Some nights Bence is a dream. 

Sometimes he plays in his bath, cuddles during his bottle, and drifts off snuggled into a soft blanket.

and then he goes to bed and I get to go to sleep the same time as my husband.

And Bence doesn't wake up until after 9 in the morning.

But I can count the number of times that has happened on one hand.

Since Bence has been born anyway.

Most nights are more like the video below.

(WARNING: do not view if you are already in a bad mood or if you find crying babies annoying.)

I took this mainly as video-graphic proof that I'm not exaggerating when I say Bence screams.

Sometimes for hours at a time.

And usually for no reason.

(that I can tell anyway)

When I took this video last night, I think Bence had gas.

And he had been carrying on for a good half an hour before I whipped out the camera.
By the time I recorded this, he was starting to calm down a little.
(haha)

Please don't think I'm a terrible mother.

Believe me, I tried everything; rocking, burping, swaddling, giving him a bottle, rubbing his back, rubbing his belly, stroking his hair, massaging his butt, back and thighs....NADA.

It's alright though--it only lasted an hour.

Then he totally crashed.

And I snuggled him for a few more minutes while he was so sweet and calm before putting him to bed.

Even though he drives me crazy, 

and keeps me up way too late,

I still love this little bugger.

How could you not with a face like this?

Here's some of what we've been up to lately....

We visited the Great-Grands out in Tooele. Bence loved hangin' with his aunt Cathy.

Can you tell it was naptime?

Bence and ruby were done.

I just can't resist the bath shots...

I fell over and can't get up!

Henry bought Bence this little walking/scooting toy. 

He loves it.

He loves it so much I couldn't get a picture of him holding still.

Now if he could just figure out how to back up so he wouldn't get stuck....

Here are a few videos as well. 

Blogger wouldn't let me upload them for the longest time.

and there is still some sort of bug.

But I decided to embed them and be done with it.

Almost seven months

I can't believe it.

Bence is getting so big so fast.

I suppose this is every mothers curse

(And blessing)

But I wish I could (sometimes) slow time down just a little bit. 

He can sometimes be a bit of a stinker, but overall, Bence is the sweetest, happiest little buddy.

He loves attention.

He loves to play (just not by himself)

He loves to make faces when you look at him.

He loves to laugh and giggle

And be tickled.

He loves to be snuggled while he falls asleep.

He ADORES baby biscuits and shows that adoration by smearing the dang things in every crease and crevice.

He loves to talk and blow spit bubbles and tell stories (very emphatically.)

He loves when daddy comes home from work and plays with him.

He loves his toys (especially his new toy from nana-major sensory overload, but he loves it all the same.)

He loves his bath and his rubber duckies.

In fact, I can pour water right over his head, and as long as he has that duck to chew on, he barely ever sputters. 

Even though Bence loves a lot of things. He knows what he doesn't like too.

He still hates putting shirts on.

(Mostly because he can't move his arms for .5 seconds)

He hates when food isn't ready fast enough.

He hates when he doesn't have mommys undivided attention.

Or when mommy walks out of the room.

He hates that his ability to move is so limited still. (This boy just wants to get up and run.)

He hates going to bed (sometimes.)

And he seems to hate it when mommy and daddy go to bed at the same time, because that hasn't happened more than I can count on one hand since he was born in October. 

We love him all the same.

He really is the cutest little bugger there ever was.

Last night was the first time in at least two weeks that I've slept more than two hours consecutively.

Boy, was it awesome.

Bence only wok up twice (at 11 and 5)

And (almost) went right back to sleep both times.

Whenever he wakes up talking in the middle of the night

And I walk over to his crib

His feet are in his mouth and he's rolling from side to side.

He's just a mover and a shaker I guess.

He can't quite get his binky in the right way....

We're health nuts, can't you tell?

Bence was really intrigued by this box....

Always so interested in his feet.

Little monster

Bence is the most adorable little bug.
I never imagined I could create such a perfect, beautiful little person.
(With Henry's help, of course.)

But Bence's also incredibly demanding.

There are days (like today)
Where I get (maybe) an hour of happy Bence.
This is the hour I have to eat, shower,make dinner, clean the house, and do laundry.

You know, the fun stuff in life.

The rest of the day I get fussy Bence.
The kind of Bence who's only happy if he's being held and actively/constantly entertained.

Anyone feel me?
Do I have the only high maintenance child here?

(I didn't think so.)

I never realized how exhausting motherhood can be.
Especially when a certain baby wakes up every hour during the night talking to himself.
Don't get me wrong- he's adorable-
But seriously, I'm not exaggerating when I say he wakes up EVERY hour.
Well...I guess some nights he'll go two, but come on!

But then, when he finally does sleep, I'm totally overwhelmed by how sweet and perfect he is.
And cuddly.
And warm.
And soft.

Thats when I remember how awesome being a mom is, no matter how sleep deprived I can be.

And as I pry his chubby little fist open to release the handful of my hair he's been pulling on,
I'm almost tempted to stay awake.
And just keep snuggling and rocking him.
And listening to his sweet little snores.
And kissing his pudgy little cheeks.
And letting him unconsciously pull my hair.

And I don't even care that my shirt is crusted with green bean vomit.

I think we have to have moments like this as mothers.
It's what makes it all worth it.