'Tis the Season

We put up our Christmas tree today and Tobi was a big help decorating this year...as you can see. After all she is getting pretty big these days. At her 4 month appointment (last week) she weighed 15.4 lbs (76th percentile) and measured 25 inches long (65th percentile). She has her older cousin Sadie out-sized already and Tobi is 3.5 weeks younger...so much for hand-me-downs!

Thanksgiving Weekend

From Hooksett to Deerfield to Concord MA to Billerica and back home...it's been a great weekend!  Lots of time with family and friends...lots of delicious food... and even some time to rest (kinda sorta?)  

Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad R-B's house. There is always so much amazing food there...and of course we came home with lots of leftovers.

Aj and Tobi 

Shay and Tobs

Tobi's first Thanksgiving wore her out!

 

Tobi and Sadie catch up on all the latest baby news.

All the Mangin & Bengtson kids + 1 Tobi and 1 Grandma :)

She's growing up...

I'm looking back at pictures from a couple months ago... and already Tobi has changed so much.  She'll be 4 months tomorrow.  Last year at this time I didn't know it, but I was already pregnant.  Perhaps hosting Thanksgiving for 17 people, painting our dining room and staying up until the early hours of the morning may not have been the best way to spend the first few weeks of pregnancy...but who knew?  Tobi's first thanksgiving (on the outside) will be at her Grandma and Grandpa R-B's house.  Mmmm...my mouth is watering just thinking of all the deliciousness.  Sorry baby, you'll have to wait until next year to get to taste the turkey!   

(Top picture - 1 month, bottom picture 3.5 months)

Happy Birthday Baby!

Tobi turned 3 on Monday...months that is. (Lots more pics on Flickr) It has been so much fun getting to know this little one. She had started showing her personality more and more. It will be fun to see how much of who she is now will stay with her as she grows. She has this raspy little voice when she oohs and aahs and she has a real baby doll sounding "wah wah". She loves to sleep (just like her mama). She is pretty cautious...anything new is met with a very worried stare and a furrowed brow. She loves to be held and she loves to snuggle...she is most apt to fall asleep in the arms of her mom or dad. This might spell trouble later on...but we really like it now :)

I caught the end of Oprah yesterday and saw this video that is on YouTube of a Dad reading a letter to his son who was born with Trisomy 18...a fatal condition. I can't tell you how fast I broke into tears watching it. Ben likes to make fun of my "crying chin". When I am trying to hold back tears apparently my chin does something that he finds quite entertaining. When I watched that video I totally bypassed the crying chin and went right to sobbing. I watched the whole clip on YouTube today (because apparently I thought I needed to cry some more). It was so evident that this couple was determined to enjoy every day of the 99 miraculous days that their son lived...and in the end praised God for his short little life. I just can't imagine. I kept looking at Tobi and I had to pick her up even though she was sleeping and just hold her tight. I have seen several friends in the last few years who have gone through this same or similar kind of loss...and I can't help but wonder "why???". But the reminder to me came clear... nothing is certain except for God's sovereignty and so I will do my best to cling to Him no matter the circumstances and I will do my best to celebrate every moment I have with this precious gift.

If you want to see this amazing video you can see it here...but I warn you, you will cry or at least get a painful lump in your throat. It reminded me to really think about what can I do today to love my baby and make this day count for eternity! Blessed is the one who gives and the one who takes...blessed be the name of the Lord.

7 Weeks

Tobi when she was a few days old

I was going to call this blog entry "1 month of motherhood"...but now it is actually 7 weeks, so that pretty much sums up my "month".  It is so hard to believe that 7 weeks have gone by.  Tobi has really changed in these last few weeks.  She is outgrowing her clothes, moving up in diaper sizes, and becoming more and more alert.  The school year has officially started and I am officially not there.  There are some aspects I miss...the students, my friends on staff, the fun events...but then there are parts I definitely don't miss...having to get ready at the crack of dawn and drive to work while trying to keep my eyes open, worrying about students following rules or paying attention or caring at all about their education or behavior, and the Sunday night "I have a stack of papers I never graded and need to before I head back to work" blues!  Taking care of Tobi is constant but there isn't the "things I still have to do" factor with her...it is just a very present job, we do things when they need to be done.  I look forward to our days together...(and hope for less interaction during the nights).  It is just amazing how captivating every facial movement can be...I can just watch her as she sleeps and be totally entertained!  It's crazy how much has changed in me even in a month, or two, of this grand thing we call "motherhood".

Tobi at 6 1/2 weeks

A day (or 2) at the beach

Finally! Some nice weather.  It seems crazy that it is mid August and this is only my 3rd trip to the beach.  Sunday- Ben, Tobi and I went to Plum Island.  We were here 2 months ago, but things have changed a bit since then..I'm a little smaller and we had to carry some extra items with us this time :)  

On Monday I went to Ogunquit with Mom and Dad and Ryan and Sarah and gang.  Just when I thought Tobi was looking bigger, Sadie had to remind her how really tiny she is.  What a beautiful day... this is how summer should be.  (To see more beach pics click HERE)

Tobi's first week at home!

It has been a full first week of life for Tobi.  All sorts of friends and relatives have been in town and have been so excited to meet her.  Saturday she went to her Uncle Jesse's wedding.  Sunday she went to church and then to her Grandma and Grandpa R-B's to see her great aunts and uncles and cousins and uncles and aunts and so on...who were in town for the wedding.  Then she got a chance to meet her great-grandma Bengtson (Mima) and her great aunt and uncle and cousin Josh who were here visiting all the way from Japan.  It was a great week to be born so everyone could meet her.

Tobi and (2nd) cousin Josh

Tobi and Mima

Tobi's first bath at home (it did get better :) )

Daddy time!

With Uncle Jesse at his wedding

The girls...Cousin Sadie (1 month and 5 days old) Cousin Kayla (2 yrs. old) Tobi (9 days old)

This shot says it all :)