Bennett's First Halloween!

Most people don't know this about my hunk of a husband, but he's actually a real live cowboy. He even has a degree in cowboy. Like for reals. 

Anyways, when I saw this little costume I just COULD NOT pass it up! I thought I would do something clever and/or creative but this little moo-cow just takes the cake :)

and he's off.. this baby is just not into sitting still anymore!!

B's first rice cereal

"FEED ME!"

We decided to try some rice cereal with Bennett. He is still eating every two hours around the clock, and I'm hoping this will help him stay full a little longer. Especially when it's dark out :)

We bought organic, non genetically modified rice cereal from Sprouts and mixed it with some breastmilk. I didn't notice his tummy being upset at all which I'm thankful for!

He got rice cereal twice today and depending on how our days are going and whether or not he stretches his eating time out then I will decide how often he'll continue to eat it. 

Stay tuned for his 4 month post.. Only two weeks late ;)

Bennett Clark [two/three months]

Sweet Baby Boy,

I will probably say this every month but I can't believe you're 3 months already! You have grown so much and I am beyond in love with you.

I didn't make a two month post, because I got pretty emotional after seeing your pediatrician. You were so little he didn't want to give you your shots, and we had to start supplementing with formula. I didn't realize how attached to breastfeeding I would be until I was told I couldn't. I started pumping and making your bottles half formula and half breast milk for a week, and you gained 6 oz. It was so hard for me to admit we had a problem, but through prayer and some sweet encouragement from friends (thank you girls if you're reading) we got back to our norm, and you gained 2 pounds this month! You are also completely off of the nipple shield which means we don't have to supplement with formula anymore :)

Your grandpa making you laugh. This will happen the rest of your life -- he's a funny guy! (just ask him hehe)

Your cousin Madison. She was so confident and comfortable holding you! Even when you got fussy.

Your sweet cousin Scotty :)

When you were six weeks old, we flew to Seattle and stayed with your Mima and Papa Gi. You were so good on the plane that when we stood up to get off, the man in front of us was surprised to see a baby! You got to meet all my family and friends, and of course they all loved you. You also got spoiled with presents! Every morning my dad would hold you and talk to you until you smiled, he said it made is whole day better. See the kind of affect you already have on people? I pray you will always use kindness and joy first.

This is the closest cousin Will would come to you ;) I bet when we see him at Thanksgiving you two will play!

Cousin Logan giving you kisses.

You and Buddy. He sure does love you.

Nana and you at the park. You are lucky to have a Nana like her!

We flew home and two days later flew to Atlanta with your daddy and stayed with Buddy & Nana. Your Aunt Melissa got to meet you and you immediately were smiling and talking to her! You also met your cousins Logan & Will, who weren't overly interested in you. I can't wait until you're bigger and you three get to play together! Cousins are very special friends, and even though you were tiny I still cherished the time with them.

Over the last two months you have really grown. You smile all the time! And you are soooo close to laughing. I think you're just waiting until your buddy & nana come this week so they can hear it too! You are quite the talker. You talk talk talk talk until you're so tired all you can do is cry for us to put you to sleep. You also are so strong! You prefer standing up, and can completely support yourself except you're so wiggly :) if we sit you down against something, you try so hard to sit-up on your own, I think you will be before we know it.

You and your Mima in La Jolla

Playing airplane with Papa Gi!

One of your favorite things right now (besides your mama) is your activity mat. You kick your legs like crazy when we put you on it. You don't reach for the toys yet, but you love to stare at the mirror. You used to hate tummy time and scream every time we tried, now you don't mind as much. Sometimes you just lay flat and stare around the room, and other times you try to roll over. You have rolled over once this week! You can't seem to do it again yet, but you will!

Playing with your Daddy.

You love binkies and baths! You recently figured out you could play in the bath. You kick kick kick and smile when you're in there. It's the cutest thing!

This week you started sleeping in your own room. You had decided you wanted to eat every hour through the night, so we decided to try your room and see if that helped.. It has! You now wait 2-3 hours between feedings which helps mama out a lot. It was hard for me at first, I missed you sleeping next to our bed, but I know it's the right thing for all of us!

Such a big boy wearing a North Face jacket and Chuck Taylor shoes!

I love how you love me. When you see me, your eyes light up and you scrunch your body up as if saying "I love you so much it takes my whole self to tell you!" We have a lot of fun together and I cherish each day I have with you, getting to love you and watch you grow. Although we have some hard days, when you look at me and smile - just for that moment - everything in the world is right.

I love you so much, Bennett.

xoxo, Mama

"Who needs a binky when I have my hand?"

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from the Harris family! 

We had a wonderful day going to a church we love being a part of, and enjoying a meal with friends on the mountain.

So thankful that Jesus rose for us this day so many years ago! He is Risen!

Bennett Clark [One Month]

My sweet Bennett,

I cannot believe you are already a month old. I waited so long for you and now the days are just flying by. 

You've already changed so much. It makes me sad and excited at the same time, sad that each day goes by so quickly but excited to see the little boy you grow into!

You're very alert right after you eat, and you love to look around the room or at people. You also love to hear your voice! Sometimes when I leave you alone I'll hear you talking to yourself and it makes my heart melt :) When I talk to you a lot you try to respond! 

Around 3 1/2 to 4 weeks you started really smiling a lot. Before that, you'd occasionally smile but I think you didn't know you were. Now we can get you to smile and coo if we talk to you and look in your eyes, it's so fun! You are such a happy baby!

You are so good to us, little man. You sleep lots at night, and you rarely fuss during the day. Unless, of course, your binky falls out, then we hear you! But it takes a lot for you to cry, usually you start off with a cute combination of grunts, pouts, and whines. We are so thankful that you're so content. We prayed you would be easy-going, healthy, and happy and boy did God answer our prayers. 

Baby you've taught me a new kind of love. I miss you when I'm not holding you, but I love to see how happy you make other people when they get to hold you! I could stare at you all day, and sometimes I do. 

You love going to camp and seeing all your friends there, and I'm getting used to everyone touching you (even though I hate germs). You are totally content in your carseat, which we also prayed for since we live so far away! You don't even mind going up the windy mountain road. You love being swaddled, but you are a master at getting your hands out the top. It's pretty adorable how you just wriggle and grunt until you get them out! You don't like your feet being touched, but sometimes Daddy and I touch them just to see you wrinkle them all up.

You love your binky, being held, and nursing. You are perfectly content being in the Moby or Ergo carrier, so we always have those around. We also always have a clean binky handy because you need it, or atleast thats what it seems like you're telling us! When you want it, you scrunch up your nose and breathe in and out really fast while turning your head side to side. It's the cutest thing ever. You have eaten like a pro since day 1, and we are so thankful for that. Again, we prayed you'd be a good nurser and that I'd have plenty of milk and baby, we're doin' it!  We haven't had any issues with nursing and we owe God all the glory for that. I love the bond we have and how I can comfort you so easily.

You're currently asleep next to me, in your Rock n Play that sits next to our bed. You sleep very contently in there, and only a few times a week do you come in our bed with us. That's proof how much your daddy loves you, because before you were born he swore you'd never be in the bed with us. Just this week we decided to try to schedule you a little more, on a 3 hour rotation. So far you're doing ok with it, although I'm pretty lax on the time. It's too hard for me to wake you up when you're sleeping, you're just so angelic.

We get to FaceTime with both grandparents a few times a week. They love getting to see you! It's especially fun now that you smile and talk. 

Some of your nicknames are Little Man, Peanut, Mister, Punkin.. but mostly I call you "baby" or "sweet boy".

  I'm just so glad you're mine, little B. You made me a mommy and I'm doing the best I know how. We're learning together, but I love it. I love figuring you out and the way I know how to console you. You're the sweetest little boy I know, and each day I fall more in love with you even when I think I couldn't love you more.  I love you so much, baby.

xoxo, Mama

Bennett: The First 10 Days

www.bloomingimages.net

Bennett Clark Harris

January 6, 2013 | 6:39 am

6 lbs 14 oz | 20 inches

Wow. I cannot believe my little man is already 10 days old. I feel like each day before he was born took so long, and now time is flying by. I am planning on sharing my birth story as soon as I find time to write it out ;) It's a little different with my new full time job caring for him! 

Being a mom has already completely changed me. Mostly in the selfish department.. there just isn't time to be selfish anymore. He needs me 24/7. He can't take care of himself at all, so I have to be there for him. I'm learning to eat when he's asleep otherwise I don't end up eating lunch until 4pm when I feel ready to pass out. 

It's a cool feeling though, being able to provide for his every need. My body has 100% nurtured him from conception into the world and is continuing to produce food and sustenance for him each day. It's truly amazing how God designed this process! 

Mr Bennett has already changed since the day he was born. The first 3 or 4 days he snorted constantly, which made me giggle all day and night. I loved his little piggy noises! Now I get one or two snorts a day. I hope he keeps doing it though, its so cute! He was skin and bones when he came out, nothing to pinch on his legs, arms, or cheeks. I could feel every rib when I held him. He is starting to fill out and yesterday I even saw the beginnings of a roll on his thigh. I'm so thankful he is getting nutrition from all that eating he's been doing. 

He reacts to sounds and touch; if he hears someone enter the room his eyes will wander that way in curiosity, and when he hears mine or Zach's voice he will look right at us. It's truly amazing. If I touch the right side of his face he will scrunch up his nose and wink that eye, same with the left side. It's adorable.

I'm already completely in love with him. People say it's a different kind of love but I didn't understand. From the day he was born I can't stop staring at him. Every part of his face, hands, feet, everything.. is just perfect to me. I love every silly face he makes. I hurt when he cries, I want to give him everything he ever needs and make it so he never feels pain or sadness. I can't even describe how my heart feels when he smiles, even if I know he doesn't know he's smiling. This tiny tiny human has already stolen my heart. I can't wait to see how much more I fall in love with him as he continues to grow.

We were lucky enough that all four grandparents could be there the day he was born. Zach's parents stayed for four days and mine for a week, it was amazing to have their support, love, and help! My grandpa drove up for a day to meet Bennett. That was so special to me.

Bennett-isms I want to remember:

• his tiny snorts when he is hungry
• the way he sucks in his bottom lip
• his waking up face where he stretches out his neck like a turtle, raises his eyebrows, and purses his lips
• his little singing noises he makes when he eats

Here's our first week and a half through photos...I think I've taken over 200 since he was born!

Getting ready to start pre-induction medicine. Had to snap a before photo :) I was so impressed and amazed and blessed by how well Zach took care of me the whole time.

Zach showing me what he looks like in the recovery room

My first time holding him without the nurse's help. Amazed that the baby in my arms was inside my tummy just minutes before this.

Our first family photo, as we were leaving the hospital {day 3}

Bennett in his coming home outfit. Looks like a teeny tiny old man :)

Poor baby was not ready for the cold wind on his face! 

Bennett's first doctor's appointment, he did amazing! Was up 9 oz from the hospital, which made mama happy. He had lost 14 oz in two days while we were there, so I was pretty concerned he wasn't getting enough food. I felt much better after seeing he had gained some back. (ps this pediatrician was AMAZING. If you live in North San Diego County, he is in 4S ranch and I'd love to pass his info along)

 My side of the family: Zach, me, Mom, Cara (my sister), Papa, Dad, mr B.

Mima rocking him. She was the best at putting him to sleep!

My papa and Bennett! I'm so thankful he was able to come up and meet him when he was just 5 days old.

All wrapped up in the Rock n Play. That thing is AMAZING, infact that's where he is right now. Been asleep for three hours now in it!

This was Bennett at Target the other night. He was SO alert, looking all around as we walked through.

I could seriously watch him sleep for hours. He is so peaceful and precious. 

We had on matching jammies and I didn't even realize it til Zach pointed it out :)

I took this a few minutes ago, I washed his hair this morning and I love how fuzzy it is when it's fresh. Looks like a little chicky :) Also note the double swaddle (swaddleme first, then muslin). So far I'm loving it.

In the hospital we figured out Bennett really likes to suck.. here's my dad consoling him.

deep in thought ;-)

Auntie Cara :)

Passed out on Grandpa

I just had to have a picture of this the other night. I had just fed him, was burping him and the little guy just fell asleep all wrapped up in a ball. I think he wanted back in my tummy with how tiny he wrapped up!

www.bloomingimages.net

My sweet friend Breanna came to visit last weekend and took some newborn photos for us. I've only seen a few but I'm already amazed by them. I looooove this picture of Bennett and me. I still just can't believe I'm a mama :)