Bennet May is eleven months old and a total joy! One of our favorite things to do is walk around the city with B… she really is like a ray of sunshine, putting smiles on the faces of so many strangers as we pass by. She waves to everyone, although sometimes has to revert to the “royal wave” to conserve energy (basically just holding her arm up in the wave position). Bennet loves being on her feet and she has logged many miles just walking circles around our furniture. We spend a lot of our time at the playground (swinging, sliding, and watching the big kids) and looking for dogs. (In fact, see those big smiles at the end of this slide show… those were in response to me barking.) She is also highly entertained by buckles, books, and watching videos of herself. She definitely inherited Neil’s chronotype - she is a total night owl (with a bad case of FOMO) and likes to sleep in with her dad on weekend mornings. I still think she looks like Neil, but it appears that she may have my hair... check out these humidity-assisted waves! She has the best personality and always wants to be part of the conversation, laughing at all the right moments and totally engaged, especially when she knows we are talking about her. And if all of that was not cute enough, she can now melt your heart by blowing you a kiss. Swoon!
Bennet’s first word was… dog! For the past month, Bennet has been absolutely captivated by dogs. It started during a visit to Wayne at the end of March when she kept looking for Surrey - yelling out “doug! doug!” whenever she came into the room. Lucky for B, she had some quality time with Surrey over the past few weeks and there are lots of dogs in our neighborhood in NYC (where we have become regulars at a few of the local dog parks). She even gets excited while reading her dog book, when you bark or make any dog-like sounds, or if you give her a toy or stuffed animal that looks like a dog.
Bennet May and her favorite dog, Surrey!
B (literally) points out every dog we pass.
Regulars at our local dog park.
The last ten months has flown by with our baby bird! Bennet May loves to fill her days by playing peek-a-boo, knocking down towers of cups, reading books, splashing in the tub, trying new foods, crawling everywhere (to get to the next place where she can stand up), and visiting family. B is SO good at sharing her toys and food. She will even give you one of her puffs, if you are lucky. Although she is starting to get more weary of strangers, she continues to make friends wherever she goes, with her smiles, waves, and high fives. She is also really fond of clapping (such great affirmation for all of us), and will give you a lesson if she doesn't think your clapping is up snuff. Another new trick is blowing raspberries, which she learned from her dad and grandparents while I was away on a work trip. And last week she started to climb up stairs, on the same steps that her dad learned on forty years ago. We've continued our walks and outings throughout the winter, to the delight of our neighbors. She truly brings joy wherever she goes.
Bennet May was baptized on Saturday, March 16th in St. David's, PA. She was surrounded by so much love, including both sets of grandparents and ALL of her aunts and uncles. For this special occasion, Bennet wore her mom's Baptism gown and her dad's Baptism sweater - and her very own fresh floral crown.
Big thanks to Father Philip, who turned our little pagan into a Catholic with such a personal and lovely ceremony. B was very attentive throughout mass - she enjoying being passed around between her parents and newly minted Godparents, Uncle Scott and Aunt KK.
Here is a slide show from the day. (Thanks to Papa Hoyt for taking all of the wonderful photos during mass!)
So much love (and fun) this St. Patrick's weekend.
Bennet is so lucky to have four amazing grandparents who take such good care of her. Here are a few pictures from special time with Nana & Grandpa and Gram & Papa during some cozy winter days NYC, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
B is always in the most loving, capable hands while mama and daddy are at work :)
Bennet May is nine months old today! She’s spent (almost) as much time outside in the world as she did inside “Studio B.” Bennet does NOT subscribe to Winston Churchill’s economy of effort. In fact, I’m pretty sure her motto is - never lie down when you can sit, and never sit when you can stand up - as evidenced by our photo shoot this morning...
Besides pulling herself onto anything to stand up, Bennet loves talking, reading books, and playing peek-a-boo (both in person and over FaceTime with her grandparents). She has the cutest, distinctive little laugh and sometimes pairs it with a furious head shake. Her newest tricks include waving and high fives - making her even more popular when we are out and about. B is so determined to walk, we thought she might skip crawling all together. However, low and behold, she decided to start crawling TODAY. She is such a delight!
Happy nine months, Bennet May! We couldn't love you more!!!
The cold weather couldn't keep Bennet inside ALL day. In fact, since coming home from the hospital, there was only one day that B didn't go outside (1/21/19; High of 14°F). Every other day, we are off on adventures. Here are some highlights from January.
First trip to the Whitney with friends.
The Women's March in NYC.
Family walks to Central Park.
B loves going out for tea.
Meeting her dad for lunch in Tribeca...
... or the BCV office.
Exploring the city in her stroller or carrier.
And look what book Bennet grabbed off the shelves on her first trip to the library? Pride and Prejudice, starring Elizabeth Bennet!
The last few weeks have been filled with big smiles (with 4 teeth!), belly laughs, lots of babbling (especially MaMaMas), rolling and scooting (backwards) around the apartment, and playing with new toys… eight months is the best. We tried to do the monthly photo shoot in her old bouncer, but she had other ideas.
B really wants to be sitting, standing, and on the move. One of her favorite games is running around the apartment (with some help). She is finally starting to enjoy food (especially banana and hummus) and she still loves owls, her evening bath (splash zone!), and daily adventures around the city. She's definitely a little scalawag and has an amazing smirk.
Happy eight month, Bennet May!
Bennet celebrated her 7 month birthday in Chicago, where we learned she LOVES opening presents! Like father, like daughter.
7-month old Bennet can sit up like a champ. In fact, she never wants to lie down anymore (and that includes going to sleep at night and during diaper changes). She has two (adorable) bottom teeth and loves putting everything in her mouth (except food). However, she started drinking water this month and she cannot get enough. She has already mastered her first sippy cup and now she is scheming about how she can get her hands on her mom’s LaCroix. She is already little mischievous and always a ton of fun. Happy SEVEN MONTHS, dear Bennet May!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but Bennet May is so delightful!
The colder air has not stopped us from taking excursions around NYC. To stay warm, we enjoy waking around in our "Dad Hug" (i.e., both of us zip into on of Neil's jackets) and we have already clocked some good milage in the Cozy Ganoosh for our Cruz stroller. Plus, B has been sporting some adorable cold weather attire this holiday season - including some vintage pieces of mine from the 1980s (pink+white striped sweater/hat set and white hoodie) - that can't help but make you smile.
We have much to be thankful for this year. Namely, THIS GIRL and her amazing family and friends!
We celebrated Bennet’s first Thanksgiving with a trip to California with the Hoyt family! We spent the first half of the week in SF. Since we were stuck inside until the air quality improved, we were thankful to have a rental house with such a great view of the city (and we were also very thankful that the air cleared up in time to soak up some of these views from the roof deck)! It was really fun to show B one of our favorite cities and see Scott and Morgan’s beautiful home (where we had Thanksgiving brunch).
Then we headed out to Healdsburg, where we were treated by great views, delicious food/wine, and cozy family time.
Our home for the week.
Exploring the wineries and town.
p.s. We are also thankful that our little B is such a great traveler!
Happy ½ year birthday, Bennet May! Six-month-old B prefers to be sitting up to laying down, drinking milk to eating food, and staying awake to going to bed. (We think that she has baby FOMO; she always wants to be part of the action.) The highlight of everyday is waking up to her smiles and laughs. She is an absolute joy!
We are out in San Francisco (which was recovering from bad air quality after the recent fires). So, we celebrated indoors until the AQI met the queen’s standards.
Over the past month we have been introducing B to the world of food! We have tried (in order): avocado, banana, rice cereal, pear, cantaloupe, mango, and sweet potato. She is not that impressed... yet.
While she still prefers milk (by a landslide), she had a lot of fun with the pear and melon. And she looks SO CUTE in her new high chair (thanks, Domagalas!). I'm looking forward to giving avocado another shot while we are in CA next week!
Bennet May has quite the collection of custom clothing and accessories from her very talented Aunt KK! Here out her awesome fall looks. All handmade by Kaitlin with love!
This is one of the first items that KK made. It was a Christmas gift last year. If you look closely, you will see that the lining of the jacket says, "I love you." Yes, I did cry when I opened it :)
Must-have baby accessories include bibs, (mermaid) blankets, and a clever "toy bungee" when we are on the go!
Thanks, Wonder Aunt!
Check out her new Instagram @katietstich!
I brought my favorite sidekick to the Board of Elections last week so we could vote. We had to submit an in-person absentee ballot since we had a business trip to North Carolina this week. I was very happy to tell my daughter that a record-breaking number of women are heading to Congress in 2019! (Women made history during the midterm elections, taking 30 seats in the House of Representatives.)
We stayed with friends in Winston Salem and had lots of fun! B got to meet my post-doc buddies and hang out with Malone (4mo) while the moms were busy working at Wake Forest.
Meet Dr. Hoo.
She is Bennet’s favorite toy and our Halloween inspiration! The nature activity mat (from Scott & Morgan) was an immediate hit this summer, and this toy was B’s clear favorite from all of the forest friends and initiated a love for all owls. (Pictures below from July and August.)
As if we didn’t already know that owls were B's spirit animal, look who came to visit...!!!
(Barred Owl friend outside our window on October 14-15.)
We had so much fun carving our first family pumpkin for B and dressing up as the Hoo family!
Feathers and owl feet handmade by Aunt KK!
Gram and Papa came to visit on Halloween, so went out for some of our favorite pizza in Hell's Kitchen. We made lots of friends on our walk to the restaurant... who could resist smiling at our adorable baby owl?!
Happy FIRST Halloween, B!
Bennet and I traveled to PA last week to spend time in Wayne and meet some more adoring cousins.
Just like Elizabeth Bennet, our little B enjoys high tea! We had a lot of fun at The Taste of Britain with Nana and Aunt KK.
Aunt KK was busy sewing B’s Halloween costume while we were in town, and she also had time to make these adorable fall matching bandanas for Surrey and Bennet!
Happy FIVE MONTHS, Bennet May!
Month Five Highlights
- Thanks to her dad, B has quite Star Wars wardrobe. We love our Little Rebel!
- Bennet outgrew her bassinet and is now sleeping in her own crib!
- She is such a talker! She has long conversations in person (and on FaceTime with her grandparents) and seems to enjoy testing out her new noises and vocal range.
- B loves our weekly “Baby and Me” yoga class - last week she was giggling so much the instructor stopped class a few times to ask Bennet, “What is so funny?”
- Other B favorites include walks outside (in the stroller and carrier), bath time, and music (especially listening to the guitar player at the Mt. Sinai lobby with her Nana, ukulele concerts with mom, and silly songs that we make up for her).
- If there was ever any doubt that owls were B’s spirit animal, we now know for sure. The real Dr. Hoo has started visiting her - looking in on her from the tree right outside our window! We saw this barred owl twice last week in broad daylight. Absolutely magical!!
Neil was taking “paternity leave Fridays” to spend extra time with Bennet from May through September. We sure do miss those family long weekends, so B and I decided that we will try to meet her dad for lunch once a week while I’m still on maternity leave. The first lunch with dad was a big success. L+N+B went to a favorite pub, Puffy’s Tavern, and then back to to the BCV office. Bennet worked so hard drafting (and drawing owls) we had to take a quick post-lunch nap.
Our baby bird made it to the capital last week! She loved the Amtrak ride down and spending time with Nana (and one day with Grandpa) at the hotel, the National Harbor, and around the city.
Bennet even joined me at the National Academy of Sciences for an evening poster session. She was a hit with the population health scientists and even made a little friend during a networking event. (The last two pictures were actually taken by the official IAPHS photographer, Amy Hart.)
Bennet also got to meet some DC family and friends, including little Cullen Harrington and her cousin Kelly!
Then her dad joined us for a fun-packed weekend in Baltimore with Juncle and Aunt Annie. She loved watching the ND football game at their new house, exploring the pumpkin patch (mostly with her feet), and visiting Boordy Vineyards (where Junc and AA got engaged). How perfect is that wine bottle?
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Bennet continues to enjoy sightseeing in her home city. Last week, she went to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with her Gram and Papa.
B earned her first two stamps in her National Park Passport!
She got up close to Lady Liberty (and inside the pedestal).
I suppose that just thinking about crossing the Atlantic is exhausting.
We also fit in a ride on the Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park.
This weekend, to celebrate her dad’s last “paternity leave Friday,” we went to the MoMA. The big shapes and contrasting colors were pleasing to our little art critic.
And she was especially captivated by this piece, which probably made her hungry looking at all of that dancing milk ;)
We finished the weekend off with a (gondola) trip to Roosevelt Island with Jen and Trent; we circumnavigated the island from the lighthouse up north to Four Freedoms Park on the southern tip.
And I couldn’t resist buying this (especially) big apple at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market... for my Big Apple baby!
Bennet had her four month check-up today and her head is still in the 95th percentile (thanks to that big, beautiful brain). She really impressed us (and Dr. Pertubal) when she did not cry during her TWO shots. Of course, we had to get our brave girl a new toy after we left the pediatrician’s office, as per Hoyt tradition (Neil always got a new toy on a day he had to get a shot). After much deliberation, she chose this puppy, which we have named “Foot” (since we call her cute little feet puppies).
She was less impressed that we also stopped to pick up another piece of furniture for our new apartment, since we had to use her stroller to help carry it home.
Bennet May took her first pilgrimage to Notre Dame last weekend - the home of some of her favorite things, including the leprechaun and the ND victory march! Although she didn’t go into the stadium (this time), we took her to her first tailgate (the annual Till/Hoyt/Domagala “Familygate”) and gave her a tour of campus.
The sign of a good tailgate...
While we were at the lake house, we celebrated Jen and Craig’s engagement! Cheers!
We also stopped by The Pearl, to show B where we danced the night away at our wedding reception 7 years before she was born!
What a perfect weekend surrounded by all 4 of her grandparents, as well as so many aunts, uncles, and cousins who love her so much!
Grandma magnet, indeed!
Happy four months, Bennet May! It’s getting harder and harder to limit the number of photos in her monthly slide show. In just a few minutes, check out this emotional range!
Month Four Highlights
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Bennet’s repertoire of sounds now include giggles (!), squeals, and a heart-melting collection of coos and hoos from our baby bird. When she is not talking, she keeps her mouth busy by sucking on her fingers, our arms/shoulders, or any toy you have to offer.
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On September 7th, Bennet became a roller! Very eager to show off these new skills, she will roll from her back to tummy as soon as you lay her down. However, after an initial wave of pride and glee, regret and confusion kicks in when she remembers that she doesn’t actually like tummy time very much. (Although she has rolled from tummy to back a few times, this move is still a work in progress.)
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In other athletic updates, Bennet can now grab her feet with her hands (two of her favorite things coming together) and do an assisted sit up.
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Bennet took her first pilgrimage to Notre Dame last weekend… photos coming soon!
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After a very hot and humid summer, we are looking forward to some cooler weather this fall, since our big city baby likes to be out on the town.
From gazing at the bright lights of Times Square, to long walks in Central Park, to the pleasant buzz of a busy restaurant, Bennet May is definitely our city baby! All summer long we have enjoyed exploring NYC with B. We started with trips out to the 5th floor deck of the Biltmore, but soon expanded to walks along the Hudson River and dining al fresco. Now we can take Bennet with us almost anywhere in the stroller or carrier. She loves people-watching, riding on trains, and being outside (rain or shine). It’s not all play either, Bennet has already been to work with mom four times (including her first dissertation defense!). Here are some highlights from our first summer in the city...
Photos include: Biltmore deck, Hudson River walks (and the Intrepid), Times Square, Central Park, Washington Square Park, Bryant Park, riding on the subway and Metro North trains, Hell’s Kitchen restaurants, downtown brewery, New York City FC Soccer games (at Yankee Stadium), and Fordham University.
It was bittersweet to say goodbye to Bennet's first home, The Biltmore, but we are so excited for the next chapter in our new apartment (just 3/4 of a mile away).
It's much slower (but also exponentially cuter) to pack boxes with a baby around.
Don't worry, there was a fragile sticker on this box...
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A couple of days after the movers left, we went back to the Biltmore to clean up and return our keys (while B enjoyed a final nap overlooking Times Square, her favorite night light). Before we left, we had a final drink on the deck, one of our favorite places to spend time with Bennet during her first three months of life.
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Cheers to great memories and new adventures!
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Bennet May is THREE MONTHS old today! We spend countless hours staring into her beautiful, curious eyes and she continues to amuse us with her sublime expressions (those eyebrows!) and smiles.
Bennet was quite the traveler this past month, including two trips to Chicago (and the Hoyt’s lake house in Michigan), her first wedding in Maine, and we just returned from a weekend in the Poconos to celebrate her Nana & Grandpa’s 40th Anniversary. Bennet is delightfully easy going, although she has started to express some preferences over the past month. For instance, our baby bird has a strong affinity for owls (and she makes the most adorable “hoo” sounds). She is fascinated by her own hands (which you will often find in her mouth these days) and her feet (which she really enjoys putting on the dining table while you are eating). She also loves music (and dancing) and her favorite song is currently the Notre Dame Fight Song. Lucky for B, we are headed to South Bend in September.
Just like her Mom and Dad, Bennet loves road trips! Last weekend we packed up for an adventure to Maine for Sarah and Brian’s wedding.
Not only was it her first time to Maine (and MA and RI), but we got to introduce Bennet May to the ocean! She is too little to go in the cold water, but we all got our feet wet.
Besides her parents, B also spent the weekend with Nana & Grandpa and (newly named) “Juncle/Junc” & Auntie Annie (also the M.O.H.). Lucky B!
It was a beautiful wedding (although someone slept through the ceremony)… and we were so tickled to see that Bennet had her own plate setting. Everyone wanted to dance with B!
Here are a few other favorite moments from our trip: relaxing at the rental house during rainy mornings, B watching everyone else eat lobster rolls, taking seaside naps, being entertained for hours by “travel owl,” and lots of pretty views!
Only July 26th Mom, Dad, and Bennet boarded a flight to CHICAGO! It was B’s first flight (and she was was a champ, making everyone smile at the airport and then sleeping through most of the flight). Now I just need to convince her dad that we can start jet-setting all over the globe...
We had such a wonderful visit, including B’s “Sweet Home Chicago” Party (see separate post here!) and lots of special memories with the Hoyts/Domagalas in Chicago, Oak Lawn, and Michigan.
* * * Trip Highlights * * *
We really took a (literal) walk down memory lane as we strolled from Neil’s childhood home in Oak Lawn to his favorite playground - Rocket Slide Park - with Bennet in her brand new stroller.
Gram and Papa set up a changing station in Neil & Scott’s old room and B was totally taken by the ND Leprechaun. Foreshadowing???
We also spent a few days in Michigan at the Hoyt’s lakehouse. It was so special to take Bennet here, since her parents have so many fond memories in New Buffalo (including our wedding, ND football weekends, and trips out with family and friends all year round). We took B to some of our favorite Michigan restaurants, including Brewster's (where I had my first meal out with the Hoyts). One day we will tell B that she shouldn’t put her feet up on the table.
We will be back soon, Chicago family!
Bennet May’s amazing Gram and Great Aunt Denise threw her the most lovely “Welcome to Sweet Home Chicago” party on July 28th.
D&D Party Coordinators treated our guests to delicious food and drinks, supplied amazing views (and weather) for the event, and created the most thoughtful decorations for our little STAR! Huge thanks to the party planners (and their many helpers) and all of our family and friends who made the trip to celebrate with us. We are so lucky!!!
Note: Photos provided by Papa and some friends (since we were too busy having fun to take our own pictures)!
Bennet enjoyed testing out her noise-reducing headphones this morning, in preparation for her FIRST FLIGHT to Chicago tomorrow. I think we are ready to rock!
Is it too early to declare that two months is the best age?
First of all, Bennet has perfected the “social smile” and now we are pretty sure she can get anything that she wants (especially from her grandparents). Second, remember that blog post “Sleep. Eat. Repeat.”? Well, we have a very notable update: B spends so many more hours awake (and alert) now that we need to add PLAY to her daily repertoire. While her favorite place is still snuggled in our arms, we have some steep competition from the bouncer and the nature activity mat. Finally, she recently learned to stick out her tongue (and will emulate you doing it). We are tickled pink!
Happy two months, Bennet May! Sleep, eat, and play all day!
Last week Gram and Papa came to NYC for lots of cuddling, playing, and grand-sitting. Bennet had two extra sets of eyes staring at her adoringly...
Bennet wanted to take her grandparents to her favorite restaurant in the city, where the outdoor seating provides a lovely cacophony of sights and sounds that B finds very pleasing. I’ve never seen Neil’s dad so happy to wait for a table at a restaurant… and she looked VERY comfortable in his arms.
Another highlight of their visit was our trip to the Intrepid (a favorite NYC attraction of B’s father and grandfather). We have been walking out to the river and looking at all of the jets on the aircraft carrier since she was just a couple of weeks old, so we all went to the museum together to celebrate her 8 week birthday!
I would be remiss not to mention another exciting event last weekend. Bennet received the much anticipated Nature Activity Mat from Uncle Scott and Aunt Morgan in the mail. She has already logged many happy hours of bird watching on her new toy! Our baby bird especially loves the owl.
Over the river, and through the wood,
To Nana and Grandpa's house we go…
I’m pretty sure that my parents bought a home in the Poconos just so we could sing this song. We didn’t go through the “white and drifted snow,” but Bennet loved her first trip to her grandparent’s house on Pines Lake last weekend - and we can’t wait to show her Lake Michigan later this month!
* * * Weekend Highlights * * *
Although skeptical to leave the city at first…
Bennet decided that she liked the new landscape.
Bennet certainly loved meeting the Hoffmans and hanging out with family on the beach!
While the Tills/Hoffmans took to the water, B found a comfortable spot to stay cool.
The new swing was definitely a welcome addition to the beach!
I’ve been so excited to take B swimming, since she loves her bath time so much. She was pretty happy chilling in the pool with dad - and SO relaxed in the lake with me that she fell asleep almost immediately. Ha!
Bennet was sporting some especially adorable lake attire. The butterfly outfit was a surprise from SURGO (Aunt Jacqueline’s work) and the watermelon sweater was made by my friend Kaleen!
And no summer weekend is complete without a good nap. Zzzzz.
We have loved watching our siblings take on exciting new roles since B was born! Bennet is everyone’s first niece and she has no shortage of adoration and attention. We foresee a lot of fun adventures, opportunities to learn new things, and sage advice from her amazing aunts and uncles! She got to see ALL of them throughout the month of June...
Jac and Alex are fine-tuning the elusive safe baby transfer move.
Scott & Morgan flew in from California to meet Bennet in person!
B also got to visit with JJ & Annie and KK in Wayne for a couple days this week.
Leading up to B's birth, we would often talk about how bizarre it will be to have another person moving into our apartment. Well, now she has been living with us for one month, so it’s time to evaluate the situation. She doesn’t pay rent or clean up after herself, she wakes us up in the middle of the night and wants to drink, and she can be pretty loud and attention-seeking around the clock, yet, she is the absolute BEST roommate ever. She entertains us constantly with her active little hands and feet, adorable sounds (including coos, snorts, and baby snores), and the most delightful and captivating expressions.
Happy one month, Bennet May!
* Onesie made with love by the very talented Aunt KK!
“If Father’s willing, he might take care of Baby while you’re busy fixing dinner or doing some of the household chores. With a bit of instruction, any father can give Baby a bottle, or a bath, or learn to change a diaper. Don’t be surprised if he objects to changing when there’s a stool in the diaper. His technique in changing and feeding may be unique but Baby’s basic needs have been met.” - Better Homes and Gardens Baby Book, 1966 (pp. 63-64). Ha!
We’ve had so much fun looking through the baby care instructions in this old “Better Homes and Gardens” book from the 1960s that Neil’s mom passed on to us. Obviously, a lot of advice has changed over the last fifty years, but one of the updates that I’m most grateful for is the recognition of the vital role of fathers. How lucky for babies (and mothers!) that so many fathers today play such an active and important role in the earliest days of their lives. And no baby and mom are as lucky and B and me!!! Neil’s technique is certainly “unique,” but not in the way that Better Homes and Gardens predicted.
Even before Bennet was born, Neil was attending baby care classes (acing the swaddle), leading our shopping adventures (after I tried to walk out of the store, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of gear), and talking to her everyday (as close to the belly as possible).
Neil has been on paternity leave for four, glorious weeks. He cuddled, fed, burped, bathed, sang to, changed (especially when there’s a stool in the diaper), soothed, played with, walked, bounced, and swaddled little B around the clock - and not just while I’m “fixing dinner” or “doing some of the household chores.” :) He also does the graveyard shift every night: taking care of B during the wee hours of the morning so I can get some sleep. I can’t think of a better way for him to show us how much he loves us.
I always knew that Neil would be an amazing dad - I just didn’t realize that it would happen so quickly and instinctively. Neil has that perfect combination of strength and warmth that will make Bennet feel safe, full of joy, and adored forever. I already know that feeling. Happy first Father’s Day, Neil!
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Of course, there are two other very special men that we are thinking about today. Shortly after Bennet was born, my dad looked at me and said, “Now, you will finally understand how much I love you.” How lucky Neil and I have been to each feel that profound, endless, awesome love from each of our dads for our entire lives… and now we get to watch that love overflow as these guys become Grandpa and Papa. Lucky B!
Before we even met her, we knew that Bennet had an affinity for her hands. Starting in utero (as apparent in almost every ultrasound), B loved to have her hands in her face. We determined that she either (a) really wanted to keep her identity a surprise for us, or (b) was incredibly camera shy.
While those little hands are always adorable, they also get her into some trouble. In particular, she loves to use them to break out of a swaddle. We’ve also had to resort to mittens on some days to stop her from scratching herself.
One day those hands will create art, dribble a ball, type homework, play music, sign “Bennet May,” and give high-fives. In the meantime, we will just sit back and delight in her funny and emotive gestures. Here are some of our favorite handy moments from the past three weeks! (If you are on a computer, you can hover over each photo to see the caption.)
Fetal Hands (20 week ultrasound)
Thinker (Day 2)
Paparazzi (Day 2)
Mittens (Day 4)
Facepalm (Day 5)
Self-Soothing (Day 6)
Pacifier Hold (Day 11)
Wizard Hands (Day 14)
Post-Bath Paws (Day 15)
Hoodie Hands (Day 16)
Namaste (Day 18)
Casual (Day 19)
During her second week, Bennet kept us on our toes. The doctor said she should be eating every 2-3 hours around the clock until she gets back to her birth weight, so mom started pumping so dad could join the late night feeding patrol.
Despite all of that eating, B still finds plenty of time to nap during the day.
We treasure those moments that she is awake and love staring into her deep blue gray eyes.
B is ambivalent about exploring the city at this point, but she loves hanging out on the deck of our building catching a little sun.
All of our baby research confirms that the “social smile” does not emerge until a baby is 6-8 weeks old… but as enamoured new parents, we can’t help but think she’s smiling at us. Swoon!
Little B already has a BIG personality. So many great expressions for a four day old...
Bennet is one week old today! Mom and Dad are smitten and have spent the last seven days in a state of delirious happiness. While everyone reminds us to “sleep when she sleeps,” we often catch ourselves just staring down at our napping baby for hours… amazed by every yawn, stretch, and sneeze coming out of this adorable little human. It’s also incredibly special to watch our families embrace their newest member, including the transformation of the world’s best parents into the most amazing grandparents. Indeed, we have been spoiled with tremendous love and support from our family and friends… and pleasantly surprised at the high demand for more Bennet photos. Therefore, we decided to start this blog to track B’s development and share pictures and news from her everyday life with you. So, here we go!
Bennet May Hoyt was born on Saturday, May 19th (exactly one week past her due date) at 7:15am. It was intense and fast - she arrived barely an hour after we walked into the delivery room - but we were immediately rewarded with several hours of snuggles. We were IN LOVE instantly, as you can see in our first family selfie.
B spent her first days in the loving arms of her parents, grandparents, and many of her aunts and uncles (including a special FaceTime). Pure bliss!
B aced all of her tests and we were discharged after two nights in the hospital.
It’s hard to describe how wonderful (and natural) it felt to walk into our apartment with Bennet on Monday. Here are some of our favorite pictures from our first week at home as a family of 3!
We love our Baby Bird!
