11 Weeks

Benjamin continues to be such a sweet and content baby. Several exciting things took place.

• Last Saturday Benjamin had his first road trip - a trip to visit Uncle Kirk, Aunt Kelly, and Aunt Carolyn. It was Parent's Day for Carolyn's softball team and we were going to go watch her game, but the game ended up getting rained out. Grandpa and Grandma along with Uncle Kirk and Aunt Kelly were doing a 5K in the morning, so we just drove up all together and hung out at Kirk and Kelly's apartment all day. It was a fun day spent with family. Kirk and Kelly came to visit Benjamin when he was born, but hadn't seen him since. Of course, he had grown and changed so much! 
• Benjamin did great for both car rides. He ate right before we left and slept the entire time - much to Grandma's dismay! 
• Benjamin took great naps, sleeping in the Moby and on Uncle Kirk and Aunt Kelly's bed. Kirk commented, "Kath, you said he slept a lot, but I didn't think he slept THIS much!" 
• He cooed and talked with Grandpa on the floor and it was so cute. He also "talked" for awhile with Aunt Carolyn. Too cute! 
• This week Benjamin started to LOVE being on his back and playing on his play mat. We have been laying him on his play mat for the last few weeks, but he didn't seem to either like or dislike being on the mat. He really began to enjoy being on the mat this week and will coo and "talk" so much when he is on his mat. 
• Benjamin received a little stitched giraffe from his "Aunt" Julia when he was born. It is so cute and has two little "antlers" mad from ribbon loops. We hooked this giraffe to his play mat using the "antlers" and this is his favorite toy to look at. It has little eyes and one afternoon it was like he was looking the giraffe in the eyes and carrying on a whole conversation with it. He cooed and talked up a storm. Of course, as soon as we pulled out the video camera, he stopped cooing. 
• Another first that took place this week was Benjamin meeting his Great Grandpa and Grandma Riffel. They came to visit for the weekend and we went over and had dinner with them on Thursday evening. He smiled and cooed up a storm for them, which I know they loved. It was so fun to see my grandparents interact with Benjamin. They were so sweet and just loved on him.
• Benjamin also went into the church nursery for the first time this week, actually the Bethel nursery. We we with family to the Easter program at Bethel. At first I thought we would keep him with us, but he had been a little fussy throughout the day. He was pretty happy right before going though, so I went ahead and put him in the nursery. I knew I would have to feed him part way through the program, but I figured it would be nice to be able to enjoy some of the play too. I went to feed him halfway through when they took the offering, but they said he had just fallen asleep, so I decided to let him sleep for a little. He ended up waking up twenty minutes later and they tried to change his diaper - which did not make him a happy camper. As soon as they picked him up he calmed right down though until I came. Overall, he did great. I ended up putting him in the church nursery at New Life on Easter Sunday too.
• We enjoyed lots of time with family and were out late on Thursday and Friday nights, but he did a great job. Love that boy!

Benjamin, you are such a sweet baby and it is so fun to watch you grow up. You are such a sweet baby boy! We love you!