Nice Long Walks

We are really blessed to live where we do. Not only do we have a cute house, but we live in a great clean neighborhood that is near just about everything and anything. We have the mall about 10 mins away and on the same road it's on, there's EVERYTHING. Target, fast food restaurants, Petsmart, regular restaurants, two movie theatres, Best Buy... seriously... everything. And if it's not there- it's somewhere else near us. Church is only 10 minutes away, the temple and my work are about 20-25 minutes (with out traffic) away. Ryan's work is a bit further... that's the only part that stinks. And the airport and downtown are a ways away- but we don't really venture down that area too often for it to be a hassle. One of the perks to living in our neighborhood is the Big Creek Greenway. It's a large park that has a lot of biking and walking trails and sort of a nature preserve with boardwalks, oh and a Big Creek! There are mountain biking trails and swamps and little ponds and a great field to play frisbee or soccer in... it's BEAUTIFUL. We are lucky to have an entrance in our neighborhood just right up the road from our house. SO... in an effort to get back in to shape and loose some weight Ryan and I pinky swore that we would go there three times a week. He bought a bike and I have Ben's little jogger stroller so I can walk (hopefully eventually run) and Ally tags along with us. It's good for her to get the exercise too. I really enjoy the time there. It is like a little heaven away from the city pretty much right in the middle of it. Tall trees (which for those who have never been to Georgia, there are a lot of) and the vines and we often get to see wildlife in there. It really not only does good things as far as health wise, but mentally too. It's so quiet and peaceful and it reminds me why I'm such a nature girl at heart. Anyway, I took some pictures and wanted to share how beautiful it is there. We went this evening and the sun coming through the trees was just beautiful and perfect and serene. The weather couldn't have been any better either. It was just what I needed today.

Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away

Had my postpartum doc's appointment today. Everything is great! In fact, I lost 21 lbs since I had the baby. It's also less than what I weighed before I got pregnant too! Crazy! I don't say this to brag, I say it because it's exciting for me. And a HUGE surprise. I really didn't think that my body would handle pregnancy so well. I was prepared to be dealing with some pretty crazy weight issues and other things from it all. Now, I just need to keep it up. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with losing 11 lbs my first trimester and really not gaining it back and also having the Gestational Diabetes and having to watch my diet. I haven't done really GREAT with my diet since I've had Ben, but I've been a whole lot more careful with what I eat. So that was my good news today. I also just woke up from a successful hour nap with my Ben who is still sleeping. That was pretty sweet and much needed.

Speaking of Ben, I just love him so much. I know, I'm Captain Obvious- but it's such an incredible and different feeling to be a mommy. He is mine (and Ryan's too!) and needs me and loves me unconditionally and laughs (a little so far) at his silly mommy. It's such a wonderful feeling and he totally lights up my life. I think I know the meaning of the song "You Are My Sunshine" on a whole different level now! I just love to look in his beautiful big blue eyes, I love the sounds he makes and how he breaths in my ear when I'm holding him on my shoulder or when he lays on my chest all snugly. Or the sounds he makes when he's sucking on his beloved binky (which I realize just about every picture of him on this entry he's sucking on it). I love his little pathetic cries he does. I love that he's starting to bald like an old man and even his little baby acne. I love how his warm little body feels when I hold him and calm him down when no one else can. I could go on... I guess I'll spare you.

(that's right!)

We got a video camera that records to an internal hard drive instead of a video tape so we can upload the video to the computer and burn DVD's. It's pretty cool. Here's a (kinda) long video of Ben hanging out on the floor almost turning over! It's probably not as cool to you... but oh well. This is really for mom, she misses the little guy a lot- so I figure this is as close to being able to see him often as you can get. So here you go mom! You can also hear his little grunts he makes. It's funny.

Ally got her hair cut... REALLY short. This is because her hair got badly matted underneath, so they had to shave her pretty close. I have to say though that she looks pretty stinkin' cute in those bows. And it's so much better to see her eyes, for some reason she's so much more annoying to me when I can't see her face well. Don't worry, we don't ever leave the bows in for long.

Before

After

I have a feeling these two are going to be pretty good friends. I love how he watches her, and she is already pretty protective of him. Ryan had the same kind of dog she is when he grew up and loved her SO much. I hope Ben has the same bond with Ally.

Other than that we're doing pretty good. We're getting the hang of this mom and dad thing, the nights aren't so bad and we have been blessed with a very easy going little kid. The weather has been beautiful and I'm just so happy its Spring.

Happy Birthday Alyssa! My niece is 10 today, I just can't believe it...I feel so old. She's such a good girl and I love her and miss her so much! The whole family is in Hawaii right now, what a way to spend a birthday huh? I think they are all very lucky and I hope we can get there someday! Have fun you guys!

I guess it's time to update. All is well. The days are getting shorter to when I have to go back to work. It's making me sad, I wont lie. It's going to be really hard. But I went to the daycare at my office complex where I'm going to be taking him, and it seems "good enough"... and it's close enough I can pop in whenever I want. Which I'm sure I'll do quite often. I took him in to visit my peeps at work too and everyone loved him, of course. It's hard not to! It felt like I hadn't been gone that long too while I was there... I thought 8 weeks would feel like forever, but it really hasn't.

Ben's getting bigger and bigger and heavier. He changes everyday but maybe just to us since we see him all the time. He's starting to smile a little here and there, and make his own little sounds besides crying. His temperament hasn't changed much either. He's tolerating diaper changes better now, and we gave him his first shower the other night and he seemed to like that better than the bath. Although he still cried, just not as much. He's still sleeping in our room in his little bassinet. I think until he gets a few more hours of sleep under his belt, we'll keep him in here. Other than last night, he's done really well sleeping at night. The night before last he slept an almost 7 hour stretch! That's great for us, I just get this guilty feeling for some reason that he's starving even though he's just fine. He wakes up when he's hungry, so I know I shouldn't worry about it. He's a grunter... he makes LOTS of noise when he's hungry. We're getting a video camera soon where you can upload it to your computer, so I'll take some video of it soon to show y'all. It's funny when I'm NOT trying to sleep... and annoying when he HAS eaten and we are trying to sleep. Oh well. :) He also was introduced to his little bouncy chair, it's been a little bit of a heaven sent so I don't have to pull his bassinet in the family room. He's starting to see things and pay attention to movement, so he likes the little animals that hang down and he also likes that his chair vibrates and plays different songs and sounds.

Ally has done really well with Ben. It used to freak her out when he'd cry- but now it's not big deal. She's starting to investigate him more and more now. But she doesn't seem competitive with him at all, and Delinda gives her PLENTY of attention.

It's just such a miracle to look at him everyday and know that I carried him for so long, and that we created life... it's a tad bit overwhelming at times to REALLY think about it. We are so blessed though, he's such a good baby and I know he has a special little spirit inside of him. You can see it in his beautiful wise eyes. I think he will do many good things in this life. Just like I feel about Ryan (on a different level of course) my love for Ben grows everyday.

Well, I finally got a new camera! Now I can do weddings and stuff again. I've really missed it and this camera is awesome. I just need to learn all the tricks and fun things about it!

On another note, Ryan's best friend Michael and his now wife Lori got married the weekend before last. We are SO happy for them, they looked so happy and I LOVED Lori's dress.

We are in the process of cleaning up our front yard. My dad and Ryan planted this little tree to watch it grow along side Ben. We call it "the Ben tree".

Okay, well- I'm going to go take a shower while my little man hangs out on the bed. He likes it on our comfy bed. I need to take advantage of him sleeping.

Just cuz he's the cutest thing EVER

We went to the doctor today for Ben's 1 month check up and he's now 8 lbs and has grown to a whopping 21 inches! He was such a good little dude for the doc and barely even cried, even when he was naked! I am so in love with this little man of mine, isn't he the cutest thing ever? Okay, so those of you who just had their own might think he's the second cutest thing- and that's okay! :)