Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas indeed! We just had a visit from Grandma & Grandpa Perry (all the way from Michigan and several inches of snow), Uncle Winston & Auntie Marisa (from he cold, Windy City) and Uncle Brian & Auntie Kate (over from Dallas). It was great to have everyone here for the holiday and Benjamin really enjoyed the company. He laughed and smiled with everyone, and got a chance to enjoy some of his many presents, for which we are all grateful. It was a special & memorable Christmas for us and we have many pictures for Ben to enjoy once he is old enough to be embarrassed by some of them. Please enjoy some of the highlights, and have a happy, healthy New Year!


The whole family
Clowning around with Grandma and Grandpa
And my crazy fun Auntie Marisa
I can make funny faces, and by the way am SO BIG

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!
My other new friend Curious George
A special gift from my Auntie Kate-nifty Baby Legs (I like to call them my Brit legs)
A nice, brisk walk at Sabino Canyon
The human saguaro
Scary wildlife!
Our last evening's dinner at Zinburger

Holiday plans

Benjamin has had a very busy holiday season. We were in Michigan for 2 weeks, then back to Tucson for a week (enjoying the warmth!) Last week, we went to Albuquerque to visit our friends the Morans, as Auntie Becca was celebrating her 40th birthday. We had many cute pictures from our trip, but they didn't transfer to my computer-you will just have to imagine how great it was with Ben, Parker (5.5 months) and Davis (5 years old) and our 2 dear friends Becca and George. Ben continues to be a great traveler, though his sleep does get somewhat "disrupted" on our trips. While home, however, he is sleeping well and continuing to grow and change. He is extremely vocal now, and Brian and I are certain he has a lot to say (though we can't understand quite what yet.) He is rolling over once in a while, still from front to back, and loves to stand (with assistance, obviously) much more than sitting. In fact, he doesn't even like when the person holding him is sitting-which has made for some long, pacing afternoons for us! We just put together his exersaucer, and he is learning how to enjoy it-pretty hilarious...at least our large textbooks are coming in handy again.

We are preparing for my family to come in for Christmas this week-hopefully Grandma and Grandpa Perry will be able to get here from the cold, VERY snowy Midwest tomorrow morning. We wish all our family and friends a safe, happy Holiday season and a very blessed New Year!

Some snow pictures from Michigan:

Seriously, Mom!

Mommy & Daddy's favorite snow picture-Our little snow angel
And some more photos from home:

Still happy on my playmat

Learning how to use this "exersaucer" thing

Chillin with my dad on the sofa

I only like to walk with all my favorite Homeys!

Rolling over!

Benjamin had a great trip to Grandma & Grandpa Perry's house for Thanksgiving. He was a wonderful traveler, even getting compliments from fellow travelers-

"That is the best behaved, most quiet baby I have ever seen" from our neighbors to the left on our way home, and "I didn't even know he was there" from the traveler in front of us on the way to Kalamazoo. (Thank goodness!)

I apologize for the delay in the blog post, but I forgot some of my favorite pictures from our trip at Grandma's, but those are coming in the mail this week. Needless to say, there were many pictures taken while we were in Michigan.

Benjamin had several playdates-2 with Ella Fargo, one with the Pungs (Caleb, Macie and Anderson) and one with Ella Montoya. Ella M's Grandma brought some cute accessories and clothes for the little ones, and it basically turned into a photo shoot. It snowed a whole lot (6-9 inches) the weekend before we left, and our Tucsonan bones were chilled!

Not that he is spoiled or anything...

Ben & Ella Montoya

What is this cold white stuff, Mommy? I am perplexed-we don't see this in Tucson, do we?

Benjamin rolled over for the first time on Sunday, November 30th (from his front to his back) while on his playmat. We have been encouraging him to continue, with moderate success, and he continues to wow us with his physical prowess!

Sitting in his "Big Boy" chair

Checking himself out on his playmat-handsome little devil, huh!?

We went to a party for Brian's work, and Benjamin pulled out his bling.

We got a fake tree this year (in a dry climate, in an apartment, with carpeting) and have been decorating for my family to come for Christmas. Grandma & Grandpa Perry, Marisa & Winston, Kate & Brian all making the trip to Tucson to celebrate Christmas together. We are hoping to get to Napa early next year to celebrate with Grandma & Grandpa Freeto too. Which present do you think is the best of all?

Benjamin has started making faces that let us know we will be in big trouble once he really knows how to "turn on" the pout...we are hosed!

Benjamin & I are going to Albuquerque this Tuesday to visit our friends the Morans-my dear friend Becca is celebrating her 40th birthday, and we will be there to celebrate with her. We can't wait! Ben is becoming quite the little jet-setter!