Benjamin's first Christmas!

I know, I know.  You thought I had forgotten to post the adorable pictures and stories from Ben's first Christmas, right?  Well, I didn't forget because here it is!  Aren't you glad I waited so you can have a little something special to check out in March?

This hard, crunchy thing feels so good on my gums!

I was a necessary assistant in preparing Christmas goodies.

Corduroy Bear and I helped Mommy get the house cleaned up for Christmas.  She really needed my help.

Benjamin had 4 Christmas celebrations for his first Christmas season!  Talk about spoiled!

The first one was the three of us in Pittsburgh the Thursday before Christmas.  Ben loved helping us put up the Christmas tree, as you saw, and did a great job playing with only his ornaments.  He was not a fan of how the actual tree felt, so that helped.  Ben didn't really get the whole opening gifts thing as you will see.  He would rather play with the ribbon and yell at the snow for falling.  He did enjoy playing with his new toys and eating Chinese food for lunch!  We are trying it out as our new family tradition since we travel so much at Christmas. 

3 stockings was such a beautiful thing to see!

Mommy...I mean Santa...was so excited to fill Benjamin's stocking!!

We are so blessed!

You mean I finally get to rip this colored paper!?  Sweet!!!

"No thank you. I would rather play with this ribbon right now over here by myself." - Mommy slowly unwraps his stocking gifts.

I found the pickle so I got to open the first Christmas gift!

I showed Daddy how to do my new puzzle from Great Grandma and Grandpa Scheuerman

I still really like this ribbon.  It is my favorite.

The new books were a "tasty" addition to my library.

Present overload.

I love these balls!  I will play with all of them right now!!!

Wow.

Ok, my new Weeble play set might be my favorite.

The best part about our Christmas was that Daddy was done with treatments!!

Change my mind. The ribbon is still my favorite.

Then we were off to Michigan!  It was quite an adventure getting to Michigan!  We needed work done on our car and it was finished just as we were packing up the rental.  We were happy to have our "truck" back as I am sure we would not have been able to fit all of our new gifts in the back of the jeep! 

Just waiting for our car at Taco Bell. Gee, I wonder who suggested we go there to wait...Daddy!

First stop was Grandpa Bob and Grammy Ellen's house in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the Christmas weekend and a couple extra days.  Uncle Beau and Aunt Tia flew in from Memphis, TN and we got to spend some time with Aaron's aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents! 

Merry Christmas!  This is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

All studly and ready for church.

How many aunts and uncles does it take to get my coat off?  1 Aunt Tia and 1 Uncle Beau!

Our first Christmas picture as a family

Daddy's boy: blue button down and a vest

I really want to touch that thing on your head.

Yes, "Santa" left me a Santa bib in my stocking in Pittsburgh.  I am in the zone.

What could be in a box this big?

A puppy!? I'm not so sure about this guy, Mom.  He seems awfully happy.

I got this one, Dad.  I'm a pro now!

It's like Daddy says, "Nothing says Christmas like a boy with no pants..."

Moeller/Moeller/York family picture

We waited until the day after Christmas to open gifts with Grammy, Grandpa, Aunt Tia, and Uncle Beau.

Reading out of my Bible to remind us of the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.

I've gotta get limber. I hear grandparents are serious when it come to presents!

A guy can get used to opening all these presents.

Check out all my new blocks!  "You may look but no touch."

Whew!  All that gift opening really was a work out.  I've got to get re-hydrated.

Then we trekked across the state to stay 2 nights with Grandpa Jim, Grandma Jen, Aunt Cece and Uncle Cal.

I just don't know if I have it in me for more gifts!

See how carefully I open my gift? You never know what might pop out at you!

It's tough being the first and only grandchild but someone has to do it!

Really Grandma and Grandpa?  You must have missed my memo on the iPhone...

Oh look.  Uncle Cal is sitting patiently, waiting to open his gift...

BEN ATTACK!

Here are I am planning my attack on Aunt Cece.  I'm so sneaky.

We finished our winter wonderland tour of Michigan at Nana Linda and Grandpa Mike's house for New Year's Eve weekend! Uncle Erich and Aunt Michelle came over to open gifts with us.

I'm in this bib again. There better be food or gifts in my very near future.

Food. Good choice.

Aunt Michelle, I said no touch!

I don't know what you are laughing at.  It's a European man bag.

Look!  I found wrapping paper!  I bet there are gifts here!

More Sandra Boynton and Puffies!

Shiny. Paper.

Look Mommy!  My gift came with tissue paper!  What did yours come with?

Yeah, I think I'm good for now with this tissue paper.  It is pretty cool!

Is this one for me!? It's huge!

I've heard of this happening to other kids on their first Christmas.  First, their eyes glaze over,

Then they get a crazy smile on their face,

And lose all sense of self control.

Yup, it seems I got gift drunk!

What? It's got a teal colored strap! I can't help it!

I got out of control yesterday.  I hope those pictures don't come back to haunt me.

Whew!  That's a lot of family, fun, and presents!

Hehe. That was fun! Let's do it again!

A day in the life of Ben

Just a quick update on what Benjamin has been up to today:

Benjamin has been lacking in the desire-to-eat department.  Teeth?  No more that I can tell.  Ear infection?  He's been checked twice.  Upset stomach?  It's been going on for almost 3 weeks!  This morning, Mommy broke out the big guns: homemade banana bread baked just on Saturday night.  Mommy: 1. Benjamin: 0.

Try to resist.  Must resist.  Can't resist!

Benjamin has always liked hats but he usually just wants to pull them off Daddy's head or his own head.  This morning, however, he truly enjoyed wearing Daddy's hat (sometimes on his head, more often over his face) while pulling every one of his books on to the couch to discuss them.  He likes hats like his daddy and likes to talk like his mommy.

I look so studly in my Daddy's hat.

Whoa!  Look at all these books on the couch!  Who did that?

Corduroy Bear is no stranger to the blog.  Blankie is a newer member of the couple we so fondly refer to as "The Guys."  When Benjamin is told to go get "your Guys" before a nap or bedtime, he scours his room for Corduroy Bear and his blankie.  A recent favorite activity is putting things on his head and Blankie is no exception.  It was sad times every time Blankie fell off Benjamin's head.

Little does she know I can see exactly what I'm doing...

Corduroy Bear, can you let me know if I'm going to run in to something?  Thanks Pal.

It fell off my head and I didn't want it to.

I'll never recover from this.  Hold me.

In other non pictured news, Benjamin knows the sounds for cow, sheep (his favorite), horse, and elephant (kinda creepy sounding) and we are working on duck.  He also started to answer the question "Who made you?" with his way of saying "God!"  Benjamin has also figured out that if he throws his balls near the shoes (which he is not allowed to touch), he can get close enough to get a quick poke in before being told not to touch by Mommy and Daddy.  He is such a smart little boy!

Oh, and he ate a stink bug on Sunday.  Yup, a stink bug.  I no longer feel bad giving him nasty tasting vitamins.  A stink bug...that's just gross!

Also, he laughed the entire time I read this post to him and found the part about the stink bug especially funny.  He is a boy.

You thought I was kidding

Friends and Family,

Sorry Christmas and 1st birthday pictures have not been posted yet.  I know it is cruel and unusual punishment to make you wait for such cuteness.  That being said, you'll need to wait a bit longer. I was ambushed by a virus and stuck my head in the sand until Grandpa Mike helped me conquer it.

As I peace offering, I bring this picture of Ben. This picture was taken a year ago today when I had to prop him up in the Boppy!  He has grown so much! Now all my pictures are whirling streaks that sort of resemble a boy on the move...if you squint and look at it upside down.

You mean some day I'll be able to move because I am really doubting that right now.