Eleven

Was it really one year ago that I was working crazy hours, getting stuck in traffic, stranded in snow storms, and hardly seeing Ben...
all while waddling around and struggling to get my boots on at 37 weeks pregnant?
(Little did I know, I'd go until 41 weeks, ha...ha.)
It seems like a different life...it's hard to even remember life without sweet Abram!

He's 11 months today.

Lately,

He loves clapping his hands--so cute!

He pretty much refuses pureed food.  He wants big boy food.

He is SUCH a daddy's boy!  He cries when Ben leaves in the morning and bolts to the door when he comes home.

He seems to be right-handed.

He has come up with a really funny cheesy smile...he usually does it when he looks over at me before sticking a pine needle in his mouth or pulling an ornament off the tree!

He acts really shy when he meets new people and buries his head in our shirts.

He is days away from walking, I think (today he stood up all by himself for a few seconds)!

He seems to be very aware and observant--I love watching his eyes.

He loves playing peek-a-boo from under the table, behind the chair, around the corner, or under the blankie.
He has mastered going up the stairs!

Here's a few pictures from this month so far:

We made gingerbread houses with the Zirkles (notice the "Z" on the roof)!

It was my first time actually making the gingerbread,

But not the first time I half-closed my eyes in a picture. Ha.

This was one of those times when I appreciate more what my mom does--she has been making several of these every year for, I don't know, 20 years?  Amazing.

We put our Christmas decorations up, and got a real tree again!  It's on the shorter side, but we love it...and our grad-student budget...  :)

Bad lighting, but you get the idea.

Here's that cheesy smile I was talking about...  :)

And again...

And I just love his little nose profile! 

One more month, Abram, and you'll be one whole year old!  

November Recap

Our biggest news first...

Ben accepted a fellowship position at St. Joseph Health System in 

Santa Rosa, California!

We're so excited--it's still very surreal that we'll actually be living there, only one hour from my grandparents and a couple hours away from aunts and uncles!  Every time I've gone to CA, it's been for vacation.

We'll fly out next spring to look for housing, and Ben will start there in July.

We feel so blessed to have a job lined up for after graduation.

Abram and I are so proud of Ben and all of his hard work!

Our next biggest event in November...

we had family pictures taken at Silver Lake nearby.

After posing on a bridge, we stood up and I went to brush some dirt off of my pants.

Well, the dirt flew off.

And so did my wedding ring.

Right through the bridge railing and into the water,

never to be found again.

We went back a few days later and Ben actually jumped in with goggles and attempted to look...but the water was really murky, not to mention freeeezing.  This is November in Minnesota, mind you!

We thought about renting a metal detector, but a security guard told us it would pick up all the fishing hooks...

plus, the temperatures were dropping by the day...

needless to say, we were disappointed, but life goes on.

I'm planning on wearing a $10 ring the rest of my life, and I'm really okay with it!

We enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with the Jones'--one of the yummiest Thanksgivings I've ever had!

Unfortunately, Abram was up all night the night before, so Ben and I were pretty tired, but more concerned about Abram's continuing ear infections (we're on the pathway to tubes...)

Anyway, it was a Thanksgiving to remember.  We are sooo blessed and have so much to be grateful for!

Abram helped me look up some recipes on Thanksgiving morning...  :)

We've had some pretty bitter cold days, but this winter has been nothing like last year so far!  Ben loves to take Abram out on walks...here are my bundled up boys!

Abram enjoyed a little play date with Abe & Jane Gladwell!

Abe was really good at sharing his cars,

and sweet baby Jane was just content as could be!

We're so grateful for all of our wonderful friends and memories we have here in Minnesota...I can't believe we're already leaving in just a few months!

10 Months

A couple days ago,

I went to Abram's crib to wake him up from his nap so we could go teaching with the missionaries 

(poor baby's getting over his 2nd ear infection this season), 

and I was literally startled when I looked in there and saw 

a big, blonde boy in a striped shirt and khakis...

It wasn't that long ago that he was our dark-haired, bitty baby in a onesie!

He's 10 months old this week, and I truly love him more every day.  

I feel so blessed to be his mother--I love to watch his curiosity, determination, and innocence.

New with him:

-He started crawling the day after I wrote his 9-month post.  

-He stood up to the couch for the first time a couple days ago, and now he scoots along it.

-He has the cutest sense of humor!  He loves tilting his head to one side while he's in his high chair, and giggles when we copy him...and does it again and again and again!
-He'll also put his arms straight up and wait for us to tickle him.  :)

-He loves getting food on his hands and rubbing it in his hair.

-He still loves baths and is ALL over the place in the tub!

Mr. Mischevious

-He still likes vegetables better than fruits.
-He still LOVES it when Ben comes home!

He makes the funniest faces!

-He loves when Ben rubs his back or legs and feet--he'll actually sit still for a few minutes!

-He plays peek-a-boo with whoever's sitting behind us in church (he'll smile at them, then bury his face in my shirt, then go back and smile at them again :).

-He "shows" me his toys by holding them out straight in front of him and looking at me...so cute!

Those eyebrows.

-He loves playing "pass" (rolling a tennis ball back and forth with us)...and he's surprisingly good at it.

-He laughs when I give him "eskimo" kisses.

-He loves the vacuum, oddly enough.  He bounces up and down (on his bum) and flails his arms when I turn it on.

-He needs (another) haircut!

Our 10-month-old baby boy...innocent, pure, and sweet as can be.

A 50s Halloween

A quick jaunt to Saver's

plus

a hasty dig through my costume box,

birthed:

A 50s housewife,

her working husband,

and

their house dog.

Cute house dog, I might add,

who may have rubbed his nose off by the time we got to the party.  :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(Oh, and just for old time's sake, here's the link to last year's costumes...when said house dog was still in the womb.  :)

A Twilight Halloween

...And now it's time for some Christmas cheer!

Since we've been back...

Just a few memories since we've been back in Minnesota:

The State Fair, of course!

The annual MHA "fishing" trip up in Brainerd at a beautiful lake.

This is Ben holding Jane & Abram--they're 5 days apart!

We finally made it over to Minnehaha falls for a fun family outing.  :)

A couple weeks ago, we drove 35 minutes to Stillwater, MN, which is right on the border of WI.

It just so happened to be the big Harvest Festival the same day!

We also enjoyed fresh apples and cider donuts at a cute apple orchard.

...and, there was a pumpkin patch nearby, where we stopped to have a hayride!

Ben has been keeping very busy with applying & interviewing for fellowships.  He's in CA right now and has upcoming interviews in MI and OH.

We'll keep you updated!

I recently had fun throwing a double baby shower with a couple of my friends for two wives of students in Ben's program.

It was a lot of fun with a lot of yummy food!

Here's the group, minus me.

...and the group, minus Katie.  :)

Tonight is the second night Ben's been gone for his interview, and Abram and I really miss him!

We feel so blessed to live here in Minnesota among wonderful friends and neighbors and are excited to experience the next few months here...hopefully we don't freeze!