Halfway to One....

Ben is 6 months - I can't believe it!! The time has flown by, but in a weird way, it seems that the only thing that is changing is Ben.....some type of metaphysical oddity - the time goes by so fast that it seems to stand still....anyway, he is getting so big and developing so fast. In the last couple of weeks, his first tooth has "erupted" (all you can see is a little white line where it broke the gum but it was still exciting), he has started rolling from back to belly and is chewing on everything!! He is "talking" up a storm, which includes babbling, shrieking and screaming. There are occasions where he looks like he's yelling at you. He has also started blowing raspberries - mostly he does this when he's frustrated but it's so cute that I laugh every time he does it. I'm sure this makes him more mad......He has really started to become mobile so he is enjoying his walker more and we got him one of those foam put together mats that he rolls and scoots around on. He pushes himself up and lunges so I am convinced he will be crawling before we know it. Ben is also just becoming more of a little person and less of a floppy baby - it's cute how he holds on when you carry him and reaches for you when he wants out of his walker or car seat or stroller.

His 6-month Dr. visit went great - he is growing like a weed and Dr. Coyler continues to be impressed with his motor development. Joel came to this visit even though he knew Ben was going to get shots....Joel did not like Ben getting stuck but he was really a trooper (Ben that is). I leaned over him and hugged him and he cried of course but calmed down a lot faster than he had at the 4-month shots. They stuck him twice in the same leg (ouch!) I didn't get a picture this time b/c he ripped off the band-aid later in the day before I had a chance. Thankfully, his reactions to the shots have been mild to non-existent so Joel and I had plans to go to dinner w/ Andy and Nicole that night and Ben was seeming a little feverish by the cheek to the forehead mommy feel :-) He was acting fine so I gave him a little infant tylenol before we left. Later that night Bridgie felt his first tooth had popped through - on the bottom - we're thinking he will have another any day....he is chewing on his fingers like crazy! He was a bit fussy for Bridgie that night but she did a great job and we had a nice night out - I think that was our first time out to dinner w/o Ben :-) It was also my birthday last week - I love my birthday - I like all the fuss, don't care about being a year older - want to celebrate w/ cake and dinner and at least cards (though presents are nice too :-)) Bridgie started the day by collaborating w/ Annie a big breakfast - she made me eggs and bacon (first time she ever made "real" bacon) and waffles w/ cut-up bananas and a cup of coffee - it was delicious! She was going to make me lunch but I actually made lunch b/c I wanted to show her a "real" steak sandwich - can't explain this but I fry up some onions and mushroom in some crazy and slice up the steak w/ the gravy on top of some bread and then top w/ cheese and put under the broiler - her idea of a steak sandwich was cold steak and butter....we wound up going to Dave & Busters for dinner. Joel was willing to accompany us to Chuck E Cheese which I thought would be good for Annie - I felt bad having to work during the week and then going out the following night so thought this would be fun ....and I wanted to play skee ball :-) We actually didn't know the Chuck E Cheese had been relocated until we couldn't find it....so then Joel suggested Dave & Busters - it was fun but had a lot of games that were more a matter of chance than skill.....Joel left me, Bridgie and Annie and took the baby over to the Disney Store and bought him the talking "Doug" dog from "UP" (Ben's first movie)...we had seen it sometime before but Joel couldn't resist this time :-) This dog talks....it is adorable :-) We will definitely be buying the movie when it comes out on DVD.

So, a couple of weeks ago we went back to NY for the first time in 3 yrs. It was an exhausting trip but all in all I think Ben faired well in the car. He shares his mother's distaste for NY traffic, but otherwise Bridgie did a good job entertaining him - the miserable trip from Manhatten to Plainview took over 2 hrs. Danielle's wedding was nice, but the weather was less than cooperative and I was exhausted so we left the reception early (we had Ben w/ us so it was a good excuse regardless). We got to spend sometime visiting w/ Grandma and Grandpa Stankowitz and even got to see Great Nana. It was so nice to see everyone at the wedding but I wish we had more time. We drove back the Sunday after the wedding and did the whole trip in one day (although that sounds bad, it actually seemed shorter than breaking it up on the way down).

I have an unnatural love of fireworks - Joel does not share my love. I had to go see fireworks on July 4th. I was very disappointed that I did not get to see them in Charlotte last year (bad weather) but Joel did give in to watching them w/ me on TV (thank you Macy's). This year, since it was Ben's first July 4th, I was determined to see fireworks in person.....although we did not put a lot of planning into July 4th, we actually found an awesome spot on the top of a parking garage in Charlotte that put us literally right in front of the fireworks (so far enough away to avoid the smoke). The pics came out pretty well. I made Joel and Bridgie pose w/ me - as you can tell, they were not so happy about this - oh well :-) Of course Ben slept through most of the fireworks (amazingly) but he did get to see a few on the walk back to the car....and I got a picture of him awake on July 4th :-)

I was actually off the Fri before July 4th and since Annie was going to be joining us after the weekend of the 4th, I spent this day going w/ Bridgie to the Whitewater center. Joel was also off but didn't want to go rafting so he was the babysitter. We got there at a little after 11 but couldn't get a rafting appt until 5:30pm so we were ok w/ this (we wound up getting to go on both zip lines and take one of the mountain biking courses - that made me realize how out of shape I am...) but Joel was very worried that I hadn't pumped enough for him and that baby was going to be miserable but daddy and baby survived for about 6 hrs w/o mommy. I am happy that I really didn't miss the baby terribly...not to say that in a mean way but since I am with him so much, I worried that I would have terrible separation anxiety but I had a blast hanging out w/ Bridgie and exploring the Whitewater center. Daddy tried to bring Ben down to the Columbia Zoo but Ben started crying shortly into the ride and so Daddy went home....at first he was disappointed by this but then realized he didn't need to "do" anything to entertain Ben - he is very happy to just hang out on the floor and have you make funny faces at him :-)

As of now, we are planning a trip for next month but we don't know where we're going yet.....will keep you posted on that. As I mentioned, Annie joined us after the 4th (Mom drove her over from Beech Mtn) and in a week, the rest of the FL Coogan clan will be up - they will stop in for a weekend visit and then go to NY and then stop back the following weekend before heading back to FL. We have a busy rest of the month - definitely a trip to Carowind's when Dan comes up.....

A Night Out

Joel and I went to go see Chicago last night at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and went out to dinner at the new Mimi's Cafe that opened by the house (pretty good food at a good price).

For the show, we had GREAT seats - row J in the Orchestra section. Joel bought them yesterday because I have probably said at least 3 or 4 times that I wanted to go see this show. I have never seen it before (and did not see the movie version either) so I knew it was a good show, but had no idea what it was about. Joel didn't either and was asking me.....I thought the mob was involved somehow, but I guess with the themes of greed, corruption, and sex in the 20's, I wasn't too far off in my one-word comparison. :-) Most of the images from the clip I embedded are from the movie version, but it would be hard to tell except I'm sure the movie was able to do more with the scenery, whereas you have to use your imagination a little more with a show on tour.

I really enjoyed the show - not surprising because I love all that dancing and music. Joel thought it was a little long - it was at about 2 1/2 hrs with intermission. The only bad part was that my back and rib are still sore, so I was very uncomfortable for the first half. Joel and I switched seats for the second half and for some reason I was able to get a little more comfortable but it still would've been nice if I could've enjoyed it without the discomfort.

This is baby's second broadway show - we saw Avenue Q for my birthday in July. It was really interesting how active baby was during the show - they say that at this stage they are constantly responding to new external stimuli and the show must've certainly been stimulating. Baby was kicking and moving for the majority of the show - apparently dancing right along with the music :-)

We have already looked at the calendar for next year - I want to go to Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia (ok, maybe Legally Blonde as well....it's flaky but I'm sure Joel wants to go as well - he already has one of the songs on his IPOD!) It'll be a nice opportunity for us to get out without the baby - we will have to start interviewing babysitters once the baby is born (luckily our HOA newsletter gives us a good list to start with) :-)