Ben is 1 month old!

Ok, so it's been more than a week since our last blog. In my defense, I kept meaning to, but my computer died and I have no idea how to do the picture thing on Brian's. So, this morning, I think I've figured it out. Here's a picture of Ben with his latest fascination, Abby. And a picture of Abby with her new fascination, Ben. She has been a good girl with him, often sniffing, giving him kisses, and wanting to lay near him. Although, her likely reason for laying near him is that I'm doting all over him and she wants in on the action.

The last week has been trying. I thought I was going crazy, or Ben was. He wants to eat ALL the time! I thought there is no way I'm keeping up with him! When he wasn't eating, he was cranky and wanting to eat. I was anxious to go to the doctor for his one month appointment to ask his pediatrician for advice. So Thursday we went to the doctor on the coldest day of the year! Actually, the coldest day in eight years or something like that. Our high was -10 that day. So, I hesitantly bundled up my little bundle and we ventured to the doctor. He was a good boy. The doctor looked him over and said he looked real good. Lungs are in good shape, they sound clear. He's still a bit nasally, but getting better. They weighed and measured him and I learned why he is so hungry. He has jumped from the 50th percentile in length to the 90th! His weight stayed in the 50th. And this was all in about a week and half. The doctor was amazed! He is now 10 lbs 4.5oz, and 23 inches long. She said he is certainly using every calorie and gave me some advice on how I can keep up and go more than 2 hours (often at the most) between feedings. The feeding every two hours was certainly getting to all of us. For a while I was able to get enough throughout the day for Brian to give Ben a bottle and let me sleep, but I haven't even been able to do that with how much he's eating. So, bottom line, we have a very healthy baby who is growing like a weed!

I'm getting anxious for this coming weekend when my good friends Jen, Scott and their new son, Jackson, and Sandra, Tim, and their one year old Tristan are coming to visit. We have been on quarantine and I haven't socialized much due to all our illnesses so I'm very excited for some adult interaction. I don't even get to talk to Brian too much. By the time he gets home at night I just want to go lay down and sleep. We are also still hoping to plan a trip to Virginia for Ben to meet the rest of his family! The doctor, of course, advised against it in cold and flu season, but I'm thinking maybe later February or early March, before I go back to work.

I'm going to try to put some more video up soon. I have not been able to catch a smile or laugh yet on camera. He'll smile at me and by the time I reach for camera he just looks at me all inquisitively, wondering what the heck I'm doing.

So, that's about it here, just eating, crying, playing, and rarely sleeping. Just what you'd expect with a one month old!