All We Want for Christmas . . .

is Ben's first tooth!!! Shortly after I posted my laments about the horrors of cry it out I discovered the source of our problem. Ben was finally teething!! His first tooth broke through on Dec. 15th. It was such a relief to know that there was a reason for his crappy sleeping, but also a horror to realize I was about to get an education in sleepless nights with a hurting baby. This last week has been pretty horrific at night, but I know that he is waking up in pain, which makes it easier to take care of him. It does feel like I am starting over and going back to his one month sleep schedule. Poor little guy. Any secrets about teething from you expert moms?

1st Trip to See Santa

Once again Ben has proved to be my offspring. We went to see Santa and he was terrified. Oh man. He hated it, but we have really funny pictures of it. I don't have the picture from the mall up yet, but I will. He saw Santa again at a family party a couple of days ago and that is the one you see here. Enjoy!

Christmas Came Early!

Since we will be in Texas on the big day this year, we celebrated Christmas with my family before we left. We had a lovely dinner where Ben discovered Grandma's yummy rolls. Then we opened a few presents, went to Erik's choir concert and came home to finish up opening gifts. Ben was all about the presents, but mostly all about the bows! My favorite gifts are still family secrets so I can't spill the beans yet, but don't worry. You will know soon!

Missing My Pooch : (

My last post reminded me that this will be the first Christmas in 14 years that our little wiener dog Reeses won't be with us. So sad. Who will open the stuffed Barney doll and steal all the chocolate? Tear. Sigh.

Who Needs A Tree . . .

Since we are going to Texas this year for Christmas and our broken Christmas tree is a HUGE pain to put up and we won't be able to enjoy it on the big day, I figured that this will have to do.
Pretty much this is amazing! I LOVE this kind of dog. Scott thinks they are ugly, but I think they are beautiful. (Thanks Kim for posting this pic. It made my day!)

Nine Months Old!!

How did he get so big and grown up so fast?! I have tried to memorize him every day to make sure I don't miss anything, but it feels like I have missed it all!! Every day he is becoming more of a little boy and less like my little baby. He is so funny right now. Some of his favorite things to do are kick and scream with dad, anything involving water, splashing in the bath, eating broccoli stalks and quesadillas, talking on the cell phone, pulling all the magazines off of the coffee table, picking up very tiny objects, singing in the car, playing the piano, and being attached to his mother. He has always been a momma's boy, but lately he has taken it to a new level! Nobody except mom is okay. Which is wonderful and horrible at the same time.

Ben's First Hair Cut

Before . . .


During the Main Event . . .


After . . .




Wow. That was hard, and turned out incredibly uneven! So I had to get the barber kit and even it out later, but at least he doesn't look like he has a haystack attached to his head!

Eternal Cry It Out . . .

I am sick to death of cry it out. I can't stand it any more. It isn't working for Ben anymore. He is just constantly hysterical. I am at a complete loss of what to do. Stick to my program, because once I change it I have ruined everything? Keep listening to Ben scream? Or find a new approach. Any suggestions from you veteran moms out there? HELP!!??!