Chester

This past week has been a whirlwind of travel ranging from time on a middle school field trip to time spent with family.

Last Wednesday through Friday Ben and I joined Jeremy on his grade teams' field trip to Haw River State Park. We didn't anticipate that the cold days would actually be as cold as they were, so unfortunately Ben and I saw very little more than the inside of the hotel room. I had really wanted to walk around from activity to activity and help out in whatever way but the weather outside was frightful : ) Our last morning there brought a special surprise of snow! There was a blanket of snow covering the ground - it was beautiful and I wished that Ben could just run around in it and build a little snowman. The same day that we left Haw River we flew down to Pensacola to visit my grandmother, Dee Dee. She and Ben had never met and so that was a very special treat to spend time there. They just smiled at each other all day. If you have never watched Guy Penrod for an hour, you should do that sometime : ) But seriously, we were so thankful to have that time there. Dee Dee said Ben was "warm, heavy and thundering." Very cute.

My mom, Jeremy and I drove the 12.5 hour trip back up in 16.5 hours (stops for dinner, feeding Ben, etc) and arrived in Raleigh shortly before midnight. The trip was actually surprisingly pleasant and seemed much shorter than I had imagined. We played games, listened to music, talked and passed the time with as much positive attitudes and respect towards one another that we could muster. As is the case with all trips, we returned home very tired. And very unprepared for what we would encounter upon entering our home.

As soon as we drove up, I knew something wasn't right. I could see that our front blinds were kind of tangled but dismissed that as normal - caught in the curtain or something. But when we opened the door there was more out of place. Plantation blinds hanging from a single string in the window over the stairs, pieces of which were scattered all over the floor beneath. Food and trash spilled out on the kitchen floor. A lamp knocked over in the bedroom. Things were just not right. We quickly retreated to the car and called 911. The police arrived a few minutes later and entered the house with guns drawn, shouting "Get Back! Get Back!"

Eventually they motioned for us to enter and so my mom stayed outside with Ben and Jeremy and I came in. Our house was 40 degrees because we had been out of town and the heat was off. Together we stood shivering in the living room listening to the police officers try to sort out our little mystery. No, probably not a burglary. Our video camera was in plain sight. The doors and windows had all been locked. One cop held a half eaten apple in his hand covered in sharp indentations akin to a vicious animal and asked if we owned a large dog. Uh, no. Then I noticed that our fireplace door was open and my Mom alerted me that Ben was up in the car and hungry. So while I went out to take care of Ben, Jeremy and the 2 policeman tried to find the culprit.

So what or who tore down our blinds, gnawed at our wood paneling, ruined our upholstery, knocked over a lamp and pooped EVERYWHERE?!?!? I'll tell you. A little squirrel that we decided to call Chester, that's who. Yep, hiding under a blanket in Ben's room on the floor. As soon as they found him and tried to catch him he ran down the stairs and back into the fireplace. That was early Monday morning. Monday night Jeremy took a dead Chester out our front door by a pole and a long rope while my Mom, Ben and I locked ourselves in the bedroom just in case he wasn't really dead. Insurance does not cover the damage. And we have spent the last 2 days cleaning squirrel poop off of everything. If this should ever happen to you, do not fret. Squirrel poop is thankfully very hard. Just imagine if it weren't.

This, combined with a 2 hour wait for a flu shot at my doctor's office with a hungry Ben at home and my first ever time being pulled over (and receiving a $150 ticket) made for a terrible Monday. But today is Tuesday and things are better!

Four Months

Over the last month Ben enjoyed the wonderful company of Grammy and Aunt Morgan who travelled many a mile to come and see him and he met a new friend.

Over the past month Ben had many reasons for quick diaper changes in the car and outgrew a hat (even though his head circumference was in the 25% percentile at the last appointment!)

And also over the last month, Ben experienced many firsts, including his first ever fever (following the 4 month vaccines) and his first time rolling over!!!

It was also his first road trip . . .

His first time seeing fall . . .

His first Halloween (he was a pea in a pod, courtesy of Aunt Morgan!) . . .

His first white squirrel (that is always in the same place on the same road when we go to Hendersonville) . . .

His first time in the mountains . . .

His first nature hike . . .

His first ginourmous house (er, palace) . . .

His first time in a pumpkin patch . . .

And his first pair of jeans : )

And might I add that today as Ben was sitting in his Bouncer in front of the window and I was out sweeping the leaves off the back porch, Ben experienced his first snow! To those in Florida, yes, it was snow! To those north of here, ok, it wasn't really. But you can at least count it as flurries : )

Click this link to see Ben's 3-4 Month old pictures!

The Sick Room

Last week Jeremy was out of work for three days with a nasty virus. Thank you to those of you who knew that and prayed for a swift recovery! He is back at work and feeling 100% better. There was a bit of an appendicitis scare from the doctor, so we were thankful that didn't turn out to be the case.

Then as soon as the sickness was on its way out, we had visitors! Ben's grandma and Aunt Morgan visited for the weekend. They drove all the way up from Tallahassee late Thursday night and were here through lunch Sunday. Ben had a great time showing them all that he had learned since he last saw them at one week old. He smiled, made tons of bubbles, held his head up with lots of strength, grinned at familiar faces and "friends" (i.e. the star music player and ceiling fans) and surprised them with his weight. He enjoyed hearing Grandma howl in a coyote-like manner in her successful attempts at making him smile and having Auntie Mo change and dress him and tell him that she would be his favorite aunt. Over and over again : ) And I enjoyed much-needed time with my Mom and sister talking, laughing, going to lunch and only a little squabbling here and there. Oh, and Jeremy shared his early birthday present from his Mom: The Settlers of Catan. And we played it together three times. And Morgan won twice. And Mom won once. And Jeremy and I were shamed . . . and of course proud of their instant success. I guess . . . Although there was a BIG dispute over a stolen, no taken fairly, no stolen, no . . . wheat. Glad that the two of them could work it out and win and all : )

Another update: Apparently while Mommy was away from home our friend Ryan was over and he and Jeremy made Ben laugh. I tried to get Ben to laugh all day Monday without the tiniest hint of a giggle. Again and again we have tried to replicate the laugh and we haven't heard anything. While I do believe that he laughed, I am eager to hear it myself! We'll keep you posted.

But, the reason for the title of this post is not just because one of my boys has been sick recently, but because they both have! Today was baby Ben's first trip to the "sick area" side of the doctor's office. We had quite a day. He ate his first and second breakfasts as normal but it was all downhill from there. He woke up from his nap SCREAMING and continued to be sad, tears and all, for an hour. It was a long hour. I had no idea what to do. Jeremy was at work and the Internet was not helpful as I searched for the potential problem. I finally decided that though it might be a little early for this, he must be teething. My mom did mention over her stay that I broke my first tooth at three months and one website said that type of thing tends to be hereditary. So I tried to gently pull his little pouting lip out to see the beginnings of a pearly white . . . trying to figure out if each little white speck was a potential tooth. Well, it was 2:30 and he hadn't eaten in a record 4.5 hours and showed no signs of being interested in eating at all, so I called the doctor. They told us to come in thinking that he most likely had an ear infection.

Jeremy met us there and after a checkup (he is now 13 lbs!), the doctor thinks he actually has a virus. A little stomach virus that shouldn't last as long as Jeremy's and really shouldn't have as many terrible parts to it: chills, aches, hot/cold all that. I am thankful because it was hard enough to see Jeremy that sick. I couldn't bare to see Ben shaking from chills. The doctor told us to give him Pedialyte when he doesn't want to eat and he has been asleep since about 4 after 6+ ounces of Pedialyte. I think we are going to have a long night with our little usual sleeper waking up several times. I have mentally prepared myself to be up whenever! Anyway . . . I will stop blabbing. Let me just say that it is hard to see your little baby sick, no matter how sick they are. I hope he gets better soon : ) His little pouty lip just rips my heart right out!

Please pray that Ben gets a good night's sleep and feels better and that his symptoms don't progress or worsen. Thank you and love to you all!

Three Months

Boppy ready? Check. Lights dimmed? Check. Sleep Sheep playing ocean wave sounds? Check. Diaper changed and sleeper on? Check, check. Well, our days may be filled with failed attempts at consistency, but nights are actually a piece of cake. Praise the Lord for that. Our little Ben faithfully sleeps through the night - anywhere from 9 to 11 hours!!! He is still in the bassinet in our room and assumes the same classic position - on his back, arms raised up over his head. After he drools all over his fists and tries to find his thumb, that is.

The car seat used to be a guaranteed baby drowser but it has actually ceased to be that all the time. Sometimes he sleeps in the car seat with Baby Einstein travel tunes playing but at other times he looks around and stares at himself in the mirror with really huge eyes, like 'who is that?!?" Ben is cooing up a storm and smiling in response to us. I like to give him big smiles after he finishes breakfast and he just grins the biggest grin right back up at me and then buries his face in the Boppy. We do that over and over again. It's one of my new favorite games : ) He grins like crazy later in the day, too . . . as soon as Daddy walks in the door and comes over to greet him. It's adorable.

Bubby (Jeremy's mom) came to visit us for a week and Ben really enjoyed his time playing with her! She sang him songs, held him, helped me shop for groceries and let me take showers! We went on a walk around the mall one day and took her to the Farmer's Market. By the way, if you're ever looking for more fried seafood than you could ever possibly eat in one sitting, visit the Seafood Restaurant at the Farmers Market. I am not normally a fried food kind of girl, but I gave in. It was delicious. I had to power walk for days just to feel ok about my arteries again.

Last weekend our neighborhood had a neighborhood-wide yard sale and we got some fun things for Ben including an activity mat with toys hanging down, a bouncy seat that allows me to take a shower while he plays (amazing!) and an exersaucer that he's not quite ready for. I also got a jogging stroller! The yard sale was a smash hit! He LOVES his new toys and actually smiles at the monkey, giraffe, elephant and parrot that all stare down at him while he lays there accidentally swatting them with his hands. Oh, his hands! He has been trying to simultaneously stuff them both in his mouth while COVERING them with drool. It's pretty darn cute. He is soaking the top of all his clothes - just under the chin. He actually has a little blister on his thumb from sucking on it at night so I guess he is becoming quite the faithful thumb sucker. We have tried pacifiers time and time again but he only takes them sporadically.


Ben loves his bath time! Since the first time where he peed in Mommy's face until now . . . he is a water baby for sure. And you know what? Sometimes when he sleeps in his swing, his ears come forward out of the little bear pillow that surrounds his head, and we say "Phelps." Water baby. Phelps ears. Hmm. Nine gold medals anyone? Ha. Proud parents think funny things sometimes I guess.

He still hates the booger ball! Who wouldn't, right? Picture yourself just lying there all happy and suddenly a big scary blue thing is in your face - sucking everything out of your nose. It really must be dreadful, but I only do it so the poor baby can breathe! I will tell him my reasons one day : )

Brief funny story. The other day I (in a very unlady like fashion, I know) let out a long burp. Ben was on my lap and his face wasn't too far from mine. As soon as I was finished he burped really loudly - right back at me. It was awesome.

He is now getting ready to see his Grandma Frick and Aunt Morgan this Thursday and is looking forward to that!

Until next time . . . stay out of people's faces if you have to burp. You never know what they might do in response.

Benjamin's Latest Pics

Two Months

Wow, a lot has happened over the last month of little Ben's life. Some things might just be exciting to us as parents and then of course grandparents will probably think so too. Things like the fact that at 6 weeks Ben started smiling a big toothless smile up at us! He usually does this after a feeding but has been known to sneak them in at other times too. At 8 weeks he turned onto his side twice. We haven't seen him do it again though : ) He will hold onto a chain of links and lift them up into the air. And one night recently I heard a slurping sound that I had heard before but had never looked into - I turned on the nightlight and there he was with his whole thumb in his mouth sucking away. Potential future speech issues aside, it was pretty darn cute. I know, it was my degree . . . I can't help it! But the most thrilling milestone to us would be that he is officially sleeping through the night!!! He falls asleep after his last feeding and has gone up to 9 hours so far. Pretty crazy and wonderful for us all.

Aunt Kacey came to visit last Sunday. We had quite the adventure-packed days with her! Sunday was the strangest day that Ben has ever known (in our opinion at least). Although, he would probably say that his birthday consisting of 3 hours in the birth canal and that shocking bright light following his birth would constitute his strangest day yet. Anyway, he didn't sleep a wink but for 3o minutes twice between 9:30 am and 9 pm. We could not figure out the problem. Our best guess was his schedule being off from church and possible over stimulation there? Or maybe it was a fluke. But, whew! That night in the middle of dinner I got up to get seconds. While up I felt water start to rush over my feet - yep, the washer decided to overflow into the kitchen. The craziest thing was the reason for the small tsunami. Jeremy had taken Oxi-clean (as per my request) and put it in a spray bottle for some quick stain removing in the future. Somehow the combination of the water and chemicals in the Oxi-clean erupted out of the spray bottle and onto the main dial of the washer, causing it to complete the cycle and to start an unnecessary second one onto the floor. Needless to say, we were extremely grateful for the timing of Kacey's visit!

Monday we took Ben to his 2 month check-up. He weighed in at a whopping 11 lbs, 12 oz! And he is now 23 inches long (20 at birth). So, he is growing well and the doctor is happy. However, little Ben was not so happy during the main portion of his appointment - immunizations. Two in one leg, three-in-one shot in the other. Poor little baby turned the brightest shade of red I have ever seen him turn and screamed! I wish that I had known to give him Tylenol before . . . Following the appointment he was actually fine and we came home, had a feeding and went back out for a walk around the mall (and Starbucks of course)! However, after that everything went crazy. He started his next feeding and only 5 minutes into it screamed like never before. I checked his legs and one had swelled up huge and turned really red. Kacey ran out to WalMart and came back with infant Tylenol, after which she was deemed his new favorite person as he drifted off to sleep. Kacey also gave Ben his first ever sticker for a job well done : )

We enjoyed our rainy, hectic, broken washing machine, shot-filled days with Aunt Kacey and miss her incredibly! Thursday we resumed our normal routine - wake-feed-awake time-sleep and last night he slept for 11 hours!!! Ok, time to see if he will do that again tonight : )

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Links to pictures:

Ben - 5 Weeks Old

Ben - 6 Weeks Old

Ben - 7-8 Weeks Old (LOTS of pictures!)

Ben - 2-3 Months Old

Quarter of a Century

Tuesday was my 25th birthday. Jeremy was the first to wish me so. Of course, who else would be up at 3 am?!? I am convinced that there is no sweeter husband than mine. His note on the table was perfect. Mom called at 7:45 wondering if I was awake. She reminisced as she recalled my Dad dreading turning 25. As for me, it feels good. I like the sound of it. Morgan called on her way to campus wondering aloud as to why she enrolled for an 8:35 class. I remember the feeling.



After short conversations with family, I got up to open our bedroom door and immediately wished that Jeremy had opened the blinds in the dining and living room. I just knew that if there had been more sunlight my first thought would have been brighter. And then I opened the blinds myself. Rain! Dreariness! Thankfully I had breakfast plans with a dear friend and so the day was actually off to a great start regardless of the weather. Normally I love rainy days but today I really wanted to see the sun!

Ben and I met Brenda at IHOP for a yummy birthday breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, grits, turkey sausage and coffee. Delicious and Brenda's treat! It was a sweet time and truly made my day! In my opinion there is no better meal to eat out. Ben slept peacefully in his carrier next to me nearly the entire time. I feared that would not be the case based on his first dinner out with Mommy and Daddy last Saturday. (We decided to eat at the family-friendly Chick-Fil-A and soon found ourselves outside at a picnic table!) After IHOP we made a quick stop by the post office and zipped home for his second breakfast. As for me, I was stuffed!

Following his feeding I put Ben in his one of his favorite spots to sleep: his baby swing. This was not possible the day before because of a little accident. We were both glad that the swing was available again.

Mid-afternoon we headed on our way to the dreaded dentist. Dreaded mainly because for some reason I made our appointments back-to-back. I thought one of us could sit in the waiting room with Ben while the other had someone else painfully floss their teeth. After some thought I came to the conclusion that appointments on different days where one of us could stay home with Ben would be better. Oh Mommy Brain!

My appointment was going smoothly until the dentist actually came in. For someone who has only had one cavity in her life, I was in for a shock. Four. And about FIVE more on watch. Some say pregnancy will do that. Maybe it's the water? As for me, I think it's purely genetic. My Mom is a faithful flosser and takes exquisite care of her teeth but frequently leaves appointments with similar news. My Dad does the opposite and gets told to keep taking such good care of his pearly whites. Jeremy drank a gallon of sweet tea all to himself this week and passed his dental inspection with flying colors. In fact, my dental history has been so good that we decided to cancel my dental insurance this year. Yes, great timing. Happy Birthday to me!



Let's just say (for purposes of keeping our marriage OUR marriage) that my birthday did not get better after the dentist. It was a rough evening for the Gardner fam but forgiveness is a beautiful and necessary thing so we recovered.

Jeremy decided that we would re-celebrate my birthday today and it's already been wonderful. He made us french toast this morning and we played each other in Blokus while Ben lay next to us and watched, cooing as I took the lead : ) Jeremy promised that he didn't just let me win. Then we had our favorite sandwiches from Jersey Mikes for lunch and he has an activity planned for later today. I hope it doesn't get rained out again.

Last night some friends came over for games and bday fun. We had a great time. I am so thankful for our wonderful friends here in Raleigh. I cherished the adult time while Ben slept!

Ok, I have about 15 minutes until the little cutie wakes and about 15 million things to do before then . . .

The Little Blues

Last Friday Ben and I took a trip to Daddy's school. We brought him lunch and after awhile the rest of his team joined us. They seem to be a cohesive bunch. Ben and I actually stayed for a portion of their meeting and listened earnestly as they discussed field trips, fundraisers to make the field trips possible and their wishes that field trips were easier to take. The fact that I would rather be there listening in on such conversation should tell you something about the recent loneliness factor at home : )