Ben's Check-Up at 12 Months

Last Monday was Ben's 12-month well-baby check-up. 12-months is a rough one. There were five different shots and a finger prick to test for anemia. The latter was especially not fun. He was very upset so he was bleeding faster than normal. A bandaid wasn't enough so they made him a little gauze mitten. He was not a fan of either one!

He has grown a lot, but he hasn't gained much weight it seems. He weighed 20 lb and 7 oz, just 3 oz more than when I brought him to the doctor at the end of March. I didn't catch his height, but the tech said that he was in the 85th percentile for height and the 30th for weight. The pediatrician wasn't worried though since his overall growth curve is normal. Besides, Ben does not look skinny. I almost wonder if their scale is right because he even has a little tummy.

Later on that evening, Ben made some more news. He took his first steps! Joe and I sat across from each other and made him walk back and forth to us. He still can't go too far but he's getting braver (and steadier) every day. He is also getting more skilled and pulling himself up and cruising around. For example, this weekend we stayed at a cabin. I was in the kitchen and Joe was playing with Benjamin in the living room. I heard a noise and turned to see Ben standing there. He had pulled himself up onto the coffee table, walked along the sofa and another table, and was holding onto the wall in the kitchen. I was very surprised! I was even more surprised when he did it a few more times.

Ben's Check-Up

Yesterday, we made another trip to London for Ben's helmet. It looks like there has been a lot of progress made. He is now down to 15 mm of asymmetry. (Originally, he was at 22. Last appointment he was at 19.) Joe and I thought it looked much more rounded, but we thought that we were just being optimistic. It looks like he'll probably stop wearing it about the same time we head to the States so that is great news.

The trip to London was long and tiring, but it was also our best one yet. Ben was very well behaved on the train to London. After his appointment, we went to Joe's friend Henry's house in a neighborhood called Fulham. Fulham is a fun area and is only about three or four tube stops from the clinic. Ben took a nap and his lovely parents got to relax. When he got up, we had dinner at Bodeen's, a tasty BBQ place. Proper BBQ. Yummy!

Our little detour also meant that we were able to get on a later train back to Ely. Usually, we are on the 5 or 6 pm train with all of the other commuters. It is amazing the number of people who commute between London, Cambridge, and even further out. But our train had only a few people so we had room to spread out. We even had room to let Ben play on the floor for a while. It was fairly late when we got back last night, but the joy of that is that Benjamin slept an hour later this morning. All around, best visit to London so far and only two more to go!

* Disclaimer: This picture is actually from our trip to Paris. It was quite hot and around his bed time so his helmet was off. He loves to hold onto the handles in the tube also. So cute!

Ben's First Birthday

Benjamin had his first birthday on Monday.  Joe was off from work so we did our best to make it a special day for him.  I decided against a birthday party, but I know he still really enjoyed everything we did.  I ordered two big balloons from the party store and put them on either side of his high chair like a cool throne.  (One was a number one.  The other was a rocket ship.)  He thoroughly enjoyed looking at them.  His friend Brooke came over and we all ate pizza.  Then came the moment we were all waiting for.  I gave him his "remote control" cake and stood back.  At first, he poked at it with his index finger.  But then he dove right in!  Ben got the cake everywhere, but he really seemed to like it.

After a few minutes, he got frustrated with the stickiness of the cake.  I cleaned him up as best as I could.  Time for presents!  Joe and I got him a Little People farm, as well as blocks, books, and a few odds and ends.  Ben and Brooke loved the farm!  It was so neat to watch him figure out his new toys.  He also throughly enjoyed the Duplo (big Lego) blocks his grandparents sent him.  Actually, I think Joe was pretty excited about them too.  He has enjoyed showing Ben how to take them apart and put them back together.    

Big Week for the B-Bear

No...he still isn't walking so don't get that excited. However, he has had a lot of big things this week. Ben really is growing up. Joe and I went to visit our friends the other day. They just had a baby (or rather she did) so we brought them some food and a baby gift. I had forgotten just how tiny they are and how newborns know absolutely nothing. It made me realize how far we had come.

So anyway, on Monday Benjamin said his first word. It was "dog." To be honest, I think he said it a week prior, but it did not register until later. But this time I had a witness and the dog wasn't even Bastian. I also think he may have said "kitty", but since I have no witnessess I won't count it. I told Joe about it and, of course, he did not believe me. Joe claimed he did not know what the word dog meant. So he asked Ben where the dog was. Benjamin looked under the table at the dog. I love that boy.

He is also getting in his first molar. That will be tooth #9. Fortunately, he hasn't been too fussy. The only reason I noticed it is because he had his mouth open screaming. Apparently, getting one's diaper changed is very stressing. Maybe he could just learn to use the toilet then.

Lastly, he is officially pulling up on things now. He pulled up using the tub in the bathroom this morning. I tried not to get too excited, but then he has done it several more times in different locations. It wasn't just a fluke!! I have also gotten a bit more relaxed on the tough love policy. The truth is that if I walk him around more often, his confidence grows and he starts to test the boundaries. However, if he gets into an uncomfortable position, he just screams and gives up. I would much rather would leave him and see what he comes up with. Unfortunately, what he has come up with is me. It is actually kind of clever. One day, he'll let go. But today, he pulled up and I think I had something to do with that progression.

On a different note, I bought Bastian a dog treat from the market. He acts like he is sorely neglected so I thought this would cheer him up. At the market, they sell all kinds of pig parts for dogs to chew on. I thought I was doing a nice thing. What a mistake! I wasn't planning on it coming inside, but it started pouring so the dog (and the pig hoof) came inside. The hallway stunk for the longest time! It smells like what you think a dried pig's hoof would smell like...only six times worse. Poor Bastian really loves it. I feel so bad for kicking him out all the time. I'm just glad I did not get the entire leg (yes, that is an option).

Here is a video of Ben. He's crying because he can't get down from the stool. I think you just click the play button icon on the picture.

New car seat

Big day for the B-man. No, he's not walking yet. However, he's still pretty pleased. Today, I installed his new car seat, facing forward. I had been wanting to do this for a while, but I waited until I got my car back. As you can tell from the picture, he looks pretty happy. Maybe this means the end of screaming everytime I put him in the car seat. To be fair, he had outgrown the other car seat. He looked a bit like a turtle with a shell that is too small.

Updates

Our family is always doing so much that I feel like a lot gets left out. So I'm going to give you some recent highlights:

1. Ben's helmet is apparently working. At his last appointment, he was down to 19 mm of assymetry. (He started at 22 mm. Normal is 0-10 mm.) The best part of the day was the BBQ restaurant we went to beforehand. Nothing fancy, but the food was great. Turns out, Ben likes brisket and spicy beans.

2. I got a new kitchen island for my birthday. We had seen it at this fancy furniture store called Habitat. (Think Crate and Barrel at UK prices.) Joe and I both really liked it, but it was way too expensive. However, the last time we went, the price was down 30%...just enough to be in the affordable range. As luck would have it, the RAF owed Joe a large sum of money. So half of that money went to my island and half went to paying off our plane tickets home. Everybody wins!

3. Joe got a bike seat for the B-man. He LOVES it. Apparently, the other day, he actually fell asleep in it. Every time he takes him for a ride, I think Joe is a hero.

4. My computer has found the internet again! But the dishwasher is being funny...

5. Ben is working hard at being mobile. He leans forward like a baby who crawls, but he still won't. He gets on his tummy and yet he cannot go forward. He is also trying very hard to stand up somehow. I'm trying the "tough love" approach by trying to help less. Yesterday, we spent a lot of time in the grass. We would be walking around and I would let go of his hands to see what he would do. Mostly, he sits down because he doesn't want to fall. He wants it so bad and unfortunately there is nothing I can do for him.

6. Ben's new trick: sharing...sort of. He is always offering me his food or his toy, but of course he does not let go.

Well, now the bells are tolling, which means it is late. I must go pick up the B-bear from school. :)

Castle and Folk Day

Yesterday, we took a trip to Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. All that is left of the castle is the outer defensive wall, but it is still a beautiful site. It was interesting to learn about the history and Ben seems to enjoy our trip to the English countryside.

Inside the castle was a series of lawn games for people to play. In addition to the chess game, they had Chutes and Ladders and some other game I couldn't identify. Benjamin loved playing with the big chess pieces. Joe and I played a quick game. I won! Joe contests it, but I think he is just a sore loser.

Yesterday was also Ely's Folk Festival. Joe and I walked outside to the sight of people in strange outfits dancing with flags and such. Ely is great place for people watching. The best part was the drunk onlookers who were trying to copy the dancers. Very entertaining.