Somone is getting Big!!!

Benjamin is getting so big so fast, here are a couple images of our growing Peanut!!

A Whole Hand!!!

This year Jack turned 5... A WHOLE HAND... I am not sure how that happened so quickly but sure enough we officially have a big boy in our midst. Due to all of the craziness with the Christmas and New Year's holiday we decided to have a birthday party for Jack in January. We celebrated on Jack's actual birthday by going to the bounce house and then having a small gathering and Gigi & Pop Pop's house to have cake. There was a specific request for vanilla cake with strawberry frosting, which of course went uneaten by the birthday boy who doesn't actually like cake ;) but Mommy knew that would happen.



The gel for writing was really melty !!



For Jack's January party we decided to celebrate at the place where he takes gymnastics classes, Kinetic Kids. It was a great idea because all of the kids got to burn off some pent up winter energy. We were so lucky because in addition to our awesome cousins Dean and Lillian, Aunt Nitu, Uncle Gautam and Asher were able to come visit from Boston too. Unfortunately, Uncle Gautam wasn't feeling very well and didn't get to come to the party. It was extra special because Jack's friends from the neighborhood were able to celebrate with us too, Leticia, Nathan, Andrew, Dantae and Gianna were all there to have fun doing gymnastics too. They got to do fun things like swing on the bars, jump on the trampoline and go through an obstacle course that Ms. Sally set up for them. It was a great day for Jack and we were thankful that all of his friends were able to celebrate with him.

 

 



Christmas and the Ruby Red Sneakers

This year Jack did not have an extensive list for Santa, there were just two items that he really wanted. Ok, so you would think it would be some kind of car or Transformer knowing Jack, but nope...he wanted Red Puma Sneakers and a "J" necklace adorned with "jewels" that he had seen at Kmart. Being his father's child Santa could understand Jack's request for the sneakers as Daddy is also quite obsessed with shoes as well. Jack was very concerned that Santa would not remember the Red Pumas that he made an effort each day to remind Mommy to tell Santa that these sneakers were the only thing he wanted! And the necklace, yeah, not so sure about that one, maybe his fashion influence is Mr. T :) Of course on Christmas morning before the rest of the family could wake up Jack ran downstairs to examine the gifts that Santa left and proceeded to bring them upstairs one by one and leave them in a pile next to Mommy & Daddy's bed. Of course he had already singled out that box which he assumed (correctly) contained the Red Pumas. We were blessed this year celebrate Benjamin's first Christmas and we are so grateful for all of the gifts that Santa brought and that were given to us by our family.

Christmas is Coming

So boys, we have so much to update!! Mommy hasn't been too prompt in updating our blog! So, this year we were super lucky because we had a very special delivery from the North Pole. A couple of days after Thanksgiving Jack woke up to a visitor in his room, Judd the Elf. Santa sent Judd to keep an eye on our family leading up to Christmas and to let him know if we were being naughty or nice. Little did we know that Judd had some tricks up his sleeve to entertain us while he visited. One night Jack woke up to find that Judd had decorated his room with some new Christmas decorations!

Everyone was super excited about that especially because we found two new ornaments for the tree, one that had Jack's name on it and one that said Benjamin's name.  Another morning we awoke to see that Judd was leading a parade of matchbox cars out of Jack's room and into the hallway!!!

Another day Judd decided to have a slumber party with the other stuffed animals in the house.

Even though Benjamin can't really be naughty yet...(yet.....) Judd visited his room and stole some goodies for there as well.

We were also very lucky because Judd was very generous to our family. He brought us Christmas movies, PJ's, a Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar as well as special Christmas mugs!!

And he must have known how much we all love Scooby Doo because Judd went on a case with Mystery, Inc. and captured Santa and Rudolph in a trap!!

We were all very sad when Judd had to go back to the North Pole after Christmas so Judd hung around for a little while but we can't wait until he comes again next year!!!





That Thing You Do

Oh my little Benjamin. While I can't express how appreciative I am that you are now sleeping from 8:30 p.m. until about 5:30 a.m. I would be even more appreciative if you could just sleep maybe like 45 minutes longer o.k. Well, at that magical (albeit) early hour there is this thing that you do. After you have eaten you start to get sleepy again and I know I should get back up and put you back in your bed, but, some days I just don't and those are the best days. See, you do this thing, this wonderful little thing that I love. Just as you are falling asleep you always reach out and grab my hand or my arm and then you finally give in and go back to sleep. Some days you even reach out and put your tiny little hand on my cheek. Most of the time I fall back asleep too and Daddy finds us fast asleep holding hands when he comes back from the gym to get ready for work. I just wanted you to know that I love that moment and I know when you get bigger I will remember it but you might not, thank you for those moments.
Love Always,
Mommy





Oh "Tan"enbaum

Generally when its time for Christmas Trees it's generally pretty cold here in Connecticut. This year, however, we are having some freakish weather, including a giant snowstorm in October. Well, after bundling the kids up and getting my fur-lined Uggs ready for our annual trip to Jones' Tree Farm to pick out our tree I realized that it was possible we may have been a little bit overdressed. Where in years past we were bundled in our scarves and mittens and fought some bitter, whipping wind, this year we had a balmy, super-sunshiny 70 degree day! It was a beautiful day for being outdoors but definitely weird for picking a tree :)


Daddy was the only one smart enough to wear sunglasses

In past years we have gotten pretty big trees and have had some definite "experiences" getting the tree up in the house. (Daddy will tell you all about it when you are older!!) So, this year we decided to maybe get a smaller tree. Lucky for us it didn't take too long to find one that was just right. We found it with no tears, yelling or swearing, can you belive it?



We tried to take some family pictures so we would remember Benjamin's first Christmas Tree but we were half-blind from the sun.

And here is a picture of our 2011 Christmas Tree! Christmas here we come!!!!!



It's a Funny Thing

One of the joys of watching your baby grow up is seeing those first smiles, hearing those first giggles, and watching their eyes light up in recognition when you walk in a room. Of course there is also that sweet baby smell, and the gentle reassurance of your baby's breath as he breathes while sleeping on your chest. Just this week in just such a moment Daddy turned his head and said, "Some people just don't deserve Benjamin's smiles, he is just too sweet for some of the rude people in this world." And while its possible that I might be biased I do think that Benjamin is just the sweetest, happiest little boy on the whole planet.