Here's a video of Ben using his sippy cup and eating some cereal puffs. Not very exciting, but it's our life!

Seven months!

Well, the goobagoo is growing up so fast! He is still pulling up like a champ on anything that will stand still long enough to hold him. He has learned what it means to fall down also, but no major mishaps yet -- just a bruised ego now and again. Luckily those diapers provide excellent padding for his bottom!

Ben is starting to communicate a little better. We're pretty sure that he started saying "Baba" for "bottle" this weekend. He was kind of whiny and using his begging voice (really it's just grunting) and then he started saying, "Baba, baba, baba." When I showed him the bottle, he got really excited and started saying it again. I guess we'll call that his first word! Speaking of food, he is really funny in his high chair with new foods. He makes the strangest faces every time he tries something. He always eats it, though. I hope he doesn't end up a picky eater. He is learning to use a sippy cup for practice. He looks like a baby calf when we hold it for him to sip from. He also likes to throw it on the floor so that someone will pick it up.

His favorite games this week are Peekaboo and the prolonged, incoming kissy noise we make. He loves being semi-scared! He also loves it when we imitate his words and noises. That makes him laugh. We haven't found much that doesn't make him happy, though. He is an awesome baby!

I will attempt to post some photos and videos. Please excuse if I don't do it correctly. We are using our webcam for the first time. Flipshare was a little to cumbersome to download. Please also excuse my shrieking in an attempt to copy him, I sound like the shrillest banshee alive! Sorry!

We are looking forward to Memorial Day weekend when we will attend Ben's first pool party. It should be interesting. He loves his bath so I think he will love a pool also. Of course, James is so protective, I'm not sure we'll ever get Ben in the pool! He has some adorable swimsuits, hats, and sunglasses so I hope we get to show them off!

Here's another video after the jumping:

Here are some photos:

Out at one of our favorite restaurants

With Daddy at his first car show!

Enjoying some high chair time

Enjoying some Daddy time (not sure about that UGA hat!)

Sitting like a big boy in Mee's rocking chair (with some help from the grandmoms)

Sponge Ben Square Hat

Lovin' him some carrots!

                                                                          Chillin'

Six months!

Free moments are hard to come by when your six-month-old is crawling and pulling up like a champ! Fortunately, expending all that energy also means longer naps! Ben is lying beside me on the bed as I type this. Is it strange that sometimes I just stare at him while he sleeps? We are so thankful to have him; I know he will probably be so spoiled! He already is, I guess. Luckily (for now), his personality is so sweet and loving that the gobs of attention he gets haven't gone to his head.

Excuse the fact that he is lying the middle of a pile of clean laundry on an unmade bed. My mama would be so ashamed!

Here are some milestones for April, 2012:

• Ben has 2 teeth (bottom front)
• He is turning over and has been pretty much since he was a month old.
• He is crawling.
• He is pulling up on everything and everyone.
• The doctor said we are "in for it"  because he will probably be walking by 9 months.
• He is trying to cruise the furniture.
• He is fearless and will try to crawl anywhere (under beds, through toys, etc.).
• He smiles all the time and laughing is his favorite pasttime.
• He only cries when he is really hungry or he's sick.
• He has had 3 ear infections since February so tubes are on the horizon.
• His curly hair has fallen out and been replaced by darker, straighter hair.
• He has eczema and keeps a raw spot on his chin most days from drool.







• He is taking baths in the real tub and enjoys splashing Mommy and Daddy.
• He LOVES his toys -- anything that makes noise or that he can put in his mouth.
• He is starting to notice when we leave a room (a little separation anxiety).
• The girls at his daycare adore him and fight over who gets to keep him.
• He sleeps through the night (since 8 weeks old).
• He takes a pacifier only when he is sleepy.
• He sits in a high chair now.
• He eats baby food along with his bottle.
• He loves his jumper/bouncer.
• He loves to take walks outside in the stroller.
• He loves to go to crowded places and smile at new people.
• He weighs 17 lbs. 10 oz. and is 28" long (50 % for weight and 95% for height).
• He loves to fall asleep in "The Pit" which is what we call it when he squishes in between Daddy's arm and his belly.
• He likes being read to as long as he can periodically chew the pages.
• He loves is when Mommy sings to him which I do all the time-- anything from "real" songs to made-up silly songs and cheers. Some of his favorites are when I sing "Hey Hey" to the tune from "I Dream of Jeanie" (?), "Stinka Stinka", "Baby Bumblebee", "Going to School", and "We're Going to Burpy-Burp."
• He loves it when his daddy says, "Gooba Goo, Ben!"
• He is grinning every time I open the car door to get him from the car seat.
• When we walk into a room, he acts like it's been years since he's seen us, even if it's only been a few minutes.
• He wakes up smiling.
• When we get him up in the morning, he doesn't open his eyes, but he smiles and reaches his hand up to touch our face to see who's got him -- Mommy or Daddy ('cause Daddy's got a beard...).
• He is obsessed with Mommy's hair and loves to grab stray strands to pull out of her head. This hurts. Daddy is nice enough to offer his head in sacrifice sometimes.
• He is very determined and stubborn when he has a goal (see grabbing hair above).
• He is happy 99% of the time.
• We are very lucky to have him.

I hope to update this blog with photos and videos as I get the hang of it. Be patient and thanks for reading!