Vegetarian No More

We kept putting off feeding Benjamin meat while we've been pondering our own lifestyle choice in regards to vegetarianism. But today our little Bug finally ate his first critter. A bit of chicken from Boston Market.

What can we say? We just couldn't commit the time and energy to make the change and felt like hypocrites denying him the full spectrum of things we enjoy (and were struggling to find enough protein-rich foods that he would actually eat more than a molecule of). He gobbled up several little pieces of chicken like he'd been doing it his whole life.

But, like with all things he eats, once he was done, he was DONE. You can lead a horse to water... but you can't make him eat a whole chicken in one sitting. Not that that's a good idea. It's late. I'm rambling. Night night, Benjamin.

Touchdown!

Last night Granddaddy Coffey was watching the Pittsburg vs. Baltimore football game on t.v. while Benjamin ate dinner in his high chair. Mommy decided to yell "touchdown!" and do the hand signal and then throw Benjamin's arms up in the air, too. He learns so fast! In two minutes he had it down pat. So now everytime anyone says "touchdown!" he throws his arms up in the air and grins so big! Both his Grandmommies (both way into sports) are so proud, I'm sure!

One Year Old!

Happy Birthday to our Benjamin Bug! It's been an amazing year! We love you.

Almost

Just a few more minutes left before our baby boy turns a year old. We are savoring these last sweet minutes of having an infant and look ahead with excitement (okay, and a few tears) as we discover how our son will continue his transition into being a toddler. But for the moment we don't have a one year old. For the moment we have a little little Bug.

Shh! Wipe Banana!

This morning Benjamin had some banana for breakfast and treated his Mommy to the word "nana" for the first time. As the meal progressed he reached out for the baby wipes in earnest. He has been doing a very fast back and forth arm movement for the last few weeks or so, kind of like a low flapping of the arm. Slow Mommy did not make the connection until this morning. He kept reaching out for the baby wipe container until I gave him one. Then he briskly wiped down his high chair tray. He's been a wiping clean freak of a baby this whole time! As soon as he can walk we are giving him a broom. And to top it all off, tonight before bed we were reading one of his favorite books, "How Loud Is A Lion?" and a repeating stanza throughout it is "Shh! Listen!" And twice he said, "shh!" So many firsts in one day.

BENJAMIN'S GOT THE CLAP

...down pat. (sorry, we just watched Dewey Cox--Walk Hard)

Took him a while. He's been trying for months, at first by wrapping one hand around the other and shaking them briskly, more like an up and down motion. Then by hitting a closed fist with an open one. Now it's the real thing- two open hands smackin' together very cutely and emphatically. It's his favorite. And he's ours. Aw.

Enjoy the video of his clapping!

P.S. Friday morning (the day after Thanksgiving) Benjamin actually said the word clap as we were encouraging him to clap. Mommy said clap. And then Benjamin said clap right after. No baby talk involved. Clap. Plain as day and very matter of fact. Like he's been saying it his whole life. Genius.

First Thanksgiving!

Happy 1st Thanksgiving to Benjamin Bug! In celebration we thought he might enjoy his first taste of a seasoning spice. Cinnamon is almost synonomous with Thanksgiving yum so we hoped Benjamin might like it.
















Well, for those keeping up, Benjamin is not very fond of solids overall. And we wondered if he might dig it more if it had more flavor.






















I guess not.




















But he did enjoy playing with the spoon at least.
















On this Thanksgiving we are thankful for all our friends and family, for health and happiness, and most of all, for the miracle of our baby Benjamin. He is amazing and we are humbled by the gift that he is. We love you, Bug.