Pumpkin pumpkin

I took my little pumpkin out for a photo shoot on the front porch the other day. . .

(Notice the crack in the pumpkin on the right. . . evidence of our pumpkin smashers. We lost 3 pumpkins to them over the last week and this big one is hanging on for dear life!)

Happy Halloween!

Getting into the Spirit

Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays. . . sure, it's a little bit fun, but it got much better once Hayden came around and I got to dress him up instead of myself! I'm not entirely sure what Hayden thinks of it this year. Pumpkins are okay, but he's scared of ghosts and witches--even the super friendly-looking ones. And I'm not sure how keen he is on dressing up in a costume. When I first mentioned that he'd get to wear his costume later this week, he got a panicked look on his face. As I went on to explain that he'd then get to go say "trick or treat" and get candy while he's all dressed up he seemed much more excited about the whole concept.

So, we're easing into the holiday around here, starting the week with cute little matching shirts from Grandma. . .

I file this one in the "cute" rather than "scary" category. And Hayden seemed convinced of the same!

Ten on Tuesday: Why I love a boy named Ben

Despite the fact that he won't take a nap in his crib during the day and prefers to spend all of his waking hours in your arms, I bring you 10 reasons that I just can't get enough of this little guy right now!

1. Those baby blues. . .

2. How he curls those cutie pie toes up and brings the soles of his feet together. . .

3. How he loves those little feet of his just as much as I do!

4. How he watches the world with wide-eyed wonder,

then has to taste it,

and then has to get up on his knees and inch his way forward to explore something else. . .

(okay, that last one scares me a bit--I'm not nearly ready for him to be crawling yet, but I don't think I have much time before he's motoring all over the place and getting into his big brother's toys)

5. That adorable little baby bum. . .

Complete with dimples!

6. He does a great Superman impression. . .

7. Those sweet and soulful looks. . .

8. How he sticks that little tongue out. . .

9. I mentioned those toes, right?

10. And, finally, how he just can't resist a little taste of them. . .

Oh, I can barely stand the adorableness!

Yummy Yummy Baby Food

Let the mess begin! Benjamin had his first experience with solid food yesterday--rice cereal. Despite the fact that he's been grabbing at our plates and utensils as they carry food to our mouths for the last few weeks, I don't think he really knew what was coming.

And he was not too happy about it!

Once he got control of the spoon himself, though, he started having better time!

When that one landed on the floor, he grabbed for the backup spoon and was just as interested in that one.

He's an old pro with his cup. Well, maybe not yet a "pro" (he's barely proficient at getting it to his mouth) but he has had a few weeks of practice with it. . .

His favorite part of the meal--the damp clean up cloth! He grabbed it right out of my hands as I wiped his mouth and went to town, sucking and chewing on it.

I'm hoping he'll like the actual food part a little bit better tonight!

Taco Night

We had soft tacos for dinner the other night and I am pleased to report that Hayden actually ate them, too. With his history of eating issues, I was thrilled to watch him add diced chicken, avocado, lettuce, cheese, and refried beans to his own tortilla and then roll it up and take a bite.

As you'll notice, he took a huge bite. . . right out of the middle of the taco!

Hmmm. . . what was in this thing again?

Okay, mom, since you keep telling me to take a bite out of the end, I'll try it that way!

Although it was an unconventional way to eat a taco I could not have been more proud of my boy!

Finally!

I've been trying to get a good photo of Benjamin smiling for weeks now. On Sunday, he was all dressed up for church so I thought it would be a good time to give it another shot. At first, I got his standard "mesmerized by the camera" look. . .

And then I thought I was going to get tears. . .

But, he recovered and gave me the best smile!

So good, in fact, that I had to convert it to black and white. . .

Then, I had to put his hat on (and do another conversion). . .

And I even got my big smile again. . .

He's just so adorable, I couldn't help myself. So, a few more photos in both color and black & white. . .

You really can't blame for a Benjamin overload, now, can you? :-)