Swimming!

Grandma and Grandpa Bench gave Connor swimming lessons for Christmas and they started today. He loved it! He wasn't scared at all, just ya know, nice and calm, how he always is.


he was pretty excited to get started


the first plunge


kick, kick, kick


catch the fish




all done!

9 Months Has Come and Gone

Time for some pictures...

Connor is still very curious


still silly


and he's growing lots of hair.


He still has Grandpa Bench's big blue eyes


and loves his books.


He likes it when dad shares food


but also likes to feed himself.


Connor is always reaching for the camera


and he is still very very cute.

It's funny...

It's funny the things you notice as a mom. For example, I had no idea the track for our sliding door was filled with dirt. That is, I didn't notice until I saw Connor sticking his fingers in them and pulling them out black. Guess what I did this afternoon...

Let the games begin....

I did something last night that I haven't done in 7 years. I played ward basketball and it was so much fun. Not surprisingly, I am no better now at basketball that I was 7 years ago when I was in young womens. I am much more comfortable with a ball at my feet than in my hands. However, I'm proud to report that I scored 6 points, which could very well be a personal high, I only fouled once, I only stuck my foot out to get the ball once, and I'm still fast and can chase people down.

Good Times

There's nothing quite like playing the guitar with dad







or looking out the window at the cars

December 2010

It's been a busy month in the Bench household. The month started with my Grandma Wisan passing away. She was 90 and in very poor health so it was a good thing for her. I know she is much happier now and I'm sure she's loving being with the family she lost so long ago. She was a one of a kind Grandma who was never afraid to speak her mind. Jared's favorite Grandma Wisan quote was when she told me to "quit being so positive, and get that hair out of your face!" Grandma and I always had a special bond because I have her feet. She loved to show people our similar feet. I'm sad she's gone but glad she's happy.

Her death led to an unexpected trip to Utah, which was very very fun. For a short two days my whole family was together. It's been a while since that's happened and it was so great. Jared had to get back to work but Connor and I stayed in Utah another week. We got back just before

Christmas and then headed up to New Jersey. It was a super relaxed Christmas and fun just to be able to hang out in our pjs all day with nothing to do and no where to go.

Connor had a lovely first Christmas I'm sure. He got a stocking and bath toy from Grandpa Lee and Grandma and Grandpa Bench gave him a barking dog, which he thinks is so funny, and swimming lessons. Grandma and Grandpa Wisan's presents got stolen from our front door. We were up in New Jersey when the package was delivered but our neighbor said it was there one night and gone the next day. Apparently that happened to quite a few people in our complex. Dumb dumb people. Grandma Jean was nice enough to go and re-buy everything and send it out again.

As far as Connor goes he is changing by the day. We took him in for his 9 month check up last week. He weighs 14 lb 2 oz, not as much as we'd like so we're adding some extra meals, and it 27 inches long. He's jumped from the 5 percentile to the 10 percentile in height. I can't imagine him being able to fit more food in his stomach. His dinners range from 12-16 ounces of baby food, but we'll try anyway. Some things going on in Connor's life right now
-eating finger foods and loving it
-crawling-nothing is safe on the ground anymore
-he loves playing in the bath tub
-standing against things
-he's got two bottom teeth
-his Uncle Bryce couldn't get him to smile in Salt Lake, but his Aunt Lindsay could (maybe he just likes people with hair better)
-he's getting lots of really blond hair
-more and more people are saying he looks like his dad, except for the eyes
-he still stares into the souls of strangers
-he's chattering away

-he blows lots and lots of bubbles paired with motorcycle sounds

Playing with cousin Kate

and Aunt Brianne

Jared had a helper on his project

Connor enjoyed playing with his first Christmas present

Finger foods...yum yum!

I would like to point out that the spilled food on the floor is a result of Jared, not Connor

First time falling asleep in the high chair

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving. The Walker's joined us, yes there were 8 of us in a 2 bedroom apartment, and we loved having them here. I've said it once and I'll say it again, we love having family near by!