Another hot weekend in Birmingham!

Last night we returned for another Baron's game (who would have guessed that we would become such fans). It was a social event for my Rotary club, so we went as a family. Unfortunately it was another hot and humid night, but since one of our members works for the Baron's, he arranged for us to have a private (air conditioned) room behind home plate. It worked out well for our group, and the room was large enough to accommodate all 35 of us.

Bennett had fun checking out all of the new faces, and she certainly enjoyed the attention. She didn't sleep a wink while we were there...in fear that she would miss something important I guess. And though she caught a few zzz's on the drive home, she was ready to play when we got home. So I hooked up her new toy and tried to wear her out.

It is a little pad that is hooked to the side of her crib that plays music and talks when she kicks certain farm animals. Since she likes to be entertained, and is more active now, it is the perfect toy for her.

3 Months Old Already!!

Tomorrow, Bennett is 3 months old! Though I can't believe how quickly the past three months have gone, I can barely recall what it was like before she entered our lives. From what I hear, we have been spoiled by her behavior and desire to sleep at nights. She obviously has more of her Daddy in her to be so laid back, and I am very thankful for that.

Today she went to the doctor for her 3 month check-up. She weighed 12 lbs and measured 23 inches long! She has certainly grown from the little peanut she was back in May. In fact, she is now in the 50th percentile for weight and the 25th percentile for length.

One Last Hoorah!

This weekend, my close friends Betsy and Chelsea made a visit to Birmingham. It was an opportunity for them to meet Miss Bennett, and for us three to be together before Chels and her family move to Edmonton, Canada next month. Betsy drove in from Memphis Friday night, and Chelsea from Nashville Saturday morning. We hung out that morning with Steve and Bennett, and then we really caught up over a big mexican lunch.

Everything was going smoothly, and they departed for home around 4:30. An hour later we received a call from Betsy that she was on her way back. I assumed that she missed us, but in reality she was having car problems, and was afraid that she would stall somewhere between here and Memphis on the back roads of Mississippi (which could be very scary). Since her children start school tomorrow, she needed to get home. Based on the problems she was having, we thought she had water in her gas tank, so we poured some Heet in it, and tried to burn some gas by driving around the subdivision. Unfortunately, this morning when we tried to start it...it wouldn't even turn over. So, we drove her halfway, so Will and the kids didn't have to pick her up in Birmingham, and now she is having the car towed all the way back to Memphis. What an unfortunate way to end a fun weekend. Hopefully Betsy's bad experience with her car won't deter her from future visits to the steel city. Because time with good girlfriends is a must!!

Avalon 2007

Well, we made it back from another wonderful trip to the Jersey shore. We flew out last Friday afternoon, and returned Wednesday night well rested and with a great tan. Everything went perfectly, with the exception of our flight out there, which was delayed almost 2 hours. However, Bennett did wonderfully on the flight, not making a peep. For our first time flying with her, things went well. We certainly didn't forget anything, and we seemed to pack just the right amount of clothes.



As always, it was great being with our entire family! We had 20 people this year (including the babies), so it only gets more chaotic and fun. We had not all been together since our wedding, so Christian and Bennett were new additions this year. They certainly were not deprived of any attention, in fact we are working to now get Bennett back into her routine and used to not being held all day long. Since she is so young and adaptable, she was happy to be held by anyone (even Gracie as you see here). It was amazing to see how much Grace and her siblings (Jenna & Kurt) have grown up over the past 2 years. Jenna has become quite the little lady, and Kurt Jr, a sweet boy. They all were so well-behaved and enjoyed playing on the beach, and entertaining each other and Christian.

We had planned on spending about an hour a day at the beach with Bennett, but she was so good, she stayed out all day with us. This year the weather was just perfect... sunny with a nice breeze, and cooler at night. We departed Birmingham with 104 degree weather, and landed in a much cooler Philadelphia...only 64 degrees. Though it was quite the change, we welcomed the more pleasant temperatures, especially Bennett. Since she was born, she has enjoyed being outside. So once we got all set up at the beach with her towels, umbrella, and of course sunscreen...she was happy as a clam! In fact, she slept most of the afternoon in the shade. When she was awake, she was usually being held by someone, so she was content.


Our Avalon trips are always a little similar: morning walks on the beach, followed up with breakfast/lunch and then out to the beach for the day. Everyone then goes home to shower before we convene for cocktails and dinner. One change this year was an early morning wake up call from Bennett. We decided to make the most of it and go out to the beach to watch the sunrise (yes, we were up that early). As you would expect, it was beautiful!

Because of the size of our group, we never go out for dinner. Instead, we rotate cooking responsibilities and try to maintain Debbie Forrey's tradition of serving a special cocktail for the night. We started off with watermelon martinis (thanks to Debbie), then margaritas and pina coladas for Kurt Sr's 40th birthday party, then the Bantas made some Beach Toddies, and Uncle Jim and Aunt Sue contributed all of the wine we had for dinner! So all and all...a lot of alcohol was consumed!

However, it isn't all about food and alcohol, as you might think. It is about family. This trip is always one that I look so forward to (and this was my 4th one as an adult). It started off with just Brian and me making the trip to visit with the Forreys, Hovans and Blairs. But when my parents heard about all of the fun, they wanted to join us the next year. By that time, Brian and I had met Shannon and Steve, so they too joined in on the fun. After a couple of years with that group, our little ones arrived. Who knows what the future will bring, but I am certain it will hold more opportunities for us to be together with our family and create more fond memories.

Steve & Bennett relaxing before dinner

Bennett enjoying one of her books

All of the women in our family

Brian, Christian, Bennett and me before breakfast on the boardwalk one morning











Debbie carrying Bennett during a morning walk














Dad and Steve...the winners of the horseshoe competition!

Alex, John & Jimmy Forrey

The Mizeranys Aug 2007

Look at Me!

I don't know if it is every child at this age, but Bennett just LOVES bath time. She could be crying and so upset, but as soon as she feels the water - she becomes relaxed and happy. Since we brought her home, she has loved the feel of water on her head, but now that she can get her legs wet, and actually sit in it - it's is a completely different feeling for her.

As you will see below, she loves it when we pour water on her head. We have always joked about her pretending that she is at a beauty shop, because she literally throws her head back like women have to do at a salon.

I hope that this love for water stays with her as she gets older. As we have shown in previous blogs, she likes the pool too, even though the water is colder than her baths. Steve is ready to dunk her, but we are holding off until she takes a swim class with her Daddy this fall. We want to make sure we do it right, and not hurt or frighten her.

We really enjoy her, and now that she is becoming more interactive - it is even more fun. There is nothing more special than when she turns her head when she hears our voice, or smiles when she sees us. She is a funny little girl, and she makes the cutest faces!

Look Who's Smiling!

Bennett is such a happy baby, and has recently started smiling regularly when Steve and I talk to her. She has such a cute smile - all gums right now (as you can see here). Her mornings are her favorite time, always well rested and in a good mood.

We are guessing that Bennett now weighs about 10 lbs, and her appetite has definitely grown along with her weight. At the beginning of July, we started feeding her formula before bedtime to sustain her longer. It definitely worked, as she has been sleeping through the nights for the past 3 weeks now. However, recently she just isn't quite satisfied with the 4 ounces we were feeding her, so we increased it to 5. This little increase has helped her sleep even longer - now 10-7 am! I can't even tell you how happy I am for this extra time.

I am finally starting to get my morning routine down, and with her sleeping later, I can actually get ready before she awakes and expects to be fed. Then it is either off to her Mimi's house, or she is passed off to Ms. Shirley. She is content with either, as long as someone is paying attention to her!