November was a busy month for Baby Benjamin!

Like most families, the holidays have been beyond hectic for us...and it's not even Christmas yet!  But I wanted to take a moment to share some photos and highlights from November, before I fall even farther behind.

Here are the most significant dates...

11/18 - Went to the doctor for vaccinations.  He's getting so aware of his surroundings that he started crying as soon as we reached the waiting room.  And he didn't really calm down until we left.  He was so glad to get home after the ordeal.  But sadly, he got a post-shot fever again that night (about 101-102).  As usual, the night nurse we called said it was no big deal.  So we spent the next 24 hours trying to keep his fever down...dressing him in diaper only and placing a damp cloth on his head.  He dealt with it so well, like he does everything, but it kills us to see him suffering in any way.  Sorry, Benjamin.  :(

11/24 - Benjamin got to spend Thanksgiving with Poppy (all the way from Arizona), Mimi and Nana!  
11/26 - Benjiboy ate his first solid food - rice cereal!  It wasn't his favorite, but he did great!

Other highlights...
- we put up forest-themed wall decals above his crib
- we put up Christmas lights inside and outside (which he loved)
- he keeps gaining in so many areas, including hand-eye coordination, comfort with tummy time, and communication!

Now, on to the best pics from November!

One of our new favorites of his cute face!

You talkin' to me?

Reflective Bean

It was so sad seeing Bean feverish after his vaccinations again.  We did our best to keep him cool.

As usual, his parents were the only ones freaking out.  He didn't even cry!

Visiting with Mimi!

With Mimi and Poppy...and trying to steal some pizza!

Look at this cute little puppy!

If angels ever "kick back," this is how they look doing it.

Benjamin is so much happier during tummy time now!

On the porch with Poppy on Thanksgiving Day!

Blue Bean!  He was checking out some indoor Christmas lights!

November 26th - he ate rice cereal for the first time and did great!

We had these wall decals for months and FINALLY put them up above his crib.

Thanksgiving Bean!

Bath Bean!

Another new favorite.  He's adorable.

He was looking at us upside down on the bed...so of course we couldn't resist another photo.

Benjamin loves to play with all his crib toys.  Especially the turtle mirror!

25 of our favorite Baby Benjamin pics from October!

October was a big month for Benjamin - he rolled for the first time during tummy time, and showed all sorts of progress in other areas as well!

Here are some of our favorite pics from the month, during which he turned 5 months old and celebrated his first Halloween.  We couldn't resist getting him a super-cute Halloween onesie.  Enjoy!

16 of our favorite Baby Benjamin pics from September!

I've been remiss in posting pictures lately, because we've been so busy.  In only 4 days, Benjamin will be 6 months old!  Without further ado, here are some of the best from September (during which Benjamin turned 4 months).

As you'll see below, our little Bean made a couple significant trips in September - his first visit to the park, and his first visit to the grocery store!  He mostly slept through the former, but seemed to enjoy seeing all the colorful shelves at the latter.

#11: It's tough to let ANYONE watch your precious baby - even family!

For us and many other similar people struggling every week to make ends meet, close family members are often a huge part of achieving success as parents.

It was our parents and grandparents who helped us get through the purchase of a new house, the difficult pregnancy, the birth of Benjamin, and his care so far.  They propped us up - not only financially, but psychologically.

On top of all that, the (grand)mothers in particular have assisted us by watching the baby boy when Marie and I need a few hours to run weekly errands, or on rarer occasions (every couple months) when we simply need a break to enjoy ourselves.

We could never truly thank any of them enough.

And yet...as bad and ungrateful as it sounds...it's hard to trust even your immediate family with your beautiful baby.

Did you feed him too much?  3 bottles in 3 hours?  What were you thinking?!

Did you play with him too much?  He needs a nap!

Did you make safe/clean decisions while tending to him?  Where did you find that toy he's handling?!

(Note: we rarely express these concerns so directly...except in the most egregious circumstances)

As neurotic germophobes, Marie and I both struggle a lot with that last question.  When we realize one of the grandmothers handled garbage or held the cat before touching Benjamin, or gave him a teething toy that wasn't sterilized, or did any number of other frightening things...we freak out.  

It isn't fair of us, but we feel like it's pretty natural and normal.  Neither of us have ever had anything we cared about so much (other than each other).  So, we're crazy about him.  And just flat-out crazy.

Laughter caught on video! 10/3/16

Benjamin truly loves his mama.  And who could blame him?

When she plays games like this one, he can't help but laugh.  It's so cute to watch.

Benjamin update: he rolled for the first time on 10/3/16!

Here was his second roll, just one minute after the first!

Yep, I failed to get the first one on video...