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...

25 of the best Benjamin cell phone photos from August and September!

I can't explain the way I feel when he makes eye contact.  There's so much intelligence and sweetness in his face.

Bug-eyed in his car seat

Hanging out with granddad

Speaking through his imaginary microphone

Enjoying his mobile!

A beautiful smile in his sleep.

We've always loved the faces he makes when he's propped on our shoulders.

Benjamin's first trip to the park!  I was trying (to no avail) to get some sunset pictures over the lake.

Baby Elvis

See previous comments about eye contact - he really kills you with it!  All you can do is love this boy.

Perfect

I really wish I had a DSLR photo of this expression.  It's amazing.  Marie took this on her cell.

Just look at that angelic face!

Bathtime has moved to the kitchen counter - so much easier!

His very first trip to the store with us!

An amazing smile Marie captured.  So glad she got this one.