Our Friends Serving in Papua New Guinea

Last summer, we learned that my college friend (and Caleb's high school friend) Kelly moved to Papua New Guinea with her husband and their 6 month old to serve as missionaries.

Their website gives a lot of information about Papua New Guinea and the work of Bible Translation...

http://www.wysite.org/sites/paul_stewart/Homepage

He's Turning Heads

Look at that head control! He's always been very good at controlling his head when he is looking over your shoulder....but now he is getting even better at holding it up when he has tummy time!

PUMPING STRIKE! (Because life is too short!)

(When Mommy Pumps!)

I'm officially on a pumping strike! No more pumping for me for the next couple of weeks!!

Things I haven't been able to do because I've been PUMPING:

-Play with Ben in the mornings when he is the most alert

-Exercise

-Pay attention to my dogs (The order around the house goes something like this for me: Benjamin, Pumping, Caleb, Kirk then Riley....sad!)

-Eat a breakfast that doesn' t include oatmeal

- Sleep in

-Go for walks around the neighborhood with Ben

It feels as if most of my day is spent nursing, changing dirty diapers or pumping. Now that Ben has started to smile, make little noices and just be the cutest little boy you have ever seen.....my time with him has become too valuable to waste pumping, expecially when the return is so disappointing. It has really started to bother me that I have been sitting behind a silly machine, while he is in his little chair playing all by himself.

So...pumping is out. Playing with Ben is in. I plan only to pump if we decide to give him a bottle of breastmilk and miss a feed. I will try and pump again about 2 weeks before I return to work. Other than that, I am just going to make the most of this time with him....since I will be returning to work before you know it....(sniff sniff).

Happy Valentine's Day

Doesn't my little Valentine look adorable in his little outfit from Grammy (Benke)? He was the talk of the party! Everyone thought he looked so cute. (I had the best dressed date by far!) Thanks Grammy!!

The outfit came complete with little footies.....

....and angel wings! (My favorite part...they are super soft!)

He stole my heart tonight....he was just so good!

Ben and I stayed up late (for us!) this Valentine's Day. We went to our church's Young Adult LOVEFEST. It was actually just one big going away party for our friends who are leaving for South Africa....kind of our way of saying that we love them and will really miss them.

Stepping Out in Faith, Fear and Excitement

Some of our good friends from our church (Grace Community) are headed to South Africa as missionaries. Here is a link to their blog that is worth checking out! They are going to be working with a local church/organization who has a passion for those suffering from Aids/HIV. They are not quite sure how God will use them, but they know that they plan to show love to the people of South Africa....I admire their ability to step out of their comfort zone, stepping out in faith, fear and excitement.

http://caseyandsarahafrica.blogspot.com/

We'll miss you Casey and Sarah!

ROAD TRIP!

We took our first road trip with Ben to Charlotte to visit with Caleb's family, Crystal and Lee and the Arguellos.

Personality Quirk I've recently discovered- Ben loves being home and has his little routine....which includes A LOT of awake time. As soon as we mess with that routine (go to Charlotte, have people stay with us, etc) he goes to sleep! Either he just gets overstimulated very easily or he just doesn't like people (like his dad...just kidding)...actually, I'm pretty sure he is going through another growth spurt, which explains why he sleeps a litte more. I call it marinating in Mommy's Milk.....fattening him up like a butterball turkey =0)

Needless to say, even with Ben sleeping most of the time, we had a wonderful trip to Charlotte. We are so happy that we got to show off our little man to some of our closest friends.

Ben slept anywhere and everywhere. I love the little bent leg in this picture.

What Weir's Do Best! Ben sleeping with Buna (means "Grandparent" in Melanesian Pidgin- main language of Papua New Guinea)

We went to Chili's and met up with Crystal and Lee! This trip would not have been complete without seeing them!

We were able to spend practically the whole day with the Arguello's. (They have two children and Mena is expecting a third!) They were so helpful and answered so many questions....well, Mena did. Paul took us all out to lunch and enjoyed half a cigar with Caleb! Fun times!

A Day at Pullen Park!

When my mom and stepfather came to visit the first week-end in February, we had BEAUTIFUL weather! We went to Pullen Park and enjoyed the day. Caleb was a little upset that the day turned into another photo shoot. He was not being cooperative! He thought we were there "to walk, not take silly girl pictures". These pictures could have been much better, but I like how they turned out. There will be other beautiful days for photo shoots.....and we won't take Caleb next time!

The Defeat of the Patriots!

"I'm cheering for the football.....and that the Patriots lose!" (Ben's lucky onesie that he wore to the Schlieman Superbowl party.)

6 weeks!

Ben turned 6 weeks on Friday. It is amazing how quickly time is going by....he's already looking bigger and bigger each day.

So, how are things going?

Wonderful! Ben is starting to smile and make little noises. He is pretty independent from about 12am-12pm. He sleeps in his crib and loves to be awake and playing in the morning. Then, after lunch, he gets his "gas storms" (as Caleb has now identified as such). His little cry goes from normal to severely high pitched in a matter of secconds. It only lasts for about 2-3 secconds, then he is quiet again. Sometimes it lasts much longer....and makes for a long afternoon. He usually falls asleep eventually and takes little naps until around 4ish. Then, he becomes a Mommy's boy. He just LOVES to be held around this time....and right now, we're ok with this. Caleb has been working nights, so he hasn't been around to help me hold him....but I'm sure Ben would become a Daddy's boy, too around this time of the night. He just wants to be held and loved. He's still only giving us 3-4 hour stretches at night....I guess he will start sleeping more when he is ready.

It's amazing how this little guy has changed our life. It takes my breath away to think about how he is actually here....and that I'm not pregnant anymore. Each day gets better and better....I can't wait for tomorrow.

(Keep in mind....it is still hard when he gets fussy and pumping is still not great.....but it's better...and I know it will get better each day....)

Quality Father/Son Time

This is what happens when I leave our son alone with Caleb! We get pictures like this:

By The Way....

Ben is sleeping in his crib!! (Knock on wood)....he's been sleeping there since Friday night!

Benjamin Actually Loves His Bath Now!

Now that I bravely fill his tub up over his little belly button, this little guy loves his bath!

Benjamin FINALLY meets PopPop!!!

Once again, we cannot thank PopPop enough for letting MeeMom come and stay with us for the first two weeks of Ben's little life. His selflessness meant the world to us. We were so happy for the two of them to FINALLY meet. Here are some of my favorite pictures with PopPop. Oh! And PopPop was great with Ben the whole visit. He taught Ben how to dance in his crib and how to sing silly songs. My favorite part of the trip was when PopPop held Ben's face up to the camera for the video monitor. It was quite comical to watch from the kitchen.

We miss you all already!

"Does He Sleep Through The Night?"

No! But, I think that he will start soon =0)

Last night, he slept 5 hours, fed at 3:30 AM, and then slept another 4 hours....ALL in his own crib!

In honor of such a wonderful night of sleep for all three of us, here are a few of my favorite "sleeping Ben" pictures:

Not my best picture, but the story of my life!

He fell asleep with his little hand sticking out of the carseat carrier PopPop Paul wore this little man OUT! He loves his PopPop!
Everyone says that Ben looks like Caleb. Everyday, I see how Ben ACTS like Caleb!
Not asleep....but going there soon.

A Website Worth Your Time!

A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of this website:

www.ConfessionsOfACFHusband.com

It blows me away! I especially like the post labeled "Afraid of Heights". I encourage you to check it out and tell others about it!