Food, Glorious Food

We finally invested in a high chair last week and it came not a moment too soon. Benjamin has started to insist on being right next to either me or Cameron at all times. This isn't too horrible, except when I'm trying to make dinner - then we had to get creative.

Now he can sit in his high chair in the kitchen and play while I cook. We also started him on solid foods - or as Cameron calls it, mush. The rice went over all right and he LOVED the sweet potatoes so much he decided to share them with everything around him.

Just Another Day

Climbing Out of His Chair

and Eating the Straps

Wearing his Boots

Sick Day

Playing Computer Games

Eating Sweet Potatoes

Sitting up

P.S. Check out videos on Facebook. They're pretty funny.

Books I Love

The other day someone asked me what my favorite books were and I had to pause and think for awhile. So, after much thought, here are my top ten.

1. Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - I could easily put the first five on this list as Dickens' books but I'll branch out a little bit. This is definitely my favorite by him. I love the crazy characters and the mix of mystery and adventure. I just re-re-re-reread it not too long ago and still love it!

2. My Antonia by Willa Cather - I loved this so much I decided to read everything by Willa Cather. Then I discovered that, while she is very talented, the other books didn't grab me the way this one did.

3. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - I love the book and HATE the movie. The book is all about how revenge and wanting to get even will destroy you, and that forgiveness is the only way to really be free. The movie threw it all out so they could have a happy ending. I'll stick with the book.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Who doesn't love Scout and Boo Radley? For me this book is about realizing that the world is not always just and that the judgments we make at first are not always right.

5. Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Suess - I know, I know. It's just a children's story, but what a children's story it is! Lazy Mazie and Faithful Horton. Dr. Suess was a pretty smart guy.

6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - I fell in love with this book in the first chapter. Poor Jane became amazing Jane.

7. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy - Anyone who can make you love characters named Clement and Thomasin Yeobright and Diggory Venn should be applauded!

8. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - I know lots of people look for and find all kinds of gospel symbolism in these stories, but I just love the magic and the fun story. These are my favorite quick read books.

9. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - So I've only made it through the complete version once but I've read a few abridged versions a few times and I love love love this story. The mercy, the justice. Each time I read it I find myself relating to a different character.

10. Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook - This is my go-to book whenever I try something new. I also pull it off the shelf just to look through all the little tips - choosing and storing fruits and veggies, conversion charts, substitution charts, whether or not margarine would be an okay substitute for real butter, what type of fish gives a strong or a weak flavor, etc.

Growing Up

Everyone always says that babies grow up too fast - I'm starting to believe them. Benjamin is doing great at sitting by himself and has developed his own little system of turning around and scooting to get the things he wants. The other night, I had a dream that he crawled into his bedroom and came out running around and then he was gone. It made me want to hold him in my arms for a little longer.

Me, Myself, and I

Hungry Hungry Hippo

Benjamin has been called many things during his first few months of life. Little man, baby, benjamilamin, little toad, little stinker, silly boy, mama's boy, and many many more. However, lately I have taken to calling him hungry hungry hippo. He's always had a voracious appetite but during our trip to Utah Benjamin chewed on . . .

. . .his new cell-phone on Christmas morning at Grandma Briscoe's house,

a toy while getting his hair cut at Aunt Patti's house,

a candy bar wrapper at Grandma Pace's house,

and a juicy cucumber slice.

Not to mention the piece of celery, numerous blankets, stuffed animals, fingers, books, magazines, and other toys, that went into his mouth.

"He must be teething," you say. Well, according to the doctor he is not but he did gain a pound and a half while we were there. He's just a hungry little hippo.

For Benjamin's Grandmas

Thank you for a wonderful time. We were thoroughly spoiled.

Coke v. Pepsi

Note to appalled grandparents: no sugary beverages were ingested by the baby