happy 4th of july!

It's July already... Time flies.

Yesterday we went to a bbq at Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop Reif's house. We got to see Aunt Carol, Aunt Margie, Mom-Mom, Aunt Dori, Aunt Mo, Uncle Joe, Grandmom, Uncle Ron, Uncle Bob, Aunt Rose... and the Carters! Ben had fun grinning at everyone.


Today we went to a parade in Haddon Heights. It was fun... and LOUD! The whole gang was there.


We got to see Cousin Lizzie, Uncle Joe, Cousin Jackson, Aunt Kelly and Baby Hannah!

more obx.

Danielle took some great pictures while we were in the Outer Banks last week, and I wanted to show you some. Thank you Auntie D!

big boy

Ben had a doctor's appointment today, his 10-month checkup.


He's now 24 pounds, 6 ounces. For a boy his age, the pediatrician told us, he's in the 90th percentile for weight and the 97th for height. He again remarked that he couldn't believe Ben was a preemie. Ben, of course, gave him a toothy grin (he has two more coming in on the bottom). He's pretty proud of himself.

outer banks

We were in the Outer Banks this past weekend with our friends Jeff and Danielle, their daughter Cambelle, and Danielle's family. It was great! Ben got his first taste of the beach... and of sand.


Ben also got to play with Cambelle, though for the first few days he was in no mood to play with anybody. He had a little bit of a fever and wasn't really himself. Here they are, on our last full day, getting used to each other:


Soon enough, though, Cambelle was trying to teach him how to stand up. He's not all that good at it yet - his legs are pretty wobbly, and he does have cankles... He watches her and tries it out (a little unsuccessfully).


Ben's first 'trick' that we're working on... asking him, "How big is Benjamin?"

SO BIG!!! Granted, he'll occasionally throw his arms up without being prompted, and then we clap and tell him how big he is and then he gets all excited. He's a cutie.

And here Chris is with Ben, on our last night there. My boys!

recap

Happy Father's Day! I hope you've had a nice weekend. My dad came up to visit and we had a great time. He helped make our 'backyard' beautiful by planting lots of flowers and plants in containers for us. It looks great.

I still haven't been able to upload any of our videos... so to the anonymous poster who wants to see more of Sophie and Ben, I'm working on it!

In the meantime, a recap.

Ben's all boy. He's not a mama's boy - in fact, he's way too busy being interested in other stuff to even want to hang out with me. I try to snuggle close with him, get a hug, a kiss (he bites a cheek here and there if I let him) - but no dice. Here are two pictures to prove it. He'd really rather just be on the floor, crawling around.


Sophie and Ben watch Uncle Dan play xbox.


Ben likes edamame.


The child likes to relax, people. Don't hassle him while he's relaxing. This was Saturday morning, at the end of our walk. The way he was sitting was funny enough that Chris grabbed the camera. Ben tolerated it.


Ben at his lunchtime photoshoot.


Dad's subjects aren't paying attention to him. Sorry, Dad. (Ben picked out his special shirt for Father's Day. He digs his dad.)


Ben and dad, Father's Day 2007. My boys.


... and Sophie, trying to get outside because she's missing all the fun.