Congrats, Tech Sgt Richter!!

Have to brag on him: Yesterday was Mike's first official day as a technical sergeant. That's a pretty big promotion, and he got it very quickly - and on his first try. He found out a year ago that he scored high enough to get the promotion, but he had to wait months to actually get that new stripe. We're proud of you, honey! I mean, Sgt Richter.

I had the silly idea of taking an impromptu family portrait, only my arm wasn't quite long & flexible enough. This was one of oh-so-many attempts. Mike looks great, Benjamin looks scared, I look like a dork. But we had fun.

Chasing down bits of puffed rice cereal. I think he likes the sound his fingers make when he scrapes the plastic as much as he liked trying to pick up the cereal. I love it when he's concentrating on something and gets really quiet and still. Although he does make these little grunting sounds under his breath, which is also adorable.

Got one! Now if only he could get it from his fingers to his mouth.

Somebody has learned to love this hat. He smiles when we put it on him, and Mike said that yesterday he was trying to grab the rim but ended up grabbing at the air right above it. That hat used to be so big on him, but now it's a perfect fit.

So a couple of nights ago Benjamin was inconsolable and would not stay asleep. He was gnawing on everything, and I suspected he might be teething. I gave him some teething tablets and waited: nothing. Still screaming like a banshee. After a while, I gave in & gave him Tylenol, which kept him asleep from ten to four. Then today he woke up in the middle of naptime - again, seemed like teething. This time I got out the big guns, which I really didn't want to do: Baby Orajel. I'm so afraid it'll numb his mouth to the point where he'll choke (although plenty of people have told me not to worry too much about that). I was worried about the wrong thing. He H-A-T-E-D this stuff. Don't know if it was the taste or the sensation, but he had a fit for a few minutes, then went to sleep for another 45 minutes. I really don't like using medicine like that, but if I've learned anything over the last year, it's been this: 1) I don't know anything about anything; and 2) I'm not always going to get my way. But I sure would like to know when that first elusive tooth is gonna pop out!