Benjamin highlights from December 2016!

12/5/16

12/8/16

12/10/16

12/11/16

12/12/16

12/13/16

12/15/16

12/16/16

12/16/16

12/17/16: Benjamin is now 7 months old!

12/18/16: Having already tried solid food (rice cereal) on Thanksgiving weekend, Benjamin tried his first standard baby food!  Organic pureed carrots!  MMMM...

12/21/16: Benjamin tried sweet potatoes for the first time, and loved them!

12/22/16

12/22/16

12/22/16

12/25/16

12/19/16

12/19/16

12/22/16

12/22/16

12/25/16: Benjamin's first Christmas!  He was far less excited about it than we were (see his bored expression below), even though he probably got more gifts than he will on any future December 25th.  Appreciate the adoration while you can, baby boy!

12/25/16

12/29/16: Benjamin tried pears, and felt reasonably OK about them.  He had already tried peas and did NOT like those.

12/31/16

12/31/16: Benjamin tried and enjoyed apples!

Our baby Benjamin is a true miracle

This beautiful boy just keeps growing and exceeding every expectation.  He's too good to be believed.

With everything that happened early last year...learning of his two-vessel cord (1/20/16)...Marie suffering through pre-term contractions (starting three months before due date) and confined to bedrest (3/11/16)...and then low amniotic fluid resulting in the decision to induce labor a month early (5/17/16)...

...it was a total nightmare.  How are we so blessed that it turned out like this?

I remember hiking with my dad at a nearby nature preserve in April and telling him I just couldn't take the worry anymore.  I'd already spent three months panicking about poor Benjamin's health.  I'd prayed so many times that he would make it, and never dared to get my hopes up.  There were just too many complications to feel assured of anything.  I wasn't giving up, but I felt so beaten down.

And since that time, he's beaten all the odds.  This baby boy, born at only 4 pounds and 11 ounces, came home after only 3 days!  Every single day, he's gotten stronger, smarter and more amazing.  Thank God for this boy.

Pretty ornament pictures from Benjamin's first Christmas tree!

We went a little overboard decorating Benjamin's first tree...including a number of personalized ornaments.  Enjoy!

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!