Play Date

Yesterday Bennett & I had a play date! I got together with 4 girls that I went to grade school with. Between the 5 of us there are already 7 kids! We try to stay in touch and get together every now and then but it's hard since we don't all live that close. Bennett and I weren't able to stay long since we had a baby shower to get to but, we had fun while we were there!

Bennett was playing by the ball pit with Kai & Brynn Allison, Kensley, Kylie, Kai, Brynn, Bennett & Noah

Playing with boxes and tubes

Bennett got a basketball hoop for his birthday from Grandma Stark but since he can't play with that yet, he decided to play with the big box instead. He climbed all over it and pushed it around the kitchen.

I also had an empty wrapping paper tube the other day and he picked that up and was blowing in to it/eating it.

Funny how things that are garbage are what seems to entertain and interest him the most.

1 Year Checkup

Bennett had his 1 year checkup today. He weighs 22 lb. 9 oz. (50%) and was 30 inches long (75%). He is very healthy and seems to be developing right on schedule. He ended up having to get 4 shots today which was pretty hard on him (and me).

His favorite jarred baby food has been Spaghetti. So tonight I let him try the real thing which he also loved!

Happy 1st Birthday Bennett!

Wow - has it really been a year already! I now have a toddler instead of a baby :-/ So much good has happened during Bennett's first year for us and so many family and friends! There were lots of babies born (7), lots of babies we know of waiting to be born (4), proposals (2), weddings (1), good health and lots of happiness!

This afternoon we had Mike's mom Leann, sister Sarah, cousin Devon & Grandma Mimi come see us. This was our Christmas/Birthday get-together with them. Bennett got a really cool basketball hoop that he'll have lots of fun with this summer and also the ball popper toy that Devon and him are playing with and a boat for the bathtub.

Then tonight my Mom, Jon, Josh & Kristen came over for cake. Bennett got his very own cupcake which he loved! He also got some new clothes for this winter and upcoming spring.

Mike & I gave him a talking Elmo doll which was also a pretty big hit.

He of course tried to shove the whole thing in at once! (Elmo bib courtesy of Uncle David!)

Here are the monthly highlights:

- He learned to Walk!!! He is taking anywhere from 5-10 steps by himself but prefers to walk to someone. Crawling is faster though so he still does this most of the time (which is fine with me!)

- 2 more teeth which brings his total to 12. (I hope this is done soon, we had about a straight month that he didn't sleep though the night)

- He's saying new sounds all the time with his latest being the G sound. He says Mama alot but Mike is reallllly trying to get him to say Dada though.

- He's eating more solid foods lately and one of his favorites is hotdogs.

(next week we have his 1 year checkup so I'll get you his "stats" then)

Bennett was very ready for bed tonight (in his new pj's from Grandma)

More Christmas Pictures

Last Sunday we went to my Grandparents for another family Christmas. They live in Fairmont which is alittle over two hours away. The way there Bennett was a perfect passenger. The way home was a different story though. He didn't nap at all during the day so I was hoping he'd sleep the whole way home - wrong! He was very cranky. Luckily Laura & Jon rode with us and Laura was able to keep him entertained with her cell phone and teaching him to text. Here is a picture of Bennett with his (2nd) cousin Elijah who is 9 months.

And, here are a few pictures of Bennett playing with some of his new toys from Christmas