sunday best

I know this is not the best picture in the world, but it is remarkable in one aspect...they're both smiling! As soon as Benson sees me get the camera out, he comes right at it. And, yes, Bailey got a haircut. Actually it was a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first picture you can really tell. It's a little shorter than we wanted, but she loves it. She loves not having to wait (all 90 seconds) for me to do something with it every morning. Now its "just one clippy" (or less) everyday.

uncharted territory

Yesterday Benson discovered the uncharted territory of Bailey's room. We usually keep him out of it because it's not baby-proof, and it upsets Bailey when he 'messes' it up. Yesterday though, we all had fun playing in her room and in her Dora tent. It has been unusually cold, rainy, foggy and generally dreary the last couple of days, so we've been trying to find ways to keep entertained and busy. Benz had SO much fun crawling in and out of the tent and playing with all of Bailey's toys. He especially loves the "Little People Farm." I don't know a kid or baby that doesn't.

superstar!

How cute is this??? Bailey LOVES to play T-Ball. She says she likes it more than soccer, "because I don't get all sweaty and tired" (she is truly her mother's daughter!). Unfortunately her game this morning was cancelled due to rain/mud. bummer. (but I was secretly glad that I didn't have to sit out in the mud and cold...yes, it was cold this morning...37*! That's positively arctic for Houston!)

PS: Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles....you will be getting a picture like this in the mail, so don't worry about printing it!

i wanna play!

I have to keep my blinds pulled up so that someone doesn't use them as a toy or a teething mechanism (although he is 10.5 months old and NO signs of any teeth!!...my previous blog was a false alarm). Benson likes to look out the window, especially when Bailey is out playing. This time, Bailey and Dad were out playing catch and Benson really wanted to join! He was babbling quite loudly at them through the window and pounding on the glass. He even went and got his own ball to play with. It was too cute! The view from the other side was even cuter....

"I wanna play!!"

Versatile toys are worth their weight in gold! This one used to be a playmat, and it converts into a tunnel for older babies. Benson has LOVED this toy so much, and it has entertained him so well! It is a lifesaver! Thank you, Uncle Bob and Aunt Sarah!

Benson discovered the kitchen cupboards this week. He actually discovered this cabinet (the only safe, unlocked one) during piano lessons, and it kept him entertained for the entire hour I was teaching! He loves hearing all the plastic plates bang and bounce on the tile. When he gets bored with the cupboard, he then goes over to the fridge or stove to see his reflection and give 'the baby in the fridge' some "kisses" (slobber, slobber) and feel the cold metal on his face. It's entertaining for all.

oh, the places he'll go!

As you can see from the video, Benson has learned to crawl. He woke up (after sleeping thru the night!) Tuesday morning and just went for it, and started crawling like a pro. It's pretty cute to watch. It's apparently very difficult work, and after awhile he gets tuckered out. It also requires a lot of concentration, which means he often sticks his tongue out while he's doing it. But, I'm so sad...1.This is even more proof that he's insisting on growing up. 2. Now he's REALLY going to get into everything. (although he's been pretty good at rolling and scooting for awhile, he'll be even faster at this!) Interestingly...he's the exact same age Bailey was when she finally crawled. (I have late bloomers)

Check-out the 'happy tongue' face in this one:

happy new year

In an effort to start the New Year off nicely, we don't tell Bailey about staying up until midnight on New Years Eve. Sadly, this may be the last year for that, but hopefully since she still won't be in school next year, we can eek out another year of normal bedtimes. But, don't feel bad for her, as you can see from the picture, she got to party like it was 1999. Our neighbors had all sorts of fun only-legal-in-Texas-fireworks, and a BBQ. She and I partied until the wee hour of 7:45pm, and then came in (we were freezing our bummers off!). Oh, and thanks to Guh L. for the fancy jacket. Bailey saw these in Wal-Mart and thought they were SO beautiful. oh, boy. We call it her "Michael Jackson" jacket.

Benson partied like it was 1973 in his baby bag, going to bed around 8pm (although the fireworks outside his window until 1:30am made it difficult for him to sleep). This little red blanket contraption is from Guh W. and is older than Brandon. It's like a quilt that was made into a sleeping bag of sorts. I first mocked it. It looks very 1970's Relief Society Homemaking project-ish. But when Benson would wake up in the middle of the night as a little icicle, I decided to try it out. Combine retro bed-in-a-bag; super-soft blanket from Memaw; and the ever faithful monkey lovey, and we have baby cryptonite.

Party like it's 7:30 p.m. (Story time in the 'ninny chair')

And in blogging tradition here are some of my resolutions (besides the usual 'healthy living' one):

1. No more caffeine. I'm so sad. I have a not-so-secret love affair with Cherry Coke/Pepsi. Going without caffeine would be much easier if I had a baby that slept thru the night. Now I know what you are thinking...if I didn't drink coke, maybe he'd sleep better. Well, I was religious about not drinking caffeine while nursing for 14 months with Bailey, and for the first 6-7 months with Benson. But when you have a 6 month old that still wakes up every two hours to nurse at night, and doesn't nap during the day, you get a little desperate for something to keep you going. ("Don't you judge me!") I figured he didn't sleep anyway, might as well do something to help me! Honestly, the cokes didn't make a bit of difference! But it makes a difference to Brandon, and it really isn't good for me, and it IS addictive (hence the headache for 2 days post New Years).

2. No more swearing. (Again, "Don't you judge ME!"). I only have a few choice ones that I would say...nothing vulgar, just the occasional H%$# and D*&%. Still not good. Especially when I have little ears around. Bad Mom.

3. Divulging these dirty little secrets is enough....that's all your getting. I'm sufficiently humiliated into repentance.