Go Skins!

Benjamin got a Portis jersey the other day from grandpa and was cheering on the skins yesterday...I guess he's not their lucky charm!

Merry Christmas!

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Originally uploaded by dbussert

Benjamin and family had a great Christmas! He got some baby crocs and cute 9 month old pjs. We went to my parents house for lunch and spent the day lounging around. Benjamin in sporting a "Baby's First Christmas" outfit, courtesy of Miss Tomi :)

Random pictures from my phone

ouchie

Benjamin had his 2 month check up on wednesday and he isdoing really well! He weighs 14lbs and 5oz! That's 95th percentile lol. He also got 4 vaccinations and two snoopy band-aids on his big thighs. The dr said his fatty thighs would help the shots not to hurt as bad, and he didn't have much local pain. Four more at the next check-up!

I got the smile!

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Originally uploaded by dbussert

I managed to capture one this morning :) Look at that little round face! He is doing very well- we have our 2 month check-up on wednesday and he is going to get his shots :(

He's been sleeping very well- he goes to bed around 11pm (it takes about 45 mins of fussing to put him down though), then wakes up once or twice to eat but goes right back to sleep! Not bad!

Welcome to target benjamin!

Rollin'

Benjamin can roll from his belly to his back! Im not sure if the video will work from my phone, but its worth a try to post.

Big boy

These aren't fat rolls, they're muscles :) But really, I can hold myself up for quite awhile! Mommy had to put away all my newborn clothes and bring out the 3 month clothes because I'm a hefty 12-plus lbs now! Stay tuned for me updates :)

mmmmm

Mm I just learned how to suck on my hands! Self soothing is a useful life skill :)

But I don't wanna sleep!

Benjamin definitely has his night and day senses backwards because he slept allll day and has slept 2 hours tonight. At least I don't have to go to work in the morning!
I also included some pics of him in his new bumbo chair. He doesn't quite hold his head up all the way yet, but we are practicing :)

So precious

This mom thing is pretty fun. Granted, I get really cranky when I don't take my nap (he does too!) but it is so fun to see him grow. I swear he learns something new everyday. He's started to smile and can follow you around the room with his eyes. He weighs about 12 lbs, according to dillons package scale heehee. As he becomes more attentive, its been harder for him to fall asleep on his own, so I've been trying to teach him how. I don't want him to be too dependent on mommy to put him to sleep or feed him. We're also starting to have him use a bottle for one feeding a day. He doesn't like it much now, but he is going to need it when I go back to work in january. He's moving on to 3 month clothes! The newborn sizes are just too snug. He's also moving up to size 2 diapers!! Thanks everyone for all the newborn and size 1 diapers, we used them all!
Ill try to get the thanksgivng pics up soon...

Benefits of breastfeeding

One benefit is that I am up at all hours of the night :) benjamin woke up to eat at 3:50am, leaving me just enough time to hit the 4am sale at jcpenney! I got a queen bed frame- actually quite needed so I can lean up against the back in the middle of the night with him. Quite a steal, $288 from $800 for a balck leather bed. I picked up some lamps too :)

Doggie

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Originally uploaded by dbussert

I love these pants with the little doggie face! Got em at a yard sale :)

Daddy's home!

Finally after two weeks in germany, daddy has returned. We are all hunkered on the couch rooting for the hokies!!

Why hello

Im sure you're getting tired of my random cameraphone pictures, but he looked so cute all posed like he's about to take a stroll. I swear I didn't put his hand in his pocket for him!

Binky ring

Its like a kool-aid mustache but for babies :)

Early morning checkup

Today we are in for a checkup...9am is so early and it is pretty tricky to time his feedings around appts! I just hope he doesn't wake up screaming because he is hungry.
Look at the carpet- it has the childrens hospital logo in it! Amazing.

Grandma and Benjamin

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Originally uploaded by dbussert

Dillon's mom has been visiting while Dillon is out of town. I know Benjamin appreciates all the attention and its great to have company! We take walking trips, eat lots of good food and have fun playing with Benjamin. We even gave him a little spa bath this morning. You can see the happiness in his chubby face.

30 Day Celebration!!

Today is Benjamin's 30th day alive- and for Chinese custom, its time to make a big announcement! Benjamin's grandma cooked chinese chicken and sticky rice and we dyed eggs red, then we passed them out to the local family. My grandparents (BRB's great-grandparents) stopped by and it was a big party. He even had a cake! Its also tradition to give the new boy some gold jewelry. Check out the ring and pendant!

I make lots of faces

those were all in the same 2 min period! he is so funny

Nitety Nite

We had a great day visiting with friends! Thanks kim and nils and matt and janelle and others for coming to see us :) Benjamin is pretty pooped..as are mom and dad. Hope everyone has a great night :)

Hi Birdie

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Originally uploaded by dbussert

Benjamin is beginning to focus on things and likes to watch the birdie that dances and sings :) Its amazing how many onesies we go through in a day- and diapers! But, being at home with him has been very fun and quite relaxing. I dont get much done except caring for him, but I think thats the way its supposed to be for now.
Dad and I take him on little walks and trips, but he's always asleep during them. Can't wait until he'll be awake and enjoying places with us!

What are you looking at?

I was adventurous yesterday and gave Benjamin a bath all by myself! He made it halfway through without crying. Here he is afterwards...Luffy is standing by to make sure everything is alright. He often paces around with a concerned look when Benjamin is crying.
We also went for a walk today- its soo nice out. Im going to miss these days when I go back to work in January...

Baby Bear

One of our friends gave us this cute little bear sweater so Benjamin wore it to our church's trunk or treat event on friday. He slept through the whole thing! Thats what happens when he rides in the car, it puts him to sleep.

Daylight Smaylight

Babies don't know what daylight savings time is!! Man, just when he was waking up around 7:30, which is a good time for everyone to get up, its 6:30! So we are just chillin here waiting for daddys alarm clock to go off.
I can tell he's getting bigger, my back hurts a little when I hold him for too long. My back is used to carrying the weight lower I think!
Only one week until daddy travels to germany- we've gotta do lots of fun things...but I'm not sure what those are yet :)

Strike a Pose!

Benjamin while getting dressed :)
He is a very fun baby- he sleeps from midnight to 3 then 4-7am so its not too bad.
Tonight he'll be sporting a monkey costume from Uncle Sang :)

Bathtime Fun

We gave Benjamin his first full bath tonight. Mom and baby got in the tub together. Im not sure how they can advertise bath soap as relaxing and soothing when the whole bath experience is rather traumatic for a baby. Benjamin peed on me out of his surprize at being naked and cold! This is a picture of daddy and baby after the bath, resting. His hair is so puffy and cute after washing!

Balloon!

Sure enough, we got home and the balloon was on the ground! Its been floating since the memorial day party and we suspected it would fall when the baby came :)

I know, I look good

Here he is in his first outfit! He's been in diaper only during the light treatment but now we can dress him up. Popped collar and hand on chest heehee.

Isn't he cute?

This is momma leah posting from daddy dillons phone. Little benjamin is doing well and is off the light therapy.

I was thinking about things I will miss and not miss about being preggy...

I certainly won't miss:
Daily bloody noses, not being able to hug people belly to belly, trying to come up with creative ways to look cute with a huge belly, swollen feet and only being able to wear sandals, not being able to bend at the waist and missing ski and golf seasons...

But, I will miss:
Eating chocolate chip cookies everyday, looking cute in maternity clothes, having thick hair, people carrying stuff for me and driving me around, feeling a little baby growing inside me...

But its all nothing when your little man looks at you with his big brown eyes! We love you baby benjamin!

Visit

Leah's grandparent's (Benjamin's great grandparents!) visited us today since we haven't been able to go home yet. They gave us a "Hung-Bao", Chinese red envelope with a gift inside, and we took this picture of a sleepy Benjamin

Baby Jaundice

So, we're still at the hospital. Benjamin needed some light treatment for jaundice. Its really common but he's not under their threshold yet so we have to stay yet another night. Its heartbreaking everyday to think you are going home to your own bed and family and then be told otherwise! But, its making our little family close and we want him to be super healthy when we head home. Who knew that when we came in last saturday, we'd be here for a week?!
Otherwise, he is super cute and sleeps well and doesn't fuss. My milk came in and he is gonna grow up big soon cuz he eats like a champ!
Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and congrats- I hope to touch base with everyone when we get home.

Pictures!

For anyone that interested in more pictures, I've been uploading them all to our flickr page.

Here's a few more good ones so far

Naptime

It might not look like it but they are both asleep. Benjamin doesn't really like sleeping so dar. He likes to looks around. But I think watching the Giants get crushed knocked em both out. Goodnite!

Here he is!

I think Dil put pictures on facebook, but here's one of Benjamin Ryan, only 12 hrs old. He was born at 4:37 am and weighed 8lbs flat. He's also 20 inches long. He is very precious and likes to be held and is super curious. He will watch you forever!
The labor was pretty intense. They decided to induxe me around 1pm on sunday. I took a walk outside and ate a turkey sandwich before going in...based on the doulas recommendation. I think I was extremely helpful to have her. I mostly spoke to her on the phone during the day and then she came to the hospital at jjuuuust the right time at 10pm because I was about ready to give into the epidural. Since they used pitocin to induce me, the contractions were much stronger and hharder than they would have been normally. They came about every 1-3 minutes for 9 hrs and I was so exhausted. She came and massaged me and turned out the lights and helped me breathe and relax through 7 more hrs of labor until he was born! It was very rewarding to work hard for baby and im glad he didn't come out drugged up and I wasn't drugged either.
Phew. It was hard work, but, praise God, it wasn't all that painful. I did sound like a dying cow there at the end though. One last thing I was very grateful for was a word I got while in the first few hours of labor - ephesians chapter 3 - God reminded that he would strengthen me from my innermost being and would give me strength :) yay!

The Last Supper

Going to be induced tomorrow because theres not enough fluid for the baby. Pray for me! Ill try to post later but we have to go sleep at the hospital tonight.
Enjoying a nice thai dinner before the craziness starts...