We feel very fortunate that we got to share Thanksgiving 2010 with both of our families. Counting our blessings this Holiday Season.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Filling Out the Carseat : Edition 5
The carseat is certainly getting harder and harder to carry around. It feels very different than it did 4 months ago when we left the hospital with our little 5 pounder. You may also notice that Lady and Bug are no longer traveling with Benny. He outgrew them and had to say good bye.
Oh and a couple more things.....
Bennett and Hudson have taken notice of each other. Ben watches Hudson a lot and Hudson is starting to watch over Benny. It's cute.
Bennett is loving the Jumparoo...he could spend all day in that thing.
I am not trying to bore you with the details, but this blog doubles as my baby book so I need to get all of these big events documented:) Bear with me.
Big Week
In the last week it feels like Bennett has changed a TON....maybe it is just because we got to be home with him all day everyday for several days in a row...or maybe he really is changing a lot right now. Either way, we have so enjoyed it!
On Thursday Bennett watched his first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Dad parked him smack dab in front of the TV and he smiled and smiled at the parade...no lie. Every time a float came on...he giggled...probably just a coincidence but it sure makes us feel like we have a really smart one on our hands.
Ben was full of excitement watching the Thanksgiving paradeOn Friday Bennett met Santa for the first time. Screamed for dear life. Ben is not a fan of Santa even at 4.5 months. The camera malfunctioned (or maybe it was user error) and we spent $20 on a photo of Ben with the Hollidazzle Santa. Rip off alert...but seriously....how could we walk away from his first ever photo with St. Nick??
Family Photo at the Macy's 8th floor display just before seeing Santa
On Saturday, Bennett had his biggest blow out to date. Poo all the way up to his armpits. Not sure exactly how he managed that given he was SITTING ON MY LAP...needless to say the onesie was a goner and we wasted no time throwing that into the trash. The blow out was immediately followed by bath time:)
Photo not included for obvious reasons:)
On Sunday Bennett ate rice cereal for the first time. For some reason this milestone seems big to me. It feels like he has to be a little boy to eat from a spoon. How can my baby be eating from a spoon...impossible! I would keep him on formula forever if it would mean I would get to keep him as my baby boy.
You want me to do what with that spoon??On Monday (this morning) Bennett rolled over for the first time. Front to back. I set him on his tummy in his crib and within seconds he flipped to his back...as if he has known how to do it for years. I saw the whole thing and quickly yelled for Pat. He arrived just in time to witness Bennett's second performance. We ran to get the camera and by that time he was done. Wanted no more of it. He does not like the pressure of being on camera I guess:)
Bennett attempting a third rollover
And today marked a big milestone for our whole family. We had the last of our post placement adoption visits. We are now all approved by the state of MN and the state of TX to permanently finalize Bennett's adoption. Pat will be flying down to Texas on December 15th to appear in court and accept all of Bennett's final adoption documents including the long awaited Birth Certificate! It sure feels good to have be so close to getting the last of the paperwork dunzo!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
We Found the Flip
Which also means we found the lost footage from our time in El Paso. Here is some video of Ben when he was 1 week old. When I look back on this video, I realize how much he really has filled out. I am so thankful that we found this!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Cheesy Commute
Here is a little taste of my commute each day....
1st I pass the billboard that says "A Turkey crossing the road is poultry in motion."
A little further down the road I pass by my friend Joy Monahan...she is a surfer and a mormon.
Not too much further down the road I see the church billboard telling me that "God answers knee-mail."
On my way home there is the sign telling me a "Boiled egg for breakfast is hard to beat."
By the time I pull in the driveway, the cheese has been laid on so thick that all I can think about is dinner.
1st I pass the billboard that says "A Turkey crossing the road is poultry in motion."
A little further down the road I pass by my friend Joy Monahan...she is a surfer and a mormon.
Not too much further down the road I see the church billboard telling me that "God answers knee-mail."
On my way home there is the sign telling me a "Boiled egg for breakfast is hard to beat."
By the time I pull in the driveway, the cheese has been laid on so thick that all I can think about is dinner.
humbled
And he made a liar out of me. Up at 3 am...ready to start his day....no interest in sleep. Humbled by my child.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Giving Thanks
With Thanksgiving approaching we have much to give thanks for.
Today I give thanks for a baby that sleeps. He has the bald spot on the back of his head to show it. He has always been a good sleeper but in the last couple weeks he had regressed a bit and was up a lot at night needing to be re-swaddled. Well....breaking news is in...he has pushed over the hump and has slept until 7 am for 2 mornings in a row. HE has not woken up at night needing to be re-swaddled...as a matter of fact we hear him in there chomping on his fist in the middle of the night...he has figured out how to fall back a sleep by sucking on his hand. Yay! Happy Thanksgiving to us!
Today I give thanks for a baby that sleeps. He has the bald spot on the back of his head to show it. He has always been a good sleeper but in the last couple weeks he had regressed a bit and was up a lot at night needing to be re-swaddled. Well....breaking news is in...he has pushed over the hump and has slept until 7 am for 2 mornings in a row. HE has not woken up at night needing to be re-swaddled...as a matter of fact we hear him in there chomping on his fist in the middle of the night...he has figured out how to fall back a sleep by sucking on his hand. Yay! Happy Thanksgiving to us!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Stats
Bennett had his 4 month check up yesterday and he is now on the charts with the rest of his full term peers. Yay buddy....no more preemie chart for you! His weight puts him in the 25th percentile, but given he started out not even on the chart...he is catching up quickly! His head is growing faster than everything else (just like most babies) .....his head is in the 50th percentile. He no longer fits in his 0-3 month clothes so those have been packed up (with my tears included in the rubbermaid) and the 3-6 month clothes are now all washed and ready in his closet.
Weight: 13 lbs 6.5 oz
Height: 23.5 inches
Head circumfrence : Cannot remember (not that this number would mean anything to anyone anyways)
He had a couple shots again yesterday. We chose to split them up again this time so he will be going back for a couple more next week. This round did not sit as well with him as the last ones did. I think it is always hard to watch your children get shots, but as he gets older it gets harder because you can see on their face that it is no longer just about the shot itself but it almost seems like their feelings get hurt. Even two months ago, it was just all about the shot itself.... this time he seemed so sad that we would even let somebody give him a shot. I promise little buddy...it is good for you in the long run. No polio for you:) With a little snuggling afterwards, he was back to himself within five minutes. He went to youth group with us last night and was very happy and seemed okay. He was not real interested in food, but other than that he was happy to be around the 9th grade girls.....he loves them and they love him. But all of a sudden around 8:30. he hit a wall. Screaming un-consolably. Not wanting a bottle, not wanting to be held, not wanting to be laid down....nothing seemed to help. A half hour of a very very unhappy baby made me soooo sypathetic to you parents that have colicy babies...I feel for you...don't know how you do it without breaking down into tears yourself. So we swaddled him up and laid him down. Gave him some baby Tylenol and within 2 minutes he was out. Slept all night. So I think it was a mixture of being over tired and sore from his shots that just did not mix right. Today he seems to be back to himself. Still not interested in eating much, but full of smiles. Whew...now we have to start all over and do the same drill next week. I guess it is just toughening us up for all that is to come with raising children:)
Weight: 13 lbs 6.5 oz
Height: 23.5 inches
Head circumfrence : Cannot remember (not that this number would mean anything to anyone anyways)
He had a couple shots again yesterday. We chose to split them up again this time so he will be going back for a couple more next week. This round did not sit as well with him as the last ones did. I think it is always hard to watch your children get shots, but as he gets older it gets harder because you can see on their face that it is no longer just about the shot itself but it almost seems like their feelings get hurt. Even two months ago, it was just all about the shot itself.... this time he seemed so sad that we would even let somebody give him a shot. I promise little buddy...it is good for you in the long run. No polio for you:) With a little snuggling afterwards, he was back to himself within five minutes. He went to youth group with us last night and was very happy and seemed okay. He was not real interested in food, but other than that he was happy to be around the 9th grade girls.....he loves them and they love him. But all of a sudden around 8:30. he hit a wall. Screaming un-consolably. Not wanting a bottle, not wanting to be held, not wanting to be laid down....nothing seemed to help. A half hour of a very very unhappy baby made me soooo sypathetic to you parents that have colicy babies...I feel for you...don't know how you do it without breaking down into tears yourself. So we swaddled him up and laid him down. Gave him some baby Tylenol and within 2 minutes he was out. Slept all night. So I think it was a mixture of being over tired and sore from his shots that just did not mix right. Today he seems to be back to himself. Still not interested in eating much, but full of smiles. Whew...now we have to start all over and do the same drill next week. I guess it is just toughening us up for all that is to come with raising children:)
Monday, November 15, 2010
4 Months Ago Today.... Reflecting on Our Story
4 months ago today …when I think about the significance of that day I still get goose bumps. When I think about July 15th ,I often think about the story that God has written for Bennett’s life. His short little life already bears so much significance. I sometimes feel like God has brought more fruit from Bennett’s 4 little short months of life than he has pushed to squeak out of my 28 years:) I have always believed that there is a plan for every single life He creates, but until 4 months ago; it was never so obvious that God is in the driver’s seat for a reason. His plan is better than anything I could have fathomed. He writes better stories than Nicholas Sparks ever could. God started writing Bennett’s story long before he joined our family........
God was watching as a young, newly married couple embarked on their journey to start a family. He watched the excitement on their face each time they thought the little stick might turn pink and he held them close every time they met with the disappointment that this quest to start a family might take longer than they thought. In their hearts they knew that He had a plan for their family, but in their human nature, they grew weary of waiting. Through the months, God grew this couple closer. He knew that they still needed some time before they would be ready to become parents…maybe this was because he saw how terrible a job this couple was doing with their very high maintenance doggie….or maybe he just wanted to give them more time.
As the leaves changed and the cold moved in God was working a miracle in their lives. He was creating three new little people that would forever change them. As the leaves turned colors, so did that little stick…He turned that little stick pink (ten times to be exact).... and they quickly began preparing to embark on the parenting journey they had been dreaming of. But their highest highs quickly turned into their lowest lows when they found out that the baby that had been growing with them for ten short weeks had gone home to heaven. They cried and prayed and cried and prayed wondering why God had chosen them to bear this burden. After waiting so long, how could he take this baby away? What they did not know was that God was working. As their baby was going to heaven, God was creating two more very special new lives. They “prayed for their child and the Lord granted what they asked of Him.” 1 Samuel 1:27
They would not know right away that in their brokenness God was restoring them to new life. God was creating the most special gift for them.
As the seasons turned again and the flowers began to bloom, the couple felt called to a different path. Watching the little stick month after month was taking its toll and they felt God had something else in mind for them. He turned their eyes and hearts toward adoption. As they changed course on their journey, they felt energized by the hope that at the end of the journey they would be blessed with a child. And after less than two months of waiting, a message came that they had been matched with a child. This was the second of the three special persons that would forever change their lives. This was a little girl. A baby girl due to be born in July. And so the couple once again started making preparations for parenthood. Momma started making arrangements for the nursery and started collecting a wardrobe of precious pink. Daddy started baby proofing the house dreaming of what lied ahead for their little girl. After two months of praying for that baby and her birthmother, they were once again met head on with devastating news. Baby Lucy would not be coming home with them in July. God had a different plan for Baby Lucy. And although the couple wept for the loss of her and did not understand how God could take away another baby from them; they believed that she had come into their lives for a reason. They believed that her very lost birthmother had needed their prayers to get through that pregnancy and they believed that one day God would bring them the child he created for them. What they did not know was that He was working overtime.
On the very Sunday that the couple lost Baby Lucy, God was bringing a third little life into the world…six weeks ahead of schedule. As the couple cried their tears, God was working on the most special gift for them, a gift that would dry all the tears from their eyes. As the week went by, the couple’s grief lessened and their desire to continue on the journey grew. Three days passed and they both woke up on the morning of the 15th knowing the significance of the day. This was the 15th of July…this was the day that the baby they had miscarried seven months ago would have been due. Neither mentioned to each other that morning what they were thinking but the significance of that date weighed heavy on their minds. What they did not know was that God would use the significance of this day to work a miracle. On their very due date God would bring them the child that they had been waiting for. By 11 am the call came telling them that there was a little boy, just 3 days old, and his birthmother had picked them to be his parents. The papers were all signed and their son was just waiting for them in a NICU in El Paso, TX. It was official. They packed their life up into the car; made arrangements for the pup and by 6 pm they were loaded up driving across the country to meet their new little guy. He came six weeks early…. and it was God’s perfect timing. Had he come a day earlier, the couple would have still been waiting for Lucy, had he come a day later, he may have been matched with a different family. He came at the PERFECT time and how perfect that on that original due date, God gave them this child. Pretty special! God created three little lives that fall of 2009, but Bennett Anthony was the one He created especially for their family.
Little boy Ben.....you have a very special place in this world. How happy we are that God choose us for you! We love you Benny!
God was watching as a young, newly married couple embarked on their journey to start a family. He watched the excitement on their face each time they thought the little stick might turn pink and he held them close every time they met with the disappointment that this quest to start a family might take longer than they thought. In their hearts they knew that He had a plan for their family, but in their human nature, they grew weary of waiting. Through the months, God grew this couple closer. He knew that they still needed some time before they would be ready to become parents…maybe this was because he saw how terrible a job this couple was doing with their very high maintenance doggie….or maybe he just wanted to give them more time.
As the leaves changed and the cold moved in God was working a miracle in their lives. He was creating three new little people that would forever change them. As the leaves turned colors, so did that little stick…He turned that little stick pink (ten times to be exact).... and they quickly began preparing to embark on the parenting journey they had been dreaming of. But their highest highs quickly turned into their lowest lows when they found out that the baby that had been growing with them for ten short weeks had gone home to heaven. They cried and prayed and cried and prayed wondering why God had chosen them to bear this burden. After waiting so long, how could he take this baby away? What they did not know was that God was working. As their baby was going to heaven, God was creating two more very special new lives. They “prayed for their child and the Lord granted what they asked of Him.” 1 Samuel 1:27
They would not know right away that in their brokenness God was restoring them to new life. God was creating the most special gift for them.
As the seasons turned again and the flowers began to bloom, the couple felt called to a different path. Watching the little stick month after month was taking its toll and they felt God had something else in mind for them. He turned their eyes and hearts toward adoption. As they changed course on their journey, they felt energized by the hope that at the end of the journey they would be blessed with a child. And after less than two months of waiting, a message came that they had been matched with a child. This was the second of the three special persons that would forever change their lives. This was a little girl. A baby girl due to be born in July. And so the couple once again started making preparations for parenthood. Momma started making arrangements for the nursery and started collecting a wardrobe of precious pink. Daddy started baby proofing the house dreaming of what lied ahead for their little girl. After two months of praying for that baby and her birthmother, they were once again met head on with devastating news. Baby Lucy would not be coming home with them in July. God had a different plan for Baby Lucy. And although the couple wept for the loss of her and did not understand how God could take away another baby from them; they believed that she had come into their lives for a reason. They believed that her very lost birthmother had needed their prayers to get through that pregnancy and they believed that one day God would bring them the child he created for them. What they did not know was that He was working overtime.
On the very Sunday that the couple lost Baby Lucy, God was bringing a third little life into the world…six weeks ahead of schedule. As the couple cried their tears, God was working on the most special gift for them, a gift that would dry all the tears from their eyes. As the week went by, the couple’s grief lessened and their desire to continue on the journey grew. Three days passed and they both woke up on the morning of the 15th knowing the significance of the day. This was the 15th of July…this was the day that the baby they had miscarried seven months ago would have been due. Neither mentioned to each other that morning what they were thinking but the significance of that date weighed heavy on their minds. What they did not know was that God would use the significance of this day to work a miracle. On their very due date God would bring them the child that they had been waiting for. By 11 am the call came telling them that there was a little boy, just 3 days old, and his birthmother had picked them to be his parents. The papers were all signed and their son was just waiting for them in a NICU in El Paso, TX. It was official. They packed their life up into the car; made arrangements for the pup and by 6 pm they were loaded up driving across the country to meet their new little guy. He came six weeks early…. and it was God’s perfect timing. Had he come a day earlier, the couple would have still been waiting for Lucy, had he come a day later, he may have been matched with a different family. He came at the PERFECT time and how perfect that on that original due date, God gave them this child. Pretty special! God created three little lives that fall of 2009, but Bennett Anthony was the one He created especially for their family.
Little boy Ben.....you have a very special place in this world. How happy we are that God choose us for you! We love you Benny!
4 months ago today, we received this photo in our inbox. This was the first time we laid eyes our baby boy. We haven't taken our eyes off him since!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Bennett and Liliana
We spent last Sunday with John and Kristy and Liliana. We went to Cracker Barrel for old times sake and took the kiddos to the park for some fall photos. Could she be any cuter? If only we could arrange Bennett's marriage.....
4 Months
Where or Where did the month of November go? It is hard to believe that our baby boy is now 4 months old. He is at such a fun age. Lots and lots of giggles and smiles and laughs. He definitely knows mom and dad and he is starting to prefer us when he gets hungry or tired. If someone else is holding him, he often follows Pat or myself with his eyes around the room...always keeping an eye on where we are.
Benny slept in until 7:30 this morning which was a new record. After going to bed at 9 o'clock last night, he slept a whopping 10.5 hours. This is not typical for him, as he is usually up before 6, but we cannot complain because he is a great sleeper. I guess the snowstorm had everyone including him feeling lazy and cozy.
He is getting too big for his swaddle blanket and so he often busts out of it at night and wakes himself up. It is not unusual for me to be in his room once or twice at night re swaddling him so that he falls back to sleep. He cannot sleep very long unswaddled.... he wakes up over and over and over. He is always able to put himself back to sleep, but still I feel a little nervous for the day when he has to learn to sleep unswaddled. Hopefully by then, he has a little more control over his flailing arms so that he does not wake himself up as often!
He is finally eating more than 4 oz at a time. He consistently eats 5 or more oz at a time now which I think is helping him to sustain through the night. He still eats every 3 to 4 hours but he eats more at a time.
He loves to sit in his bumbo seat ...actually he just loves to sit up period. He recently found his feet and thinks they are very interesting. He does not have the strength to sit up on his own, but he loves to be propped up in the sitting position. He also loves to stand. He has had amazing leg strength since day one and he continues to love to stand up on his legs and bounce around.
I cannot believe that Bennett is 4 months old already. We feel so blessed to have him in our life and we thank God everyday for his health and happiness. We sure love you buddy!
Benny slept in until 7:30 this morning which was a new record. After going to bed at 9 o'clock last night, he slept a whopping 10.5 hours. This is not typical for him, as he is usually up before 6, but we cannot complain because he is a great sleeper. I guess the snowstorm had everyone including him feeling lazy and cozy.
He is getting too big for his swaddle blanket and so he often busts out of it at night and wakes himself up. It is not unusual for me to be in his room once or twice at night re swaddling him so that he falls back to sleep. He cannot sleep very long unswaddled.... he wakes up over and over and over. He is always able to put himself back to sleep, but still I feel a little nervous for the day when he has to learn to sleep unswaddled. Hopefully by then, he has a little more control over his flailing arms so that he does not wake himself up as often!
He is finally eating more than 4 oz at a time. He consistently eats 5 or more oz at a time now which I think is helping him to sustain through the night. He still eats every 3 to 4 hours but he eats more at a time.
He loves to sit in his bumbo seat ...actually he just loves to sit up period. He recently found his feet and thinks they are very interesting. He does not have the strength to sit up on his own, but he loves to be propped up in the sitting position. He also loves to stand. He has had amazing leg strength since day one and he continues to love to stand up on his legs and bounce around.
I cannot believe that Bennett is 4 months old already. We feel so blessed to have him in our life and we thank God everyday for his health and happiness. We sure love you buddy!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
You are Only As Young as you Feel
No wonder Bennett loves playing with Kaylee...she gets right down to his level:)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Don't Forget to Vote Today
Take 10 minutes to research the candidates on your ballot. I think Evoter.com is a great site as you can type in your address and get your sample ballot so you know going in who will be on your ballot. It also tells you where your voting location is. No excuses...get out there and exercise your right to vote.
I also learned something that I did not know yesterday. If an incumbent is running uncontested and you do not support the incumbent candidate, you can write in "Not the Incumbent" so your vote counts against them. My local party rep told me that on the phone yesterday. I never knew that.
Happy Voting!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Filling Out the Carseat : Edition 4
July 24th : Leaving the Hospital at just under 5 lbs
October 24th : Halloween Party at just under 12 lbs
Bennett the Bug
Ben was a bug for Halloween. First Pat had to try on the outfit to convince Bennett that it was fun to wear costumes on Halloween.
Ben was not convincedNew Camera
Pat and I decided that for Christmas this year, we would get each other a new camera....
Oh YEAH! We got a new camera. Throw your hands up in the air like you just don't care.
Such a strong boy.
Eyes that sparkle.
Talky Talky. 
..................and then we decided that Christmas would come a little early this year. Our cameras were the Zach Morris versions of the past....I really think they were the absolute original digital cameras and the pictures proved it. Now that we have great material to take pictures of .....enter Bennett Jordan....we needed good equipment to capture all of the Kodak moments.
We have a lot to learn about our camera, but here are a few of our first canon moments caught on film.
Oh YEAH! We got a new camera. Throw your hands up in the air like you just don't care.
Such a strong boy.
Eyes that sparkle.
Talky Talky.Hudson on the move
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