Catchup Quick

Ok here we go. Bennett is growing up faster than I can blog. We had his 4 month appt at the beginning of January and he was 25.3 inches long and weighed 13 lbs. 7 oz, which put him in the 63rd percentile for height and 22nd for weight. Other info for me to remember:

Diaper Size: 2

Clothing Size: 3 and some 3-6 months

Eating: 5-6 oz. every 1 1/2 to 2 hours

Development: Rolled over from front to back at the end of January and rolled over from back to front today! He ate his first rice cereal the week of his 4 month bday and has tried prunes, peas, avocado, sweet potatoes. He is a messy eater and likes to try to grab the spoon out of my hand while I am feeding him. He uses his right hand when he does that which makes me wonder if he will be right handed.

Cute things: He kicks one leg alot while you hold him, loves to be in the Baby Bjorn facing out so he can grab onto things, loves to snuggle with his monkey blanket, tries hard to look at any tv-computer-phone screens wherever they are in the room, laughs out loud when you play peek-a-boo, likes to jump in his jumper (he is tall enough to not need the vegetarian cookbook under his feet now), is trying hard to hold his own bottle now.

He is still not sleeping through the night but he has started teething so we think once that settles a bit he will sleep better. He started teething last week and we took him in to his dr. to make sure that was what the symptoms were related to and not something else. It feels like one of the bottom two in the middle is working its way in. He has been drooling, fussing when eating, chewing vigorously, tugging on his ear, etc.

Bennett is growing so fast, before you know it he will be crawling, walking, talking!!! I just want it to all slow down. Trying to soak up every moment!

Okay, now on to other updates...
Christmas was awesome, just as we expected our first one with a baby would be. We enjoyed wrapping up presents for him and dressing him in First Christmas outfits.

Bennett and Daddy in front of the Christmas tree.

Bennett "helping" Mommy with all of the wrapping. This was the first year where I actually had everything wrapped before Christmas Eve. I usually wait until Christmas Eve night to have a wrapping marathon. It was nice to just enjoy time with Josh instead of fighting with the tape and paper.

We decided to spend Christmas Eve at our home this year with just the three of us. I made a fancy dinner including a turkey, cheesy potatoes, cranberry jello, rolls and veggies. It was all super yummy and we agreed that we would continue this tradition next year. We watched Christmas movies following dinner.

 Definitely our best Christmas present ever! Love him to pieces! Other present highlights were: 8 oz. bottles for Bennett-he is a good eater now and needed some bigger bottles to keep up with his appetite, Just Dance 3 for our Wii from my parents and some new pots and pans (we have never had brand new ones before so I was way excited), Twinkies for Josh (he asked for them and just ate the last one yesterday-he was bummed they are gone) and a new cutting board which is as big as my torso which I love and have used tons.

 Bennett's ornament from his birthmom Cortney. Thanks again Cort!

 A few days before Christmas we went over to my parents house and had make your own pizzas, opened gifts and made sugar cookies together. We also went over to my parents on Christmas day for some yummy mexican food.

Bennett helping Mommy bake Christmas goodies.

 Another cute shot of B. Can't get enough of him. Check out those little shoes!

 He is liking bath time more every day. He likes to splash and watch me pour water on him, which he tries to catch with his little mouth and hands. It's so cute.

 Also, at the beginning of January, Gpa and Gma Eberhard came home from their mission to Spain and they got to finally meet Bennett. So glad to have them home. :)

 Picture from his first rice cereal meal. Love that little face.

Can't you just hear the gagging sound? Priceless...

 First mohawk. I love his little fuzzy head. I was at the store the other day and three different people told me not to worry because their son had the same type of hair and they grew out of it. Huh?!!! I love his hair. Josh calls it his fur. :)

 Hanging out with Mommy helping her clean. Don't judge me with no makeup. I'm sleep deprived. :)

 Josh demonstrating how he would like B to roll over. Little stinker didn't show Daddy how he could roll over for almost a week after he did it for me.

 Happy New Year! We just had a few friends over that night and played games while B slept upstairs. It was low key but fun.

Bennett and his buddy Rhett. Rhett is two weeks younger but is chubbier than B while B is taller than Rhett. It will be interesting to see how they grow up together. :)


Daddy and Bennett on B's first wagon ride.


Bennett's breastmilk donor Jeanette. She is so awesome and has kept us stocked since he was born. Her baby is going to be 1 in just a few weeks so we have slowly been transitioning him to formula. We have also had breastmilk from one of my best friends Sara which has also been so helpful. What a blessing donor milk is for adoptive mommies! I hope to be able to do the same thing for someone else someday.


Bennett in his burrito wrap. He is now sleeping without it because he was Houdini and had figured out how to get his arms out anyway. It worked great up until then and kept him nice and tight like a bean burrito. Thus the nickname Bean. :)


On a sad note: Christmas Eve, my sweet Grandpa Stradling took a turn for the worse and two days after Christmas he returned to heaven to be with my wonderful Grandma. I was so glad to have gone to visit him on Christmas and that he talked to me and even reached over and kissed me on the hand, telling me he loved me.

 
The services were held January 7th and were an amazing tribute to his life. He was a patriot and lived his life proclaiming the gospel and the importance of the constitution to the future of our country. I enjoyed hearing stories of his life and reflecting on my own memories. Here is a picture of me with his only living sibling, his sister Glenda. I teared up just visiting with her because they have the same eyes and sweet smile.


I love my Grandpa and look forward to telling Bennett all about Gpa as he grows up. Well, I'm all caught up. Good because B turns 5 months in two days. Haha!