Church Social

Last night our church hosted a social for all of the young adult Sunday school classes. They asked everyone to tailgate and wear your favorite team colors. There were contests for best appetizer, dessert and tailgate. Our wonderful class got 3rd prize for the appetizer and 1st for the tailgate (so we won a free brunch)! The name of our class is Journey, because we are all just getting our lives started with our new families and beginning our lifelong journey. It is a great group of people, and as you can see in the photo...we are all about the same age and have young children.

Though this is only about half of our class, there are tons of fun people, and lots of babies! Bennett got a little tired with all of the excitement, so she took one of her infamous cat naps in the back of our truck. Her two friends are Luke and Paul Mills, born about two weeks after Bennett.

Nekked Baby

Yesterday we went for our morning walk and then ran a few errands. Everything was going according to planned with us getting things done before Steve left for the AL-GA game that afternoon. We were on our way to grab lunch when I started talking about going to the game. We then decided that it could work, so we turned around so I could go home and shower and Steve packed up the car.

Within an hour, we were all (and I mean all...me, Steve, Bennett and Spencer) on our way to Tuscaloosa. We got there fairly quickly and got Bennett changed into her cheerleader's outfit, and Spencer into his jersey. Everyone was happy for about 10 minutes, but then the heat set in. Spencer began panting and Bennett was sweating in her little polyester hot box. So we stripped them both down and things got back to normal.


We all enjoyed some BBQ and hung with friends, until 6ish when the crowd thinned to go into the game. Several of the girls didn't have tickets, so we all sat outside and watched the game on the TVs at the tailgate. It wasn't the best game since AL was down by 10 pts twice and fought to come back and tie up the game. But was most disappointing, was losing in sudden death overtime to Georgia. As you might imagine, Steve was sad. It was Alabama's first loss this year, and the game could have been won by the Tide.

Bennett enjoyed some parts, but as you can see in a couple of the photos - she dosed off several times (I really don't know where she gets off sleeping during an AL football game....the nerve!).

Thankfully, Steve sprinted back to the car after the game so we could hightail it out of there before 100,000 people all heading in the same direction did! It was a long day, but overall, everyone had fun.

Crisp Fall Morning

Nothing is better than getting up and being outside on a cool morning. Today we awoke and enjoyed a cup of java while Bennett sucked down a bottle and Spencer inhaled his food. Then we went out and took a walk. It was incredibly nice out...about 60 degrees and clear blue skies, and the beautiful weather put me in a good mood for the rest of the day (Steve was in a good mood since Alabama won in the final seconds of the game against Arkansas last night)!




Bennett has moved up to the jogging stroller, probably a little sooner than she should, but she loves it! The back lies almost flat and she is much cooler in it than the other which we use with her carseat. Not to mention, we think the jogging stroller is so much easier to push and maneuver around outside.





Spencer was thrilled to go for a walk...his favorite thing to do, next to eating. He has been so good and has really come around since Shelby's passing 2.5 months ago.

Bennett's Baptism

Well our little angel has been baptized. It was a terrific day with our entire family and several friends. My parents came in town for her big day, and all of the Mizeranys were present (with the exception of Uncle Dan, who had to work in Florida). Bennett looked absolutely beautiful in her great-grandfather's christening gown. As you may recall her middle name is Clegg. Clegg (Walker) was my mother's father, and he was a wonderful person. I was lucky enough to have his first name as my middle name. However, when I married, I elected to drop it so I could keep Banta. I didn't want his unique name lost, so we decided to carry it on, and use it as Bennett's middle name. It was very special to have her honor him by wearing the gown he was christened in himself, and to share his name. The gown was surprisingly in good shape, and it fit her perfectly! She really looked like an angel in it (as you can see here).

Bennett was in great spirits all morning, so much so that she refused to take a nap. She smiled for the ministers at our meeting before the service, but she shortly thereafter fell asleep. She was so tired, that she slept throughout the entire baptism! We went up to the pulpit in front of the congregation, handed her over to Andy Wolfe, the head minister at Trinity United Methodist Church, where they blessed her and sprinkled water on her head. If that wasn't enough, they then paraded her around the church while we all sang "Jesus Loves Me." He handed her back to me, and she was still asleep. She finally awoke at the end of the service so we could take a few photos.

Afterward, we hosted everyone back at our home for lunch and cocktails. We enjoyed mimosas, wine and beer with a few appetizers, and then onto a delish beef tenderloin that Steve cooked that morning with a few sides. I think everyone enjoyed the feast, and it was certainly fun having everyone there!

John Michael, who once was the baby on the Mizerany side, has really adapted well to the arrival of Bennett. He's still a little timid about holding her, but he certainly loves her noises and faces. Steve was able to catch this sweet photo of him holding her yesterday. As you can see by her face, she loves her cousin too!

After everyone left, we got the house back in order and finally relaxed in front of the tv. It was a long day, but a great one. I know that Papa (Clegg Walker) must have been looking down on us with our other lost loved ones yesterday, and we are blessed for that.

Baby Babble

Bennett has been trying to talk for a couple of weeks now. If you talk to her, she'll look intently at you, and sometimes move her mouth in silence, as if she is mocking you without sound. Other times she is successful in making noise, and she loves the sound of her voice. Bennett and her daddy can have full "conversations." Of course we like to pretend that she is telling us all about her day, as seen in this video.

Baby Babble