Halloween Weekend 2011

We had another good relaxing weekend as a family, although that was not entirely what we had planned. Brandon ended up spending most of the weekend sick and vomiting, so we laid pretty low and sanitized and cleaned!!!

Friday during the day I put Bentley in his costume and we trick or treated a few places. We stopped at my work and then we went to see Great Grampa && Aunt Myra at their office. Bentley and Great Grampa had a great time making silly faces and noises together, and they shared many laughs.

Saturday we spent some time with Uncle Alex && Aunt Tiffany.

Amongst being a comedian lately, Bentley is having a ball dressing and undressing himself. Most of the time he is out of his pajamas when I get him out of bed in the morning, if they aren't the full sleeper kind.

 

This morning though, when I took them off so he could walk better, he tried to put them back on, himself.

He is also becoming quite the climber. Anything he can climb onto, into or over is a target of interest. He is on and off the couch now, on his own, he climbs into the fridge, cupboards and can almost get himself in and out of the bathtub (scary!).

And he loves to climb into his racetrack, sit, and then yell because he doesn't kinow how to get himself out.

I am not even going to jinx myself about his climbing in and out of that "thing" he sleeps in at night. So far so good...lets hope it stays that way.... :)

Brandon is starting to feel better already tonight, and so far Bentley and I are in the clear. We are hoping to get out and about and do some trick or treating tomorrow night...just want to make a few stops! :)



RELAXiNG WEEKeND

We had a great weekend relaxing at home as a family. Brandon and I have both been so busy with work, it was nice to just do nothing for a couple days, but enjoy each other as a family.

Earlier in the week we had planned to head up to Whiskey Creek for a halloween party, but after a few days of rain, Brandon ended up working pretty much all day Saturday, so we stayed home. Since Bentley didn't get to wear his costume up there, we put it on him Friday night to make sure it fit and see how he liked it.

Of course, he loved it. He laughed and laughed at himself, and kept trying to get the banana that is sewn to his sleeve to go away, and everytime it was still there. He even fussed when I tried to take it off him, even though his head was soaking wet with sweat from wearing it so long.

He is developing an obsession with our cell phones, as well. They are both touch screen so he loves to "text" and "email" whenever he gets the chance. Bad news? Probably! But for now, he has fun...And he can send his love to Grammy and Grampa while they are in Florida.

Saturday was a GORGEOUS fall day here, so we played outside for a bit, and then I had to snap some 13 month pics.

Now that he is walking, he wants to stand up all the time...yes, even in the bathtub.

He is also learning how to turn the water on and off...

And of course, he never passes up an opportunity to get into something he knows he isn't supposed to!

He even turned around when I called as name, as if he was a bit proud of his naughty-ness.

We have another busy week coming up, but we are looking forward to it. We are also getting excited for Halloween, and looking forward to taking Bentley trick or treating and passing out candy to the neighbor kids.



ITS OFFICIAL!

WE HAVE A WALKER!!!

you can see it with your own eyes...not the best video in the world, but its all I could get for now.

He doesn't take many steps in a row, but he is walking around the house now, in between crashes!!!

Watch out world - he is on the move!!!

[[new]] faces.games.words

Almost every night after we spend some time playing as a family, Brandon and I laugh and smile about the new things Bentley is learning, saying and doing these days. We feel like every day is something new. His little brain must just be in overdrive! :)

Some things I have not been able to capture, but lately, I have been pretty quick with the camera, and the video camera and we have been able to capture some of these new things.

There are a few new "games" he seems really interested in these days. Since we have locks on the cupboards, he can only get them open so far. Well, as you can tell, he like to cram his pacifier in the tiny opening, and then sit and holler until I get it out for him.

He is also into leaving treasures in Brandon's work boots for him. Last week he put his work keys in one boot and truck keys in the other. How appropriate, right? Well as of late, Daddy has also found trucks, pacifiers and some of the dogs toys. This night, he happened to take the laces out of the boots and then place them inside. Sorry Daddy!

Along with some fun new games, we have a fun new face, which we have NO idea where he learned.

Last weekend we went over to Great Gramma's to snag some of her Christmas decorations that she doesnt want anymore. Being a snowbird, she doesn't decorate for Christmas like she used to, so we thought we would relieve her of some of her cool decorations. If you know me at all, you are probably thinking exactly what my Husband said: "MORE Christmas decorations?!" Yes!! I just cant get enough!

Bentley shared some goldfish with G Gram and watched the boats on the lake...and then decided to debut his new "surprised" face for the camera. :)

Yes, he does crawl around, stop, make his suprised face, and keep going.

What a ham!

For a few weeks now, Bentley has been saying "uh oh!", and quite often. Last night we were sitting on the couch watching him play trucks and he turned and said "uh oh WOW!!" Not sure where or why the WOW...but we caught in on video. Give him a minute...of course once the camera came out, we had to beg for him to say it! ;)

We have been super busy lately, again! Life can slow down anytime now! :) We are hoping to start and finish our Christmas shopping in the next few weeks though. What a relief that would be!!!

MoNkEy SeE :::: MoNkEy Do!

Do you think someone watches me closely while I cook and bake??

And then he does this, to check and make sure nothing needs to be stirred...

He is such a monkey!

Pretty quick he is going to weigh enough to bring the door down when he does that. I think I can hear his scream, already!!! ;)

So considering all his "monkey-ish" tendencies these days, we decided he should be a monkey for halloween.

Well, that and I got a smokin deal on this costume!

LOVE LOVE LOVE Target's Daily Deals (and my iPhone app!)

Pretty sure he's gonna be the custest little monkey we have ever seen!

Crane's Orchard

Sunday we went to Crane's Orchard with Brandon's family for Dan's birthday. Its been quite a few years since I have been there, so it was almost like our first time all over again!! It was a BEAUTIFUL day, even a little hot at times, but we had a great time!

We took a hay ride around the orchard and over looking Hutchin's Lake. It was a gorgeous ride and Bentley had a ball waving at everyone in the wagon with us.

We stopped and got off at the Cow Train. What a hoot this was! :) Brandon took Bentley, Chad took Craven and Papa even took Baby Cohen.

Bentley sat perfectly still in the wagon, the entire time we picked, as long as he had an apple in his hands. He ate the skin off all the way around this apple and started on another one before we got done.

I guess we never realized how much he LOVES apples. Good thing Daddy and I picked 26 pounds...there are plenty to go around!

The first one he ate was an Ida Red, but then we picked some Golden Delicious, so Daddy thought he better share that one as well. Actually, Daddy was going to offer a bite, but ended up giving the whole apple to Bentley because he cried when Daddy tried to take it back.

We went into Fennville for lunch at an authentic Mexican Restaurant for Papa's birthday. It was very good food. Bentley thought he would take Nana's fun car for a spin on the way out...

Hope you had an awesome Birthday, Papa! We had a great time celebrating with you! :) We love you lots!!!!! xoxoxo



~13Months~

Bentley Ivan -

You are 13 months old, today, sweet boy. Looking back on the past year, Daddy and I continue to be amazed how much you have changed, learned and grown. You are becoming quite the perfect little man and we couldn't be happier.

You are eating pretty much everything now as you have 12 teeth and are working on getting more. You love string cheese, hot dogs, yogurt, fruit and cereal bars. We haven't found much that you won't eat but a few things you dont seem to care for are carrots and peas. Dad says he can't blame you! :) You are completely off formula and a bottle and you drink warm milk before bed now out of a sippy cup. You are eating 3 meals a day with a few snacks in between, depending on your mood. You are a good eater, so we can't complain a bit about that.

You are still playing with all your trucks and tractors. Our living room often looks like a construction jobsite with all the equipment around. You still make your crazy loud truck noises and now you say tractor, and we think you say truck. You also love to walk around the house with your walker, and you love it when Daddy chases you around and tickles you. You are crawling 100 miles an hour, and almost walking, but not quite. We know it wont be much longer, as you stand on your own and rock back and forth, you just dont take any steps yet. You will walk with our hands and your walker though.

You are wearing 18-24 month clothes, with a few 12 month things yet here and there. You are still in size 3 diapers. You seem to be getting taller lately, but your chubby little thighs don't seem to be trimming down at all. That's okay, Mom loves those little thighs!!!

You are down to one nap, lately you are back to two thought with teething. You are sleeping for about 10 hours at night. We can't complain about your sleeping habits either, you really are a good sleeper. (Mom is VERY thankful for that.)

We look foward to watching you learn how to walk and expand your vocabulary. You are turning into such a little man, and we cant wait to watch you continue to grow.

Love you to the moon and back, sweet boy! xoxo

[[overdue::update]]

It's been a while - again, I pull the BUSY card.

Better that than nothing, I guess...?

Bentley is very close to walking, and has been keeping us on our toes, all the time. He climbs on and off furniture now, can reach on the coffee table and end tables in the living room, and thinks the chairs at the dining room table make a great jungle gym. He has a crazy obsession with going over, under and through, anything that he can. He often gets stuck, and will holler for us to come save him, but he never cries.

He is also starting to jabber alot. This has been very fun for us, because he is starting to repeat what he tell him. He now says "MaMa, Da (Daddy), Dog (sounds like DUH), Tractor (tra-ta), and Uh Oh!" Its been alot of fun to watch him learn these new words and apply them to what he thinks they are.

Friday, I ran some errands and picked up some things to decorate the house for fall. :) Kind of fun!!

Last weekend we went up north for the night on Saturday, just to get away for a bit. Bentley had fun playing with Craven and riding the gator around. We came home at a decent time on Sunday so we could spend the afternoon together as a family. It was nice to get away and do some relaxing with just the three of us since Brandon has been so busy at work again lately.

packing our bag!

Bentley is getting his molars and eye teeth, so he has been very tired and somewhat fussy lately.

He even fell asleep trying to eat lunch. Sweet boy!

This is no new game for us, other than now he is strong enough to lift the lid himself. I actually went to use the bathroom the other day and found a dirty pair of socks in the toilet. Any guesses how they might have gotten there?!?!?

Needless to say, i ordered some toilet locks online, they are on their way! :)

Bentley loves the backroads up north - he gets to help daddy drive! :)

We have another busy weekend ahead, and Bentley gets to have his first sleepover with Auntie Nenna & Uncle Robert. We will try and post again soon!!