Our Little Dude

You can move on if this is boring stuff to you... Ben will be 15 months old the 3rd. Quite honestly, I can't believe how fast time flies by and how big and smart he's getting. It's so exciting to see how quickly he learns something we teach him.He holds the sides of his head when you play peek-a-boo!

• Just now I was doing something on Facebook and he was sitting at the front door with a book and I could hear him repeating a word and then I started paying attention to what it was. He was saying "eye" and pointing to his! We've been working on that for like a week or so, and so I am proud of him! He got really excited when I told him good job. I said "You're so smart, I'm going to call Daddy and tell him what you just did!" He giggled and giggled! We're working on where his nose and ears are... but he's close!

• He loves to put shoes on people if he finds them laying around. On meaning, upside down or backwards!
• He's a little character. Right now he's standing next to me holding on to my chair and has his mouth wide open just cackling at me... like he's the funniest person alive.

• He's starting to not want his food torn apart or broken in to pieces anymore. In fact, he wont eat it unless he can bite off it himself or take it apart himself.

• His new words he's saying are "juice", "eye", "happy", he tries to say thank you although it's more of the syllable sound instead of the actual words. I've heard him say "please" too.

• He likes to lead us to places; like to his room when it's time for bed, the bath, outside to play in his farmhouse... it's pretty cute.

• He still loves his blankets for the crib and the car.

• Has a huge aversion to vegetables right now, which mommy is NOT happy about.

• He just got his 6th & 7th teeth up on the top this last week. So he's still lopsided on the bottom with only three down there. That 4th bottom tooth is trying SO hard to break thru.

• He will be advancing to the next class up at daycare in the next week or two, which means he gets to play outside and sit at a table with his friends to eat, he'll learn how to eat with a spoon all by himself which I think he's really ready for. I think this will be an adjustment for me than him.

• He got a Thomas the Train for Christmas and it came with a tall red handle that comes off and he LOVES that thing. He will take that EVERYWHERE with him. It's hiding right now... and he knows where and isn't happy with me about it!

• He loves to give 5 to people, and he's learning to give mommy kisses.

• Ben loves to WALK. He just walks and walks and walks. He'll stop to play for a second with a toy or a book or an empty container or cup. Then he takes it with him while he walks. I'm convinced that's another reason why the kid sleeps so well at night.

• He likes to be in the same room as mom or dad. He likes to follow his daddy around like his little shadow. If it's just him and I at home, and I'm on the computer he plays in the room with me.

• Ben gets a little bit of a temper, but is very well behaved. If he wants something he cannot have, he gets angry- but usually gets over it pretty quickly. I am grateful for that.

• We have recently found out that he prefers the slide at the playground over the swing now, and has NO fear of going head first! He in general, has no fear...well of certain types of dogs and cats, yes... but of most other things, no.

• We also discovered that he can climb stairs on his own too with out any problems.

• Ben loves to be outside. I am so grateful for that.

• He is starting to have a preference in the music he and I listen to in the car. It's funny to look back at him and see which songs he likes to dance to.

• After bath time I put lotion on him since he has eczema still, and he LOVES when I rub his legs and feet. I'm sure they're tired from all that walking!

• He likes to put his legs out for his pants, and is learning to put his hands through the arm holes now. If he finds a shirt or a tie, or even one of Ryan's soccer socks, he'll put it around his neck like he's trying to put it on.

• He STILL only wants his daddy when he wakes up in the morning. If he's not there, then I will do!

• Ben loves to pick on Ally; he'll get on his hands and knees and head-butt her, he's learning to "pet" her nicely, he thinks it's funny when he hits her tail and she jumps, and they are starting to chase each other around. She's VERY good with him, and puts up his teasing and picking on her very well. She's a good girl. He loves her, and still calls every dog he sees "A-yee".

I was reading my blog book from when he was born and a few months old and I was looking at how little he was. It's so fun the stage he's in now. And just like then, I STILL love watching him learn... watching him explore and talk and express himself. I love seeing what an awesome little person he is and will be. He's so smart, and sweet and just seems to have come to Earth with a personality that our little family REALLY needs. I think that someday (no time soon...) he will be such a good big brother. We are SO blessed to have such a wonderful, good, handsome, funny, HAPPY son. We are two VERY lucky parents, and don't you think for one second that we don't know that!
Here's a silly video from today. He woke up from his second nap really annoyed and grumpy. It's funny because he knew exactly what I was saying and what it meant. And usually when I sing the Happy Song he dances and smiles... not so much this time. Little Stinker.

It's official. I feel like poop. And so does Ben. So does Ryan. Ben and I usually get "the sickness" first, and then Ryan last... whatever the sickness may be at any given time. This weekend we were glad we didn't really go anywhere (out of town) or do anything too stressful. I had a fever twice since Saturday, and Ben started getting goopy eyes and threw up Sunday and has been coughing since Saturday like me. I don't know what's wrong with me... but my body aches, I'm all congested and sneezy and coughy, and the fevers are just really unusual for me. I think the last time I had a fever was when I had Ben. Ben went to the doctor today and he's got an ear infection poor kid. All this while breaking through teeth 6 & 7 on top. Ryan's pretty sure he had a fever too last night, we couldn't even sleep in the same bed. It was rough. I'm home today thank goodness, mostly for Ben- but I am glad because I just want to sleep. I don't know how much of that is going to happen though. He is being a stinker and pretty much refusing to nap even though I know he is SO tired. I hope we don't have the SWINE flu. :)
This weekend we took it pretty easy for a Memorial Day weekend. Friday night we went out to eat with the gang and then went over to the Terry's to watch a movie. Luckily the little dude fell asleep in the car, so we were able to transfer him to his pack n' play for him to sleep in for a couple more hours until we were both about to fall asleep ourselves. Saturday I don't remember what we did during the day, but that night we went to a housewarming party. And all of a sudden I started coughing. That night's sleep was HORRIBLE and I broke a fever I'm pretty sure during the night. Sunday both Ben and I felt like poop all day (he threw up once) and we just chilled basically. Everyone came over for dip night dinner and played Mario Cart. Monday we went to a BBQ and then helped the Terry's shop for a couch with Clint. Then ate pizza and rearranged their living room for the arrival of their much anticipated couch. But both me and Ben were pretty miserable by that point.... we've stayed home every day since. I went in for a minute today to do something that I only have access too- but other than that, we've been here.I haven't been able to talk for like 3 days though. I'm starting to feel better, but still feel gross. I hate being sick. But it's been super nice to be home with my guy. Delinda came over yesterday to help and that was really nice. We're just all really ready to take our vacation in a couple weeks! Well, that's it for now- Ben's sleeping so I think I will too. No pictures from the weekend, sorry.

A Weekend Fieldtrip

Saturday, I was supposed to take pictures for a friend for her engagements. But plans got changed and so we got to go with Ashley and Jacob and Clint on an adventure in Northeast Georgia to see the Georgia Guidestones. What are they you ask? You can read about it HERE, they are also sometimes called the "American Stonehenge".

As you can see people disagree with what these stones are trying to tell us to do if the world so happens to be destroyed and only a few people are left to repopulate... silly graffiti. One of them had a drawing of a foot with a sandal on stepping on a pyramid and it said "Jesus stompin pyramid"... okay... sounds good... And on the above picture you can see that someone had taken lacquer or something similar and threw it on that tablet.

It was very interesting to say the least. It was a fun little road/day trip though and Ben had a ball just running around and playing. He practiced walking up and down the little hills and climbing on to the "Explanatory Tablet". He got little rosy cheeks from playing so much! Needless to say, he slept AWESOME that night! The boys thought they might be able to move one, but they couldn't. Okay, they didn't REALLY! Ben even jumped in there, he thought- if all the other dudes are doing it shouldn't I?

Farmer Ben vs. SUPER BEN!

I'm grateful I have this blog as a reminder of all the fun things, cute things, annoying things and weird things that happen in our family. Especially with BEN! Of course!
This weekend as we headed to the mall with the Terry's we saw that a neighbor of ours had put a sign on a "Little Tykes" play farm that read "FREE/LIBRE". So we uh, made a quick stop & picked it up... and by picked it up I mean that Ryan had to carefully maneuver holding it while not getting chopped in half by the back hatchback door of the car and me driving ever so slowly! Anyway, we got it home and then cleaned it up the next day and put it out in the backyard for Benny to play in. He already loves going outside, so this is an even better excuse for him to get out there and play.All I have to say is SCORE! It's in really good shape, and all it needed was a good wash and bleach job and it was ready to play in! He already LOVES it... in fact yesterday when we came home he grabbed my hand and took me to go get Ally to let her out and then after I let her out, he grabbed my hand again and walked me to the back door and then out to the deck and then out to the edge of the deck. I took him down the stairs and he giggled when he saw the little house!!! He's so cute... that kid of mine. And now whenever he wants to go outside he says "bye-bye?" I guess that's how he associates being out of the house.We also had some laundry near the garage door to be done and he found a new super hero cape... it fit around his neck just perfectly and he had something to drag making his flying abilities amazing. Only one thing... he had to give it back to me because I'll eventually need it to contain my super hero powers! (He's going to kill me for this one day!)Well, speaking of going outside- I think I'll take him out there. He's probably could use some fresh air, as well as me!

Mr. Handyman

I finally got some before and after shots from Ryan's handy work. I'm glad I have a guy who knows how to use his hands and get things done around this place!

Here is the kitchen. When we moved in, the previous owners had put up some kind of "Storage" system from IKEA or something that just didn't work. It was kind of junky and not put in correctly and put large holes in the wall and paint. NOW we've got lovely glass tile! It looks so nice and sleek! (I still HATE our counter tops though...ech...) We plan on doing the same tile eventually on the opposite wall above our stove.

Here is the bathroom! There are still some finishing touches to be done, but at least here you get the idea!

We felt VERY blessed after Ryan got started that we had decided to do this remodel because under the tile and even behind the backer board in the shower we found all sorts of mold and rotting as seen below. The floor tile was cheap vinyl tile squares and weren't placed correctly. We found like 3 different layers of flooring underneath it even. Ryan was able to get down to the concrete to lay the new tile. We basically replaced EVERYTHING in there. Right down to the toilet paper holder! We love it, it's our little relaxing paradise! I love the green and oranges and the dark & light colors of wood in there. It turned out so beautifully, and more over I'm so proud of my hubby for working so hard to beautify our house!

We're getting... Old.

Ashley and I at the Fox Theater... you can BARELY see us!

(Death Cab during the song "Grapevine Fires")

It's a known fact that I am a big fan of going to concerts. Well, for the bands I like of course. Last night we went to the Death Cab for Cutie concert. I hated that it was on a week night, but it was so much fun! We went with Clint and the Terry's and had lots of fun jamming out with all the teenagers in their cool clothes and ability to not be exhausted the next day with only 6 measly hours of sleep... Ryan and I have realized that staying up late is just not a good option for us. I complained to Clint how old I was in comparison to the majority of the crowd there... how I SO don't fit in with the cool kids, and I'm a fat mom, hahaha! Then like 2 seconds later I said "I need my glasses, I can't see anything" and he laughed hysterically at me. Punk. (But I love ya...)

On the way to go pick up the Terry's, Ryan was talking to his dad and told him we were going to a concert, when Ryan told him the name of the band his dad automatically said "WHO? WHAT?" that made me think to myself- where on earth DID they come up with that name anyway?... silly Ben Gibbard. Apparently there was a song in a Beatles film called Magic Mystery Tour called "Death Cab for Cutie". And per Wikipedia: In the style of several early death rock songs, such as "Teen Angel", it tells a story of youthful angst: "Cutie" who goes out on the town against her lover's wishes. "Last night Cutie caught a cab, uhuh-huh..." She is killed when the taxicab she is in runs a red light and crashes. Interesting huh? To me anyway...

So anyway, we saw them at the Fox Theater and we had good seats. (They are who we saw the night we got engaged 2 1/2 years ago at the same venue!) We were pretty close, but I wanted to get a little closer so I talked Clint in to going up to the front for a second until we got caught and he humored me. We stood for a minute and watched and then saw the security guard telling someone else in front of us to get going so we did too. I got a little bit of video though for you D.C.F.C. fans.


They also sang our "Benny Song" which was fun. Ryan wanted me to record a little bit of it too. It was a fun night!


I think Ben is getting some teeth. I'm not sure how many exactly, but I'm thinking at least 3 all at once. Poor kid has a nasty diaper rash and is grumpy and probably in a lot of pain. He got to hang out with Aunt DJ last night though and even did an iChat with Grandma and Grandpa in UT! Before we went to the concert we had to go get dog food and while we were at the pet store I let him walk around by himself instead of holding him. He enjoyed it a lot! I think it's fun to see things from that perspective for him! It's so fun seeing him grow up. He's blowing kisses now and saying "by-bye" when he does it! So cute. And he's figured out where shoes go, and tries to put socks on by himself. He found a pair of Ryan's the other day and tried putting them on himself, so Ryan helped him out and they came up to his thighs... but he was walking proud! We were doing an iChat with my parents the other night and he was walking around playing and he brought one of my shoes to me and tried to put it on my foot! He's a smarty pants... in my humble opinion. He's saying "Ally" a lot too. He understands words and is getting in to his habits. He knows where to go when we say it's time for bed or let's go to your room or in the morning he'll say bye-bye when he knows it's time to leave. Our goal for the next few months, to get him away from the binky. Wish us luck! This may be a little bit of a battle!
I wish more than anything right now I was in bed, asleep. Oh man, our soft cool sheets sound so comfy right now. Here's to hoping I'll get to bed early tonight!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

BEEP, BEEP!

Benny likes it! We've been waiting for the day Ben was big enough to put him in the cars shopping carts at the grocery store. Well, we tried it this weekend and he had fun! I think he would've enjoyed it more if he wasn't so sleepy, but he kept honking the little "horns" and would talk and had fun. He got antsy if we weren't moving too. AND he was pretty dang cute in there too if I do say so myself!!