Benjamin at 3 months

Wouldn't you like to be greeted with this face every morning? Ben is such a pleasant baby. His face especially lights up when people talk to him and he is really enjoying watching Emily jump on her mini trampoline these days. He's not too fond of tummy time, but is starting to grab onto toys on his play mat.

Ben weighed a healthy 13lbs. 5 oz. at his Jan. appointment.

Emily 3 years, 5 mo. - Jan. 16

Oh, having a three year old in the house just gets better every day. Along with the challenges, come some of the funniest things. I was able to tear Emily away from her mini trampoline that Charlie moved into the newly heated garage just long enough to take her monthly picture. Today she asked "Mommy may I have some white milk, you know the color of the potty and snow." Where's Bill Cosby when you need him? Speaking of the potty, (which we do a LOT around our house these days) Emily has decided she's ready to begin potty training. I had the idea of having "potty" day (Jan. 11) over at the Rolston's house since Sarah said Noah was in the midst of training as well. After a couple of 20 minute timer settings, I believe she saw how easy it was coupled with the competition of who could go faster, then it happened. I was tending to Benjamin in the doorway to the bathroom at the time and only caught a glimpse of her reaction, but Sarah said it was hilarious. Like the lightbulb went on and she's been doing well ever since. As of tonight, she's even ventured into the #2 side of potty training.

Testing out the bathtime gift from Aunt Holly.....tub crayons.Charlie captured this shot for me while I was away from the house last week. Wondering what the green stuff is??? Somehow the zipper of one of our new couch cushions opened just enough for Emily to begin pulling out the stuffing bit by bit until she had created her own little cushion. She was quite content.

Folks have heard Got Milk, but anyone tried carrots and milk?? Well Emily seems to like it. This came after dipping graham crackers in the milk. Guess she thought things just taste better in milk.

Groff/Byers Christmas 2009

The Groff family doesn't get the chance to get together over Christmas so we've made it our own little tradition to get everyone together in January. Everyone was gathered (except for Gommy, whom we all missed VERY MUCH!) in Columbus, Ohio.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Random shots

This past Saturday Emily and I had a Mommy and Me day and attempted to go to World of Bounce which is one of the places listed on our Fun Place Database. What their website fails to tell you is that if they are full when you arrive you can't bounce. They do have the option of being put on a waiting list and basically have to wait around for folks to leave before they will let you in to bounce. Emily was disappointed we had to leave since there were 6 families ahead of us on the waiting list and we didn't have time to wait. So we headed to the Polaris playground and were overjoyed to see some of our friends there as well.

"Soon I'll be big enough to sit up in the big boy rocking chair."

Thankful birds in our back yard.

Proud Grandparents.

Benjamin at 2 months

Ben is starting to fit better in the rocking chair. Sniff, sniff, because that means he's growing. He is my little snuggle bug and I know he won't stay that way for long. He started smiling and cooing recently and loves to watch his big sister. He is a great eater and burper which is such a blessing. Not sure exactly how much he weighs, but he is wearing size 3 months clothes already.

Thank you to the Snyder's who loaned us this Christmas outfit.

Marshall/Groff Christmas 2009

Make a Smilebox greeting

Ben's birth announcement

Thank you Shelli and Randa for helping with this announcement!!!!

Emily 3 years, 4 mo. - Dec. 16

Things are never dull around the Groff house. Every day is a new adventure. Emily grew accustom to going somewhere with our friends during the week in the Summer and now I think she's going through withdrawal. She is finding new things to play with around the house. Her 2 most favorite things are an empty wrapping paper roll and a fake fish that Charlie gave her from his tackle box which she named Fishy.

Emily is still quite the little Mommy for Benjamin. She loves "diagnosing" reasons why he might be fussy. Oddly enough, sometimes she's right.

Still no improvements with potty training. I just continue praying that it will click one of these days.

Creation Museum

Mom, Emily, Benjamin and I had the opportunity to visit the Creation Museum a couple of weeks ago. They were having a special presentation called Bethlehem's Blessings which was similar to a living nativity scene complete with live animals. It was really neat, but would have been more fun if it hadn't been so cold.

Inside the museum they had their regular display.....

.....and here was Emily's reaction to it. The dinosaur wasn't really loud, but Little Miss Sensitive Ears thought it was.

Emily's become quite the photographer since we let her use my broken camera. Here's a picture she took of Mom.

Random Shots

Emily, Benjamin, Mom and I had the opportunity to join our friends at the Columbus Metropolitan Library for their train exhibit.

Cowboy Ben





I had the opportunity to watch my Niece, Karley a few days this week.
She is such a good baby and we had fun spending time with her.

Ben's asleep in the cocoon - a.k.a. the sling.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had such a great time visiting with Randa, Mark, Jack and David over at my parents for Thanksgiving this year. We spent our days laughing as we heard Emily and Jack's interactions. They spent hours in my parents basement communicating like two teenagers. Benjamin and David didn't have much to chat about, but David shared his affections for his new cousin with kisses on the head and cheek.

Benjamin at 1 Month

You can definitely tell these two are siblings.

Benjamin is growing like a weed. He weighed 9lbs. 7.5oz at his 3 week appointment. He's soaking in his surroundings and has a new expression every day.


Emily at 1 Month

Trunk-or-Treat

This year Aunt Kristen and Uncle Jose were gracious enough to take Emily to their church for their annual Harvest Party/Trunk or Treat so we could stay home with baby Benjamin.

Karley Jane

My sister Kristen and her husband Jose just had a baby girl on the 12th. She weighted 7 lbs 2oz and was 19 inches long. Kristen and Karley are both doing great.

I took this picture a couple hours ago, about 22 hours after she was born.

So far all her checkups have been great and she is completely healthy. That is a real answer to prayers. Praise the Lord.

Momma and Daddy are doing well also.

Snuggle Time

Caught you

Emily loves drinking water from my huge jug from the hospital.

Too funny

We've always said that Emily perfected the furrowed brow look from birth and it seems little Benjamin has as well.

Oh what a face.

5 days old

Emily loves holding her little brother