10 months

Little Bennett -

Today marks 10 months of your little life! It's been a very, VERY full month for you.

You just had your first Christmas! You had no idea what was going on but that's o-k. It sure was fun watching you eat your wrapping paper and crawl around after your cousins. We spent Christmas with the Koons side of the family this year. Everyone was able to be home and it was a full house! On Christmas day, we got up, headed over to Aunt Amy and Uncle Kevin's house and had a scrumptious breakfast. I think you had bananas and cereal. We then went back, over the river and through the snow, to your Grandmother's house for the remainder of the day. It took us hours to open up all the gifts under the tree. You babies just crawled around and ate each other's Cheerios. Nice.

While we were in Indiana, you were struck with your first real sickness. We took to you to an immediate care center and they diagnosed you with a bilateral ear infection, but the next day you weren't keeping down your antibiotics, so Grandma and I headed to the ER with you and the doctor there said it was just a virus. Whatever the case, you were one miserable little boy. Daddy had to drive back to TX by himself and you and I stayed an extra week so you could get better. You had a fever for several days and would lay on whoever was holding you and simply moan. Poor baby! I felt so awful for you and finally understood what my mom always told me when she said, "I wish I could be sick instead of you!"

While we were gone, you "officially" communicated with us for the first time -- you signed "more" at a meal! Daddy and I flipped out and although you've only done it a couple of times since then, it was a glorious thing to finally communicate with you and know what you wanted!!

You've tried all sorts of new foods this month. I think your new favorites are vanilla yogurt and Teddy Grahams. You lost a little bit of weight when you were so sick so your appetite has diminished a bit but each day that you are feeling better, you are eating better as well.

Slowly but surely you are becoming more confident in pulling yourself up to stand. You are still a little hesitant and often let me know when you've stood simply because you are afraid to let go get yourself back down! :) You are also doing this thing where you stick your bottom straight up in the air and we just wonder if one of these days you are going to push off with your hands and be standing in the middle of the room! Who knows? We'll have to wait and see.

You've gotten 2 more teeth this month, bringing up your grand total to 6 teeth -- 4 on top and 2 on bottom!

At this point in your life, you are most definitely a momma's boy. You are like my personal puppy dog. You crawl after me as I move around the house. You'll be playing in the living room and I'll leave for a second and here you come, crawling right after me. So cute! I love that you want to be wherever I am. I don't have to be holding you - you just want to be near me and I think that's adorable.

As I write this, you've decided to boycott all naps today and just crawled from your bedroom to the living room where you are playing with one of your spoons and shouting at me like you are saying, "Look at me, Mom! Look how cute I am, please don't make me take a nap!!!!" [sigh]

You sure are precious! And I love you oh so very much!!

One of your sad faces
Reading Christmas stories with yo'momma
One very warm day in December -- we got to play outside and I let you chew on grass. I'm a cool mom like that! :)
The Babies, as you 3 are affectionately referred to
Bathtime with Samantha (don't hate me for this in 13 years, ok?)
All 5 cousins playing together
Getting into trouble with Samantha ... actually, we put you on the stairs. You can't climb yet.
Ooohh ... is this a taste of what's to come?!??!
Crawling everywhere now!
(Pictures I took today of you on your 10 month birthday)
I love, love, LOVE this little face you make. It cracks me up!