Grandma Mary and Grandpa Harry's Birthdays

We drove up last weekend to celebrate Grandma Mary's and Grandpa Harry's 79th and 80th birthdays at the Sam's house. The original plan was for just Lamoni and Jason to go since it would be a lot of driving for just a few hours, but as we were leaving for church we all decided to go. So we left at 1:30ish, got there at 4:30 then turned around and came home at 9! It was a nice time, though, and Benjamin of course slept the entire way there and back. He sleeps really well with white noise. That's the only way we can get him to stay asleep at home is to turn on a toy that makes the ocean sound! Luckily Faith thought to give that to us when he was newborn and having difficulty sleeping. The only bad thing is that is has a timer for 45 minutes, so within minutes of it going off he wakes up!

Benjamin is 18 pounds now and puts EVERYTHING in his mouth still. Including cousin Jared's hands. It was the funniest things I've ever witnessed. They were next to each other and Benjamin lunged himself as far sideways as he could and started to grab Jared's sleeve so he could get his hand. Jared was screaming and flailing his arms so Benjamin started screaming because Jared wouldn't give him his hand. Eventually Benjamin one and got his hand and plopped the whole thing in his mouth while Jared was still upset. We laughed so hard. Poor Jared is supposed to be friends with Benjamin, not grow up being scared of him!! It doesn't help that he's so big and makes scary sounds. He also salivates when he there's something that he's trying to reach to eat.

Benjamin attacking Jared

He grabbed Jared's hand and stuck it in his mouth!

Last week (this was written a few weeks ago and I'm just now posting it) I was planning on going to a mommy/baby group at the birth center where Benjamin was supposed to make his appearance. The night before, though, Heidi Smith from church, invited us to go with her and baby Ruth to the library for story and song time for 0-2 year olds. That was fun. There were about 30 babies/parents there! I looked for moms with babies Benjamin's age and talked to them. A few of them were smaller than him but I didn't meet a baby younger than 6 months old and he was 3 months at the time! Everyone comments on how he has such a wise look. He makes eye contact with anyone who talks to him and his big thing now is to grunt back. He thinks he's talking - it's so cute. He also smiles at anyone who will give attention to him and is a big favorite because of that!

Lamoni has been going to school full-time and working still. He just got a raise! School has been hard on him this semester because he has his Associate's now so he had to transfer to Highlands University for his Bachelor's. It's a lot more intense and he doesn't agree with everything that's being taught so it's very draining for him. I'll be excited when he's done (and I'm sure he will too!)! 6-8 more semesters til he has his Master's and can be done!

Grandma Mary, Grandpa Harry and Aunt Marilyn. We gave Grandpa Harry a ride back afterwards and while talking found out that he used to be a code talker in the war! That was neat to learn.

I had to throw this one in there. :-)