Updates

Ben had his 9 month check up last week. He actually turned 10 months right before his appointment. I don't know why they scheduled it that way, but they did!

Height: 27.5 in......25th%tile
weight: 17lbs 4 oz......10th%tile

So he is a little small. I guess he got my short genes poor guy. I hope he grows out of it. He is doing wonderful otherwise. Growing like he is supposed to. He is standing up all by himself, but not walking yet. I just can't believe that he will be one next month. Time flies. I am planning his birthday bash and am so excited to celebrate it in our new home!

YAY!!!!!!!

I am so excited to post that Ben slept through the night last night! We finally moved our bed into our bedroom and for the first time in Ben's 10 months we didn't sleep in the same room. I also started the cry it out method again. It only took him three days and he doesn't scream, he just whines a little and falls asleep. Then I woke up this morning to find that it was MORNING and not just a few hours later! I really felt like I am well rested and ready for the day! I sure hope he does it again!

Baby Signing time

Daniel's sister Michelle has the baby signing dvds and she so graciously lent us the first one for Ben's enjoyment. Well the very same day he started to sign! He uses the sign for milk a lot. I thought it might be a coincidence that he did it on the first day and maybe he was just sayig bye bye. So over the next few days I payed attention to when he signed this particular one again. He usually did it right before he wanted to take his nap. I was still skeptical until I started noticing when he aves bye bye he doesn't even use the sign for milk, (like milking a cows udder), he used his entire arm to wave up and down. So yesterday he did it a lot and every time he wanted to nurse! I can ask him now if he wants milk and he confirms by using the sign! I am noticing other signs he does...yesterday he did the sign for dog and I think the sign for food or eat. It is so exciting to know what he ants now instead of a guessing game. Thanks Michelle!

509 Ellison

Daniel and I decided the next step for us was to buy a house. So that is what we did! It is in downtown Branson close to the grocery store, the library, parks and lake Tanycomo. The location is perfect for us! It is a ranch style house built in the 1960's and was updated in 1996. It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a walk in closet for me. All original hardwood floors and new windows. I absolutly lov eit and so does Daniel. The backyard is so beautiful! There are mature trees and flowers. It does need a little work, but any house does. My mom and brother and I worked on it all last week to get it ready to paint. Here are some before and during photos! Please comment on the wonderful choice of colors!!! Start at the bottom and work your way up...the order is backwards!

living room

living room

kitchen

master closet and bath

master

dining

junk we inherited with house

lovely living room

our jungle

our house

Family Fun

This past week Daniel's Uncle Jim and Aunt Debbie brought their family to visit. They have four children: Kelsie-15, Haylie-12, Dylin-10, Jessie-7 (sorry if I got either of those wrong). We swam all day and had such a great time. Ben loved having them there to play with. We are very sad to have them go home. Here are some photos of our pool adventures.

This is Daniel's mom's rose bush. So beautiful!

Getting ready to lift off! Daniel helped Ben surf on a water skate. He absolutely loved it!

Look at that tongue!

YAY!

Ben has learned to throw balls and play catch with his dad. He is such a big boy now!

Haylie helped make a bib out of jean scraps for Ben. It has a pocket with a patch and an adjustable neck. She is so creative, i just helped her sew it!

Jessie is the youngest and I thought she was just so cute sitting and waiting to eat so I snapped this adorable photo!

Thumb sucker!

Haha!

The whole gang

Dylin was so cute he made a chair for Ben out of legos and he sat in it for a while!

Projects

I thought I would show you all what I have been up to lately! I have my creativity bug back again and I am on fire! I made this adorable little owl out of felt for a cell phone cover.

Because I am only 5'2'' I can't lift my child out of his crib or place him inside, so I use a stool. I found one on a garage sale and re-covered it with Amy Butler fabric which I adore.

My niece Alisha is visiting from Wisconsin and the other day we made homemade paper. We had so much fun and these are the two that I made.

Daniel volunteered to man the station for a relay for life event for his work. He stayed out all night. Ben and I came with him for the evening and LOVED it. I had never been to one before. They started with a prayer and then had all the cancer survivors, wearing purple, take a lap around the track. Then they took a second lap with family members. Then everyone could start to walk. There were tons of booths and they were selling things and it all went toward finding a cure for cancer. I got a shirt that says "I hate cancer" and Ben got a stuffed monkey. Daniel, Ben and I walked a total of 22 laps for the night. When it got dark they had a lighting ceremony where those who have passed from cancer each had a lunch bag with a candle in it. They all lined the track and during this ceremony a bag pipe player played Amazin Grace while they were all lit. It was such a good experience that we are going back every year from now on no matter where we live! You all should look up when they are having one in your community and attend! You won't be sorry!

A day at the lake

Saturday Daniel was off and it was REALLY hot in Branson, so we decided to go to Table Rock Lake. We took the dogs and Dallan with us. The lake was so nice and cold. Ben absolutely loved the water. We would sit on the shore and let the waves splash us. We also went in the floaty boat. Daniel would jump up out of the water and Ben would just smile and giggle! Then the boys took the boat out and jumped off the edge. I took Ben and the pugs for a walk. The dogs liked being with us and being able to get into the water. We stayed there for a few hours and then got so tired and hungry. We stopped by Sonic on the way home. We had such a fun day!