My First Road Trip

Hi everyone - it's me, Benjamin.  Mom thought it was about time that I share my thoughts so here goes...

My mom and Grandma took me on my first road trip up to Grand Rapids, MN to visit Grand-Aunt Jeanne and Grand-Uncle Ron.  They are my Grand-Aunt and Uncle because they are like a third set of grandparents to me.  My mom was actually named after Grand-Uncle Ron!  I did real well in the car - it was a three hour trip and I only made them stop once!  Once we got there, we saw that Grand-Aunt Jeanne has a basinette all set up for me to sleep in with a blanket and teddy bear - they were ready for me!  I sure enjoyed cuddling with them and telling them all my stories.  I even managed a few smiles.  I hear they live on a lake and in the summer all the ice goes away and they have a boat.  I got a lifejacket from them for Christmas - it doesn't quite fit me yet but if I keep growing like I do it will soon.  I can't wait to go visit them again!  

It's time for a nap now.  Sleeping at night is going good for me and my mom and dad.  I have actually managed to sleep for about 5 hours at a time a few nights.  Talk to you all again soon!

A boy and his puppy

Ben and Bella have started to develop a routine in the morning after Ben has breakfast.  Ben lays on the couch after he eats so Mom can have breakfast.  Bella comes up and gently lays next to him and snuggles her head next to his body.  They nap together like that for about 1 1/2 hours.  Bella is so gentle with him and always wants to be in the same room as him.  I love moments like this when the house is quiet and peaceful and Ben is content.

Ben meets the Girls

Today my Dad and I took Ben down to the University of Minnesota so he could meet some members of the volleyball team (Kyla, Kelly, Kelly, Rachel, Katie, and Jessie).  He loved "talking" to them and being held and cuddled.  He was quite the chatterbox (as he always is) although I am not quite sure what he was telling them.  He also enjoyed going up to the Williams Arena court and looking at the lights.  Hopefully he will be a big Gopher Basketball fan like his dad!  

Speaking of Dad - Ben wanted to tell him that he misses him very much and can't wait to see him tomorrow night when he comes home from his business trip.  Mom, Bella, and Gaby miss him too!  

Tummy Time

One of Ben's least favorite activities is Tummy Time. He is supposed to spend a few minutes a couple times a day on his tummy to help work on his neck strength and get him off his back. He actually is doing really well holding his head up, especially when somebody is holding him. However, when it comes time for him to be on the floor on his own, he wants no part of it. He has a really nice Baby Einstein Discovering Water baby gym-thing that has a lot of toys, music, and lights on it that entertains Chris and I fairly well but Ben wants no part of it yet. I am hoping on day he will enjoy it or else Gaby and Bella will have a new toy!

Visiting Dad at Work on My One Month Birthday

Today we took Ben out to visit Dad at work - and its his 1 month birthday today.  After warming the car up for 20 minutes and bundling Ben up in his blue polar bear outfit, we headed out to Mendota Heights.  Ben got to meet Dad's co-workers and then go out to lunch.  He was so excited that he had to take a nap.  We dropped Dad back off at work and then headed to Rosedale to return a digital photo frame that I got for my parents to display all the pictures that they've taken of Ben.  He did remarkably well at the mall today - maybe he has a future shopping with mom after all...

We plan to spend the weekend at home where its warm.  Monday Ben gets to make his first trip to the campus of the University of Minnesota where he will meet Mom's co-workers and the volleyball team.  He can't wait!

Ben Meets Great-Grandma Geneva

My mom and I took Ben to meet his Great-Grandmother today.  My grandma has Ahlzeimers and doesn't recognize many people anymore but I wanted her to meet my son and for him to meet her.  She really enjoyed holding Ben and he seemed to really enjoy being held by her.  We took a 4 generation picture of Great Grandma, my mom, me, and Ben.  Someday when Ben is older I will have a lot of stories to tell him about her and the wonderful woman she is.  I was truly blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers while I was growing up.  My Grandma Nona (my Dad's mom) passed away in 1991 but I know she is watching over Ben and is happy that he is here.  Ben is fast building relationships with his grandparents and loves spending time with all of them.  

The New Mr. & Mrs.

This is a bit late but here's the wedding update:

Chris and I were married on Thursday January 10, 2008 at the Hennepin County Service Center in downtown Minneapolis.  The ceremony was brief but beautiful - exactly what Chris and I wanted.  We were married by a judge and my parents and Chris's mom were our witnesses.  Of course Ben was there too - he slept through the ceremony.  We went out to eat to celebrate afterwards and we were home in bed by 9 pm!   So far married life has been bliss - not much different than it was before!  The only real change has been my new last name is Beatty-Kollasch and I am going through the process of changing that on everything.  We still plan on having a celebration/reception sometime this summer at our house.  Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Day at home with Mom and Dad

Ben spent his first weekend at home alone with Mom and Dad. Grandma and Grandpa Beatty spent the weekend up north with Barbara and Ron Ramola (Ronni's aunt and uncle). It went pretty good - we ran some errands and hung out at home. Ben watched football with Dad and watched Mom and Dad clean a bit. Dad had his first experience with what happens when you don't cover Ben up while changinghim. Mom's already been sprayed a few times so it was about time for it to happen to Dad! Dad picked out Ben's outfit that he is wearing in the picture - he managed to wear it almost the whole day until we had a pee blow-out.

I will have wedding pictures up sometime tomorrow afternoon. My parents have the pictures on thier camera and are not coming back until tomorrow. The wedding went well - more details when I get the pictures.

Oh Mom!

Ben has been having some bouts of cramps and gas that are making him very uncomfortable lately.  After exhausting every possible method we could think of to make him comfortable, I called the BabyLine at my clinic to ask some advise.  Apparently Ben is not appreciating the salads and raw vegetables that I have been eating lately with dinner.  Babies don't digest those too well yet - I learn new things everyday.  I'll be cutting those out of my diet and we'll see if that gives Ben's tummy a rest.  

I broke out some of Ben's toys today and dressed him up a bit.  He seemed interested in some of the bright colors and patterns or at least they held his attention for a short period of time.  I really like his slippers - the make noise when he moves his feet!  I thought he looked so cute - I'm sure he won't like the pictures when he's 16....

Tomorrow is a big day - Chris and I are getting married.  We have an appointment with the judge downtown at 4:30 pm.  We'll put some pictures up tomorrow.

Getting Ready for Bed

It's almost that time of night again - the adventure we call Ben's Bedtime.  He seems content now but that look can be deceiving when it comes time to lay him down in his own bed.  We have him sleeping in his Pack-n-Play in our room right now.   We have a nice Pack-n-Play, it has a bassinet and changing table area on it.  I believe the concept is to have Ben sleep in the bassinet part but our boy likes to sleep in the changing table part.  We are letting him sleep there for two reasons: one because when we get up to change him in the middle of the night he's already in position and two because he actually sleeps when we leave him in there.   Who would have thought that I would have a son that fights sleeping so much?  I think taking a good nap is one of the best things in life!  

Ben went on his second shopping expedition of his life today with Mom and Grandma Sharon.  Mom was looking for something to wear to her wedding ceremony on Thursday but the trip turned out to be a gold mine for Ben instead.  We hit the outlet mall in Albertville and Grandma found some things that were too cute to pass up.  Ben seemed to enjoy the trip better than the last time - I think he appreciated the fresh air as we walked around outside for a while.  Tomorrow is a haircut for Mom and maybe a bath for Ben.

Sleeping Ben

Ben spent yesterday afternoon running errands with Mom and Dad. We went to the Hennepin County Service Center so Chris and I could get a marriage license and Chris needed to renew his drivers license. We then went to Ridgedale so Chris and I could get wedding bands. Ben was OK for the first 1/2 hour then he decided he didn't like the mall so much - similar to his Dad when he is shopping with me...

My Dad and I went to the Gopher hockey game last night. Dad and Grandma Sharon stayed home with Ben. He was happy to see Mom when I came home (or at least he was ready for another feeding) and then he actually has a good night of sleeping. Right now he is sleeping in the beautiful cradle that Grandpa made him - he loves it and its nice to have a place for him to sleep when we are downstairs. Grandpa is going to watch Ben this afternoon so Chris, both Grandma's, and I can clean the townhouse that we rent out. Fun for us!

I'm growing!

We took Ben to his two week pediatrician visit this morning.  Good news - he now weighs 8 lbs. 6 oz. and is 20.75"!  We were so proud!  Looks like he is going to be tall and slender like his Dad (or like his Dad was when he was younger!).  We had a better night last night.  We all actually got some sleep.  It is taking us some time to figure this sleeping at night thing out I guess.  Yesterday Grandpa Bob got some quality time with Ben while Mom and Grandma Sharon ran some errands and went to lunch.  It was nice to get out of the house for a while.  Grandma Colleen came over for dinner and had some cuddle time with Ben also.  He really enjoyed that! 

Tomorrow Chris and I are going to go get a marriage license (we'll see who's paying attention to this post).  We are going to go get married by a judge as soon as we can schedule a time.  We have to wait 5 days after applying for the license so we'll keep you posted.  We are going to have a backyard "reception" sometime this summer.  Nothing major but Chris and I are very excited and we think so is Ben.  Our parents definitely are.  

My New Puppy Hat

I love to dress Ben in clothes with puppies on them. We think it makes Bella feel like Ben is a little bit hers. She is very protective of him already - she comes running and lays by him whenever he starts to fuss. My mom and I are going to get out of the house tomorrow and let Grandpa have some time with Ben - we'll let you know how that goes...

Happy 2008!

I made sure Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa were up to ring in the New Year with me last night. I finally fell asleep around 4 am and for some reason everyone is napping a lot today. My mom has me up now, we are going to try to stay awake for a while. I may even get a bath tonight - that seems to tire me out quite a bit. My dad is going back to work tomorrow. I'm sure going to miss him and so is my mom. It has been really nice to spend so much time together. I need diapers though so I guess he has to go.

My Grandma and Grandpa think I'm the strongest little man they have seen. I like to lay on Mom and Grandma's shoulders and look around. They say I look like a little turtle. I am growing a bit too - some of my clothes are already getting a little tighter on me. Mom still has to pull my pants up to my chest though, most of them are a bit long. I look like a little old man when she does that.

It's alomost time to eat I guess - I have to do some tummy time first. That's not my favorite thing yet but they keep telling me I will enjoy it someday. Talk to you again soon!

Love, Ben