10 Months Old!

 These pictures are a pretty good indication of how much Benson does not like to sit still anymore.  He had no desire to sit on the chair and hold a teddy bear.  He wanted to stand up and jump around.  He is all over the place nowadays and he is keeping us extra busy.

These shots let you know how fast he can go from happy to mad when it comes to his toys.  He was holding a brush and I wanted to not have it in the picture so I took it.  As you can see from the middle picture, he was not happy about it.  As soon as I gave it back, he was his happy self.

This month was full of fun. We took a drive up the canyon to see the pretty leaves the first weekend of October.  We were planning to go to Granny's in Heber, but didn't realize it was closed for the season until we got all the way there.  We made a quick stop at the Dairy King and took a few cute pics with the little man and then drove back down. 

We watch General Conference got to spend time with the family and enjoy the tradition of waffles with ice cream and strawberries.  (we left out the ice cream)

He is really starting to love playing with his cousins

He loves Grandpa

We did some miniature golfing, which is a definite different experience with a baby.

The most fun we had this month was taking a trip to Los Angeles to visit my sister, Kristen, and her family.  We drove, which was not something I would want to do again anytime soon (although I did a few weeks later, but that was without Benson).  Benson does not love his carseat.  He did great, but it just took a long time and was a lot of driving for such a short visit.  

We stopped on our way at Jessica and Justins place.  Benson had his first experience with ballooons (it was Avery's birthday the week before)

Benson loved crawling around the kitchen with Regan

We took a little trip to the LA Temple visitors center and the to 3rd street.  It was fun to be back in our old stomping grounds

You cannot go to LA without making a stop at Diddy Reese.  It's so tasty.  Benson was loving the cookies.

I realized we didn't get any pictures with Kristen, Nolan or Aiden.  That's pretty bad.  We had such a good time visiting them.  Benson was FREAKED out by Nolan at the beginning of the trip, but by the end of the trip he was at least ok to be in the same room with him.  We would love to be able to go and spend more time with them, just hoping next time we can fly.

This was on the drive back.  We stopped in Baker to give Benson a short break.  He loved crawling around the Taco Bell floor.  (:))

Another stop.  He LOVES eating the keys lately.

such a doll

Smiling on his 10 month birthday

And of course this month included Halloween!  Benson made the most adorable dragon ever and it was just so much fun to push him around at our neighborhood trunk-or-treat as well as take him trick or treating with the girls in Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's neighborhood.  He really had no idea what was going on and was a tiny bit afraid of some of the people we saw, but mostly he just acted how he always does...perfectly content doing whatever we were doing.  This kid makes life SO MUCH BETTER!

Trunk or Treat

So excited to go trick or treating together.  Aren't they all SO cute?

What can I say?  CUTEST DRAGON EVER!

Family Shot

I cannot even express how in love with this picture I am.  Look at that face.  He is SO happy and just the sweetest little guy in the world (and his daddy's pretty loveable too)

Benson is growing up and changing so much.  I was just watching a video of him taken at the beginning of this month and the differences are huge.  He still won't stand up on his own, but he is so comfortable pulling himself up, walking along furniture, crawling and climbing everywhere, bouncing up and down, dancing and just being so much fun. 

I know I have mentioned this before, but it has become more and more obvious how much he loves music.  He started "dancing" this month, first just bobbing his head up and down, and now bouncing and swinging and trying to sing himself.  He LOVES his daddy's guitar and loves music in general.  He hears everything and tries to mimic the noises he hears.  I took him for a walk on a very windy day and he kept saying "woooo" to mimic the sound of the wind.  He tries to copy Archie's barking and make the sound of the vacuum or the hair dryer.  Its pretty adorable. 

Bensons personality is coming out so much more.  He is so funny and loves to laugh and especially loves to make us laugh.  

Happy 10 Months Little Man.  We LOVE you!

Meeting You!

Sierra

One year ago today, October 21, 2011, was one of the most special days of our lives and was an important day in Benson's story.  It was the day we met you!

We were so nervous to meet you, but very excited.  When we saw you walking with your mom we were both just so anxious to finally meet you.   We got to give you a big hug it was so special.  Over the next few hours we got to talk, eat subway, laugh together and just really get to know each other.  It was also the day when Benson's middle name was chosen.  What an amazing experience it was when you asked us what names we were thinking for this baby boy and Ben told you about the Hawaiian names he liked, specifically Kekoa.  I just remember your face and Judy's, and then you said "I had that written down for his middle name".  At that moment we felt such a special feeling and just knew that this little boy was meant to be with us, and that you knew as well.  We were so impressed with how mature and thoughtful you were.  We loved your mom and your sisters and were just so excited to have you in our lives.

Our first meeting was just one of many experiences we had with you and we just grew to love you from that first day.  We hope that you know and still know how much we truly love you.  You are such a special girl with so much beauty and talent and love.  Benson is already like you in so many ways.  He is very sweet and laid back.  He is ok to just sit and watch people and be around them.  He has your nose and he is handsome, like you are beautiful.  We tell him about you all the time.  He even has this little photo album that he carries around and plays with that is full of pictures of you and your mom and your sisters.  He will always know who you are and how much you love him and how much we love you! 

It has been one year since that amazing day and we just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you and remembering those special times.  We pray for you and hope that you are ok and happy and safe!

Love Always
Ben, Carmen and Benson Crisanto
bencarmenhope@gmail.com

8 Months Old!

8 Months Old

This is our makeup picture, cause we couldn't get over to my moms for his picture in the red chair.  I thought this was hilarious!

Benson is 8 months old!  Where does the time go?  He is growing up so fast!  My little baby has started crawling all over the place, climbing stairs, pulling himself up on furniture and just being such a big boy!  He is starting to "talk" like crazy.  He also loves to sing along with Ben and his guitar.  It is the most adorable thing ever.  He has started eating solids all the time and loving it.  He also really enjoys the gerber puffs.  He spent a lot of time at Grandmas house this month and loved it!  We also got to take him to Seven Peaks and even though we were only there for 30 minutes and only went in the wave pool, it was a blast.

Benson is getting sweeter and sweeter by the day.  He does scream when he doesn't get the toy he wants or when he wants his mommy instead of his daddy (or anyone else), but it's just too cute.  He also is starting to point at everything!  He has a little book that makes animal noises that he loves.  We also got him his first iphone app, peekaboo barn.  He LOVES it.  He is still on a great schedule.  He has started going to bed at about 7pm, sleeping til 7am just getting up once in the night to have his diaper changed and a small bottle.  He naps 2x a day and with my work schedule it definitely makes it a lot easier to have him on a pretty set schedule.  He is totally a mommas boy.  If he is with anyone else he is perfectly happy until he sees me or hears my voice.  Then he cries until I pick him up.  I honestly love it, haha.  He also has only just started leaning his little head on my shoulder when he gets tired and it completely melts my heart.  We love this little man just wish time would slow down a tiny bit.

I also wanted to share some videos (we have a lot).  He is just such a doll and it's so much better LIVE!   Enjoy.

He loves the swing

Starting to crawl, he is ALL over the place now

7 Months Old!

7 Months Old!  How does that even happen?  

Beyond the obvious of finalization and the sealing, this month has brought with it many changes and exciting things.  We finally started giving Benson solids.  We started out with avocado and then some rice cereal and have just let it evolve from there.  For the first couple of weeks he could have taken it or left it, but lately he LOVES eating.  He likes sweet potatoes the best so far.  It is hard to feed him though because he cannot sit still.  He is trying to look everywhere and grab anything in his path at all times.  He got his first 2 teeth this month, the bottom front ones.  His first one he got July 15th.  He is starting to scoot and getting so close to crawling.  He has started to scream.  He screams when he's happy, mad, tired, excited..you name it.  He LOVES Archie the dog, even though Archie is not such a fan of him.  He has started sleeping through the night and sleeps so well in his crib.  He has totally fallen into an amazing nap/eating/sleeping schedule. Thanks to that life has calmed down for the whole family.  Benson is such a sweet, sweet baby.  He is calm and barely ever fusses or cries.  We took him swimming for the first time in Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's pool.  He didn't cry, he didn't smile.  He just kind of acted like it was nothing new.  As my brother in law said, "he is probably the most chill baby ever".  We figure its the islander coming out in him.    His fun personality is showing more and more.  He loves his daddy and laughs much more with Ben than me, but he LOVES his momma.  He has started wanting me around all the time and cries if I leave the room.  (I kind of love that).  He continues to light up our lives more than we could possibly imagine!  

First step into the pool

push ups anyone?  

first time eating solids

on hands and knees for the first time

He finally started feeding himself

loves being up high on daddy's shoulders

First time in a shopping cart.  He loved it until we went over a bump and he hit his head against the back.  Ya, not so much love after that.

Making new friends (usually girls for some reason)

Someday these two will be best buddies

He is PURE JOY!