new year's eve 2013

Tonight is New Years Eve.  We have plans to head over to our friend's house, The Taylors, for a small get together.  I snapped some pictures of Bennett this morning.  The last in the year 2013.  He decided to take my entire apple whole and eat it.  He managed to eat about half of it too.  We were impressed.    This year was a great year because it brought me my baby boy.  I hope 2014 is even better but it will be hard to top.

breaking in the new chair

Bennett is busy breaking in his new chair.  He sure loves lounging in it to drink his milk.

bennett's first Christmas

It's finally here.  Christmas morning is here.  Bennett woke up at seven sharp.  We went downstairs right away to check if Santa dropped in and had some cookies.  There was a present under the tree and a few bites taken out of the cookies.  Thankfully Santa didn't take it personally when Bennett tried to eat his cookies.

We opened presents right after breakfast.  Bennett was more interested in playing with the tissue paper and the bows in the end so we opened his presents for him.  

My mom knitted Bennett's stocking in time for Santa's visit.

Bennett was ready for some r and r after the busy morning we had so we put a movie in for him to enjoy.  Santa brought him "Anastasia" coincidentally.  Santa is so smart.  

B enjoyed the movie from his new chair.  He also enjoyed munching on the Boogie Wipes in his chair.  I wonder what's next?

Bennett spent the rest of the day enjoying the rest of his presents.  We had a wonderful day spending Christmas at home as a family.  I am looking forward to many more years to come.  

bennett's first Christmas eve

Today is Bennett's first ever Christmas eve.  We didn't have any special plans but to spend the day at home baking and relaxing.  I decided to bake three different types of cookies.  No point in making more since we will be the only ones eating them.  I made Russian tea cakes, gooey chocolate butter cookies and peanut butter thumbprints.  I think I will make those three every year from now on as tradition.  Bennett crawled around and "helped."  We did a really good job.  The cookies turned out delicious.

Bennett spent the day crawling around and watching Disney movies.  He tried breaking into his gifts only about a dozen times.  Here he is multitasking and watching a movie while breaking into his gifts. 

We ordered Chinese for dinner (another tradition in the making) from our favorite place Yong Shing.  Bennett enjoyed the rice but he wasn't a big fan of the chicken.  After we played for a bit longer it was time for bed.  Bennett put out milk and a few cookies for Santa after bathtime.  He then attempted to eat them himself.  

I hope that Santa wasn't watching that part and brings him something good.  Sweet dreams Bennett.

bennett in a fishbowl

Today at daycare Bennett decided to climb inside the coffee table.  He had fun looking at Jeanne through the glass.  It looks like he climbed inside a fishbowl.

bennett vs. spoon

Bennett wanted to feed himself today.  He was having a little trouble with the spoon.  We need to teach this nugget a proper way to use a spoon.

gingerbread man

In daycare today Bennett got to wear a fancy new hat.   It didn't last long but he sure looked festive in it while it lasted.

bennett and santa

Tonight after work we went to the mall to get pictures with Santa Claus.  It was a short line since it was in the middle of the week.  We were worried Bennett would lose it once we put him on Santa's lap.  He is normally good with strangers so I had faith but you never know.  Once it was Bennett's turn we just went up and put Bennett on Santa's lap like it was no big deal.  He didn't react.  He just sat there looking around on Santa's lap.  We were impressed he didn't lose it but sad he wouldn't smile.  His picture turned out so serious.  I still think it's cute.

I will be framing this picture and updating it every year with a new one of Santa and Bennett.

bennett loves blocks

Bennett's favorite toy these days are stacking blocks.  He loves to sit in the middle of a huge stack and swat at them with his hands.  Bennett loves it when Nick will take a bunch of blocks and "make it rain" down over Bennett's head.

It looks like at daycare he loves to play with blocks too.

bennett's new ride

Bennett got a new ride for the winter.  This ride will be a huge help to Bennett when there is a lot of snow out.  We cannot wait to take it for his first spin.

first two steps

We were dropping Bennett at day care this morning and he was in a cuddly mood.  I was holding Bennett as Nick and I were kneeling on the floor when Bennett decided to go see Nick.  I was talking to Jeanne about this and that when out of the corner of my eye I saw him take a couple of steps on his own on the way to Nick.  It all happened so quickly and suddenly we were all stumped at first.  Then all three of us yelled out a cheer which scared Bennett and he started to cry.  I hope he does not take that as discouragement towards walking.  

The rest of the day was uneventful but Bennett did practice standing on his own for quite a bit.

decorating the Christmas tree

Yesterday we got a Christmas tree so we spent tonight decorating.  Bennett was "helping" out.  His favorite were the ornaments.  He was covered in glitter from head to toe after we were done.   I don't think he wanted to put them on the tree.   I was impressed how well these shatter proof ornaments held up even after Bennett dropping them over and over.

We tried to tell him the ornaments need to go onto the tree not the other way around.

After all the ornaments were up, we wanted Bennett to put the star on the tree but he just looked at me like: "What now?"

I think our tree turned out very nice thanks to all of Bennett's help.

lunch date with kristen, dan and fergus

Today we drove out to see The Shannons.  We grabbed some lunch down the street from their house in West Hartford at an Irish pub.  The boys did really well out at the restaurant.  They both have great appetites.  Afterwards, we got to spend some time catching up.  Fergus is such a cutey pie.  He is learning how to crawl now.  Bennett was showing him how.

I think Bennett enjoyed playing with all of Fergus' toys the most.  Fergus shared his toys really well.  And, when it came time to say goodbye they hugged it out.  The little BFF's are too cute together.

crazy hair day

Bennett's hair is getting longer and longer every day.  It also tends to stand straight up after sleeping on it all night.  This morning my little man had an especially crazy hairdo.

thanksgiving

This year is Bennett's first Thanksgiving.  We are staying put this year and spending the day among friends in the Massachusetts area.  We got up this morning very late.  Bennett slept in an entire hour.  We slowly got ourselves ready before getting out of the house.  Bennett got sometime to play with his favorite toy, the Roku player's remote.

Our first stop was at Brian and Thuy's.  Brian's family was over for the Thanksgiving meal.  We filled up on turkey, mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cranberry sauce and three different pies.  Bennett had his first taste of turkey.  He loved it and ate quite a bit.  We were all so full that I couldn't believe we would have to eat again in another four hours.  

Our next stop was at Dylan and Noel's house.  We were joined by Dylan's parents and sister.  We had a great time drinking some wine and catching up while making our dinner.  Bennett and Isa were very curious around each other.  Isa was happiest to be around Bennett when he was eating his turkey.  He was dropping half of it on the floor.  He also dropped some potatoes and bread too.  Isa had a very nice Thanksgiving meal as well thanks to Bennett. 

We are very thankful for having great friends to spend with and celebrate this Thanksgiving.  Too bad I don't have more pictures.

first time standing

Bennett can stand on his own!  This afternoon he was crawling around and exploring the dinning room.  Then he grabbed the tequila nips he loves to chew on and without realizing it pulled away from the stepping stool he usually uses for support.  He stood there on his own for at least thirty seconds.  He is getting so close to walking.  I am so proud of my little man.

store opening

This morning we went to our candle shop for our Grand Opening.  We have been working hard the past week making candles for the store and putting them out on the shelves.  We were excited to get to some selling after all of our hard work.  We had six customers come in throughout the day.  Our  first sale went to a woman named Anita.  She bought a large Pine scented tin.  We also had some friends stop in.  Thank you to Kristen, Fergus, Kathy, Nikki and John for coming by and showing your support.  John made us a really nice sign for the opening.

We were exhausted at the end of the day but happy.  My biggest fear was we wouldn't have a single customer.  I am thrilled that wasn't the case.   Here are some pictures of the store.  We are hoping to get some more candle accessories for our candles in the near future.