Merry Christmas!

Ben likes the throw the plastic balls that came with his new pelican toy under the buffet...


Chillin in his new chair from Granma and Granpa in CO... all he needs is a beer and the remote!


Playing at Grandma Debbie's on Christmas night


The Family


Ben and his cousin Landon


Ben's new fire truck from Auntie Rosie - he loves it!


Opening presents Christmas morning


Eating his new blocks


We set up all the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve after Ben went to bed. He was excited to see them when he came down the next morning!

It's a good thing Ben has Granma...

Because he sure didn't like Santa this year!!!


Not even sitting with his cousin Landon...


Or his friend Mallory!

What you don't see is me sitting just outside of Ben's reach feeling like a bad mother as I let my child scream bloody murder just to get some Santa shots... but hey, we waited in line for like a half hour!

Who needs Santa...

When I've got Granma!!!

Granma Cathie gave Ben thi shirt and he looks so cute in it! Plus it really is true... :)

Random Baby note: I have started feeling kicks! This is my favorite part of pregnancy. The kicks aren't consistent but I know from obvious past experience that they will only get stronger.

Sledding!

Brent pulling Ben in his "Infant Boggen"


He loves his sled!

This past weekend we took Ben in his sled down the street. It was nice going down but windy and very cold coming back up so Brent, like a good Papa, carried him so his face wouldn't be so cold. :)

Ready for Christmas!

Ben in a pair of his Christmas pj's "reading" Frosty the Snowman

Ben loves to sit and pull all his books out of the container that they are in. He is fascinated with his new Christmas ones... they are actually from last year but he was only a little squirt then and doesn't remember them! We are hopefully putting our tree up tonight or tomorrow and I know he'll just love the lights!

Baby Update: For those of you who don't know the specifics I am due June 8th. We have an ultrasound appointment January 9th (Brent's birthday!) to find out if it's a boy or girl. Perfect timing for my trip out to Colorado and some great shopping just in case it's a girl!!! But we will be happy either way... it would be really fun for Ben to have a brother so close in age too!
I have been feeling pretty good - just tired off and on, usually falling asleep on the couch around 9pm. My belly is getting pretty big and I actually had to buy maternity jeans because the one's from Ben are too big. I love the comfy waist bands on the jeans and wish all jeans were made like that! LOL! :)

1st belly picture...

Brent and I went to Alyeska Resort for his work Christmas party. We stayed overnight... without Ben! It was my first time being away from him at night. I was pretty anxious when we left but I knew he was in good hands with Karmen and Debbie. Ben did great and I didn't do so bad either! The party was fun - more fun than the usual work party - it was Hawaiian themed to which Brent loved because that meant he didn't have to dress up!


14 weeks...
Yikes! They say with your second your belly grows a lot faster. I guess I really proved that theory true! I think my belly has really popped out in the last week or so because I didn't think I was that big until I saw this picture of myself.

The shirt says it all...

Yup! :)

Playing the Snow!

Ben loves crawling around the driveway in the snow


Ben immersed in snow with his favorite guy :)


So excited!


Watch me Papa!


Ugh...if I could only crawl over this big berm...

Today we went outside with Ben and played in the snow. We went sledding down our driveway for the 1st time and it is really fun! Ben is going to love it when he gets bigger!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Family :)


4 Generations - Don, Jim, Brent and Benjamin


Riding the rocking horse


Mr. T helped Ben on the rocking horse and followed him up and down the stairs many times!


Barb and Leonard - family friends

We had 2 Thanksgivings this year... one with Brent's dad's side of the family at his grandparents house (I think there was over 25 people there!) and then one at Brent's parent's house. Ben napped the whole time we were eating at the 2nd thanksgiving so it worked out perfect! He got his first try of pumpkin pie - which he LOVED and also turkey which he likes too.
I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by family even if it is only through marriage... it makes spending the holidays without my family a little more bearable. But maybe, just maybe my parents will be able to come out for Christmas next year! How great would that be??? Just wonderful!!! :)

Happy Boy

Taking his buddy Ebbee for a ride on the pony


Trying out his snowsuit for the first time

Benjamin is One!

Eating his 1st ever "sweet treat" a gluten free cupcake. He wasn't too impressed but seemed to like the icing alright and squishing it through his hands. :)


Ben's monkey costume at his Halloween themed birthday party.


The little guests: Ellie as a pumpkin, Brady as a little devil and Mallory as a bee. Jack was also there as The Hulk but ditched his costume pretty quick so he could play better!

We had such a fun time celebrating Ben's 1st birthday especially since my mom and sister were able to be there.
I can't believe our little guy is one already!!!! Where has the time gone??? He is so much fun right now. It's exciting to watch him explore and see what he thinks is interesting. He is getting fairly close to walking (I think) so we are looking forward to that too. This Christmas should be a blast because he will love tearing into all the presents - whether they are his or not!

Our trip to New England...

Littleton, NH in front of the library and Pollyanna statue


Neat houses...






Covered bridge in Vermont


Another covered bridge - Bath, VT


Yet another covered bridge - Stillwater, VT


The Ben and Jerry Ice Cream Factory - Ben loved playing in the crunchy leaves!


Love this picture!


Ben and his momma - I got peanut butter chocolate and Brent got strawberry ice cream - yummy!


We were looking for a waterfall but couldn't find it so we took pictures in the leaves instead! (By Stowe, VT)


Love those leaves!!!




Look at those leaves!!!


Along Lake Winnipesaukee, NH at a "senic spot"


Checking out the lake




Crawling in the sand


Beautiful leaves at the Canterbury Shaker Village


Family shot


More leaves...


One of the houses at the Village


The residence house at Canterbury - this was one of the best days - it was pretty warm and the leaves at the village were so beautiful. Ben got to crawl around a lot which he loved.


The Gorge along the Kancamungus Highway in NH


A serene lake right behind the Gorge


Windy Ridge Orchard


Ben loved eating his own apple!


A waterfall in NH along the highway


I believe this was a police station or court house in NH but we thought it was neat


Ben seeing the Atlantic ocean for the 1st time - Bath, Maine
It was pretty windy out there!


Crawling in the Atlantic sand :)


Portland Headlight - Portland, Maine


We let Ben crawl on the grass at the Headlight even though there was a sign that said "Keep off grass" - we figured he's a baby so what damage could he do? :)


Portland Headlight


Happy boy in the car - Ben was pretty content in the car but definitly had his grumpy moments!


Another covered bridge in Vermont


Eating an apple from the orchard...


Boston


Checking out the cabinets at the Marriott Residence Inn


Boston


A really cool church - I forget what it is called...


Another really cool church...


Ben loved this fountain. If it was warm he could have crawled through it!


And the whole reason we made the trip...Jason and Caroline's wedding!!! Jason and Brent have been friends since grade school, were college roommates freshman year at CSU and Jason was a groomsman at our wedding.
My aunt Barbara, cousin Tara and cousin Ella made the 4 hour trek from New Jersey to watch Ben for us so we could go to the wedding. It was so great to see them and they had fun meeting Ben for the first time.
The wedding was beautiful and the reception was great - so much yummy food!!!