time

I read other people's blogs . . . a lot. There are three that I have bookmarked and check every day. One is written by a woman in Utah. She is Mormon. She is a mother of four. She is also a survivor. She and her husband were in a horrible plane crash about two years ago and they survived. They were badly burned and she writes about that ordeal frequently, but most importantly, they survived. I was reading her blog tonight and she put into words something I have felt on a regular basis . . . "I never want to be too busy for my kids."

Bennett was feeling kind of crummy today. I don't know if it's a reaction to the innoculations he got at the doctor yesterday (flu and HIB) or maybe he's cutting a molar or two, or maybe he caught a bug from one of our playgroups. The general mood around here today was crankosaurus. There were dishes in the sink from last night, dishes piled on the stove from making apple bread. There were crumbs on the floor. Toys were spewed all over the room . . . but my baby needed me. I sat on the floor with him and played. We went outside to dig in the dirt. That meant that he got to take a bath at noon! Then we went for a drive.

I was exhausted by the time his afternoon nap rolled around. He was too. But he was still feeling pretty crummy. No time for me to finish whatever job applications I was working on (or that game of Bejeweled, if I'm being honest with you!) . . . I got to spend twenty minutes with my sleeping son on my chest. He fidgeted, he cried, he wrestled, but he finally fell asleep.

The point is this - I lamented the fact that I couldn't get those dishes washed before Brian came home. I wanted to have a clean house for him. I wanted to be able to present him with a fully cooked meal that was on the table ready for all three of us to eat together. I've had to give up those wishes for now. Because I'd much rather play with my son. I hate it when I look down at him clinging to my leg and tell him he has to wait a minute (even though I know it's good for him). When he's in a bad mood, there is no waiting a minute. Nothing works like mama's cuddles. Thank goodness! "I can't ever be too busy for my kids."

Injuries

Bennett is all boy - that's for sure. He is constantly climbing and falling and losing his balance and that means he almost always has some sort of bruise on his head. Right now, he has a large bruise on his forehead from slamming it onto the tile in frustration; a small bruise which is disappearing on his right jaw from when he fell into the corner of a small ottoman, and then of course there's the teeth.

He had his first real emergency on Monday morning. Daddy had gone to work and Granna had recently walked out the door for her long drive back to North Carolina after a nice birthday visit. Bennett and I sat down by the sliding glass door to take advantage of the sunlight for some last minute play before his nap. We were hoping to have a good nap so that we could go to our friend's house for a playdate. Bennett loves playgroups! This was not going to happen . . .

As we're happily sitting there chatting with each other, I hear a blood-curdling screech and turn to my right. Bennett is standing there with his hands out to his sides and the wagon part of a toy hanging from his face! My heart started to race as I determined it would be up to me to take the toy off his face without pulling out too many teeth. Was it caught on his teeth? Was his tongue also involved? Where in the HELL was all. this. blood. coming. from????? Oh my lord. What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do? SHIT! Take a breath and be calm so he doesn't freak out any more than he already is. I had to adopt a mantra, "Breathe and be calm. Breathe and be calm."

I tried to be gentle as I worked the toy off of his face - he had caught his lower jaw between an axle and the bottom edge of the back side of the wagon. He continued to howl and bleed as he buried his face in my shoulder and I continued my mantra. I immediately figured I should get some ice on his face to help with the pain and any potential swelling (does the gum swell?). Then I started talking out loud so that I could formulate some sort of plan: "You need pants. I need pants. Forget it, I"ll go in sweats, who the hell cares? It's an emergency. No. I need to put on pants. Seriously, Blythe, don't be a moron. Bennett, where are your socks? We don't have time for socks. Get mommy's shoes on. Grab your wallet and keys. Do you have house keys? Oh well, forget it. Get to the car. Go. Breathe and be calm. It's going to be okay, honey. Dr. Mike will take really good care of you. Do you remember Dr. Mike? He was the dentist with the really gentle smile? We're going to see him!"

We made it to the car, I got Bennett safely strapped into his car seat and by this point, he had generally stopped howling. Simply whining and the occasional wail, but I was the one with the real tears. I kept trying to call Brian to see if he could call the dentist and let them know we were on our way because I didn't have the number in my phone. He didn't pick up. DAMNIT! I called 411 and had them connect me. Thank heavens for Victoria at Winning Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. She calmed me down, assured me that they'd fit me in, come on over!

By the time we got to the dentist, Bennett was no longer crying. We were seen fairly quickly and it turns out that he did not lose a tooth! YAY! His gum had two vertical lacerations at the edges of one of his bottom teeth. There was also a fairly significant chip out of another bottom tooth. I was relieved that the bleeding had stopped and Bennett was flirting with the staff at Dr. Mike's office. He even chewed on the toothbrush that his hygienist Sally had given him.

I have been much more careful and paranoid about what goes in his mouth lately. He seems just fine today. I haven't taken any photos because it was just too gross yesterday, and today it's hard to tell. Especially because it's lower teeth that are affected. His lip hides the major damage.

We went to a playgroup today and you wouldn't have known he was injured at all. It's reassuring to know that he is such a trooper! No wimps in this family!!

Pumpkin Patch

Bennett with Oma and Grandpa

Bennett with Granna and Daddy-o

Today we went to Kelkenberg Farm in Clarence, NY (just up the road from us) and had a great fall family day at the pumpkin patch! All of Bennett's grandparents were able to join us, which made the day even more fun! We saw horses, sheep (even a black one!), pigs, rabbits and a barn cat. We were able to take a hayride, where Daddy-o discovered that our driver was familiar with someone he works with in NC! Small world, folks.

No-fear baby on the big bad pony

Bennett also got to have his first pony ride. Although I shouldn't have been surprised that he enjoyed it, I was. This kid seems to have no fear, y'all.

Birthday party day!

Today was Bennett's first birthday party! We had great fun with both sets of grandparents and our new friends, Ed, Christina and Logan Lobarinas. Bennett and Logan were born about a month apart, despite being due within days of each other. It is really neat to see them playing and growing alongside each other! They seem to be pretty good pals!

Bennett opened presents from grandparents in the afternoon . . . boy did he rack up! Puzzles, sorting games, clothing, handmade noisemakers, antique tins and coins and a monkey hat. The Lobarinas' gave him a very fun zoo sorting game/toy that he and Logan had lots of fun playing with together. Our gift to Bennett was a walk/ride toy that we actually gave him a couple of weeks ago to encourage his budding mobility. Tomorrow, he'll open up some books we picked out to replace the ones which have had their spines eaten. I'm not pointing fingers, but we all know who's teething in this house!

I made and iced a cake for Bennett yesterday and am very happy to report that he loved it! Granted, the cake itself was made from the apple bread that I feed him every other day. The icing/frosting was a new adventure for me and I'm very proud of how it turned out! Cream cheese frosting that wasn't too heavy or sweet. Yum! Bennett didn't spit it out - in fact, he asked for more.

AND all the playing with Logan wore him OUT. He fell to sleep quite easily and hasn't moved since. He's been asleep for an hour and a half and might have turned his head. We'll see how he does tomorrow - will he be jonesing for more cake?

Photos and a post about our trip to the pumpkin farm will come soon. We're headed to Kelkenberg farm in the late morning, if the weather holds. We had a great day today - one of few without rain or clouds in a long time.

p.s. It was great to SKYPE with Uncle Ben during the festivities this afternoon. :)

Today's a big day . . .

Here's a shot of Bennett on his birthday morning. Some notes - he's pretty much walking confidently, but chooses to crawl because it's faster. He went up and down the long tall stairway at my mom's apartment today (thank you, Grandpa, for teaching him how to do that!), and he is pointing and grunting (it sounds like, "eh, eh, eh" or "eeee, eee, eee") when he wants something. And he smiles and gives kisses lots! Can't wait to see each of you again so he can kiss you, too.

Happy Birthday to ME!

A year in review . . .

Well, not really, because previous posts have done the actual reviewing of the year. But because Benentt's first birthday is tomorrow (!), I thought I'd like to write him a letter letting him know how much we've enjoyed having him in our life.

Dearest Bennett,
Tonight is the eve of your first birthday. Technically, it's your second birthday, but we're celebrating the end of your first year of life this week! How exciting is that, buddy? I can't believe that this year has gone by so quickly. It seems like just a few weeks ago you were a pile of goo who did nothing but eat, sleep in our arms (sigh) and make stinky goo! I'm glad that you've grown, for sure, but we definitely miss the cuddly you.

This week alone, you have discovered how to pick things up using a stick. You use your rhythm sticks to pick up circular toy parts and the bulb end of an old nasal aspirator that was a piece of junk. When you did this tonight, you proceeded to parade around the living room as if you'd just discovered the most incredible thing ever. Which, quite honestly, we think to be the case.

You are walking like a pro, now. We like to entice you across the room with various ploys, but you've taken to just holding what is in your hand and walking over to show us your treasure. It is wonderful. We bought you shoes this weekend and you look like Frankenstein's monster when you walk in them, but we're confident that you'll get the hang of it soon.

There is nothing more heart-warming than seeing your face as you recognize that either me or your dad has just entered the room you're in. When you hear dad's keys in the door each afternoon you scurry over to the gate at the top of the stairs, trying your hardest to get across the gate to grab his legs. It is very clear that you love your dad and miss him when he's away at work. Know that he misses you too.

We are filled with excitement about the possibilities for your future, Bennett. You have so many interests and are not afraid to take risks. You love climbing and sliding at the playground. You're beginning to get the hang of "coloring", even though you continue to put the crayons in your mouth more than on the paper. You are adventurous when it comes to food - you haven't refused to try anything yet. There are certainly things that you don't care for, mainly sweet things like fruit, which is unfortunate. But you will at least put everything we offer into your mouth. You sing and dance along when we play music, no matter the genre. You like to examine the smallest parts of things. You really like movement and will open and close doors, drawers, cabinets, books, etc. It is wonderful to see your look of wonder when you discover something new that you can do.

I forgot to mention your 'personality', lovey! Like the stereotypical red head - yours is FIERY. You are starting to express your frustration and anger in very physical ways. On the small scale, if I am holding you and don't take you where you want to go or don't give you what you are pointing at, you will bang your head into my shoulder and bite my collarbone. On a larger scale, if you're on the floor already, for instance, you will demonstratively throw yourself face down on the floor, flail your arms and legs and bang your forehead into the floor until I put my hand on the floor to protect your precious face. You will scream and screech and cry until I can find something to distract you. We usually just let you cry because it doesn't last for very long, and honestly, it's actually kind of funny to see. I'm sorry, son, but it is.

The next year will be even more exciting, we are sure. You'll start to talk and run. And you'll likely lose one of your naps. Most of these things we're really looking forward to. Others, (losing the nap) not so much. We do know this - you will continue to bring joy to our lives. Every day we are amazed at the wonder that we created. Cheesy, I know, but allow me this one day of sappy sentiment, please. We love you so, little Bean. We always will.

Much love,
Mama and Daddy

Mobility

Folks, we have a walker. He's for real putting one foot in front of (or sometimes beside) the other and moving mostly in a forward direction!! YIPEEE!!! And OMG all at the same time. I think he's going to be running soon . . . he crawls so quickly, that I don't think he's going to tolerate the slow speed of walking for much longer.

For his birthday, his dad and I planned to get him a toy that he can push and walk behind while he's mastering this walking thing. Eventually, it converts to a riding toy. There are several bells and whistles, but it's not too stimulating. We had to break down and buy it today, ten days before his birthday. He was moving like crazy and we found it a bit less expensive during our weekly trip to BJs for milk. He won't know it's not his actual birthday, right?

Well, by golly he LOVED it. I should say LOVES it. He was moving back and forth in our tiny living room, crashing into anything that got in his way, including running over Brian's feet! He has the biggest grin on his face, as if he finally understands what it means to be free. He's got the wind in his face and glee in his heart. It's such a sight to see.

I'll go backward a bit . . . with some photographic evidence of his movement from the beginning. In October, he was quite a lump. Not much movement, except to turn his head and bat those eyelashes. In November, he started to turn his head with a little more control and waved (with zero control)!

October Baby Lump

Waving in November

Reading in January

I rolled over, so what?

Gimme, gimme, gimme!

In December, not much different. Perhaps he was sitting when supported? In January - still not yet super wiggly - he'd lie on Brian's chest when they were reading together - very sweet. In February - we started rolling!!! In March, he was sitting unassisted, for the most part and also reaching for the camera. By April, Bennett was totally sitting on his own, and was pulling himself around the room with his army crawl. He got so super fast with that method!

Not pulling up, but being funny in the playpen . . .

In May - we hit the water! Ben completed his PhD program, so we went to Arizona to see him graduate. Thank goodness our hotel had a pool, because it was HOT! Bennett took to the water like it was his best friend forever! In June - Bennett was pulling himself to standing, and doing it A LOT! He was also crawling on all fours with confidence. July found us watching more of the same, just at faster speeds! He would pull himself up in his play pen to get our attention, but he could also sit in there for long periods of time entertaining himself (and us) with his antics.

I want to write more about this - but I really want to post because it's been so long. I'll finish up later, and add some photos/videos of his walking and stair climbing (!) in the next couple of days.