New Years Eve!

Well, it is New Year's Eve and Baz and I are preparing for our trip to see the kids in Cross City... I will back track to Christmas and the rest a little bit later.

As copied and moved from the shutterfly account... love both, but hard to work in both!

Today's special because... (Dec 7)
December 7, 2009
Benjamin is one tiny ounce away from 4 pounds... and today is is two week birthday... I am sure he will make it to the 4 pound milestone today.

Banee is celebrating her birrthday! Hooray for Banee! Matthew and Banee put up their tree last night and will probably finish decorations for their new home today... sometime this week I will be going to dinner at their house. They are both on vacation this week and then go back to new jobs... Banee has been transfered to a store closer to her home... and Matt is going to be working in a new shop.

Well, need to get back to work... probably should not be blogging anyway!
By Mary Stevens (and Barrie too!) at 9:01am

Comment by Melissa...
Melissa Pearce (and Shaun and X)Notes- As of Wednesday December 16th Ben was 4lbs 12.5 oz and 18 3/4 inches long. He came home from the hospital and joined his family at home on December 11th at 4lb 4 oz.
December 18, 2009

Copied from Shutterfly/

I remembered to blog!
December 5, 2009
It seems that my commitement to blogging is based on the holes in my memory. I am very forgetful lately. Perfectly normal for us elderly people apparently... well, according to Shaun - who as the father of my newest grandson has to be given some sort of credibility... he and Melissa did make a perfect baby and all.
You know, I do not know if there is a connection or not, but I never seem to forget to farm or forget to panic if I can't get to my farm on time. Not that I believe for a moment that I have a farmville addiction... but my life does revolve around it. I assure you all, I could quit anytime I wanted! :)
Well now, to fill everyone on in on the ever growing family.
Oldest to youngest...
XZAVIER - an awesome boy who I have been lucky enough to have visit regularly. He plays my fishworld game and is amazing at this game he showed me called ROBLOX. He is one of the most loving kids you could ever meet, but he is also very handsome, funny, and clever to boot. While I do fully understand he is my step-grandson, doesn't it seem that he takes right after me???
Next is Michael. Now this little one does look just like me... we have the same eyes. I heard this from a waitress once when he was a couple of months old and I will not let the comment go. No, she was not just being nice, contrary to what everyone else there thought. They are all obviously jealous! I saw Michael for a few minutes about three weeks ago... so much has happened lately, it boggles the mind that it was that recent. Anyway, he, as always, was brilliant. He is most definitely a daddy's boy though. Does not want to be around anyone but daddy. Now there is one little problem with Michael. Really more of a problem with Michaels whole little family. They live in North Florida. Miles away! For my wonderful family in England - Barrie tells me this is the about the same distance as going from the bottom of England from the top of England.
And the next is Honey Blossom! Again a slight distance problem. Sam, Harriet, and Honey Blossom live in England. My only granddaughter is a milliion (I may exagerate a bit here) miles away. Might as well be the moon - except we can visit England and can not visit the moon. But our little ginger head baby is the sweetest most beautiful baby girl in the world. HINT HINT HINT - SAM AND HARRIET... we would like more pictures!
Now the newest - smallest - and youngest!!! Benjamin! He is totally perfect in everyway. God is pouring his graces on our little Big Ben! He is thriving and as of yesterday was 3 lbs and 11 oz. I visited him with Melissa last night and she allowed me to feed him and hold him. Tell you what - while he was in my arms, I never once thought of my farm! And something so speical about this little guy... when I spoke to him, he smiled. I did refrain from singing, as I did not want to damage such tiny eardrums!
And then... yes, more to come... MJ and Myrahia are expecting Emjay (pronounced MJ) in March.... AND we have just been informed that Matt and Banee are expecting a baby in July.
Now, pictures of all the babies are available on facebook or shutterfly... shutterfly is better...bazandmary.shutterfly.comso please join the page, become a member and then sign in with the family page. Then you too can keep everyone updated on our growing family all over the world.
Closing off for now, Barrie and I have the rooms to complete. Will blog about that again later!

Benjamin Cohen William Franz... BIG BEN (Nov. 23 thru Nov 27)

Benjamin Cohen William Franz... BIG BEN (Nov. 23 thru Nov 27)
November 27, 2009

An incredilby big name for a tiny boy.Benjamin, due January 14, 2010, made his grand entrance into the world on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 8:07pm.
Talk about a surprise ending to a pregnancy! What a joyous surprise.
Now then, Benjamin made his decision to be born shortly after the baby shower. Melissa went into labor on Saturday evening and was brought to the hospital to stop the contractions... Somebody had different ideas. By Monday afternoon, the doctors started thinking differently, and by Monday evening the decision for a cesarian deliver had been made.
Benjamin weighed in at a whooping (yes, this is supposed to be humor) 3 lbs and 8 oz. He is 16 inches long. He cried when he was born and praise God- he is breathing on his own!
He is handsome and strong and has loads and loads of long blonde hair. He looks like Shaun with Melissa's hair! The nurses have all fallen in love with him and are combing and styling his hair.
Because he is so tiny, the nurses have told us he will probably be in the hospital until his original due date of January 14th.
Today he met... Mommy and Daddy. Grandma Mary took a quick peek with daddy before she went home.
All is good in our world.
As of 11/24/2009: Benjamin still breathes on his own... and is suckling already. He is strong and advancing in leaps and bounds. Melissa and Shaun were both able to hold him today.
As of 11/25/2009: Benjamin has jaundice today. Keeping him under ultraviolet lights and his eyes are protected... but he is still breathing great, eating up to 11cc of food, and he is incredibly active. The jaundice is typical - and nothing at all to worry about... unless of course you are his parents or grandparents... then you tell people what you have been told about it being within the boundries of normal, but you worry anyway.
Today he met his Aunty Margaret (Augie) and his Great-Grandma Peggie.
As of 11/26/2009* - Thanksgiving Day: The jaundice has completely cleared up... the UV light has been removed and his beautiful face is once again open for us to see completely! No more cover up for the eyes. He improves so fast for such a tiny guy.
He has gone from 11cc to 17cc of food. He has been taken off IV... now the port is the only thing there in case he will need it. He still has the feeding tube, but is also eating from the bottle.
I picked Melissa up today from the hospital - she was released on Thanksgiving. We went up to see Benjamin before we left... he is so beautiful, I can not believe how perfect he is... so incredibly tiny but perfectly formed. He held my hand... pictures of it are somewhere here... still figuring that part out.
After our Thanksgiving meal, Melissa and Shaun went back up to see Benjamin. It seems whenever he hears Shauns voice he smiles. Guess Shaun (a night owl anyway) will be up singing to him at night - once he gets home.
As always, we are truly blessed and all is good in our world.
As of 11/27/2009: Received a text from Melissa... Benjamin has gone from 17cc of food to 23cc. He is one hungry guy... of course he is burning calories simply by existing right now - with all the growing he is doing.
More to follow.