Little Fish!

We went SWIMMING! In the middle of freezing, nasty, Michigan February, the Goldfish Swim School in Birmingham is a balmy, 80 degree heated pool baby and toddler swim school haven. And it was wonderful. And Bennett loved it.

With all the fun and excitement and such, he just couldn't manage to close his mouth.

And dad can make the same face


This is Google stock photo material. That is my unbiased opinion.

Lest you think Bennett is being raised by a single father, I requested a moment on the other side of the camera.

And also, I am on a shameless quest for blog comments. I happen to really like them. Kris says that if I had told more than 5 people about this blog, I may have more comments, but to that I say...whatev. So, you're reading this, now feel free click the little comments thing below and write something! And by "feel free," I mean "do it". Even if I don't actually know you. That's fine. :)

In Which Bennett Discovers That Shoelaces Are Cool, But Ipads Are Cooler

All Detroiters know that January = Auto Show Time, which means Kurt came to visit! He brought one of Bennett's cousins, one year old Kaleb, so B got some family time with 1/3 of the Costa Rican crew. Kaleb came with the ubiquitous hit toy among the pre-pre-K set, the Ipad, and almost as cool, shoelaces.

I Heart Other Babies

Bennett has been busy adding to his collection of friends! He made his first girl baby friend, Ariana Rajah. Please excuse his disheveled appearance. He was happier with one foot out.

For My Lone and Faithful Reader, Kurt Johnson Jr.

I figure I may as well start addressing these to you, since you are, I am quite certain, the only one who reads this. So, hi Kurt! Here are some pictures from Puerto Rico...B's getting pretty tall, he's about 30 inches, and 16.5 pounds. He can sit pretty well, and can get himself around on his stomach, (though I've never seen it...I only know because I put him down for a nap and came back and he was halfway across the room! Yikes.) and has started imitating words a bit, mainly "mama." Anyways, now that I know there's a person out there in the world reading this, I will post more often :) Oh, and we got your Christmas card...loved it!

Cider Mill!

We headed to the cider mill to indoctrinate Bennett, so he will learn to eagerly await September like every other true Michigander.

Aunt Tina, Uncle Tori and Toriano were in town, so Bennett got to spend time with one of his two cousins who are his same age (or who will be when we stop counting in months...)

With grandma, grandpa and Toriano...not everyone's figured out how to look at the camera yet.

My child is a bit nosy.



Hanging out with grandpa...and holding hands with Tina.



Of course, I insisted on a family picture.

Such a serious apple.

Back at grandma and grandpa's house in time for Bennett to have manly bonding time watching the game!

First Family Trip!

Kris, Bennett and I ventured out on our first trip as parents. We drove from Michigan to NYC, and thankfully our little one was an excellent traveler!

First we stopped in Niagara Falls. Bennett loved looking at everything from his carrier, and was totally unfazed by the waterfall "rain". Don't judge me for his camo getup...if you are able to distinguish him from his surroundings.

It was a little windy out...





We stopped for a night at Tanglewood where Kris was playing with the Basie Orchestra. Tanglewood is basically an outdoor venue deep in the middle of the forest, so Bennett got to have his first experience with nature!


Bennett had his first restaurant experience at Serendipity in New York. He used his newly developed grabbing at objects skills to stick his hand in the frozen hot chocolate and almost knock it on the floor. Luckily, his intrepid mother would never let good chocolate go to waste, and averted disaster.


Hanging out in the hotel


Outside the best toy store ever - they carry the brands of wooden baby toys we were going to have to order online...this is a very exciting thing in Mom World.


This is what happened when he woke up and heard he got new toys.

This is how Bennett rides the subway. Can't find him? Neither can the germs.


He was so over his receiving blanket haz-mat suit!


On the way home. I think it is important to expose Bennett to culture, but sadly we did not have time to detour.