Ben also had his first trip to church this past weekend and was very well behaved. He enjoyed the organ and slept in his car seat throughout most of the service. Here are a few photos with us taken after we got home.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Mr. Happy
Ben has been in better moods lately while awake. He's better able to interact with us when we play with him and makes faces at him and responds with a big toothless grin.
Ben also had his first trip to church this past weekend and was very well behaved. He enjoyed the organ and slept in his car seat throughout most of the service. Here are a few photos with us taken after we got home.
Ben also had his first trip to church this past weekend and was very well behaved. He enjoyed the organ and slept in his car seat throughout most of the service. Here are a few photos with us taken after we got home.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
6 Food Mistakes Parents Make
Obviously this article on food mistakes parents make doesn't apply to Ben yet, but I think these are helpful tips for the future. In the meantime, his preference is for boob honey versus bottle milk (he'll drink both, but he glares at us vexedly when we offer him a bottle as though it's the infantile equivalent of boxed wine).
If Ben mimics his parents, he could go either way. As a preschooler, I had a predilection for steamed clams, house salads, and Wiener Schnitzel, as well as virtually everything else placed in front of me. I was once known to turn down ice cream in favor of radishes. By contrast, young Ickie had a hatred of vegetables and would only eat the cottage cheese and bacon bits at a salad bar. Throughout college his diet consisted primarily of Reese's cups and chicken fingers. He likes many more vegetables now and he's over 6 feet tall, so the theory that your kids won't grow up big and strong if they don't eat their vegetables isn't always applicable.
My parents were pretty laid back about food with my sister and I. Growing up, my dad often skipped dinner in favor of a glass of milk. For the first 10 years of her life, my sister refused to eat anything but grilled cheese sandwiches, so that's what they gave her. Both of them became long-distance runners.
If Ben mimics his parents, he could go either way. As a preschooler, I had a predilection for steamed clams, house salads, and Wiener Schnitzel, as well as virtually everything else placed in front of me. I was once known to turn down ice cream in favor of radishes. By contrast, young Ickie had a hatred of vegetables and would only eat the cottage cheese and bacon bits at a salad bar. Throughout college his diet consisted primarily of Reese's cups and chicken fingers. He likes many more vegetables now and he's over 6 feet tall, so the theory that your kids won't grow up big and strong if they don't eat their vegetables isn't always applicable.
My parents were pretty laid back about food with my sister and I. Growing up, my dad often skipped dinner in favor of a glass of milk. For the first 10 years of her life, my sister refused to eat anything but grilled cheese sandwiches, so that's what they gave her. Both of them became long-distance runners.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sweatshirt Weather
The high today was only 59 degrees, but it was bright and sunny, so I bundled up Ben well before we went out on our walk today. Every morning he has been wearing the orange Vespa sweatshirt that Aunt Jackamo gave him (she bought it before she even knew I was pregnant and it was the first gift Ben received).
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
White Noise
Among several other baby books, we've read The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp and have made extensive use of the swaddle, shush, side, jiggle, and pacifier method of calming Ben. It works pretty well. The other standbys are bouncing on the exercise ball and putting him in a carrier. I also found a website with different varieties of white noise to play; Ben was a grouch this morning but seems to like train tracks and ocean sounds right now, and I thought other new parents would be interested. Alternately, you can listen to a cat purring or wind chimes while stuck in your soul-depleting cubicle at work.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Beco Carrier
As far as we can tell, the first few weeks of Ben's life have been a continuous growth spurt with just a few days (nay, HOURS) of respite. 
He wants to eat all the time and poop and fuss the rest of the time. I guess that's not news to you other parents, but I spend most of the days when Ickie isn't here debating whether showering or eating lunch is a higher priority, as Ben will wake up screaming after a 10-minute nap in his bassinet.
Today I finally broke out the Beco Butterfly Carrier, the one purchase I was insistent on back when Ben was the size of a peanut. I had been waiting to use this carrier because I wanted to make sure he had enough head support, but the sling wasn't quite doing the trick: he looked worrisomely contorted, it made my back ache, and he was only happy if the carrier was moving at a brisk pace. Ben fussed while I adjusted and readjusted the Beco for its maiden voyage, but once in it, he quieted immediately and fell asleep soon after. He has been so still in it for the past hour that I'd worry if I couldn't feel his breath on my chest. His head is supported better than when I'm holding him, my back feels fine, and he's even content for me to sit still. I'm extremely grateful to JP for letting me test out her Beco carrier when she visited last fall.
He wants to eat all the time and poop and fuss the rest of the time. I guess that's not news to you other parents, but I spend most of the days when Ickie isn't here debating whether showering or eating lunch is a higher priority, as Ben will wake up screaming after a 10-minute nap in his bassinet.Today I finally broke out the Beco Butterfly Carrier, the one purchase I was insistent on back when Ben was the size of a peanut. I had been waiting to use this carrier because I wanted to make sure he had enough head support, but the sling wasn't quite doing the trick: he looked worrisomely contorted, it made my back ache, and he was only happy if the carrier was moving at a brisk pace. Ben fussed while I adjusted and readjusted the Beco for its maiden voyage, but once in it, he quieted immediately and fell asleep soon after. He has been so still in it for the past hour that I'd worry if I couldn't feel his breath on my chest. His head is supported better than when I'm holding him, my back feels fine, and he's even content for me to sit still. I'm extremely grateful to JP for letting me test out her Beco carrier when she visited last fall.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Burping Time
Ben is in his best mood right after feedings when he is being burped and cuddled (which puts us in a good mood too!). He's also in a good mood when he's on walks with us, riding in the sling that Aunt Jackamo sent (you'll notice that I've got my exercise clothes on--I'm back to walking my pre-delivery route although I have to pace myself).
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
More Visitors
Learning to sit independently in my bouncy seat:
Getting to know Ya Ya and Paw Paw:
Taking a nap on Ya Ya:
Biting half of my lower lip:
Getting to know Ya Ya and Paw Paw:
Taking a nap on Ya Ya:
Biting half of my lower lip:
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