What's Ben been getting up to?

Normally in January Marguerite and Jude would be out and about, scooting all over the place, doing this and that, skiing, tubing, partying, ............ but this year with having Ben they've kind of been taking it a little easier. Why?

Well because they wanted to spend as much quality time with Ben as possible.

So what's Ben been doing then?










Well he's been sitting in a lot, taking it easy and trying to figure out all that is going on in the world ...... eh well at least in the living room of his apartment!

And whenever Jude tries to explain something to him or tell him a story, Ben just laughs and giggles a lot and pulls funny faces!  Wha?












'Ahhh come on now Dada ....... you're just making that up', is what Ben might be thinking.

Jude and Marguerite ask Ben to tell them a story and Ben tries very very hard to speak (as he's doing here).  He ends up making all these wonderful noises .......... and laughing of course!

This pic will give you an indication as to how fast Ben is growing .... he's nearly half the length of his Mama!  Jude reckons he'll make a top midfielder!

Obviously Ben's Auntie Emma bought him that bib.


















Ben is just like his auld Da sometimes ........ just feed him and he's happy as a pig in muck!

Eh ..... spot the clothes drying there on the door knobs ....... hehehe .....very funny!












As 2013 began the weather was often quite cold ........ too cold for Ben to be out and about exploring things but the odd dander down to the Beacon Street Tavern would never be missed. Ben loves that neon sign there ...... he can never take his eyes off it.













Oh yeah, Boston did see one pretty good snowfall in January and Ben could be excused for being slightly confused today as he looked out the window and all was white.











This was the scene out the window of Marguerite, Jude and Ben's apartment window at breakfast time on the morning after.  Nice!














Jude took this cool picture looking down the 'T' track from Winchester Street to Coolidge Corner.

What a nice January winter scene that is ..... wha?

Could this be a good enough picture to frame?  Wha? Seriously? That is one cool pic folks!









So even though it has been really cold Marguerite and Jude still try their best to take Ben out and about.  Like today they decided, 'yes it's cold but let's brave the elements and go for it'.

Marguerite is full of steam at this stage (while walking on the flat street) .......








......... only to dump the pram onto Jude when turning onto the long steep hill that is the aptly named Summit Avenue.













'No bother to me, this'll be a doddle', mumbled Jude as he pushed a well protected Ben (spot the cover over him) up the hill.












So off like roadrunner he went .... meee neep ...... meee neeep!














'This is one steep hill ...... I say the air's thin up here .... but you just stand there and take photos ..... never-mind ..... sure I'll push Ben up the hill' ........













'Not far to go now Jude ..... come on naaiy..... no slacking', said Marguerite as the sweat started to blind Jude.  













5 minutes later ..... and sweating like a fiddler's armpit ....














...... Jude finally made it to the top with Ben.















Today the three of them were visiting their local Wholefoods to do a bit of shappin!













'How many pics of a pram can ye get in one blog post?  

Eh ...... loads actually!  Spot the shappin in below the pram there, wha?











A wee dander around Brookline is always beautiful, it really has been a lovely area to live in these past two years.

And thankfully this blog will serve as a great story book for Ben when he's older, it'll show him loads of interesting pictures and stories from where he was born and these wonderful early days of his life.







'Hey Ben, when you are a wee bit older we'll go sledding on hills like that', said Marguerite.















'Now Ben, that's your adventure over for today ...... time to get back to Winchester Street now son', said Marguerite to Ben.











'Eh.......... what's the story Ben? I see you were out for a dander today.  They never take me anywhere any more.  I remember they used to take me to Fenway Park and all, but now you're here it looks like those days are numbered for me. Where did they take you today? asked Max.
















Now of course Ben can't talk yet ....... but if he could he may have replied, 'they took me up some dozzy big hill and back in my pram ..... but don't worry Max, the next day we are going on a trip I'll bring you too ...... I don't think it's fair you being left here so I'll sneak you into my pram'.

'That's magic Ben, I'm glad you and I are best muckers', replied Max.







As it says on his top, Ben loves his mummy.  But he loves her even more when she rubs his feet and massages his wee chubby legs ..........













Ben's a wee Rock star too!


















Talk about colourful?  You'll need your sunglasses to check out this pic of Ben on his play mat.












Christmas may be over but Ben is getting as much wear as possible out of thon Santa outfit!  Here he is laying on his back and trying to figure out just who that is looking back at him.

















Best buddies!


















Some days when Ben goes for a walk with his Mama it does not involve using the pram.

So how does that work then?













Well in the 'Baby Bjorn' of course.  Ben loves this yoke ..... just loves it he does ..... it really does tip him over the edge.  He gets to be very nosey and look around all over the place, and to be nice and snug while mumbling away to his Mama ........ all at the same time!









The funny thing is ........... sometimes he looks like a wee teddy bear stuck on there.















'Naaaiy Ben, what's red and white and useless', asked Jude before answering his own question .....














.............'Liverpool that's what ...... and Uncle Marty and Uncle Paul, sure they're silly son, sure they support Liverpool so they must be silly'.  'What are they Ben? 'Silly? 'Aye you're right son', rambled Jude as Ben smiled back in obvious agreement.  

Today Man Utd were playing Liverpool so Ben was up nice and early with his Da to watch the big game. Here he is all kitted out in his Utd bib.






'Ok Ben, let's have a chubby cheek contest between you and me .......... sure your Daddy can judge it'.














'So who do you think will win Ben ......... you or me', asked Marguerite.

And the winner was ......











...... chubby cheeks Ben.  















You may remember when Marguerite and Jude were moving from Fenway to Brookline in March 2011 and Marguerite was viewing apartments, Jude had only once request .......... 'make sure there are plenty of windows', he would say.











Ben is now reaping the benefits of that request as he just loves looking out any window he can get near.













Marguerite has taken to regularly sticking a 'few quid' into Ben's wee Red Sox piggy bank.













Marguerite and Jude's friend Lindsay bought that wee piggy bank for Ben.  Sure at this rate it'll be filled by the time he's a year old.  Notes only by the way folks.... no cheapo coins allowed!










Ben has also been watching the Boston Celtics, he loves them so he does, particularly Rondo!














Here he is in his wee Rajon Rondo outfit.  Cool, wha?



















And again.


















Sometimes when Ben sleeps he just slings his arms out in any auld direction.













You may remember when in Vermont Marguerite and Emma were making Ben's footprints in clay ..... well this is the final result which now hangs in the living room in Winchester Street.  Nice!












Ben can't wait to meet all his family when he eventually gets to go home, especially all his cool cousins.











Jude always thought that a baby would cry when getting his/her nappy changed, but Ben loves it so much it's a real fun thing to do.  He just smiles and laughs all the way through. That really was a pleasant surprise because all those nappy changes (eh.... 8 a day) would have meant a lot of crying.









This pic of Ben shows his expression when his Mama or Dada tell him a story.  Does he understand the stories he's being told?  Not likely.  So is he just laughing at his Mama and Dada because they are silly.  That's more likely!















'Now what's going on over here? Ben might be thinking.

At this stage Ben is good at sitting up and when he does he more often than not would have this cool wee expression.
















And here is Ben looking the part all kitted out in his Ireland top.  Marguerite and Jude's friend Kerry bought him that cool top.

So that's what Ben's been getting up to folks.

To an adult it may not seem like a lot ....... but to Ben this has been a hugely important period in his life as he begins to get on in months (eh ....... months? yeah as opposed to years like).  For Ben this period has seen an unbelievable amount of learning, exploring, watching, listening, taking things in and general all round development.  Happy days!