Mr Rogers

Sam has discovered old Mr. Rogers video clips on pbskids.org.  Remember when Mr. Rogers would go to his picture frame video screen and a video would start showing?  Sam watches those old clips on how they make crayons, fortune cookies, guitars, shoes, etc.  He watches them over and over and over...  absorbing every step.

The other day Sam and I were making cookie dough together and he looks at the rubber spatula and starts to explain to me how they probably made the spatula, step by step like in the videos.  That kid is a thinker.

*picture is Sam sporting Grammies reading glasses

Benjamin: 1 Month Old

Has it really been a month already? In some ways it feels like Benjamin has been here forever but I look at him and I'm amazed that he is already one month old.

He went to the doctor Monday for his checkup. He weighed in at 11 lbs 13 oz! He gained over 2 pounds in three weeks. Evidence that he likes to eat, A LOT! His head is 40 cm and his length is 22.5 inches. Overall a growing, healthy baby.

Benjamin is a good little sleeper, especially during the day giving me time to keep a handle on things around the house. Just this week has started sleeping 4-5 hour stretches at night (as opposed the the normal 2-3 hours) so there is even hope for sanity at night!

Ben detests a binky. If you try and put one in his mouth he will give you a look of utter disgust and sometimes gag it out. Instead of calming him down it makes him even more mad. I'm not sure what to think of this. Both Elijah and Sam loved their binkies and I'm afraid I became dependent on them. I'm at a loss of what to do now that Ben refuses. I really hate the idea of being a Mommy binky. We'll see how this works out.

We did manage to get Ben to eat from a bottle. FREEDOM! This is important because I need him (and poor Josh) to be happy while I'm occupied with my Young Women's calling.

Benjamin likes to bounce. Often if he is fussy you can hold him vertical under his arms and bounce him and he will fall asleep. He has a bit of reflux/gas and much prefers to be in the vertical position when being held. He loves to hold your hands. It calms him down. He spits when he gets upset and is gearing up to cry. He loves to look at me through the mirror on the changing table and he enjoys hanging out in his diaper.

I took these pictures last night. I hate using my flash so I have to adjust my settings and play with my really poor lighting hense they are a bit blurry and sometimes grainy, minimal distractions when the subject is so darn cute!

Nursery Update: Tree Mural

I had the wonderful opprotunity to decorate Benjamin's room with my Mother. I had been drooling over vinyl tree decals on the internet but ultimately we decided to paint a tree on the wall. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. I really enjoyed doing this project with my Mom, my best friend. I am grateful for her and her talents. I will always cherish the memory of us doing this together.

The tree is home to an owl, squirrel, blue bird, and a fox lives nearby. The cardinal is over the closet door on the otherside of the room.

There are a few more details I want to add. I have corner shelves that I plan to add to the trunk of the tree. That's Josh's part of the project ;) I also have a birdhouse to put a nightlight in to go on one of the shelves or hang by the tree. (Sorry Mom, I could resist sharing what we have done. The rest will happen, I promise :) )

Greatest Mission

Benjamin Naim at 12 days old

"The greatest mission of woman is to give life, earth-life, through honorable marriage, to the waiting spirits, our Father's spirit children who anxiously desire to come to dwell here in this mortal state.  All the honor and glory that can come to men and women... is but a dim thing whose luster shall fade in comparison to the high honor, the eternal glory, the ever-enduring happiness that shall dcome to the woman who fulfils the first great duty and mission that devolves upon her to become the mother of the sons and daughters of God."

-Melvin J. Ballard

Monday Morning

Last night Benjamin slept 5-6 hours without eating!  Josh and I didn't fair so well.  We were up often because we are used to feedings every 2-3 hours.  But there is HOPE of more sleep in the near future! 

Today is my second day home alone.  Well, not really alone.  It's just Sam, Benjamin and I.  I was up early enough this mornign to get a shower and eat breakfast before Ben woke up.  Everything was going rather smoothly despite Elijah dragging his feet about getting dressed.  Then Ben wanted to eat and of course everything happens at once - ten minutes before we are supposed to leave for school.

Elijah's being squirrlly, half dressed.
Sam's upstairs pooping in the toilet yelling at me that he needs help.
I'm yelling back that I'm coming in just a minute.
And then the person coming today (between 8 and 1) to change our thermostat knocks on the door.

This sets Tilly off barking and whinning.
I have to stop feeding Ben.
Chase down the dog while holding a baby who needs to burp and is spittin up.
Put the baby down and drag the barking dog to her crate (while all this can be seen through my yet to be tinted front windows).
Answer the door and tell the lady that I have school drop off in 10 minutes.
She agrees to wait outside till I get back.
Run upstairs while yelling to Elijah to brush his teeth.
Wipe a bum.
Smack Elijah with the bathroom door because he is hiding behind it instead of brushing his teeth.
Remember the baby is still downstairs on the couch.
Put him in his carseat where he begins to cry.
Tie Elijah's shoes.
Rush everyone out the door and into the car while Elijah is trying to tell me a story about coloring an apple at school with his eyes closed.
Ben crys all the way to and from school.
He finally falls asleep as I'm carrying him in the door.
The lady promptly knocks on my door and is currently doing what she came to do while Sam watches and Ben thankfully is still sleeping in his carseat.

Phew!  I think a nap is in order but as soon as I even sersiously concider sitting down and closing my eyes I know that Ben will be up wanting to finish his breakfast and something else is sure to happen.

Benjamin has his 4 week check up today.  I can't believe it has been FOUR WEEKS.  It has sure been a busy four weeks of family visiting and sight seeing.  It has just flown by.  I'm excited to get our family on a schedule now that things have died down a bit.  Or am I just kidding myself?

More Pics of Benjamin

Just a few of the many pictures of Benjamin.

Benjamin is HERE..

and has been for almost three weeks!  Sorry it's taken me this long to post about our big news.  You probably guessed (or follow me on facebook) that Benjamin Naim was born September 18th.  He weighed in at 9 lbs 15 oz and was 21 1/4 inches long.  Yes, a BIG healthy baby boy.  He has chubby cheeks, large hands, long arms, brown hair (with his daddy's hair line) and big feet.  Just an absolutely perfect little boy.

Delivery went smoothly and I would say he was my easiest yet.  Recovery has been fabulous, physically I feel pretty good (and happily no longer pregnant!)

Benjamin is such a joy to have in our home.  He is a sweet little man who loves to be held and cuddled.  He is a zealous eater and makes sure he gets his eats o-f-t-e-n.  (He has a big body to sustain afterall.)  His brothers are very proud of him, especially Sam who came into the hospital room with his arms ready to hold his little brother.