So the other day one of my friends posted on facebook how he doesn't like reading blog posts that have too many pictures. If you agree with him you may want to just skip this one! Benson is too flipping adorable to just share a few.
Benson turned 9 months old on October 5th. He weighs 16lbs 12oz and is 27.2 inches long. He is still little, but we will have random strangers say he's big and then others that guess he is 6 months old. Either way it doesn't matter. He is perfect! He is actually fitting into 9 month clothes, which is a first for him. Up until now he has never really fit into the clothes that matched up with his age.
Benson had some huge milestones this month. He got both of his upper front teeth. No more gummy smile. He also started to climb up the stairs! He has gotten so speedy and thinks it is so funny to hurry and start up the stairs and make mommy or daddy run after him. His little personality is totally coming out and he is hilarious. He seriously makes us laugh all the time. He knows just what to do to get our attention. If I am working on my computer and he wants my attention he will hit the computer or he will crawl towards something he knows he shouldn't just so I have to grab him, but then it's so adorable that I end up giving him all the attention he wants. He loves to giggle and be tickled by daddy. He loves music and his toys, especially his little farm animal book that makes the noises.
He also is getting very close to talking and has decided to communicate through screaming, happy screams, but screaming nonetheless. He has almost got Archie to pay attention to him. He will throw food off of his chair to feed Archie and they both love that. If Archie's mouth touches Benson's hand he giggles. They both love to chase the ball around the house. Benson will hit the ball and then crawl to where it is and push it again. It's become one of his favorite things to do.
This little boy is such a good baby. We hear it from everyone we know. He is so calm and laid back and just goes with the flow. He smiles at everyone, but he has decided that he doesn't really like men with facial hair or glasses. He especially is afraid of his uncle Brett and his uncle Nolan. He also doesn't like sunglasses. He won't cry but he just stares at you like he has no idea who you are until you take them off.
Since I only post once a month I want to make sure I am recording all of the happenings in our little mans life. Below are a whole slew of pictures. I just had to post so many on the chair because they are the perfect depiction of his little personality and the fact that he never wants to just sit still anymore. It is definitely creating more work and sweat for me, but there is never a dull moment. Each day I get to wake up to his smiling face I count my blessings that I am his mom!
love this smile!
Had to post this. This was after daddy had dressed him, thinking the 3 month clothes still fit him. The best part is that Ben still doesn't see anything wrong with it. I don't think he realizes that the shirt is not supposed to be 3/4 length sleeves or that the pants are not capris. Gotta love daddy!
Although I hate this picture of me, I want to keep myself in the picture. I read a wonderful article all about this and it really struck a chord for me. I will be stay in the picture. Read here to know what I am talking about.
Finally had to put up baby gates.
On the way up
Loving his gerber puffs!
Starting to climb all over everything
everything goes in the mouth
pulling himself up on furniture
True Blue Cougar fans! Gotta show our love on the day of the Utah/BYU game
Don't they look so much alike in this picture? Love taking daily walks with this little guy.
Teaching him young
Cutest baby ever (BTW, don't you love those pjs?)
Walking the dog!
Loves riding in the shopping cart with his new cart cover that Grandma bought for him.
His favorite face right now, smiling with the tongue out
9 months old!
Bensons first time climbing all the way up the stairs
This is our makeup picture, cause we couldn't get over to my moms for his picture in the red chair. I thought this was hilarious!
Benson is 8 months old! Where does the time go? He is growing up so fast! My little baby has started crawling all over the place, climbing stairs, pulling himself up on furniture and just being such a big boy! He is starting to "talk" like crazy. He also loves to sing along with Ben and his guitar. It is the most adorable thing ever. He has started eating solids all the time and loving it. He also really enjoys the gerber puffs. He spent a lot of time at Grandmas house this month and loved it! We also got to take him to Seven Peaks and even though we were only there for 30 minutes and only went in the wave pool, it was a blast.
Benson is getting sweeter and sweeter by the day. He does scream when he doesn't get the toy he wants or when he wants his mommy instead of his daddy (or anyone else), but it's just too cute. He also is starting to point at everything! He has a little book that makes animal noises that he loves. We also got him his first iphone app, peekaboo barn. He LOVES it. He is still on a great schedule. He has started going to bed at about 7pm, sleeping til 7am just getting up once in the night to have his diaper changed and a small bottle. He naps 2x a day and with my work schedule it definitely makes it a lot easier to have him on a pretty set schedule. He is totally a mommas boy. If he is with anyone else he is perfectly happy until he sees me or hears my voice. Then he cries until I pick him up. I honestly love it, haha. He also has only just started leaning his little head on my shoulder when he gets tired and it completely melts my heart. We love this little man just wish time would slow down a tiny bit.
Yep, this post is about something that took place 2 months ago. There might be a few of those coming up. Bare with me. Oregon was a GREAT time and we had lots of fun experiences, but coming back to Utah seriously threw me for a loop. So, we are going to be telling you all about what happened to us two months ago!
Mid June we had a visit from my sister, Kristen, and her family. It was the first time for Benson to meet Nolan, Aiden and Regan. It was such a fun few days. I felt bad that I had to work most of the days they were there, but I still got to spend time with them and it was a lot of fun! We got to eat yummy food at La Perla and walk around the cute shops in downtown Salem. We went to the coast and the free aquarium (long drive, short time at the beach, sorry guys!). We also went to the drive in movie, which was so much fun. It was Aiden and Regan's (and I guess Benson's) first time at the drive in and such a fun thing to share with them. We had a full few days and we are so glad the Nelsons made the trip.
Hanging with Uncle Nolan for the first time
I have LOVED those beautiful blue eyes since he was born! I cannot believe Aiden is already 10!
Aiden and Regan LOVED DJ, like could not get enough of her. She is pretty lovable, so it wasn't hard to understand.
Ben teaching Regan to box
Playing peek-a-boo. These 2 are 10 years apart almost to the day but Benson loves his cousin Aiden.
My favorite view in the car
Cousins
haha, maybe not so happy about this one.
Regan, Kristen, Aiden and Benson at the carousel at Riverfront
Out for sushi
Another family picture at the beach (this time it was Newport)
Benson's first time with his feet in the water.
It was way too cold!
Archie and DJ hung out with us and the Nelsons as well.
Me and my boy
Oregon was a blast and it was fun to share it with the Nelsons.
Beyond the obvious of finalization and the sealing, this month has brought with it many changes and exciting things. We finally started giving Benson solids. We started out with avocado and then some rice cereal and have just let it evolve from there. For the first couple of weeks he could have taken it or left it, but lately he LOVES eating. He likes sweet potatoes the best so far. It is hard to feed him though because he cannot sit still. He is trying to look everywhere and grab anything in his path at all times. He got his first 2 teeth this month, the bottom front ones. His first one he got July 15th. He is starting to scoot and getting so close to crawling. He has started to scream. He screams when he's happy, mad, tired, excited..you name it. He LOVES Archie the dog, even though Archie is not such a fan of him. He has started sleeping through the night and sleeps so well in his crib. He has totally fallen into an amazing nap/eating/sleeping schedule. Thanks to that life has calmed down for the whole family. Benson is such a sweet, sweet baby. He is calm and barely ever fusses or cries. We took him swimming for the first time in Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's pool. He didn't cry, he didn't smile. He just kind of acted like it was nothing new. As my brother in law said, "he is probably the most chill baby ever". We figure its the islander coming out in him. His fun personality is showing more and more. He loves his daddy and laughs much more with Ben than me, but he LOVES his momma. He has started wanting me around all the time and cries if I leave the room. (I kind of love that). He continues to light up our lives more than we could possibly imagine!
First step into the pool
push ups anyone?
first time eating solids
on hands and knees for the first time
He finally started feeding himself
loves being up high on daddy's shoulders
First time in a shopping cart. He loved it until we went over a bump and he hit his head against the back. Ya, not so much love after that.
Making new friends (usually girls for some reason)
