Oh My... I'm Slacking!!

So, I just realized that it has been ages since I've updated this. It's been a little crazy in the Sanderson household! Benjamin is growing up so much. He had his 4 month checkup yesterday and everything is looking great.

He weighs 15 lbs, 4 oz; is 25 inches long; and his head is 16 inches. With those measurements... he's right in the 50th percentile!! As you can see from the photo above - he's a little chunker with those cute baby rolls!!

Ben has been really growing up. He's now cooing, giggling and rolling onto his side. He's also bringing everything that he can to his mouth. He is definitely a blanket boy. He loves to pull his blanket into his mouth - and fall asleep with it rubbing his face. He's also starting to grab his feet!! I love that!!

We were lucky enough to make it home for TWO Hawkeye football games. The first one, Grandma & Grandpa Sanderson spent the day with Benjamin. The second one, Benjamin stayed with Grandma Fedeler, Emma & Kendrick.

Well, nothing else really new - except Benjamin's baptism is this weekend. We're looking forward to a weekend filled with family fun. My Grandma is coming along with my parents. Eric's grandparents were set to come down for the event, but his Grandpa is having severe back pains.

I'll try to update this better. It's just been hard with all of the extra hours at work!

Beautiful Weather & A Ball Game

Well - I've been pretty bad about blogging since I've been so busy with work & Ben! So, here's to catching up!!



Monday, Ben and I started going to our new support group meeting. He weighed in at 13 pounds, 12.5 ounces!! What a growing boy! We didn't really have any other big news from last week. I asked for suggestions at group about how to get him back to sleeping through the night. He was waking up earlier for Ben than when I was at home. They suggested I put something that I had worn in the crib with him. It seems to be helping!

He's loving daycare and doing so well with her!! He had one more fussy day this week, but she's very good at calming him!

Last night, we went to the Royals game. Eric got tickets to sit in a suite from a lady he does a lot of work for. It was awesome!! Free tickets, great seats, free food & drink!! Can't go wrong there. Ben did a great job and was happy most of the evening at the game!!



Other than that - nothing really new here. This week is going to be a long one for me. We are down a producer all this week then I'm working on Saturday so one of the other producers can take a weekend off!!

Enjoy some more photos!!
Ben chilling on the couch:

Playing in the exersaucer:

Playing on the floor- he's starting to roll over on his left side!!

First week of work, done!

Well, it's official - I'm back to work!! I have survived my first week back. It went very well and Benjamin did so well at daycare. He only had one fussy day and it wasn't even that bad! And, he's still eating like a champ, but luckily I've been keeping up with him!!

We had a great week together last week on my last week at home! Thursday - we went to visit my friend Lisa at her new house. She was nice enough to take a picture of us together:

Then Friday, we had a little get-together at our house for people at work. It was my bosses last day, so we thought we'd have a going away party for him. Everybody loved our house and it was nice to enjoy it now that it's all finished.

We'll get to see how much Ben weighs on Monday when we start our new support group meetings! He's really starting to figure out his legs and hands. He's starting to put his fists in his mouth. And, he's talking/cooing a LOT!! It's so much fun!

11 Weeks Old

Well, Benjamin & I went to our last daytime group meeting today - I go back to work on Sunday night. We've had such a great time with the girls & their babies at Wednesday group - so it was a little sad. Some of us have been going out to lunch afterward - so we've become pretty close. But, we'll go to a new group on Monday nights twice a month! And our friends Jackie (the mom) & her 7 month old Kylyn are also going to that group!!

Today Ben weighed in at 13 pounds, 7 ounces!! Yikes! He gained 10 ounces from last week! So, he's really growing!

It's been a pretty slow week! I've just been enjoying the time I have left with Benjamin - holding and snuggling him! Eric started doing the overnights & early mornings since he'll have those starting Sunday night!! He's been doing great with it - especially considering Ben woke up at 4am every day this week. He'll get back to sleeping until 6 or 7 - I hope!!

Benjamin had a great time on his tummy the other day - I got this big grin out of him:

And - I started putting him in his exersaucer- with a little help from some padding! He loves it!

Benjamin 2 (85 photos), by Abbie Sanderson

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I'm Behind...

Well, as I usually post on Wednesday's... I've just realized that I'm a bit behind. But, I have a good reason. I've spent this week battling an UTI. Fun!! And, the antibiotics that I am on have made Benjamin's diapers smell pretty bad!

Ben is now 10 weeks old, and I have a week left of maternity leave! He is still growing... he weighed in at 12lbs. 13.5oz. at group on Wednesday. He's been doing great sleeping until last night! Eric said I jinxed myself! Wednesday night he slept from 8:30-5am!! My mom asked me yesterday if I still get the urge to check on him when he sleeps that long. I said "Heck no, I'm getting all the sleep I can, too!" Last night, he only made it until 1:30 :( But, he goes right back to sleep after his feedings, so that's great!!

Last weekend, we moved the cradle into the nursery so I could get some better sleep. Benjamin adapted so well. Then, the second night on his first feeding, I found him smushed in the corner of the cradle. Then, on his second feeding his arm was hanging out the slats and he was flailing it around. The basket was hanging to the side... I decided that was the last time he was sleeping in it. So, he's in the crib now and is doing well with it!! We also rearranged the nursery a bit:

Also last weekend, my brother, his wife & 4 kids visited us! We had a blast. They got here on Wednesday. Thursday was Eric's birthday - so he joined them in going to World's of Fun while I watched Ben & their youngest. Then, they hit Ocean's of Fun Friday. Then we all went to the zoo on Saturday! It was Ben's (and our) first visit to the zoo.

I am getting a little nervous and anxious about going back to work. I return on August 10th. My direct boss (the executive producer) is leaving the Friday before I get back, so I'm going to have some of his responsibilites. It's going to mean a lot more work for me, which I'm nervous about... but I know I can handle it. Plus, I plan to do a stellar job so they look at me more seriously as a candidate for his position!

Well, back to the grind! I'll be sure to update sooner next time!

2 Months Old & A Big Weekend

Well, Benjamin has hit another milestone. He's now 2 months old. He had his check-up today and it went great. He's in the 65th percentile for both head & weight and 50th for length. He did so great with his shots, he only cried for seconds! Then, when we got home, he nursed and passed out! He's been sleeping for 2 hours! He weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 23 inches long!

This past weekend, we visited Eric's family in Atkins for a long weekend. We headed up on Wednesday night and Benjamin slept through the night. He ate at 8pm, fell asleep at 9pm and didn't wake up until 5am.

Thursday, we went to visit some of my old friends at KCRG. It was nice to stop in and see people I haven't seen in a while. Later that evening, Eric's cousins and their children, and his aunt and uncle came by for a BBQ. What a fun night!

Friday night, we went to a very good family friends' house, Mike & LuAnn Kuennen. Their daughter Angie and her 2 children were there, and so was their son Michael. It was so nice to see them, they are like family to me! Benjamin had another champ night that evening. He ate at 6pm, fell asleep at 8 and woke up at 5am!!

Saturday morning, we made a quick visit to Steph & Kyle's in North Liberty. Kendrick had injured himself so we wanted to check in on him. And, Steph had a basket full of goodies (old toys and tons of books). Then, it was on to New Hampton for a baby shower. Benjamin got tons of great clothes & toys and got to meet the rest of the Kuehn family.

Sunday it was time for the Kuehn family reunion. That's Eric's mom's, Wanda, side of the family! We had such a great time and even got some great photos! Here's a peek at all of the action from the weekend:

With Great Grandpa Keuhn:

With Great Gradma Keuhn:

With Ashley Hinson:

Hanging out with Dad in the hotel:



2nd Cousins Mariella & Benjamin:

4 Generations:

Happy Family: