Preschool Transition

Wow, what a busy summer, and now we're already into fall....where has the year gone?? Ben is 20mos old and really becoming a "kid". He started preschool in the "Adventurous 1's" program, from 8:30am to 12:15pm Monday to Friday, at the YMCA. He is having a great time and everyone loves him. However, it is still a LONG day for Ben, who was used to napping no later than 10:30am prior to starting school a few weeks ago. He falls asleep every day in the car ride home, but isn't napping as long as he used to, so he's not happy being kept up until 8pm. I think Ben took the transition to preschool better than I did. I think this has been the hardest transition yet. I really didn't get that upset about him walking or weaning, but him going to school meant that I was going to see him a lot less. I also enjoyed the little time I spent with him during breakfast and playing and reading to him and putting him down for his morning nap. It gave me the best of both worlds - working and being a stay at home mom ;-) Now that he is at school, I get him up in the morning and have breakfast with him and bring him to school and do much of his bedtime routine, but I still miss having him hanging out w/ me in the morning....(even though I am a lot more productive during that 9am hr these days...)

I think the socializing is great for him. It may be school, or just his age, but he's been communicating a lot more in the last few weeks - he's added "Ewww"(which he uses when you say dirty, stink, garbage, yuck), "Uh oh", "Keys" (sounds more like "Eees"), "Cookie" (more like "ok - E"), and "Car". The newest one is "Keys" - he is obsessed with keys, especially the ones with the remotes...he likes to stand at the door and points the remote outside toward the car and listens for either the panic alarm or the chirps for lock / un-lock. He knows it's bad when the panic alarm goes off and his latest response when he pushes this button is uh-oh (of course...so cute...but we wind up having to take away my keys because the transmitter is VERY sensitive...and it's the end of the world to have to give up the keys). Since starting to pronounce the "E" sound, he has started using a fairly generic "EEE" to describe the binky, "Grammy" (the dog), Dirty, and anything that ends in this "EEE" sound. We have a bit of work to go on the consonants but today in the car he was practicing his M's...Ma, Mom, Me (another new word, but not sure he quite understands the meaning yet). Over the last month, he has gone from a vocabulary of about 10 words to probably close to 20 (and I feel these days he's saying a new word almost every day). Despite the many words we've heard from him, "No" is the most common word we hear....LOL! He also says Mom, Dada, Door, Out, Up, Yum (w/ sound effects), Dog, On, Hi, Hot (I've been amazed at how accurately he's applied this to some abstract instances - pic of a cup of coffee on tv and a pic of a turkey dinner on the back of a lipton soup mix box). Some other fun things he's learned to do recently - scooting down the stairs on his butt and sliding down on his belly. He loves to go down the stairs and then climb back up and do it again. He also likes to climb steps w/o holding on now (up and down - I'm surprised by what good balance he's developed). He also is starting to enjoy going down the slide at the park (though definitely prefers just climbing up to the slide and climbing back down). He's been enjoying the pool more (especially after going 3 days in a row while we waited for our hot water heater to be replaced - thank goodness for hot showers at the Y - and our meembership). He's started doing the hand motions to itsy-btsy spider and I think is trying to do the "play" sign that he learned at school. He now doesn't fuss when we get to "school" or when we walk in (he likes to wave to everyone on the way) but still cries a little when I try to leave him at the door. He gives me a big hug and pats me on his back - it's cute, but makes me feel terrible leaving him....but they say he's doing great and I always peek in before I leave to make sure he's playing.

We've traveled a good amount since my last post - Disney for Memorial Day Weekend, Charleston for July 4th, NY for a week in July and then Beech Mtn twice to visit Nana and Grandpa Johnny. Last weekend we went to Atlanta. Joel really wanted to go to the Southeastern Stamp Show and I enjoyed spending the day with Ben at Zoo Atlanta - he loves running around but did enjoy seeing the giraffes and gorillas and the birds and loves going on the carousel. We rode the train, which seemed like a good idea and he was really excited...until we went in a fairly long tunnel....something that I think reminded him of the car-wash (he loved going to the car wash when he was younger, but is now terrified. This started in July - we tried again about a week ago and he's starting to understand that it's not so scary, but was still really nervous)...and then he was really nervous the rest of the ride, looking for another tunnel. Overall, it was a fun trip (and we got a great deal at the Doubletree in Marietta!). This weekend, we stayed closer to home, but got to play at the Concord Mills play area (and ride the carousel and the train - really cool little train) and today we went to "Africa" at the Asheboro NC Zoo. Joel actually wanted to go an auction nearby in Ramseur, so after the auction, we headed over to the zoo. A fun, but short, weekend (if only the weekend was 5 days and the work week only 2...). We are still firming up plans for Thanksgiving.....we like to keep things a bit spontaneous - a cruise maybe, a tropical island, maybe Europe - Belgium or Italy are candidates at the moment. We also really want to head back to Disney (were supposed to for Columbus Day weekend, but we're hosting tailgating....) - hopefully MLK weekend in January.

I'm hoping to update this more frequently - such a great way to record all of the changes and fun that comes with raising a baby! :-)

Where did the summer go?

So, where did the summer go? It's amazing that it's September already....we had a very busy summer...and I'm sure the business is likely to continue since we're throwing a baby shower for Marshall at the house in a couple of weeks (her and husband Mike are expecting their first on Oct 22nd) and now we're in WFU football season, I'm sure we'll be heading to some games. Oh, and Joel is going back to school on Saturdays for a certification. It is going to be Christmas before I know it...hopefully I don't miss Halloween and Thanksgiving on the way :-)

So, how have we spent the last two months? We had a great visit w/ the Coogan family in July and then spent a week in Chicago in August and then Labor Day weekend up at the Biltmore and in Beech Mtn (we've gotten away more this year w/ baby than the last couple w/o...amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it). Joel and I have gone out a couple of times to the movies or dinner and we have a new daytime babysitter. Our previous babysitter (before Bridgie) was expected to come back once Bridgie went back to FL (we still miss her) but not surprisingly her mom made her find another job in the meantime....though she neglected to tell me this until the Fri before I expected her back (we had already set up time...). So, no babysitter.....Ben was and is still sleeping really well during the day (and night) so it wasn't that big a deal but obviously frustrating. Well, in the end it worked out well. A friend of ours has found herself unemployed and although it is not a long-term solution works very well in the near term. Sharla is a friend of ours and Ben has a babysitter. Although he is attached to me, he has not yet really started w/ bad separation anxiety (and hopefully won't...). At night, all he wants is mommy but otherwise he's pretty easy-going and generally will go to anyone (especially girls LOL).

In Ben's world, he is developing leaps and bounds. He has 2 more teeth (the top 2) which both popped out right after Labor Day weekend (poor baby). He is sitting up and going from belly or back to sitting really well - it's amazing how easily they can do that.....He is almost crawling though not yet. He can get his belly off the ground and rock but then kind of lunges forward. So, he can move but not very gracefully (and luckily not very quickly....). He is really moving in the walker though and loves chasing Graham (the golden retriever). He loves being outside and it is cute how he "walks" over to the back door in his walker and looks out. Sharla, his babysitter, takes him on walks and to the park. He has really started enjoying the swing though is still indifferent about the slide. In addition to a new babysitter, Ben has also gotten a new RED stroller (the Joovy Kooper - I LOVE it!) and a new blow-up duck tub - it seemed like the best option since he likes to lounge in the tub - I wanted to get one of those sitting positioners but I don't think he would be as happy in that as he is in the duck (and the beak quacks!). Ben is also pulling himself up - which he just started this week! I can't believe it....he is going to be walking and talking before we know it. Though no "real" words yet, he definitely communicates. He started over the last week "singing".....it's really cute to hear these little high pitched noises that sound very much like either Rock-a-bye baby or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (ok, to hear it, it would be like having to squint to see something meaningful in abstract art.....but it is "singing" nevertheless). He babbles quite a bit and we're hoping one of these days that he's going to say mama and dada with some meaning!

Ben in his Joovy Kooper:


So, since my last post, Ben has gotten two more teeth, is sitting up unsupported really well (at about 6 1/2 month) and is scooting around on his belly / back - he does this thing where he kinda of lunges forward and half rolls and somehow gets across the room though he is not really a mover. He much prefers to stay in one spot and investigate whatever is in front of him or to watch something that is a little further away. He is not officially crawling yet but I think it will be anyday. . Not only is the summer over, but so is September - kids have been back in school over a month. I just can't believe it. I suppose I say that every month but time really is just evaporating before my eyes. We had a fun and very busy summer - we had Bridgie w/ us for 6 wks and then Annie for 2 wks and then went to Carowinds and then spent a week in Chicago (maybe a future home...). We spent Labor Day visiting the Biltmore House in Asheville and then went to see my mom and Johnny in Beech Mtn. We had a couple more date nights and brought Ben to his first Wake football game (vs. Elon). We also threw a baby shower for our friend Marshall - her and husband Mike are expecting their first Oct 22nd.

The clan at Carowinds:

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Another exciting couple of weeks.....two Fridays ago, we left NC for FL...to see Aunt Bernadette graduate from HS.

Joel suggested that we spend a little more time than just the weekend so we could visit w/ Grandpa and the aunts (doesn't that sound like some type of cheesy band?). Anyway, he originally suggested 2 weeks, but I thought that was too long for Daddy to be away from Mommy and baby. So, we decided 10 days was a good amount of time to visit, and that Aunt Bridgette would come back with us to spend a couple of weeks helping w/ the baby.

So, last Friday, we drove w/ Daddy to the airport and met up with Grandma to fly to FL. We drove to GSP in SC b/c the flight was unbelieveably cheap...we flew Allegiant Air (I think I should have minority stock options the amount of times my family has flown them in the last 2 yrs). Although it stinks to have to drive 1 1/2 hrs to the airport, the price can't be beat AND it's a direct flight. It was right around Ben's nap time when we took off; he nursed on the tarmac and was asleep by take-off. He slept right through until we were landing. I think his ears bothered him a little but he was a trooper. He slept the majority of the trip home as well though woke a couple of times and was twitching his head in a funny way making me think his ears were bothering him as we started to descend.

While we were in FL, Benjamin took his first dip in a pool - in his cool little board shorts and wetsuit top. He also went in the Gulf and swam w/ the sting rays - he is such a happy baby but is very serious when he's checking something out - he was sitting in the water kicking his feet and was just mesmerized - it was so cute. I had a lot of fun at the beach too! We had a great visit and enjoyed spending time w/ Dan and the girls. We were lucky to be able to bring Bridgette back w/ us for the next 6 weeks and will have Annie come visit in 2 weeks for a couple of weeks before the rest of the family comes up and then they all leave July 27th.

Checking out the water (and stingrays) with Grandpa:

Hanging in the water with Mommy:

All tuckered out:


I can't believe how much Ben is changing every day. Not only do I think he's growing like a weed, but he wants to eat everything (the list of tasted foods includes: strawberries, lemons, pickles, fries, soft pretzel, green beans - whole, graham cracker, apple....he wants to try everything - hopefully he will hang on to this adventurous appetite).
Sucking on a lemon at Houlihans:

He is also moving around like crazy. He kicks his legs and swings his arms like he wants to take off and when you put him on the floor, he moves around A LOT! On his belly, he will scoot forward and around 360 degrees - he pushes him self up with his arms straight and then will lunge one of his arms forward and is on the move. He also rocks a bit on his knees but thankfully hasn't figured out how to move his legs in conjunction with his arms (though I swear he looks like he's going to start crawling soon). On his back, he grabs his feet and swings side to side. He is almost rolling over from his back to his belly but his one arm seems to get in the way and when he is almost over he seems to get distracted and then will try going the opposite way for a while. I'm wondering if he will start rolling over and over once he gets from his back to his belly or if he will just scoot on his belly. He is also talking a lot more (love's Joel's "Benjamin" song and sings w/ him). He slept well in FL though stayed up a lot later than usual - we'll see how well he does getting back to his usual schedule.....

Look at the chunky baby legs on the slide:

First Vacation

Last weekend we went to Atlanta. Joel's birthday was Saturday and he decided to take Friday off and that we should go to Atlanta. I had never been to Atlanta and Joel had only been there once for business, so we wanted to go back to explore. Aside from the cold rain, it was a lot of fun - Ben's first vacation!

At the Coke Museum:


On Friday, we went to the High Museum of Art to see the Louvre exhibit and Terracotta Army (we got the audio guide and discovered that they have a special audio tour for kids....I found this a lot more entertaining than the adult version :-) ) I carried Ben in the carrier and he slept the first half of our visit, ate, and then I put him in forward facing and showed him some art in the second half of our visit (I'm sure he was captivated....) On Saturday, we went to the Georgia Aquarium (disappointed that the penguins and dolphins were on sabbatical)and the World of Coke (that was really cool though the 4-D ride was a little rougher than I expected). We got the citi-pass and had planned to do another attraction, but they were forecasting the biggest southeast snow storm in the last 4-5 yrs so we decided to get on the road early Sunday to head back to Charlotte (we wound up getting about 5" of snow...).

Ben seemed to really enjoy the Aquarium. He was sleeping when we got there but then he woke up and I took him out of his seat to hold him up and show him the fish. I think he liked the dark rooms that were lit by the large tanks. I think the colors and lighting were soothing if nothing else. Who knows how much of it he could really take in but he was good and we enjoyed the aquarium - Joel had a great time trying to get the perfect fish portrait...LOL We went to the Deepo 4-D show (Nemo knock-off) and it worked out well as a place to nurse Ben and for us to get off our feet for a bit.

At the Aquarium:




We stayed at a Residence Inn which was nice because they have a nice hot breakfast buffet. Ben also slept in the Pack and Play for the first time. He probably spent more time in bed with us but either way he slept really well - doing a 5 hr stretch each night. He has continued this at home, but he's been going down for the night between 7 and 8 so we haven't necessarily been able to take full advantage of it yet....

32 Weeks - Aruba!

We spent the past 5 days in Aruba - what a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving! The weather was beautiful, the water amazing, and it was nice to just get away... It was such a great trip, though there were those minor discomforts of being 32 weeks pregnant :-) Luckily, we had direct flights to and from Aruba. I slept most of the way there and back thankfully, because when I was awake I could not get myself comfortable on the plane. All in all, the bit of discomfort was well worth the 5 days on the island!!! LOL



We stayed at a Westin right on the beach and really enjoyed just being beach bums most of the time we were there.
We spent one day with a Jeep exploring the island, which was a blast - definitely took the road less traveled (if you can even call it a road!) Joel also got to go out on a waverunner for the first time - I wish I would've been able to get a picture, but I couldn't see him from the beach. He did come back soaked and seemed to have a good time. Next time we're definitely going para-sailing (I haven't been since I was about 12, and he's NEVER gone!) The only thing I wish we did that we didn't get to was snorkeling.






Unfortunately, as nice as the weather was, we couldn't seem to get a decent sunset the whole time we were there. Joel was really looking forward to getting some sunset pics w/ his new camera, so he was upset, but that means we'll just have to go back! :-) Overall, the trip was a great choice - we could've eaten on the premises but it was nice to get out and see some of the "strip". The walk to the restaurants was just the right length - any longer and I would've had a hard time making it back! We also took the bus into Oranjestad, which in itself was fun b/c the bus must travel at least 60 mph between stops, in conjunction with the condition of the roads makes for an interesting expedition.


It was 80+ and sunny the whole time in Aruba w/ a delightful island breeze.....well, that just doesn't compare to 40 and brisk back in Charlotte....I think we're already contemplating a trip back with baby! :-)

As far as baby goes, according to Babycenter: By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.

31 weeks - Day 1 Orientation

Today, there are exactly 60 days until my due date....I suppose that ordinarily that may seem like a long time, but in terms of pregnancy time, it's just around the corner. I am very excited and definitely getting to the point where I really want to meet this little person growing inside of me. :-)

Today also marked my first day as an official associate at BOA, which meant that I spent the day in orientation. Since I've actually been with the bank since April, I knew most of what they went over, but I really enjoyed the facilitators and it was fun to do something a little different (and I got my ID picture taken and my lapel pin - I FEEL official LOL!) Right now, I am actually in the computer room at Joel's office - I didn't want to pick up the keys and then walk over to the car (it's dreary and cold out today and I've already transversed Charlotte a couple of times today) so I figured I would catch up on my e-mail and add a post here while I had some free time.

As of Friday, I am 31 weeks pregnant. According to Babycenter, "This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy." I really looked forward to the Dr. appts before I could feel baby move because hearing the heartbeat helped quell my anxiety about the baby being ok, but now they just are what they are. The baby is moving around so much that I know he or she is doing ok in there. I can't believe that the baby is going to at least double in size before my due date....I already feel like baby is squished in there and that my belly is huge.....I can't imagine what the heck I'm going to look like in January!!

Yesterday, we drove up to Winston-Salem because Grandma drove down and is staying with Chrissy through Thanksgiving. We got to see Grandma and Chrissy and the kids (I was explaining multiplication to Megan and the little pip asked "How did we get on this topic?" It was cute, but I bet she will be a handful in the classroom by the time she gets to algebra!). We also stopped in to see Dad and Linda. It was a nice trip, but a lot of driving for what seemed like short visits. It'll be nice when we have Saturday and Sunday to plan these things - that way if we spend one day going up to visit, we still have the other to just "chill" :-) Saturday was great though -it was the LAST day of Marketing. I handed in my research paper, did my presentation, and was glad to be done. I don't have any more deliverables for Strategy, so for the next 1 1/2 Saturdays (after Thanksgiving), I just have to show up and look interested :-) It will be really nice to be done w/ school. I'm happy to have my MBA (and has paid off nicely w/ regard to my new job) but also happy to almost have my Saturdays back.

In other news, we decided what we're going to do for Thanksgiving. I think Joel enjoys the thrill of waiting until the last minute to pull the trigger :-) Last Wed, he booked a trip to Aruba :-) I have never been there so I am VERY excited. We are staying in a Westin (they have the BEST beds!) on the beach!!! The island is only 19 miles long (at its longest) and 6 miles wide (at its widest) so I think it will be a lot of fun to explore. We will be leaving the morning of Thanksgiving and returning Tues night. I am SOOOOOO excited! I really want to get a little bit of color - I'm hoping a tan will hide the veins a bit (I had some before the pregnancy, but as expected, they have only gotten worse - ugh!). So, we are going on a "Babymoon". I will say it again, I am SOOOO excited! :-) Joel is bringing his new camera (and we bought a tripod) so I'm sure we'll have tons of pictures to add to our Shutterfly album and I will be sure to post next week!