Campbell Basketball Pictures!

We met up with our friends Matt, Jennifer and Brayden for a good ol' CU basketball game on January 3rd. This was our first time in the new convocation center. It was niiiiiice! Campbell even won the game, though they were close to losing it at the end. Currently, I am more a fan of CU basketball than CU football....those games were excruciating.

Before the game

Benjamin and Brayden

Matt and Jennifer (with sleepy Brayden)

Benjamin met the Fighting Camel (which looked pretty scary to me!):

He wasn't scared. The mascot looked like a big dog to Ben:

Whirlwind of a Week....

I thught the holidays were busy.....and vowed to stay put when I got home. Then, I ventured to San Francisco with Ben, started working overtime at work because of the tax season, adjusted to the new schedule of Ben's daycare and became OBSESSED with my Weight Loss Blog! (By the way, we've got one more spot open....then I will have to start a new group....let me know if you want to join: hazel22882@yahoo.com).

Here's a little recap (pictures to come.....I have been waiting for this week-end to get caught up with the pictures....and waiting for Loria to send me the ones she took in CA).

The trip to CA was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Ben was absolutely wonderful the entire trip. The flights were empty, which meant that Southwest let me use the carseat for FREE! Ben practically stayed in the carseat during the entire flight. He was happy and smiley and his ears did not seem to bother him.

Once we were in CA, we were greeated with 65-70 degree weather every day. Ben and Loria's dog Liela became instant companions. When Ben ate his cheerios, Liela got a Cheerio. When Leila played with her toys, she always made sure Ben had one of her toys to play with, too! We spent much a Saturday at the park- where they had a dog park for Liela and a playground for Ben. Then, on Sunday, instead of doing all the touristy things I have done before, we ended right back at the park. I mean, that's really what Ben would have wanted anyway! Sunday night, we took him to Ghiradelli Square and the Trolley stops for a few "classic" SF pics. I can't wait to post the pictures, because for the life of us, we could not wake Ben up! He's asleep at all the "hot spots". Again, wonderful, wonderful baby boy!

As soon as we landed in CA, I noticed that Ben's top two teeth had broken through. Exciting!

Let's see...what else?? Tax time is approaching, which means I will be working late (i.e 5 or 5:30) most nights.

Ben's new classroom is really nice. He was definitely ready for the move. One thing that I do not miss: FORMULA! Ben has been on Whole Milk for the past 3 weeks! Very exciting times. AND, they provide the Whole Milk and the table food at his daycare.

He is starting to learn about a new thing each week. Last week, he learned about Snow. This week, it was all about Fun Foods.

I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know, but I just thought I would catch you up to speed. More pictures to be posted soon!!

Welcome, Baby Kieren

Our friends, Sarah and Casey, have their new baby girl in their arms.

Kieren Joy was born Monday, January 12th around 1am. She weighed in at 7lbs, 8oz and was 20 1/4 inches long!

Sarah and Casey- welcome to the world of parenting!

Currently.....

In CALIFORNIA with my best friend Loria!!! Ben and I are having a blast. Can't wait to post about this trip!

Adrienne

New Year's Resolutions...

I am ADDICTED to New Year’s Resolutions. My theory is that if you make 100, you’re bound to keep one or two, right??

I don’t care that I usually do not accomplish most of them. I am just someone who likes to become obsessed at the beginning of the year on things that I could do differently.

On that note, my weight loss blog referred to in this post has been a huge hit. I absolutely love the ladies who have joined it with me. It is not only a site where you weigh in weekly! Each person has contributed tips and advice, encouragement and frustration, etc. Now, hopefully it will actually work =0) I’m not seeing many personal results, yet, but I still have time!

All that to say that it’s not too late for you to join. There are 6 of us already, and I am planning to possibly cut off the number of people or create a new blog once we reach 10. So, please send an e-mail to hazel22882@yahoo.com if you would like in! I allow you to spy for a day or two and then decide if it is for you! =0)

Good luck to you and all your New Year’s resolutions…..

Ben' Last Day In The Infant Room

Today is Ben's last day in the infant class room. On Monday, he moves up to the Toddler I room. Here, he will sit and eat at a little table with all his friends. He will transition completely from the bottle to the sippy cup. They go outside to play a little bit every day! Also, he will go from 2 naps a day (morning and afternoon) to only one nap from 12:30-2:30 PM. Not only will his nap schedule change, but he will start sleeping on a cot!! (This I HAVE to see!)

We bought him a new "lovey" to take with him to the new classroom. He usually sleeps at home with his Benjamin Dog. Now, he will have his Benjamin Monkey for his nap time.

Ben is ready to move up. He's practically stepping on the all babies, bored of all the toys, swinging all the baby play mats over his head and too tall for his crib. Needless to say, I am excited and a little nervous about the transition. We will miss all his wonderful teachers in the infant room, but his new teachers have good reputations, too. They will also begin really working with him on speech development and will start sending home "mini report cards"....nothing too anal, just informative. Here's to a new start for the new year for our little baby who is growing up so quickly...

Our Photographer is Better Than Your Photographer!

Just kidding! But seriously, she is! =0)

She was just published in Southern Weddings! Check out her post:

http://eccareb.blogspot.com/2009/01/published-again.html

Also, please check out her website to the right! Rebecca/MillieHolloman

Happy New Year's! Good-Bye 2008! Welcome 2009!!

As promised, here is a picture of Benjamin at midnight:

January 1, 2009 (He made it to about 9:00 PM):

January 1, 2008:

Caleb and I were really disappointed that we didn't make it to the Schlieman beach party! I had my dress and my boots that never got to be worn =0( I was still really sick and not up to the drive last night (not to mention I realized that I only have 5 minutes of sick leave available).

We ended up having a nice relatively quiet evening with friends from our small group. Thanks, Chris and Kristin for hosting the party:

Matt and Jennifer (and Baby Brayden- who stayed up til midnight!)

Cheerleaders and Chris

It's the little things that make a party- like light switches!

What I Didn't Know About The Toys...

No one told me that it would be a good idea to put away all of Ben's old toys BEFORE Christmas to make room for all the new ones. Caleb and I seriously bought the child only one gift, but he received TONS from the relatives. While home sick on Monday, I spent the day going through all of Ben's old toys, packing them away, disinfecting everything he or I laid hands on EVER and organizing all the new toys.

This was a project in and of itself: No need for more words. I think the pictures do it justice!

New Jersey Christmas and Birthday Celebrations!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Meets Happy Birthday, Benjamin!

Looks like Ben still has some learning to do about the real "Reason for the Season"! (He's our little destructor)

On Friday, after a not-so-quick trip to the Urgent Care (3 looong hours), we made the trek to New Jersey to visit our extended family. Benjamin got to spend some quality time with his great-grandfather Benke and great-grandmother Baba.

(Back Row- Caleb, Adrienne, Ben, Brother Philip, Grandad, Grammy, Uncle Frank, Aunt Juju, Cousin Kevin Front Row- Brother Scott, Baba, Great-Greandad, Cousin Brian's Fam- Suzanne, Brian and Baby Jackson)

We celebrated Ben's birthday and my parents' anniversary complete with cake and candles!

Ben wanted to grab the candles! (Notice the big 1 for him and the other three candles for my parents- celebrating the past, present and future.)

I helped him blow out the candle.

"Digging In" to the Carvel ice cream cake!

Look at that adorable milk mustache.

Benjamin and his cousin Jackson had a fun time playing together! The last time they saw each other, Benjamin was 2 months old and Jackson was 4 1/2 months old.

The initial meeting:

Boys will be boys....and these boys were into everything! I loved how Jackson ran right over to Great Grandad's "hydrolic" chair and made it almost tip over! Ben likes to push buttons, too:

I love this shot. My grandfather was so engaged in what was going on around him here. I could tell how proud he was of us and how thankful he was that we made the trip to visit:

Playing nicely (i.e not slapping each other or biting):

Of all the toys the little ones had, they both enjoyed being int he walker the best:

Christmas Morning- York, PA

Great Grandad and Great Gram's Christmas Tree

A present from Mama Joyce- one of Ben's daycare teachers!
(You can see in Ben's eyes how sick he was!)


Ben loves his Great Grandad!

A Giant Finding Nemo puzzle- Thanks Buna and Grammy

Ben's Christmas Laugh and Learn Table from his Great Grandparents.

Baltimore Christmas Morning

We all woke up Baltimore Christmas morning and ate a wonderful breakfast quiche prepared by MeeMom, complete with sparkling juice to toast the holiday. After some fabulous coffee, we gathered around the presents under the tree! Ben loved opening his gifts and playing with each and every one. As you can see from the pictures, he kept going back to his firetruck!

Our little "destructor" was still a little confused that we actually wanted him to tear the wrapping paper.

Ben likes to hold up what he has conquered.

MeeMom

PopPop and Caleb

Board puzzles make me very happy.

Firetruck time!

Christmas Eve Present

When I was little (Ok....even now), I could never wait until Christmas morning to open my presents. My mom started the tradition of letting me open one present on Christmas Eve night. This year, my mom wouldn't let me open a gift (I was very upset), but let Ben open one early. The gift turned out to be a hit. He played with it the entire trip. There truly is something special about being with a child for the holidays. They get So excited and that energy is contagious.

The Christmas Eve Present!

Ben loved his firetruck! Thanks MeeMom and PopPop.

I liked this picture with the fireplace in the background. MeeMom's house was built by her father. It is so nice to come home for the holidays to a house that has been in the family through many generations.
Even though I didn't get a present to open early, I was able to play with Ben's when he went to bed! (BTW, Baltimore Christmas was on Tuesday, December 23rd!)

High School "Reunion" Of Sorts

Last Monday night, I was able to go out with my high school friends. I got to pick the place, and I suggested Rainforest Cafe, but I meant Bahama Breeze. It ended up being a really good night. Dawn, Rachael, Elise and Jer were there. I've known Dawn and Jer since middle school and Rachael and Elise since high school. It was really good to catch up with each other.

Dawn, Elise, Jer, Rachael and Me

Jer, Elise and Dawn

Me, Rachael and Jer

Visit with Auntie Dawn

Dawn and I have been friends since 5th grade. It was so good to spend some time with her before the trip north! She came in on Friday night. You can read more about our visit with her on this post (Updated with a new picture!). Auntie Dawn, we miss you already. Thanks for spending time with us!