You were expecting a post?

As I sat down at the computer, I fully intended to write a post to update you on the cuteness that is Benjamin and all of the very cool things he is doing.

That being said, I will have to postpone my blog writing.  My body is currently not able to handle more than breathing, cuddling, and thinking about sleep.

Mommy, that sounds terrible! It's a good thing you have a cute little guy like me around to help!

My questions about motherhood at this point are:

How is such a small tummy able to produce so much poop!? And where does that smell come from!?

Like the Packers, I am a champion. A champion pooper!

How bad will teething really be since Aaron and I have thought for sure Ben is teething for the past 3 months?

What? I just like to chew on stuff and drool and cry for no apparent reason.

And the biggest question of them all - When will this child take a nap?

I'm not tired. Read book. I'm not tirrrrr...

6 months!

Hi everyone!  It is good to be back, even if this is only a quick post.

Stay very still Daddy.  Maybe if we don't move, Mommy won't notice we're rough housing.

Things are slowly getting back to normal at the Moeller house.  Daddy's surgery went really well.  The surgeons described it as, "better than we had hoped." Hooray!  His recovery is going well and he is up and going for walks with Mommy and Benjamin!

Grandma Linda's surgery went well also.  We received great news that the mass on her ovary was NOT CANCEROUS!!!  Praise God!  Her recovery is going well also though she has been tortured by not being able to lift Ben.

Look at me, Grandma!

Benjamin had his 6 months well visit on August 1.  Here are the stats:

Weight: 16 pounds, 2 ounces (+8 pounds, 11 ounces since birth, 21st percentile)
Height: 28 3/8 inches (+almost 8 inches since birth, 95th percentile)

He is still one long, skinny dude! He is also a mover and shaker!

I was sure this was the way out...

We have done quite a bit since my last post in June.  The biggest highlights are:

He can sit!

I'm a big boy!

He is eating cereal!

I love my cereal!

He can roll in his big boy stroller!

Wee!!!

Well, nap time just ended so I will have to write later.

Tumors stink!

Our little family has been through quite a bit in the past few months.

Aaron was diagnosed with sarcoma, which is a type on cancer, on June 7th, 2011.  This is his second time battling this ugly disease.  His first fight was in 1991 when he was only 8 years old. 

I got to play in the hospital with Daddy when he had his biopsy!

On April 28th, we were told that his routine chest x-ray showed a shadow and they wanted to check it out.  He had a chest CT scan on May 13th, which confirmed a tumor, as did his MRI on May 17th.  On May 25th, he had a thin needle biopsy and the results were that this tumor is cancerous and the type of cancer is a sarcoma.  We met with an oncologist and surgeon on June 16th and they sent him for two more CT scans so they had updated pictures before the surgery.  Fortunately, this appears to be the only tumor, encapsulated (contained), and is operable.  His surgery is scheduled for Friday, July 1 at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.  After surgery, they will be able to determine if he needs chemotherapy or radiation treatment.


In honor of Aaron, Benjamin and I, along with some friends, will be running in the 1st Annual Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma 5K Walk/Run.  If you are interested in running with us on July 17th, you can find information here.  If you want to help, you can donate online here.  Either way, please be sure to indicate that you are running/walking or donating in honor of Aaron Moeller.

I like to hang out with Grandma!

Over Memorial Day weekend, we also found out that my mom, Linda, has a mass on her left ovary.  She has also met with a surgeon and has surgery scheduled for Thursday, June 30th.  During the surgery, they will take a sample of the tissue, do some tests to determine if it is cancerous or benign and will then adjust the surgery as needed.  After the surgery, they will do additional tests if they need to determine if chemotherapy or radiation are necessary.


Needless to say, we have been on our knees in prayer.  God has been faithful to us and granting us "peace that surpasses all understanding."  We ask that you would keep our families in your thoughts and prayers.  I will be sure to keep the blog as up to date as possible.

Leaving the cocoon behind?

Calling all moms!  

No Mommy!  Don't take my swaddle.  See how nicely I'm sleeping!

Benjamin's pediatrician strongly suggested that I stop swaddling Benjamin during his naps even though he is not breaking out of the swaddle.  He is in a sleep sack at night and has been doing great with that.  I am a little sad about the swaddling during naps though, since we just got naptime to go more smoothly.

I tried going cold turkey yesterday and this morning and it did not go well.  He woke up every 30-45 minutes, fussed, cried, and sometimes went back to sleep. He mostly spent his time playing with the side of his crib while verbally telling me how unhappy he was not to be in his burrito.


So, for those of you who have/are swaddling for naps or night time:

How did you wean your baby from the swaddle and when?

4 month check up

Benjamin had his 4 month check up yesterday.  It's about a week after his 4 month birthday but we've been pretty busy at the Moeller house!  He got a thumbs up, as did Mommy and Daddy!  We saw a different doctor and Benjamin flirted the whole time!

4 months and cute as ever!

Here are the stats:
height: 27 in! (+ 6 1/2 inches since birth, 96 percentile )
weight: 14 lb, 5 oz (+ 6 lb, 14 oz since birth, 31 percentile)
head circumference: 42 1/2 cm (+4 1/2 cm since 1 mo, 42 percentile)

This answers my question of why all his sleepers are too short but huge around the middle!  Aaron and I are considering changing his name to Franky (Lanky Franky!).

Hmmm...Franky has a nice ring to it.

He had three more shots and another oral vaccine.  He did great!  He didn't start to cry until the first shot was done and she had already picked up the needle for the second shot.  We snuggled, he slobbered and whined on my shirt, and then ate, and everything was ok again.  He does not have any severe side affects, just a little crabbiness, which we can handle.

Just a little slobber, Mom.

Ben has really been swept up by his discovery of these little dancing things are the end of his legs.  He spends most of his waking hours trying to catch them, with some success as you can see.

Look!  I caught it!

Hey!  It's getting away!

He is also enjoying time in his Bumbo chair, which is a new toy.  It is great because he can sit up and see things around him. He is a curious little boy!

Hello, Mr. Crunchy. You are in my Bumbo seat. You cannot get away from me now!

We also went to Michigan over Memorial Day weekend for Phil and Ashley (Carney) Bentley's wedding!  We took the Megabus to Detroit.  It went really well!

Dad, I have to get ready for my weekend away. You never know who you'll meet at a wedding!

Wow, carrying all this stuff was exhausting!

Sparty came to the reception!

The wedding was beautiful! It was really nice to catch up with some high school friends (Flutie Foursome, what!?) and Benjamin was a huge hit!

I was all done wearing my ceremony outfit so I spit up on it. That got their attention!

Oh yeah!  In my party outfit and ready to go!

Did I say you could stop!? No? Then let's get back to work!

Benjamin and Mommy have been working hard to get Mommy back in shape.  I have already reached my pre-pregnancy weight (yay!) and am now trying to get my running legs back in hopes of running a 5 K with Danielle late summer/early fall and perhaps a half marathon with Erich next spring/summer. Ben has been a great coach!

Catching up on 3+ months

You know it is a good nap day when Mommy can get two blog posts done in one day!

Let's continue to catch up on what Benjamin has been doing lately.

Hello Ladies!

Bath time is becoming more fun since Benjamin is beginning to look around and see what is around him rather than pleading with Mommy to take him out.  He also has started to figure out that when he kicks his feet, Mommy gets wet!

Wow!  I never knew those bottles were there!

Mmmmmm

He has also discovered his hands (oh does he love those fingers, especially the pointer and middle!),

I am sure I can get both of these things in my mouth...

his feet,

Whoa! My feet are quick!

They start us early at the Moeller house

and his toys and books.

Mr. Crunchy!!

The drooling continues.  Aaron and I think he may get teeth early since he is chopping on his fingers, sort of crabby, and drooling like crazy!  We'll see.

Finally, a bib!

My Daddy and I are just chillin'.

Benjamin seems to like to be outside.  He loves to go on walks and sit on our porch with Daddy.

Being carried around on a walk is hard work.

Daddy, Mommy, and me

On May 15th, Benjamin was baptized!  Aaron and I are so happy that is he now a part of the visible church!  We had tons of family members there to witness this joyous event. 

Grandma Linda, Grandpa Mike, Uncle Erich, and Aunt Michelle

Grammy Ellen, Grandpa Bob, Great-Grandpa Roger, and Great-Grandma Joan

Grandma Jen, Grandpa Jim, Aunt Cece, Uncle Cal, Uncle Erich, Aunt Michelle, Great-Grandma Karen, and Great-Grandpa George

Even Benjamin's girlfriend came!

My sweet Hannah and I have the same car seat.  PERFECT!

Benjamin has had a few exciting "firsts" this month!

First time sitting in his highchair.  He even helped Mommy bake (YAY!).

Mommy is really excited about this mixer thing.

First interactive playdate with the Pickett boys.

Mrs. Lauren invited us over for a play date with Noah and Christopher!

First baseball game.  Tigers vs. Pirates.  It was a fitting match up for a Pittsburgher with Michigan parents.

GO TIGERS!!

I've got my hot dog box, my Tigers gear, and my daddy. It's a great day for baseball!

Ready for some baseball!

Benjamin also attended his 2nd wedding and is planning to attend his 3rd this weekend!  Busy busy boy!

My daddy and I coordinate!  And it wasn't even on purpose!

Time to catch up! 2+ months

Well, time has certainly flown by!  We have been a pretty busy family with all of the visitors, trips and things.

Benjamin is now a few days over 4 months but we'll go back in time to see what he has been up to (insert music).

This is going to be fun!

Benjamin has been learning to do a lot of new things, like:

Sitting (with help of course!).  He really likes to sit in Daddy's chair and take a look around.  

I'm such a big boy!

How to coupon!

This couponing stuff really tires me out.

How to drool! He is pretty much a professional at this point.

I think a chin looks best when it is shiny with drool.

That Tummy Time can be fun (*gasp*)!

This smile is not from enjoyment.  It's from...well, I guess I am having fun!

He is getting so big and strong!

I've been working on my muscles.  Check me out!

Benjamin and Mommy went downtown to meet Daddy for lunch on one of the beautiful days we had in April and Benjamin got to ride the incline for the very first time!

Wee!  Up the mountain just in time for a nap!

We also got through our diaper fiasco!  I don't think that needs to be revisited.

Who? Me? Yeah, I guess I did do that.

Benjamin also got to go on his very first car trip!  It took us 8 hours to make the trip from Pittsburgh to Grand Rapids for Easter with Grammy Ellen and Grandpa Bob.  Benjamin was SUCH a good boy!  We really were not sure how the trip was going to go but he did great!  

Well, Mr. Elephant, looks like it's you and me for a while.

It's Grandpa Bob!

He got to meet Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa and some of Daddy's aunts and uncles and cousins and Mommy's friends, Danielle and Jeremy!  It was a busy weekend!

I like to snuggle with my great-grandma but I'm not letting Mommy out of my sight.

Hello friend.  It seems we are headed home.