Walking...well, sort of

Benjamin just discovered that he can move his feet while standing. Here is the result for your viewing pleasure- sorry, no sound this time!
edit- apparently there is sound! yippie!

Snow Day

Here is what we woke up to this morning! This is not our first snow, but the last never really stuck to the ground. So Benjamin and I just had to go out and take some pictures...

Ben thought the snow was really interesting. He didn't want to go in even when his fingers got cold from touching the snow!


There is actually snow underneath him too, I just put a tarp down to keep him from getting wet since his clothes are not waterproof. He enjoyed being outside even though it was cold- I was the one who was ready to go in sooner!

Wobbly

He may wobble but he sure loves standing up!

...we are sewing, daily sewing...

Here are some sewing projects I have been working on in between figuring out which foods don't constipate my son (thanks for the sewing machine again, Grandmama Moody!):

This is a mei tai (THANK YOU for this idea, Rachel and Amber- it has really spared my back). I found this pattern on a website that has patterns for various things you might want with a baby- lots of carriers for those of you who are interested in babywearing. It is also a little like a wrap, and I think this means that my next carrier will be a wrap, since I really enjoy that part of it. Benjamin enjoys riding in it and it works well for trips to the library and grocery store. The only thing I would do differently is to add a hood or something that would support his head when he falls asleep on my back. I will probably modify mine when I get around to it.

I've also been working on a quiet book for Ben for Christmas. So far I have finished two pages:


As you can see, the tail and the fin are moveable. I haven't decided yet what to do for the eyes- I saw some really cute plastic eyes at Walmart, but I am worried they could come off and be a choking hazard. This next one is a winter/snow scene:

I figured out how to work the hemming foot that comes with my machine, but ended up deciding I liked the look of the serged edges better for the snow overlay. I am excited about making new pages- my next idea is a summer beach scene. I am hoping to create pages that will also be something Ben will experience at some point, and that will allow us to use signs and words to discuss. I am not sure yet how the pages will be bound together, but I know that I want them to be removeable so I can make new pages and take pages out as I want so that I can keep the book interesting and relevant. Of course, this may all just be too much work! But the idea is fun.

all laughed out

We just had to get what was left of this laugh fest on film. Obliviously he was fairly laughed out by the time we set up the camera and of course in his face to distract. All went well and continues to go well.

Audio and Video No. 1

OK, a video file with sound!!!
We will be making more of these very soon I imagine!

First Haircut

I decided it was time to get rid of the scraggly mohawk that won't even stand up anymore due to it's length. So after searching in vain for the hair-cutting scissors, I used the craft scissors to even things up a little. Here is the result:

High Chair Travels

We are celebrating the arrival of our high chair! It is very sturdy and heavy, seems to be well-designed and adaptable, not to mention attractive. Here are some shots before it gets covered in food...


Yes, Grandmama Moody, his feet do touch the support- but what if he doesn't want them there and prefers to sit entirely on the upper seat? I can't exactly call it cross-legged since his legs are too short, but that he tends to sit on the high chair exactly like he sits on the floor.

In other news around the house, Ben has discovered how to scoot. Unfortunately, he can only go backwards, so he is still not very capable of getting where he wants to go as he can't see where he is going!

Happy Halloween

Benjamin loved part of his costume, the part where he tried to eat the green leaves (silly Mom, of course something near his face should be sewed down!). He didn't like the hot stuffing around him and the difficulty moving around. Guess you can't win them all...

Playing around the house

I decided to take some fall pictures of Benjamin. So, we gathered some leaves (above), dressed him up like he was outside (too cold to really be outside), and let him play. The results were.... well, predictable!


In other news, Ben has some new accomplishments: he has learned how to give "kisses," although he will only do it rarely. I told John he had learned how to give kisses, and he was jealous until he got one, then a little taken aback by the slobbery cheek that is the inevitable aftermath. He has also begun making a "potty" sign. We began working consistently on potty-ing when he was about 4 months old, and started using a sign when talking about the potty or taking him to the potty when he was about 4 1/2 months. On Thursday he made the sign, on Friday he made the sign while on the potty, and over the weekend he made the sign several times followed by using the potty. I'm not sure if he really gets it, or if he is just making the sign because he has learned how to make that motion and then pees when he is placed on the potty. Either way, it is fun to watch and we are doing a better job helping him stay dry. I'm going to try to capture it on video next!

We like plaid

Fall!

Fall is here, we are enjoying the colors and cool weather. Benjamin seems to be enjoying books quite a bit now- here he is looking at one of his favorites:
Of course, looking inevitably degenerates into (what else)...
chewing! If chewing were an Olympic sport this boy would be getting a gold medal. He has had a tooth or two poking out on top and then disappearing. Hopefully they will be in soon and he will stop soaking things with drool and leaving teeth marks in everything from Grand-daddy's thumb to wooden blocks.

Also, John passed his Praxis test! This means that he will soon become a North Carolina certified teacher (all he has to do now is pay the state to process the application). We are excited and enjoyed the scuppernong cider last night.