Bye-bye August

The boy is growing everyday!!! Ben spent most of this past week squealing in delight, blowing bubbles with his spit and playing with his best friends-his hands. He also loves his jumper. Doesn't really get the whole jumping thing, but will sit in there forever (a huge bonus if he can see the tv). He's just so much fun and full of love. He's also thisclose to rolling from his back to his tummy. He's getting so strong with tummy time. He's rolling from tummy to back all the time now and likes to lift his head super high.

loves, loves, loves this!

The weather was beautiful on Saturday and Daddy convinced me to take the Jeep with the top off to the library, dinner and church. Ben LOVED it! I sat in the back with him (of course we put the shade up to block the sun and wind). He was so happy.

His first trip to the library

Ben does not like the quiet rule at the library. He never got fussy, but squeaked a few times and oh boy the dirty looks we got. So rude!

Ben also experienced his first cold last week. The poor little guy sounded awful all congested. He couldn't sleep, but was so tired. We took full advantage of it to let him sleep in our arms-something we both love and miss so much. He's a little champ and sounded so much better just the next day. Nothing like having Daddy call in to stay home with him (well us).

Ben's Baptism & First Trip

***warning-picture overload***

you should be able to click to enlarge

Ben had his first trip this past weekend. As soon as I was pregnant and thought about my baby's Baptism, I knew I wanted it at the church we were married in, St. Catherine's in Austin. I love this church. And-just about all of B's family lives in Austin so we thought it would also make it easier for everyone else. I started packing for our long weekend on Tuesday for Ben (we didn't leave until Friday). It's amazing-the kid needed more than I did! We left bright and early Friday morning in the middle of a crazy and beautiful storm. Ben was WONDERFUL in the car and slept the whole time.

Here he is ready to go!

Aunt Tina is in LOVE with Ben (the feeling is mutual). She snatched him up so quickly to play. It was wonderful to be able to run some errrands and know he was in trusted hands. This is what we saw when we came back from a quick trip to the mall. Such a happy baby!

My sweet boy gets a little fussy sometimes. The answer-outside! He loves to be outdoors. He doesn't care if it's 110 out either. Grandpa took him out on Saturday afternoon when he started up (probably to sing Gray Squirrel in private :) )and this is what I saw when I looked out the window. I think this picture is just beautiful!


My Grammy and Paul flew in for his Baptism and B and I went to dinner with them while Aunt Tina babysat (she insisted). We came home and of course Ben was outside on their beautiful patio staring at the lights on the trees, as happy as can be. This picture is of Daddy and Ben in another matching outfit. Ben is his Mini-Me.




The greatest surprise? Aunt Tina asking if Ben could 'sleep over' on Saturday night. Bill's mom turned his brother's room into the cutest little nursery for Ben (and future grand-babies). It was complete with a play yard so we didn't have to bring ours. Tina moved it into her room for the night. Ben has been waking up around 2-3 EVERY night lately and she wanted to take care of him and feed him and let me sleep. She gave him his last bottle before bedtime, too. Of course Ben slept the entire night that night-he always does that when someone else will help me feed him-typical guy.

Snug as a bug in dream land

The morning after his first sleep over (and the morning of his big day)! Two very happy people.

On Sunday morning we picked up Grammy and Paul at their hotel and drove them around Austin. Ben was crashed with Aunt Tina again so we let them have their time together (and it was hot). We took them to see UT, downtown Austin and Mt. Bonnell. B and I used to come to Mt. Bonnell in college. The views are so beautiful!

Ben was wonderful during his Baptism. He didn't fuss and slept most of the time. I was so nervous, but he was so good (and good looking). Another baby had a blowout during it-thank you Ben for not having one for once, we all appreciated it!

Ben with his Godmother-Tina, Godfather-Uncle Tommy and his wife, Aunt Kristin.


After his Baptism, B's parents had everyone over to their house to visit and meet Ben. Some were in Vegas all weekend and missed the Baptism, but made it afterwards to meet our Monkey. There were about 20 people at one time. Our little guy was so overwhelmed. My sweet friends Courtney and Jeremy even drove in for Houston just for his Baptism. It was so nice of them to be there to witness his special moment and to catch up and talk.

The Mahrer Men

Ben is very lucky to have two great grandmas who love him so much (and both just happen to be named Barbara Jean).

*both his grandpas are also named Bill-the poor kid will be so confused in a few years*

We had such a wonderful time this weekend. Ben slept the whole way on the way back and was even able to wish Aunt Tina good luck on her first day at her new job (she recently graduated college). On the way home we said how this weekend felt like a vacation for us, too! It's wonderful having family just a few hours away to visit (hint, hint Mom and Daddy). We'll be back for Thanksgiving!

Introducing...the exersaucer

We're trying to make our formal living room a play room for Ben. Daddy is tired of all the toys in the family room when he comes in. The paint is finally on the walls so we can begin putting back the living room and dining room. Tucked in the corner I found Ben's exersaucer. Yes, I know that he's probably too little for it, but that's not going to stop me from trying. Ben LOVES to be standing and upright. He gets frustrated under his play gym because he's always lying down. I tried it for the first time the other night. He's only about 70% in holding his head up so it was a little awkward for him, but I think he'll like it soon. He also thinks I am making all the noises/music because he looks at me and smiles. We tried it again today and he did a little better. There's just so much to take in. We use his tummy time pillow to help prop him up (an idea from my friend Amanda-so smart). This makes Bobble Head Ben a little less likely to bang that big noggin of his.

A visit from Grandma and Aunt Tina

I had been waiting for her to send the pictures, so now I can finally post. Last week Aunt Tina and Grandma Cathy were SO nice to come up for two days so I could work in my room. School starts next week and although I get to stay home with my prince for a couple more weeks, I still had to get it ready and get ready for my sub. Ben had SO much fun with them. I don't think he liked it when they left and he had to go back to his schedule and back to napping in his crib. He'll sleep for hours if you let you him sleep on your tummy.

Tina took this picture of Ben being burped and I think it's funny. He really hates to be burped.

I came home on Wednesday and my boy like this. He was in the deepest sleep. He was so comfortable with Tina. Look at those lips!!!

Ben is the luckiest little guy to have an aunt who loves him so much. Her room is full of pictures of him.

Aunt Tina made some cute onesies for him that said, I (heart) Aunt Tina. It finally fit him so he wore it when she got there. The letters didn't want to stick for some reason once his big belly got in it.

This is the before.

And this is the after. I'm still finding letters around the house :)

Thank you Grandma and Tina for coming to play!

Some firsts!

Ben had many 'firsts' over the past few days. On Saturday he had his first non family babysitter, Kim. Kim works with Daddy and always asks to watch him. We had to go to a Baptism class at church. Ben was really good and I didn't worry at all while we were gone. That afternoon Ben went to his first birthday party! Mateo across the street turned 2 so Ben stopped by to see what this birthday party stuff is all about. I think it might have been a little over stimulating for him, but he held out for about 45 minutes. That night we took Ben to Mass for the first time. He was a little fussy at first so Daddy took him outside and walked him around, but then he fell asleep.

Yesterday we had a couple more firsts-our first trip to the mall, lunch with daddy and a visit to daddy's office! We met our friends Ashlee, Jonathan and Wyatt for lunch at the food court. Bill said they chose the food court in case the boys cried-good call! Jonathan and Bill work together and Wyatt is 2 months older than Ben. Ben was a little too little to realize there was a baby across from him, but it was fun to see Wyatt look at him. After lunch Bill gave in and let me bring up Ben to show him off. He was super tired and fell asleep while we were walking around.

We can't wait for many more firsts to come!

Ben enjoying his first trip to the mall!

Wyatt and Ben chillin' at lunch (yes they have matching strollers/car seats)

Ben and Daddy before church. They just happened to be wearing matching polos!

Ben thinking Kim is the greatest person in the world! He loves anyone who will feed him :)

Ben goes to school

It's not the first time he's been up at school with me, but the first time I had a camera. Yesterday I went up to try to get a little bit done once Daddy got home. After a nap and a bottle Daddy walked Ben up to see me (so nice to be .5 mile from school). Ben had a wonderful time and was so good. He didn't even mind the heat (the air was off). Daddy sat in front of the fridge in my room with the door open to cool off (very environmentally friendly).

This is Ben staring at Daddy. He stares at him forever like this.
Ben sat in Mommy's rocking chair for story time. How cute is that face?

Mommy taught Ben how to read and write. This is the most important lesson Ben ever needs to know.

After a long day at school, Ben was exhausted!!

Two Months

Today is Ben's 2 month birthday. We had a doctor's appt this morning to celebrate it! I was up at 5:45 to make sure we were both ready for an 8:15 appt. How am I ever going to figure things out once I start back at work? This was our first visit without Daddy and both Mommy and Ben did great! I had a ton of questions to ask the doc and he patiently answered all of them. Bottom line-Ben is doing wonderfully (and is quite the chunk) and Mommy is still a worry wart.

Development: A+
Physical Exam: A+

Height: 23.5 inches (80-90%)
Weight: 13.4 lbs (90%)
Head: 16.2 (90%)
**yes you read that right, my child has gained 6 lbs since birth! He is definitely "Big Ben". He also has Daddy/Uncle Tommy/both Grandpa's height and Mommy's big head.

Ben got some shots today. I was worried I would cry, but I was a big girl! Ben actually made me laugh. His face went from white to dark red in a second. It was pathetic. He cried for just a second. He's tough like his Daddy. I hate that he felt any pain, but a little prick is worth the protection.

After talking to the doc, I think the hardest things for us (well me) will be not letting him eat sooner than 3 hours (hmmm, no wonder he's rolly polly) and putting him down to sleep awake. That last one is a tough one for us. He said to let him cry/scream for as long as it takes. I can't bear to listen to him get that upset. He gets so mad, his whole body starts sweating. Daddy's home a couple days this week so I can go to workshops for school-we'll let him deal with it :)

Ben LOVES Monkey!!!
This was right before he was going to get his shots. I was going to take an 'after' shot, but he was too upset and needed Mommy hugs.