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Long long long time ago....

Hello blog world this is Ben  aka Jenni's hubby. I am posting an update because after having Tipp in our lives time seems to fly by and I noticed that it has been too long since the last update. A lot has has happened since December! Our sweet boy has now started to crawl, wave, and today understand sign language and relay his needs this way! We did the sign language for "more" and he repeated it today! Super exciting to see our boy grow and develop, but a little bit sad to see him grow so fast. A stage in his life is about to be over and the next is coming up way to fast. This reminds me of my mom and how she  loves to hug my neck, and now I know why, because when she can via the help of stairs, it makes that moment feel like she is still holding that small little baby a long time ago. When I hold my son, I know one day I won't be able to hold him like this for ever and a hug around the neck might be the next best option. 

Our son like I said before is starting to crawl and it is fun and funny to watch. It is more of a "just got shot in the leg" using only my arms kind of crawl but hey he is going forward and that  makes us proud! Since Christmas time we have had the pleasure  or not of  Tipp's daycare sickness,  and doing this whole "parent" thing for the first time has put a toll on our saneness. Not knowing what to do exactly we resort to doctors, friends, family, and blogs to help our boy during his times of being sick. At times it feels like, we have been in the past 3 months in the doctor's office more than in our own bed!

Recently our boy turned 9 months old and it seems just like yesterday that we celebrated his half year mark, soon he will be a year old! At the beginning,  my thought process was oh I can't wait till he is old enough to play ball, golf, soccer, or help me brew beer! haha But know I notice myself craving and wanting him to stay small and hold him a little bit longer. I guess Jenni and I are learning just as much as Tipp is but for us it is how and what to do right for him, but for him it is what and how this world works! 

Besides Tipp activities, Jenni and Marianne ran the Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Run and they did very well! Tipp and I cheered them on!  I recently turned a year older = 31, but I find my son's upcoming bday way more important than mine! 

FYI he loves laugh and that might be the best part of our day! 

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Above is me at on the left at 7 months and Tipp on the right at 8 months. 

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

This is the Christmas I have been waiting years for!  The one where we will celebrate as a family of three, just as Joseph and Mary did so many years ago while holding their baby early in the morning in the manger.  And now that I have a son of my own – I think it means so much more…more than I actually describe!

Over the next few days I am looking forward to many firsts – Tipp’s first Christmas Eve Church service, Our first Christmas morning of bounding down the stairs to see what Santa left, the first of many gifts with Tipp’s name on them from “Mommy & Daddy”, taking Tipp in his adorable Christmas outfit to visit family and hopefully a White Christmas (a first for all of us)!

Luckily I have the next 10 days off to spend with Tipp…so let Christmas Vacation begin!!  We have lots of fun things planned – but secretly I want to be snowed in with no where to go.

Happy 5 Months!

Yes – this is a little late considering we are halfway to 6 months, but such is the life of a working mother!  I cannot believe Baby T is 5 months old.  He has cut his first tooth and another one is on the way! 

We are now getting much more structure to our lives and it’s quite possible that it is the result of me returning to work.  Going back was easier than the anticipation, but there have been a few days when I would just love to stay at home all day playing with Tipp!  Ben keeps Tipp Monday, Tuesday and Fridays.  On Wednesday and Thursdays he goes to Nana’s house.  They usually have fun playing, cooking, running errands or just hanging out with the girls after school.  I’d say we have settled into a nice little routine.

My first day off was Veteran’s Day and it was heavenly to spend the day with Tipp doing what we used to do.  We both snuggled in bed and slept in until 730am.  We spent the morning watching The Today Show and Kathi Lee & Hoda, then went shopping with Aunt Sara. 

We have adjusted to nursing and pumping while I am at work and so far that is going well.  I cannot believe my initial goal of 6 months is coming up! 

This month has been filled with visitors and weekends away.  We took Tipp to the Outer Banks for the first time while Ben and I ran the OBX Half Marathon.  We celebrated Halloween in Sanford at a big neighborhood party.  Tipp rode the hayride to trick or treat for a few houses, then decided he would much rather ride in the comfort of his own car seat.  We also survived daylight savings time – which is a curse to anyone with children!

Tipp is “talking” a lot more, reaches well for objects and can sit with assistance.  He also loves his Jumperoo and can finally reach the ground to bounce.

Holiday Wishes Made Easy

As the holidays are sneaking up on us and I’m thinking more and more about simplicity this year, I have fallen in love with Shutterfly holiday cards.  Every year Ben and I take a picture to send in a Christmas card to our family and friends.  Many of you may remember last year’s card where we “announced” the upcoming arrival of Tipp by standing in front of our Christmas tree holding one of the first ultrasounds we had of our baby. 

For over 5 years now, I have used Shutterfly as a means to upload and store photos, print pictures, and make photobooks for our wedding, vacations and other special moments.  After Tipp’s arrival I made it easy on myself and ordered his birth announcements - I could not have been more thrilled with them and they were a piece of cake to make!  Never mind the quick turn around!  Typically for Christmas cards I find them on sale the previous year, print each photo and stuff them myself.  But, this year I think I would much rather let someone else do that work and spend the time with Tipp. 

I love receiving Christmas cards, especially with photos of our family and friends.  As our families are growing it is a treat to see updates, as well as get personalized wishes for the Holidays and New Year.   And honestly, my first thought when we found out we were expecting was being able to send adorable Holiday photo cards featuring Tipp year and after year!  This year Shutterfly has so many bright and cheery designs that I do not know how we will narrow down our choice.  They range from classy to whimsical and have cards to fit every personality.  Here are a few of my favorite designs:

Perfect with 5 pictures…because how could I ever choose just one of Tipp!

So classy…now we just need a family picture!

I love this one…I have dreamed of a holiday picture in black and white with Tipp laying in a pile of lights! 

Now the only other hard part will be narrowing down my favorite photo or photos of Tipp to send! 

Happy 4 Months!

Tipp-

Oh My Goodness…I can’t believe you are 4 months old!  You are no longer a newborn and growing into such a big boy with a bright personality.  Although at times you are very unpredictable…when you decide you want something – you want it NOW!  That must be a Stafford trait!

It’s been a busy month with lots of milestones for you.  You have discovered your hands, started reaching for toys and you can roll over!  Mostly you enjoy rolling over from back to front, then get frustrated being on your belly.  Once on your belly you have gotten great at pushing up onto your elbows and holding your head up.  As soon as I can flip you back you have rolled back to your belly.  You have also started bearing weight on your legs and love “standing up.”

We had your 4 month appointment where you weighed 12 lbs and 4/5 oz…still at 10%, but gaining appropriately.  You are 25 inches tall and your head is 16 1/2 inches…both are in the 50% range.  We are learning you are going to be a lean baby!  In the past month breastfeeding has gotten a lot easier and you have become an efficient nurser, but becoming more distractible!  You also got 3 vaccines, which made for a sad and fussy evening.  You were so pitiful and we felt so sorry for how bad you felt. 

You spent your 4 month birthday weekend in Williamsburg shopping with me and Gommy.  You were such a trooper spending 10 hours shopping with the girls and everyone thought you were so cute.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend with the ladies since next year you will be having a boys weekend with Daddy – he missed you so much!

I am enjoying every second with you as the next few weeks are the last of me being at home.  Even when you wake up at 5am for the day, I look forward to bringing you to bed with me and dozing together while you nurse.  I also love playing with you and making you smile…I could stare at your smile all day as literally smile with your entire face.

 

We love you Baby T and look forward to what the next month brings to our lives!

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Gracing the cover of the newest Cooking Light was Peanut Butter Banana Bread…a perfect idea for the extremely ripe bananas I threw into the freezer the morning Tipp was born.  I had planned on making an extra loaf of banana bread, but time got away from me.  Whenever I have ripe bananas, but no time to make banana bread, I peel the bananas and freeze them in chunks. 

This issue had several versions of Banana bread including a Bananas Foster recipe, which I think we will making very soon!

The Peanut Butter version was awesome!  I could have drank the icing!

Peanut Butter Banana Bread (Cooking Light)

Bread:

• 1 1/2  cups  mashed ripe banana
• 1/3  cup  plain fat-free yogurt
• 1/3  cup  creamy peanut butter
• 3  tablespoons  butter, melted
• 2  large eggs
• 1/2  cup  granulated sugar
• 1/2  cup  packed brown sugar
• 6.75  ounces  all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/4  cup  ground flaxseed
• 3/4  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground allspice
• 2  tablespoons  chopped dry-roasted peanuts
• Cooking spray

Glaze:

• 1/3  cup  powdered sugar
• 1  tablespoon  1% low-fat milk
• 1  tablespoon  creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare bread, combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed. Add granulated and brown sugars; beat until blended.

Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through allspice) in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to banana mixture; beat just until blended. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan; cool.

To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar, milk, and 1 tablespoon peanut butter in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over bread.

Tipp Rolling Over

Sunday morning, Tipp rolled over for the first time and since then he has not stopped!  He is best at rolling from back to belly, then gets frustrated…he hates tummy time!  As soon as I help him roll to his back again-he rolls over to his tummy.  He is quite proud of himself and smiles immediately after his “trick” then gets fussy out of frustration.  Luckily he is forced to get more tummy time and in the past few days he has been able to push up on his elbows more.

Monday, he kept rolling over anytime I turned away even if just for a second!  But, I finally caught it on camera very early Tuesday morning.  I guess we will start trying to wean him from his Swaddle Me soon and take the bumpers out of the crib as he gets more and more mobile!