Happy 4 Month Birthday!

Dear Benjamin,

Apologies that this birthday note is several days past your actual 4 month birthday, but I don't think you'll ever know the difference, and we have had a very fun, full, and crazy busy past week!  We just got back from your very first trip (more on that in another post), and you loved the east coast and all the fabulous people there (as did they you).  We wish we could have spent more time with them, but we'll just have to go back soon!

You're SUCH a big boy now - I know that looking back on this, you'll undoubtedly still seem so incredibly tiny, but to us, you seem like such a different baby already.  You are happy as a clam almost all the time - and the sweet smile that lights up your face can make almost anyone melt (not just me!).  We get comments wherever we go about how happy you are, and I am always grateful for each and every one.  You even made it through your first two flights with no tears and only big smiles to give each of the surrounding passengers.  Thank you for that!

You have seemed to grow up so much in the last month.  You have become an incredibly social little boy and almost seem to be bored when it's just dad and me at home with you.  Apparently you only want to use your tears on me! What a little monster we've created!  You love attention and smile at any friendly face, especially the blondes still.  I call you a little ham and you make a sweet bashful face while you bury yourself in my chest.  It's just about the sweetest thing ever.

Your favorite activities these days include:
*  putting just about anything within arms reach into your mouth (mostly your own hands these days, but I'll often find the blanket, a towel, a toy, my clothes, a pillow, my hair, and anything else you can grab in there)

*  standing - this is undoubtedly your favorite thing to do.  If you are upset or bored, we simply stand you up on anything and you'll brighten up.  You have gotten so strong that we barely need to hold you and you'll balance all on your own!  That giant nogen of yours will keep you from actually balancing and standing on your own until the head-body ratio decreases a bit :)

* playing with your "ball" and "phone" - these are the easiest things for you to grab and/or put in your mouth, so you've loved having them near you at most times.  We play games with the "phone" and pretend that your making calls or checking your voicemails.  You know, since you're so busy and all.

sometimes we find you napping like this... looks comfy

  playing with the phone on the plane... (sorry for my annoying voice):

* anything having to do with PEOPLE.  Once you're around them, you're pretty content and happy.  You loved meeting all our old friends this past week and never wanted to nap because of it.  Thankfully, the long days and exhausting social calendar seemed to keep you asleep each night.  (We were grateful for that!!)

* you have really started to love "reading" - you love staring at the pages and I've started to repeat books more often and use ones with real images (i.e. not cartoon) as I've heard that that's helpful at this point in your tiny developing brain, and you seem to love it.

* staring in the mirror - this may come in a close second to standing.  Your face gets up in front of a mirror and you can't stop laughing.  I'm told that you probably won't know it's actually you in there until 6 or 8 months, but since I know you're already an overachiever and all, I like to pretend that you're just smiling at how gorgeous you are :)  This makes our fancy new iPhone even extra handy, because you LOVE the reverse camera and will stare at yourself for quite awhile if need be.

Enjoying some reverse video camera on the plane:

* talking and laughing - as previously mentioned, the sight of your face almost always puts you into a fit of laughter.  But your laughs and squeals come whenever you're happy, and they are SO cute.  We try to hold conversations with you, and you think it's pretty great that people are actually talking back.  I can't even imagine what it's going to be like when you actually respond with real words and not just adorable gurgles and coos.

* hanging out in your new jumper - we found a great one on Craigslist with tons of things to keep you busy... your feet don't quite touch the ground just yet so we sometimes pile blankets underneath you, but you are already learning how to reach for the toys and press the buttons for music!

* grabbing your feet - you love those little feet and toes of yours.  You'll laugh hanging on to them or try to get them in your mouth.  Sometimes I find you singing to them.

* swimming - you're still not totally sure what it is when we take you into the pool, but you've been enjoying the water so far!  We can't wait to take you to the lake this summer :)

Things you're not such a fan of:
* tummy time - no matter how hard we try to get you to like it, you pretty much hate it.  It's not the end of the world for me because frankly I don't want you to crawl any time soon :)  But, I'm told it's very important for you, so we keep giving it the good old college try... we'll see! 
* being hot - you're just like your dad in this respect.  You get hot quickly, and when you do, watch out world... meltdown city.

* burping - all of a sudden you've started absolutely hating this activity that we partake in at least 12 times a day... but, we push through, tears and all.
* being stuck at home with mom - I'm trying not to take things personally, but now that you love people so much, you get pretty fussy and bored at home with just me and Lincoln.  I try to keep you occupied, but sometimes toys and activities just don't make up for the attention you get from friends and family!

Other random things:

You took your first trip with mom and dad a few days ago to North Carolina and Washington, DC.  We were so excited to take you back to the place where we fell in love and the city that holds so many wonderful memories (and will always hold a huge piece of our hearts!).  I was excited to take you around the historical and exciting must-sees of DC, but unfortunately it rained almost the entire time we were there :(  And with all the walking around, you slept comfortably in your stroller most of the time anyway.  We'll get some better pictures next time!  We did at least make it to the National Zoo, Ben's Chili Bowl (not your namesake, btw), the White House, and the Capitol amongst other things... so not all was lost.

don't tell the President you slept through your visit to the White House!

heading to see mom's friends on the Hill

You also met your first politician while we were there on your 4 month birthday - Congressman Cory Gardner, an old friend/co-worker of your mom's from her days in the Senate.  You were just about ready for your nap so didn't want to give us a smile, but it's fun that you met him, nonetheless!
 

You've figured out how to transfer toys from hand to hand, which is pretty fun to watch... and this particular day you got very confused when both hands had toys in them!  You never quite figured out what to do, but it was fun watching you try!

Thank you for being so flexible... you have been such a good boy whenever we need to take you places during your nap time or change you in the car when we're stuck driving for long stretches...

You've gotten pretty strong sitting in your bumbo, and I rarely find you slumping over in it anymore :)

Mom and dad love you SO much Benjamin!  We call you Pooh Bear most of the time, a tradition that started long ago in the Monroe family, and you seem to love it.  You also go by Love Bug, Stinker (#2), and Benji Bear (but I don't think you quite know any of your names just yet!).  Most people can't decide who you look like most, though these days we get more "you look just like your mom" than not.  We'll see as you keep changing.  Can't wait to see what the next month brings!