Tummy Time

One of the many activities in our daily routine is "tummy time". With the emphasis on putting babies to sleep on their backs (to avoid SIDS) many babies are getting flat spots on their heads and/or delaying crawling. So Benji gets supervised play time on his tummy every day to exercise those little arm and neck muscles. Sometimes it goes really well; sometimes Benji spends the whole time screaming. Either way, I've gotten some great photos in recent weeks.

Words that I truly believe I have heard Benji repeat after I said them to him.

"No."

"Good."

No one tells me anything anymore.

From Variety: "[Fantastic Four director Tim Story will] helm "The 12th Man," a half-hour comedy being scripted by Dan Fogelman, based on Paul Shirley, a pro basketball player who started a blog to chronicle his experiences as the glamour-less last man on the team's bench....Story...said he sparked to both pilot scripts because of their comic elements and because of his desire to continue helming modest-budget laffers like "Barbershop." He'll be an exec producer on both pilots. '(The benchwarmer's) view of his place in this superstar world is hilarious and gives us the chance to present something that is like Larry David taking you through the NBA,' Story said."

Non-Benji updates.

I won my quarterfinal Fantasy Football game.

My last day of work is tomorrow.

I had another handbell piece ("We Three Kings") accepted for publication.

I put up Christmas lights yesterday. But still no tree.

If I laugh like Elmo, Benji gets a really big smile. (Oops.)

Benji update.

Benjamin had his two-month doctor's visit yesterday, and because he's been doing such a good job of sleeping -- seven or eight hours at a crack at night -- we were a bit concerned that he wasn't getting enough feedings in any given 24 hour period, and thus we worried that he wasn't getting enough food. However, there was nothing to be concerned about: He weighed in at 11 lb., 14 oz. -- just slightly above the 50th percentile, which is right where he was after his first month. And his length was 23½", which is a little below the 75th percentile -- again, about exactly where he was last month. His vaccinations now number five.

Benjamin's first photo shoot

On his one-month birthday we took Benjamin for pictures. I'll just let them speak for themselves.

Spoiling Benjamin

Benjamin is going to get used to the good life. For his first hotel stay this past week Benji got spoiled at the Ritz Carlton in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. And I quite assure you this is not our normal hotel choice. (One of the project teams I had been on won a big award at work and there was a luncheon on Thursday with our CEO. Cap One put me up the night before, so of course I brought the family along.)

I'm happy to report that Benji behaved very well. We brought his swaddle and his white noise, so he actually slept very well. (He's now sleeping 6-7 hours in one stretch at night.) Matthew took him for a walk around the Galleria mall attached to the hotel during the casino night and they went for a drive during my luncheon. So, we didn't have any angry hotel neighbors banging on our door and Benji got to see new scenery.

While it wasn't a romantic night at the Ritz, it was a successful first overnight with the baby.