As sweet as a Valentine

Ok, so it's a bit past Valentine's Day, but I couldn't help but put these cute pictures up of Ben-bear. I sure hope he stays this happy!

What do you think?

Does Ben look like a Schultz? Or does he look like an Iammartino? More photos coming soon ... Here are some photos of Me when I was younger. I'll post some pictures of Steve when he was a wee-one once I get them scanned.

Stand up & grin and bear-it

I think I have mentioned before how Steve thinks Ben will skip crawling and go right into walking. It's true that Ben shows more interest in standing than sitting. Grandma/Grandpa Schultz have been standing him up in his pack-n-play and he just holds on and has a good ol' time. Steve and I have also noticed that Ben will do the same in the crib if you help him stand and grab on the rails. Although Ben sure likes to stand, I'm still not sure walking will come before crawling, and it seems to me like he has not a lot of interest in doing any but rolling to get where he wants to be. I'm in no rush though, because as soon as he starts really moving we'll have to baby-proof the apartment! I'm just amazed by how much he changes every day; even if he isn't walking yet!


Ben is also testing out his new teeth. Beyond trying out new foods - he likes to give love-bites every once in a while. He'll enthusiastically grab a fist full of hair, or take his little hands and grab either side of your face, and takes a BIG BITE on your jaw or ear lobe. Sounds cute, right? One thing -- it hurts! It makes me laugh every time, but I also have to gently tell Ben that it hurts. I know he doesn't understand, but you can never start teaching right from wrong too early, right? Ben has such a goofy grin with those little teeth popping through.

You know what I love, even more than the fun little things that Ben does during the day - like rolling; the funny expressions he makes when he's concentrating on picking a piece of food up, or when he tries to make a new word or sound; how excited he gets when he knows he's going to eat - is at night when he's about to go to bed, or when he's ready for a nap, and I give him a bottle and after time his eyes finally close and his arms and legs finally relax. I love to look at his little features, and I kiss his little fingers and his forehead. I know the doctors all say we are supposed to let Ben fall asleep by himself, but how do you miss an opportunity to have him sleeping on your shoulder feeling his little chest against yours. It's really one of the greatest things in the world. We've been so lucky with our little munchkin.

Child labor ... isn't there a law against this?

Executive Ben reporting for duty ...

Anyone need some extra help getting household chores done? If so, we've got a little helper ready to go!

Thanks to Oma (that's Grandma Pat to everyone else) and Grandpa Art, Ben is already getting used to earning his keep ... :) You gotta love a man who doesn't mind doing the dishes every once in a while - even if Oma has to help! I'm sure he just thought he was going to get a quickly bubbly bath ... what a surprise he got, huh?




Our little guy is also becoming quite computer-savvy! I think this is due to all the times Daddy has sat working on the computer with Ben on his lap. Ben loves to type (ok, HIT) on the keyboard while Daddy is reading articles to him. Even if you give Ben a new toy to play with, he'll almost immediately throw it on the ground and reach for the keyboard instead. Maybe Ben will grow up and do stuff with computers like his Uncle Charles!! I guess we'll all have to wait and see ... stay tuned.