Ambling Rileys: Benjamin

Sweet Benny,
Where did the past month go? How are we already on the downhill slope toward one year? Time is going so fast, and I know the next couple months are going to fly by with the holidays. You are at such a fun, amazing age! I'm so excited to experience the holidays with you and your brother - it is going to be such a joyful time. Here's what you've been up to this month:

Looking serious...

Likes: As usual, people are at the top of your likes list! You love to smile and interact with people, especially people you know and love. You're very engaging and will smile and laugh and talk to people. We love how friendly you are! We went to a Halloween party around my birthday and you were happily passed around to complete strangers. The shyness bug has not bitten you (yet!). You seem to have fallen in love with Tucker this month! You love to reach out and try to touch (grab) him, and you love to watch him. Andrew never had this love for Tucker, and I'm wondering if Tucker has become more tolerant, and therefore more friendly, since he's done this before! You still love to jump, and happily spend some of the evening time when we're getting ready for dinner in your jumperoo. You also love to put anything in your mouth and chew on it. While we try to always have toys available for you, you've occasionally discovered one of Andrew's toys and put that in your mouth... yikes! Time to explain baby-proofing to your big brother! I've also already seen hints of sibling fights in the future - Andrew does not like when you chew on toys that aren't supposed to be chewed on. But he's a great big brother, and he's eager to fetch "chew toys" for you. You're also at the age when you are interested in anything that we have or are holding. I can tell you want to put the things in your mouth, and you are constantly reaching for anything. Gone are the days when we can hold you in our arms while we are eating! You grab anything in reach!

What's with all the pictures?!

Dislikes: Thank the Lord, you don't seem to hate your carseat as much anymore! You'll still occasionally fuss if you're really tired, but it's not constant screaming, and for that I am extremely grateful! It's actually pretty difficult to think of things that you dislike. The one thing that I can think of that makes you really unhappy is when someone is in the room with you and walks away. Especially if you think that you're going to be picked up, and then for some reason we don't pick you up and walk away, you get very upset! You are a social little guy, and you don't love to be alone.

Eating: I think we've finally hit our stride with solid foods! You eat oatmeal cereal at school every day for "lunch", and then we feed you a veggie or fruit for "dinner" on most nights. You have liked peas, butternut squash, and apples. You haven't tried any other fruits, but I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy them. You didn't like green beans and carrots, but I'm wondering if you'll like them more if we keep offering them. You seem to dislike everything on the first bite, and make a yucky scrunched up face at first! As far as milk intake goes, you are all over the place!! You still seem to nurse ok, although there are any distractions you don't want to nurse. Especially if Andrew is anywhere around, you seem to think you are missing out! I also cannot talk to anyone while you're nursing, because you'll pop off and look at me like I'm talking to you! At school you are very inconsistent. They told us that they thought you needed bigger bottles so that you would space out your feedings more. So when I sent bigger bottles, you didn't always drink it, and your feedings are still about 2.5-3.5 hours apart. Some days you drink 10 ounces at daycare and some days you drink 20 ounces! I just don't know what to expect from you! You also had your first bottle of formula. With your intake at school and the lack of time that I have to pump, I was worried that at some point I won't be able to keep up with what you need. We bought some and tried it at home just to see how you would do. You happily guzzled it down and seemed no different afterwards. I was a little sad, and kept insisting that you smelled different! I know, Mommy is crazy!

Sleep: Oh, Benjamin! How do I convince you that sleeping is a good thing?! Sleeping in your crib is a ~~good~~ great thing! The past week or two your sleeping has been all over the place. I think one day last week you slept all the way through the night! This meant that you slept until a little after 5, which is when I get up for school. That was amazing! I can't tell you how refreshed I felt after that sleep! Unfortunately this week you have been waking up at 4 or 4:30 every morning like clockwork, and you will not go back to sleep. Ugh! Mommy is very tired! I think you may be battling some sort of cold/sinus infection, and you do not like to sleep in your crib at that time. You'll happily lay in my arms, but I can't really sleep (well) with you in my arms. I love you and I love your sweet cuddles, but I'd prefer mid-afternoon to middle of the night! Your naps are also inconsistent, although they are short or non-existent more often than not. Andrew was not a great napper the first year or so of his life too, so I don't think that this is unexpected.

Milestones: You are a champion sitter! Just in time for cute Christmas pictures in front of the tree, you are great at sitting up and reaching for and playing with toys. You enjoy sitting for quite awhile, and I have enjoyed taking pictures of you practicing your new trick. You still have your two bottom teeth, and I'm pretty sure that another one is going to pop out on top sometime soon. I can't wait until it does - maybe that is what has been disrupting your sleep!

We had some beautiful weather last weekend, and so we sat out front to enjoy it. I took lots of pictures because you were just so cute! And you don't protest (other than disapproving looks), like your brother, who shouts "Do not take pictures of me!!!"