Thirteen Months

Bennett's Likes: Scrunching up his face when smiling, saying "psss psss psss" to Chase and Daisy, walking while holding on to one finger, rubbing his face onto blankets, ice cream, running while pushing his Lion Walker, pushing anything that moves as a walker

Bennett's Dislikes: Being on an airplane

Not So Sure About: Still won't sit still for pictures

Weight: TBD
Length: TBD
Clothing Size: 12 Months
Diaper Size: Size 4
Eating Habits: Breakfast is still the same- 5 mini pancakes, 2 turkey sausage links and a banana (or any other fruit) most mornings, he grazes more for lunch and dinner.  He absolutely LOVES pizza, and he will eat any snack we give him.  Lately, he's into Mommy's Fruit Smoothies in the morning
Sleep: He sleeps from 8:30-8:30 most nights
Accomplishments: Says"uck" for every truck that he sees (also includes cars and SUVs at this point), knows where his nose and tongue are

Bennett took his first plane ride on a trip to Aruba for a vacation.  Other than the plane (hard to keep a one year old content for over five hours) he had a great time!! Here are some pictures from the trip!

 

Six Months

 
 

Bennett's Likes: Daddy makes me giggle all the time, grabbing faces, holding his cheek up against our cheeks, sucking in his bottom lip, all of his new Christmas toys, fuzzy sleepers, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, putting his hands in his mouth ALL the time, constantly blowing raspberries, being a teapot in the "I'm A Little Teapot" song

Bennett's Dislikes: The cold lasted way too long, our poor little sicky!

Not So Sure About: Restaurants- sometimes he likes to sleep through them, and sometimes he liked to be super active and nosey

Weight: Will update after our appointment on 1/19
Length: Will update after our appointment on 1/22
Clothing Size: 3-6 Months still, will make the switch soon to 6-9 month clothes, but we did move to 9 month sleepers
Diaper Size: Still in 2s
Eating Habits: Bennett is eating 5 ounces during the day, 7 ounces at night
Sleep: With his cold, he was waking up again during the night, poor baby!  He's back to sleeping through the night most nights, and if he does wake up, his paci does the trick
Accomplishments: Twisting clicky toys, started oatmeal, and started veggies (peas, green beans and squash so far), rolls both ways, had his first Christmas, discovered his kitty cats and the dogs at Aunt Lee Lee's

Some pictures from the month and Bennett's first Christmas!

Five Months

Bennett's Likes: Found his feet, holding his bottle, burping, electronics, laughing on the changing table when getting dressed or changed, his high chair and oatmeal, splashing in the bath tub, jumping in the exersaucer, his paci, his lovey

Bennett's Dislikes: His first cold :-(

Not So Sure About: Tears up occasionally at sad songs

Weight: We measured 18.5 pounds
Length: We measured 26.5 inches
Clothing Size: 3-6 Months or 6 Months if it's a brand like Carters
Diaper Size: Started 2s this month
Eating Habits: B is eating 5.5 ounces during the day, 7 ounces at night
Sleep: Most nights he's asleep around 9:30 and will get up at 5:45 if we have to take him to Aunt Lee Lee's or will sleep until closer to 7 if he's staying here and Gigi or Aunt Meghan are coming.  He had a few days of getting up again during the night, but it didn't last too long
Accomplishments: Holding his bottle, finding the toys on his car seat and pulling them down to make them rattle, jumping in the exersaucer, being great on a trip to and from Virginia Beach, loves his first Christmas Tree

Some pictures from this month

Four Months

 
 

Bennett's Likes: Still his lovey, holding onto peoples hands or Daddy's face (especially when he's eating), covering his face when he is napping, Mam "butterfly" type pacifiers, holding onto ties and sweatshirt strings, smiling behind his pacifier, giggling on the changing table, his hands

Bennett's Dislikes: Absolutely LOST IT at his 4 month appointment.  It's my fault because he was hungry and I saved his milk until after he got his shots which caused a meltdown on the scale, a meltdown in the room and an even bigger meltdown after the shots.  Poor guy, his Mama is so mean!

Not So Sure About: Sad songs, getting better at being on his belly, but still not totally sure about it

Weight: 16 pounds and 2 ounces
Length: We measured 25 inches
Clothing Size: 3-6 Months
Diaper Size: Finishing up the open pack of 1s and then we are onto 2s
Eating Habits: B is eating 5 ounces during the day and 6 ounces before bed
Sleep: About 9-10 hours a night, typically 9 pm - 7 am unless we have to get him up to leave for school. He is sleeping in his crib with a crib wedge and the insert from his pack and play under his crib sheet to prevent him from scooting around
Accomplishments: Giggling, sleeping in his big boy crib, starting to put his hands on his bottle when he eats, sitting up pretty well, rolling from belly to back

Some pictures from the month

Three Months

Three months have flown by and we're getting into the swing of things and what our new normal has become.  Our baby boy has so much more of a personality now and we are enjoying every moment!  There are times that I feel like I'm missing out on so much by going to work everyday, but I know I have to work to be able to provide the life for him that I want him to have.

 

 

Hmmm... if I destroy this, she has to be done taking pictures!

Bennett's Likes: His new lovey (as seen in the pictures below), smiling, cooing, his hands, being a milk monster, bath time, lights, his Sit Me Up seat

Bennett's Dislikes: Being in the car for trips (the max seems to be 3 hours)

Not So Sure About: Those long car trips... verdict is still out on that one

Weight: No official Doctors weight (we go in November for 4 months) but we weighed him over 14 pounds!
Length: We measured 25 inches
Clothing Size: 0-3 Months
Diaper Size: 1
Eating Habits: B is eating 4.5 ounces during the day and 5 ounces before bed
Sleep: About 9-10 hours a night, typically 9 pm - 7 am unless we have to get him up to leave for school. Still sleeping in the newborn insert of the pack and play, although he's getting too long for it now
Accomplishments: Holding his head up like a champ, interacting by "talking" back to people when they talk to him, first few belly laughs

Some pictures from the month

Until next month...

Two Months

It's hard to believe our boy is two months old already!  We've survived the first round of shots (more tears shed by Mommy than Bennett) and it feels like he's learning something new everyday!

  

 

Bennett's Likes: Smiling, sleeping through the night, sleeping snuggled up on people's chests, still fuzzy sleepers and sacks, ceiling fans, the Ergo, blowing bubbles, cooing, being outside, taking a bath, snoring, car rides, sleeping in the pack and play in my room, my playmat, meeting my cousins, my rock and play

Some pictures from the month

Bennett's Dislikes: Shots (for about 15 seconds), being naked for my weight on the scale at the doctors (result = screaming and possibly peeing), being woken up at 5:30 to get ready for a school day when I'm not ready to get up

Not so sure about: Strangers... I like to stare at them but I won't smile

Weight: 12 pounds 14 ounces (76%)
Length: 24 inches (81%)
Clothing Size: 0-3 Months
Diaper Size: 1

One Month

Bennett Scott is one month old already!

 

Bennett's Likes: Cuddles, being swaddled at night, fuzzy sleepers and blankets, farting, burping, shaking my head like a "shark" at my pacifier or bottle, fans, lights on the ceiling and out the window, my swing, my Wubbanub, sleeping with my mouth open, rolling my eyes back in my head when I sleep, starting to coo, smiling with half of my face at my Mom and Dad.

Bennett's Dislikes: Being naked, being too hot or cold

Not so sure about: Bath time (verdict is still out on that one, but I do take my baths pretty seriously)

Weight: 10 pounds 6 ounces (62%)
Length: 23 inches (91%)
Clothing Size: 0-3 Months
Diaper Size: Newborn

4 Weeks

It is absolutely crazy to think that my little bugaboo will be one month old tomorrow!  We have been doing weekly pictures, and will continue monthly pictures once we hit tomorrow :-)

The last month has been so bittersweet and full of emotions.  I have experienced nights in the beginning where I just cried and cried worrying something may happen to our baby in his sleep (please tell me I'm not the only crazy one) or just cried watching Jason with his son.  He has been absolutely amazing with him.  Since he didn't grow up around babies like I did, he was nervous, but he has absolutely blown me away by how great he is with Bennett and how much he loves him.  I can't tell you how many times a day I hear "he is seriously the most gorgeous baby alive" or "he makes me so happy."  Of course the lack of sleep was something to get used to, but we seem to have gotten a plan down with night routines and feedings, so it hasn't been too bad.  Once school starts I may change my mind, haha.

I will try to post monthly updates and pictures, but for now, here is the progression of our sweet boy from Week 1 to Week 4.  These pictures are so special to us but break our hearts at the same time when we see how fast he's grown.

40 Weeks

 

How far along?: 40 Weeks
Baby's size: Up to the size of a jackfruit, but also the size of Daisy who would only pose for one picture with me, but I guess it's better than nothing! :-)
Total weight gain/loss: 35
Stretch marks?: Still a tiger
Sleep?: Anxious about induction so not too much sleep
Maternity clothes?: Yep
Best moment this week: The end is in sight!  We are starting the induction process tomorrow (Tuesday 7/8) which is why I'm doing this post early
Worst Moment: Realizing that I won't go into labor naturally like most people to start the process :-(
Symptoms: Stuffy nose at night and RIDICULOUSLY hot when I sleep
Cravings?: I ate way too many dill pickle chips this week
Miss Anything?: Nothing in particular
Movement: Really big rolls that make my whole stomach shift
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Nothing much
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Congratulations!  This week marks the official end of your pregnancy.  Your baby probably weighs anywhere from six to nine pounds and measures between 19 and 22 inches (though tons of perfectly healthy babies are smaller or bigger).  The bones in his skull haven't fused yet- Mother Nature's way of making it easier to get through the birth canal during labor and delivery.  He now has enough fat under the skin to maintain his body temperature outside the womb (with a little help from those cute outfits and swaddling blankets that you've been stocking up on!).  You (or actually the placenta) are still providing the antibodies he'll need to fight off infections for the first six months of his life.  And if you plan on breastfeeding, your milk will be giving him more antibodies that'll boost his immune system"

39 Weeks

How far along?: 39 Weeks
Baby's size: Up to the size of a mini watermelon!
Total weight gain/loss: 35
Stretch marks?: Yep, I'm pretty much a tiger at this point
Sleep?: Up every two hours to go to the bathroom.  I did have one sleepless night due to itching too
Maternity clothes?: Yes but even those are getting uncomfortable
Best moment this week: Officially writing this post on my due date!
Worst Moment: I had to go for non-stress tests multiple times this week due to the extreme itching.  I was in Monday and Thursday and the trips took FOREVER!!!  One of the trips took almost 6 hours and I was very annoyed
Symptoms: Swelling
Cravings?: We have just been going out to eat a lot before he gets here since we really won't get to go once he comes
Miss Anything?: Not getting my hopes up with each of these hospital trips hoping that he'll come!
Movement: He is definitely running out of room in there!
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Not really
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Coming down to the wire, your baby weighs around seven to eight pounds and measures 19 to 21 inches. Those measurements won't change much from now on, but his brain is still growing at an astonishing rate, a pace that will continue for the first three years of life. His pink skin has now turned whitish (even babies who'll eventually have darker skin appear whitish now — they haven't yet developed pigment). His head may have dropped into your pelvis by now, which makes your breathing easier but walking harder."

38 Weeks

How far along?: 38 Weeks
Baby's size: Bennett is up to the size of a pumpkin
Total weight gain/loss: About 35
Stretch marks?: TERRIBLE and ridiculously itchy!!
Sleep?: Trying to get as much as I can before B comes, but I get really hot
Maternity clothes?: Yes
Best moment this week: Getting so close now!!  We absolutely cannot wait to meet him!!
Worst Moment: I thought I may be leaking fluid, so I called the OB and they sent me in to the hospital to get checked (Thursday 6/26) but after a few hours of being in there and lots of yucky tests, they sent me home
Symptoms: Congestion, not easy to move around (or accept the help), and lots and lots of swelling in my face!
Cravings?: I will be having a Diet Dr. Pepper and a Turkey Sandwich (possibly a pretzel sandwich) as soon as he is here... mark my words ;-)
Miss Anything?: Not having to huff and puff to get around.  Even being able to get up off the couch will be nice when he comes!
Movement: I am definitely going to miss these movements!  I love watching them!
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Nothing in particular!
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Hey, your little one isn't so little anymore, weighing close to seven pounds and measuring 20 inches long. Fetal development is nearly complete as your baby tends to a few last-minute details like shedding the skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. He's also producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in his lungs from sticking to one another once he starts to breathe. Most of the changes this week are small but important: He’s continuing to add fat (so he can take advantage of all those photo ops by sporting a round, cute baby look!) and fine-tuning his brain and nervous system (so he can deal with all the stimulation that awaits him once he makes his entrance into the world)."

37 Weeks

How far along?: 37 Weeks, Full Term according to some sources!!
Baby's size: Bennett is up to the size of a swiss chard or leek.  When we had my latest specialist appointment the day I turned 37 weeks, B weighed 7 pounds and 3 ounces already!
Total weight gain/loss: Haven't gotten on the scale since it hit 30.  With vacation this week, it's hard to know
Stretch marks?: Looking like a tiger these days
Sleep?: Apparently I'm snoring like crazy, so I'm keeping Jason awake :-(
Maternity clothes?: Yes
Best moment this week: Vacationing with my family at OCNJ.  We weren't sure we were going to be able to come. Also, being cleared from the specialist of my placenta issues.

Worst Moment: Not being able to do everything that everyone else did at the beach
Symptoms: Cramping, acid reflux and back aches
Cravings?: None really
Miss Anything?: Apparently the beach = Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea in my mind, which I can't have due to the artificial sweeteners, so I guess that's what I miss
Movement: He's definitely keeping my on my toes with these movements!  Sometimes he'll get my rip or hip and it makes me stop dead in my tracks
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Nothing really
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Congratulations! You've got what is officially considered a full-term baby, even with three weeks to go. That doesn't mean he's finished growing — in fact, he's still packing on about a half pound a week (at this age, the average fetus weighs about 6.5 pounds). That makes it a little crowded in your uterus, so he’s probably not kicking as much, though he’s probably stretching, rolling a bit, and wiggling (all of which you’ll be able to feel!). Right now, your little superstar is busy rehearsing for his big debut, inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid (to get the lungs ready for that first breath), sucking his thumb (to prepare for that first suckle of milk), blinking, and turning from side to side."

36 Weeks

How far along?: 36 Weeks
Baby's size: Bennett is up to the size of romaine lettuce
Total weight gain/loss: Hit the big, bad 30 :-(
Stretch marks?: Yes, wayyyy too many
Sleep?: What's sleep ;-)  A few hours at a time
Maternity clothes?: Yes
Best moment this week: Spending time with my teammies at school.  Also, since Jason was done school many days before me, he got lots of stuff done and things washed in Bennett's room!
Worst Moment: Throwing up in the middle of the night one night because I ate too late
Symptoms: Same as before... Back aches and acid reflux
Cravings?: Dr. Pepper floats from Taco Bell's Happier Hour!!
Miss Anything?: Maybe soda once or twice but nothing major
Movement: It's insane to watch him roll around.  Jason and I are obsessed with watching my belly
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Nothing in particular
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Forget your aching back (and everything else!) by trying to focus on your baby, who is now about six pounds and 20 inches long, with soft bones and cartilage to allow a safer journey through the exit door. Most of his systems (from circulatory to musculoskeletal) are ready for prime time, though his digestion system — which has done only practice runs so far — will kick into gear as he takes his first suckle at the breast or bottle."

35 Weeks

How far along?: 35 Weeks
Baby's size: Bennett is up to the size of a honeydew
Total weight gain/loss: Up to 28 now
Stretch marks?: Yes and they make me very sad
Sleep?: With Jason's new injury and needing his own stack of pillows, the bed is awfully cramped
Maternity clothes?: The full panel pants folded down have been what I've been doing lately
Best moment this week: Finishing up the school year with my kids
Worst Moment: Jason dislocating his middle finger sliding into home during a baseball game and having to rush him to get it looked at.  Who would have though the almost 9 month pregnant girl would be driving her husband haha
Symptoms: Back aches, acid reflux... the normal
Cravings?: Slushies and party mix
Miss Anything?: Nothing in a particular
Movement: His movements are starting to hurt a good bit.  I'm not sure how he's not ripping my insides apart
Anything making you queasy or sick?: No but Jason's body wash has been smelling exceptionally good, the opposite of queasy/sick I guess.
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Your baby is standing tall (so to speak) this week at about 20 inches and continues his steady weight gain (he’s about 5.5 pounds). While she won't get much longer, she will continue to pack on the pounds — including large amounts of baby fat — right up 'til delivery day. Something else that's moving at a mind-boggling pace these day: fetal brain development! There’s a lot going on inside that tiny head, which is, by the way, still soft to allow an easier exit through the birth canal."

34 Weeks

How far along?: 34 Weeks
Baby's size: BK is the size of a coconut... however, we could only find a small one :-(
Total weight gain/loss: 25
Stretch marks?: Yes, around my belly button :-(
Sleep?: Getting 2-3 hour stretches without peeing
Maternity clothes?: Yes please
Best moment this week: Getting to meet Bennett's BFF Hayden!!
Worst Moment: Sweating my butt off all day long at school
Symptoms: My face has officially started swelling... plus, backaches are back to go with the acid reflux I get at night
Cravings?: I have moved onto Twix this week from my Kit Kats... thank you Easter candy!
Miss Anything?: Nothing really
Movement: BK is definitely running out of room because he is hurting much more as he rolls around
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Not really
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "What's new this week? Your baby is clocking in at five pounds and could be as tall as 20 inches by now, and the vernix (the white coating protecting your baby’s skin) is getting thicker. This week, a boy's testicles start making their way down from his abdomen to their final destination: his scrotum (look out below!). While about three to four percent of boys are born with undescended testicles, it's nothing to worry about — they usually head downtown before junior turns a year old. In other baby-related developments, those tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers by now — and getting ready for that first postpartum manicure."

33 Weeks

How far along?: 33 Weeks
Baby's size: BK is the size of a jimaca and/or a durian fruit... what the heck are those??  Mom was able to find a jicama at Weis, thankfully!  In real news, when we were at the specialist this week, they measured him at 5 pounds, 3 ounces
Total weight gain/loss: Up to 23
Stretch marks?: Found one under my belly when I was recording him moving all around :-(  That was a very sad day
Sleep?: If I can go three hours without needing to pee, I consider it successful.  It's pretty exhausting though!
Maternity clothes?: Of course
Best moment this week: Getting our pictures back from Beth!  Here are some of them!  We are obsessed!!!

Worst Moment: Finding out my placenta is only 2 cm away from my cervix and that's the minimum needed to deliver normally.  They were hoping for more of a move
Symptoms: Backaches and acid, the usual
Cravings?: I had my first meltdown... over fried pickles.  I guess making it almost 34 weeks before the first one is pretty good
Miss Anything?: Nothing comes to mind
Movement: He seems to be restless, always rolling around trying to get comfortable... or that is what I think he's doing.  Some of my students felt his hiccups this week too
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Just smell sensitivity of stinky 8th graders sometimes after gym class ;-)
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Your baby is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week), and he could grow up to another full inch this week. With that much baby inside your uterus, your amniotic-fluid level has maxed out, which explains why some of his pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days. (There's less fluid to cushion the blows.) Antibodies are being passed from you to your little one as he continues to develop her own fetal immune system, which will come in handy once he's outside the womb and fending off all sorts of germs."