Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Photo Time...
My father-in-law took this picture of Benjamin during the day they kept him while Tom and I were out at the Disney parks by ourselves. I heart it. :)
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
You Know You Have a Little Boy When...
You are playing together with his bathtub letters, thinking you are making progress teaching him about sounding out words when out of nowhere, he decides the letters "F" and "L" are Storm Trooper blasters. (a.k.a. guns, but we've decided to try to remove that unfortunately acquired word from his vocabulary for awhile)
After deciding they are blasters, he hands you the letter "L" and tells you this is YOUR blaster and proceeds to initiate a battle.
After deciding they are blasters, he hands you the letter "L" and tells you this is YOUR blaster and proceeds to initiate a battle.
To the Girls...
I'm not big on email forwards, but I just got this one from a friend of mine and thought it was worth posting. (as an alternative to filling your email boxes with more stuff to read)
You know, I used to think I wanted sisters more than anything (ask my mom about the card I gave her when she was pregnant with my brother... the one begging for a "Katie Elizabeth" instead of a "Brandon Allan") Anyway, now I realize I'm really lucky because I get to handpick them. :)
Everyone needs girlfriends to lean on, and people who think they don't? Just plain wrong.
Anyway, thought the girlfriends in my life would enjoy this... you know who you are. :)
-------------------------------
You are one of my sisters!!
A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,
Drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As
They talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities
Of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice
Cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance
Upon her daughter.
"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling
The tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll
Be more important as you get older. No matter how
Much you love your husband, no matter how much you
Love the children you may have, you are still going
To need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now
And then; do things with them."
"Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...
Your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other
Women relatives too. "You'll need other women. Women
Always do."
What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman
Thought. Haven't I just gotten married?
Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a
Married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely
My husband and the family we may start will be all I
Need to make my life worthwhile!'
But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact
With her Sisters and made more women friends each
Year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,
She gradually came to understand that her Mom really
Knew what she was talking about. As time and nature
Work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,
Sisters are the mainstays of her life.
After more than 50 years of living in this world,
Here is what I've learned:
THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how
Many miles are
Between you. A girl friend is never farther away
Than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
Have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
Will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
Praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
Your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
Valley's' end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
Beside you...Or come in and carry you out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
Daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
Family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
Neither would I. When we began this adventure called
Womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or
Sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we
Would need each other.
Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on
To all the women who help make your life meaningful.
You know, I used to think I wanted sisters more than anything (ask my mom about the card I gave her when she was pregnant with my brother... the one begging for a "Katie Elizabeth" instead of a "Brandon Allan") Anyway, now I realize I'm really lucky because I get to handpick them. :)
Everyone needs girlfriends to lean on, and people who think they don't? Just plain wrong.
Anyway, thought the girlfriends in my life would enjoy this... you know who you are. :)
-------------------------------
You are one of my sisters!!
A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,
Drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As
They talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities
Of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice
Cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance
Upon her daughter.
"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling
The tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll
Be more important as you get older. No matter how
Much you love your husband, no matter how much you
Love the children you may have, you are still going
To need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now
And then; do things with them."
"Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...
Your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other
Women relatives too. "You'll need other women. Women
Always do."
What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman
Thought. Haven't I just gotten married?
Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a
Married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely
My husband and the family we may start will be all I
Need to make my life worthwhile!'
But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact
With her Sisters and made more women friends each
Year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,
She gradually came to understand that her Mom really
Knew what she was talking about. As time and nature
Work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,
Sisters are the mainstays of her life.
After more than 50 years of living in this world,
Here is what I've learned:
THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how
Many miles are
Between you. A girl friend is never farther away
Than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
Have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
Will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
Praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
Your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
Valley's' end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
Beside you...Or come in and carry you out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
Daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
Family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
Neither would I. When we began this adventure called
Womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or
Sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we
Would need each other.
Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on
To all the women who help make your life meaningful.
Monday, January 29, 2007
More Carseat Blah Blah...
So I just recently learned (from Amanda actually) that carseats, all of them, EXPIRE.
At first, I thought she was insane or had bad information, but hadn't had time to research it for myself...
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when my inlaws arrived at our house to pick Benjamin with a carseat they had inherited from Tom's aunt. Knowing the ages of the children the carseat had most recently been used for, I mentioned to Tom about the expiration thing and to check the back of the seat to see if he could find a sticker or something. He found a manufactured date, but not an "expiration date". The carseat was a Cosco brand and in good shape... we all checked the straps and the fit in the car and yada yada. All seemed fine. This was good because I REALLY did not want to be the crazy, paranoid daughter-in-law who told the grandparents they couldn't use their carseat with my child. Next thing you know, I'd be telling them he wasn't allowed to have any cookies unless they were made with flax seed and wheat germ. So yeah, didn't want to go there. I already catch enough ribbing for having yet to leave Ben overnight.
Anyway, since then, I have done some research because I found the whole carseat expiration thing perplexing... I came across something last night that said they ALL expire six years from the manufacture date (my inlaws' carseat is still within that window, in case you were wondering). Then my question became WHY?! (because I seriously hate just blindly following seemingly paranoid mommy info without knowing the reasoning behind it)
Truthfully, I figured it was just because they figure in six years, carseat "technology" will have changed and the older ones would no longer be considered as safe as a newer one. But actually, the real answer lies in how plastic degrades when exposed to extreme temperatures. (sitting in your car) Makes MUCH more sense to me now!
I checked our Evenflo today while I had it in the house and it was manufactured in September 2004. So we're good until 2010 on that one! Woohoo!
Anyway, thought I'd pass that info along for anyone else who might not know! :)
At first, I thought she was insane or had bad information, but hadn't had time to research it for myself...
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when my inlaws arrived at our house to pick Benjamin with a carseat they had inherited from Tom's aunt. Knowing the ages of the children the carseat had most recently been used for, I mentioned to Tom about the expiration thing and to check the back of the seat to see if he could find a sticker or something. He found a manufactured date, but not an "expiration date". The carseat was a Cosco brand and in good shape... we all checked the straps and the fit in the car and yada yada. All seemed fine. This was good because I REALLY did not want to be the crazy, paranoid daughter-in-law who told the grandparents they couldn't use their carseat with my child. Next thing you know, I'd be telling them he wasn't allowed to have any cookies unless they were made with flax seed and wheat germ. So yeah, didn't want to go there. I already catch enough ribbing for having yet to leave Ben overnight.
Anyway, since then, I have done some research because I found the whole carseat expiration thing perplexing... I came across something last night that said they ALL expire six years from the manufacture date (my inlaws' carseat is still within that window, in case you were wondering). Then my question became WHY?! (because I seriously hate just blindly following seemingly paranoid mommy info without knowing the reasoning behind it)
Truthfully, I figured it was just because they figure in six years, carseat "technology" will have changed and the older ones would no longer be considered as safe as a newer one. But actually, the real answer lies in how plastic degrades when exposed to extreme temperatures. (sitting in your car) Makes MUCH more sense to me now!
I checked our Evenflo today while I had it in the house and it was manufactured in September 2004. So we're good until 2010 on that one! Woohoo!
Anyway, thought I'd pass that info along for anyone else who might not know! :)
Delivery...
Our carseat was delivered bright and early at 7:30 this morning. I hope the delivery guy enjoyed seeing me in bathrobe and with a towel on my head. Dear Southwest Airlines/BWI airport, I really appreciate the advance warning, thanks.
Happy the seat is home though. Now I'm trying to take advantage of the fact that it is in the house by actually washing the cover. But um... CAN'T figure out how to remove it. This isn't rocket science. What am I missing?
Happy the seat is home though. Now I'm trying to take advantage of the fact that it is in the house by actually washing the cover. But um... CAN'T figure out how to remove it. This isn't rocket science. What am I missing?
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Home At Last... but Minus One Piece of Luggage...
Long day. Uneventful flight. However... the airline lost our carseat.
Actually, I suspect it's not the airline that is to blame, but rather the ZOO that was the Orlando airport/baggage screening area this morning. At any rate, we came home with a lovely pink and purple plaid loaner carseat from Southwest and a promise that ours would find its way home within the next two days. (we'll see about that) If it doesn't, they buy us a new one. I'm a little nervous about how this all is going to go down. I've never had anything lost on a flight before... what a FUN little adventure for a last day of vacation.
At any rate, we're happy to be home, even though the house is trashed with suitcases/clothes and seven days worth of junkmail and cat hair.
Tomorrow it's back to normal life and I'm excited about that. :)
**updated** Somewhat off topic but just wanted to add a little carseat info that might be useful to my readers. For what it's worth, I'm on the bandwagon with the whole "5-point-harness as long as possible" crowd. Ben will NOT move to a booster seat anytime soon, especially after doing a lot of reading and watching this video. Our next carseat purchase will be this one for Ben and Too will get the Evenflo Triumph after outgrowing the infant seat. (or maybe even before then. I really REALLY like the Evenflo)
Actually, I suspect it's not the airline that is to blame, but rather the ZOO that was the Orlando airport/baggage screening area this morning. At any rate, we came home with a lovely pink and purple plaid loaner carseat from Southwest and a promise that ours would find its way home within the next two days. (we'll see about that) If it doesn't, they buy us a new one. I'm a little nervous about how this all is going to go down. I've never had anything lost on a flight before... what a FUN little adventure for a last day of vacation.
At any rate, we're happy to be home, even though the house is trashed with suitcases/clothes and seven days worth of junkmail and cat hair.
Tomorrow it's back to normal life and I'm excited about that. :)
**updated** Somewhat off topic but just wanted to add a little carseat info that might be useful to my readers. For what it's worth, I'm on the bandwagon with the whole "5-point-harness as long as possible" crowd. Ben will NOT move to a booster seat anytime soon, especially after doing a lot of reading and watching this video. Our next carseat purchase will be this one for Ben and Too will get the Evenflo Triumph after outgrowing the infant seat. (or maybe even before then. I really REALLY like the Evenflo)
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Home Soon...
Leaving in the morning... :)
In the meantime, here is a survey I stole from Katie.
1. Name people who made you smile yesterday? Benjamin, Baby Too, Tom
2. What were you doing at 8 this morning? discussing the day's plans
3. What were you doing 15 minutes ago? reading Katie's version of this survey
4. What is something that happened to you in 1994? High school ring dance? (seriously nothing exciting happened in 1994)
5. What is the last thing you said aloud? "why don't you go next door to your parents' room and figure out what time we're having breakfast tomorrow morning" (that was over an hour ago... for all I know, my husband was kidnapped by disney)
6. How many different things did you drink today? water, coffee, hawaiiaan smoothie, iced tea, ginger ale... wow.. a lot!
7. What color is your hairbrush? black and silver
8. What was the last thing you bought? a disney cd, a 2007 ornament, a mickey ears antenna topper and a pin... all at the same time
9.Who is your best friend? Jen
10.What color is your front door? Where I am currently? Orange. At home? Slate blue.
11. Where do you keep your change? All over the house, mostly in sofa cushions
12. What was the weather like today? 77 and sunny
13. What is the best ice-cream flavor? Vanilla
14. What is something you are excited about? Meeting Too and being 2/3 of the way done with being pregnant for good
15. When was the last rainbow you saw? no idea
16. Do you have a sister? nope. :( I'm often torn between wishing I did and being glad I don't.
17. Are you very random? uhh...
18. Do you want to cut your hair? Yes. And as soon as I get home, it's getting chopped again.
19. Are you over the age of 25? About to turn 30.
20. Do you talk a lot? depends on who I'm talking to
21. Do you watch The OC? NO
23. Do you know anyone called Steve? Just the guy on Blues Clues, oh and one of tom's coworkers
24. Are you ticklish? Yes. Very.
25. Are you typically a jealous person? I DESPISE jealousy and competiiveness related to it and fight it with every fiber of my being. This is not to say it never gets the better of me... but mostly, not. I figure you will always have it better than some people and worse than others (from your p.o.v.). It's not very productive or satisfying to sit around being jealous.
26. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'A.' Amanda
27. Do you chew on your straw? Always.
28. What is the next concert you're going to? Probably some kiddie thing... Wiggles? Who knows....
29. Who is the coolest person in your life? Right now? My brother, who is riding high on the 15 minutes (and potentially much more) of internet fame
30. What is something you say a lot? Do you have to pee pee?
31. What is the last thing you ate? Ice cream
32. Have you seen the movie 'Donnie Darko'? Nope
33. Do you have work tomorrow? Tomorrow I will be spending the day hauling crap and a toddler through the airport, entertaining him on the plane and then hauling the crap through another airport and unpacking at home. So, in short? Yes.
34. Is marriage in your future? I hope my kids get married eventually! ;)
35. What should you be doing right now? Getting off the internet and packing the suitcases
36. Do you have a nickname? Not recently... int he past? Air-head, Air, E, Ernie... Ben likes to call me Princess Leia
37. Are you a heavy sleeper? Are there ANY mothers who are heavy sleepers? No.
38. When was the last time you used a skateboard? Age 10
39. What is the best movie you've seen in the past two weeks? none
40. Are you currently depressed? Nah
In the meantime, here is a survey I stole from Katie.
1. Name people who made you smile yesterday? Benjamin, Baby Too, Tom
2. What were you doing at 8 this morning? discussing the day's plans
3. What were you doing 15 minutes ago? reading Katie's version of this survey
4. What is something that happened to you in 1994? High school ring dance? (seriously nothing exciting happened in 1994)
5. What is the last thing you said aloud? "why don't you go next door to your parents' room and figure out what time we're having breakfast tomorrow morning" (that was over an hour ago... for all I know, my husband was kidnapped by disney)
6. How many different things did you drink today? water, coffee, hawaiiaan smoothie, iced tea, ginger ale... wow.. a lot!
7. What color is your hairbrush? black and silver
8. What was the last thing you bought? a disney cd, a 2007 ornament, a mickey ears antenna topper and a pin... all at the same time
9.Who is your best friend? Jen
10.What color is your front door? Where I am currently? Orange. At home? Slate blue.
11. Where do you keep your change? All over the house, mostly in sofa cushions
12. What was the weather like today? 77 and sunny
13. What is the best ice-cream flavor? Vanilla
14. What is something you are excited about? Meeting Too and being 2/3 of the way done with being pregnant for good
15. When was the last rainbow you saw? no idea
16. Do you have a sister? nope. :( I'm often torn between wishing I did and being glad I don't.
17. Are you very random? uhh...
18. Do you want to cut your hair? Yes. And as soon as I get home, it's getting chopped again.
19. Are you over the age of 25? About to turn 30.
20. Do you talk a lot? depends on who I'm talking to
21. Do you watch The OC? NO
23. Do you know anyone called Steve? Just the guy on Blues Clues, oh and one of tom's coworkers
24. Are you ticklish? Yes. Very.
25. Are you typically a jealous person? I DESPISE jealousy and competiiveness related to it and fight it with every fiber of my being. This is not to say it never gets the better of me... but mostly, not. I figure you will always have it better than some people and worse than others (from your p.o.v.). It's not very productive or satisfying to sit around being jealous.
26. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'A.' Amanda
27. Do you chew on your straw? Always.
28. What is the next concert you're going to? Probably some kiddie thing... Wiggles? Who knows....
29. Who is the coolest person in your life? Right now? My brother, who is riding high on the 15 minutes (and potentially much more) of internet fame
30. What is something you say a lot? Do you have to pee pee?
31. What is the last thing you ate? Ice cream
32. Have you seen the movie 'Donnie Darko'? Nope
33. Do you have work tomorrow? Tomorrow I will be spending the day hauling crap and a toddler through the airport, entertaining him on the plane and then hauling the crap through another airport and unpacking at home. So, in short? Yes.
34. Is marriage in your future? I hope my kids get married eventually! ;)
35. What should you be doing right now? Getting off the internet and packing the suitcases
36. Do you have a nickname? Not recently... int he past? Air-head, Air, E, Ernie... Ben likes to call me Princess Leia
37. Are you a heavy sleeper? Are there ANY mothers who are heavy sleepers? No.
38. When was the last time you used a skateboard? Age 10
39. What is the best movie you've seen in the past two weeks? none
40. Are you currently depressed? Nah
Friday, January 26, 2007
Since I'm Still Killing Time...
Ben has chosen to take a marathon nap... so I'm sitting here trying to entertain myself.
And so, dear readers, let me ask you a question...
How many children have you decided on? How did you decide on this?
If you are finished, how did you decide you were finished?
What, in your experience, either as a child or as a parent, are the pros and cons to various numbers of children?
See... currently in the Baby Human household, we have our sites set on three. Well, actually, if my husband had his way, it would be two. If I had my way, it would be four. You see how we arrived at three...
Here's the thing. I REALLY want more than two kids (I think), but I am absolutely terrified of having three. Frankly, I'm terrified of having two, but less so because I feel like the various birth order psychological aspects are far more manageable with two. There is also the equal child/parent ratio with two that makes things nice. I am scared of what one more child means for the child currently in utero.
Are you an only, first born, middle or baby of the family? What do you like/dislike about where you are in the order? If you are a middle child, would you ever choose to have three children? Does it make a difference if you have four and there are two in the middle? I need to know these things... for Baby Too's sake... and for the sake of my sanity as a mother. This article keeps referring to the middle child as "displaced" and seriously, it ALREADY makes me so very sad for Baby Too, who is not only NOT yet born, but not yet "displaced".
Does it make a difference if your children (or your siblings) are of different sexes? What if you have a girl then a boy and then another girl? Or vice versa? Any difference in the birth order dynamic?
My own experience is a cross somewhere between being an only child and a first-born. My brother and I are ten years apart, so basically had separate childhoods. I do, however, think that I carry more first-born traits (people pleaser, responsible) and he carries more baby of the family traits (outgoing, more social, family clown). Neither here nor there though... point is, I don't have much experience with the whole multiple child thing, especially them being close in age. I don't have any idea what it's like to have to share parental attention or toys... and, probably because we are always in two different stages of life, my brother and I aren't even in least bit competitive.
HELP!
And so, dear readers, let me ask you a question...
How many children have you decided on? How did you decide on this?
If you are finished, how did you decide you were finished?
What, in your experience, either as a child or as a parent, are the pros and cons to various numbers of children?
See... currently in the Baby Human household, we have our sites set on three. Well, actually, if my husband had his way, it would be two. If I had my way, it would be four. You see how we arrived at three...
Here's the thing. I REALLY want more than two kids (I think), but I am absolutely terrified of having three. Frankly, I'm terrified of having two, but less so because I feel like the various birth order psychological aspects are far more manageable with two. There is also the equal child/parent ratio with two that makes things nice. I am scared of what one more child means for the child currently in utero.
Are you an only, first born, middle or baby of the family? What do you like/dislike about where you are in the order? If you are a middle child, would you ever choose to have three children? Does it make a difference if you have four and there are two in the middle? I need to know these things... for Baby Too's sake... and for the sake of my sanity as a mother. This article keeps referring to the middle child as "displaced" and seriously, it ALREADY makes me so very sad for Baby Too, who is not only NOT yet born, but not yet "displaced".
Does it make a difference if your children (or your siblings) are of different sexes? What if you have a girl then a boy and then another girl? Or vice versa? Any difference in the birth order dynamic?
My own experience is a cross somewhere between being an only child and a first-born. My brother and I are ten years apart, so basically had separate childhoods. I do, however, think that I carry more first-born traits (people pleaser, responsible) and he carries more baby of the family traits (outgoing, more social, family clown). Neither here nor there though... point is, I don't have much experience with the whole multiple child thing, especially them being close in age. I don't have any idea what it's like to have to share parental attention or toys... and, probably because we are always in two different stages of life, my brother and I aren't even in least bit competitive.
HELP!
Still Here...
Weather is nice... in the high 60's today and sunny. We moved to our weekend hotel this afternoon, a Sheraton next to Downtown Disney. No big plans today or tomorrow, except for dinners. Maybe some shopping and tomorrow's weather is looking pool-worthy, so that's a possibiiity. :)
Ben is having fun, though I think he has reached his "away from home" tolerance limit. He is currently passed out in the bed next to me after having an exceptionally whiny morning. Last night, he asked for his "own bed". Yeah... I think we're about ready to be home, even though home is very VERY cold right now, so I hear.
Ben is having fun, though I think he has reached his "away from home" tolerance limit. He is currently passed out in the bed next to me after having an exceptionally whiny morning. Last night, he asked for his "own bed". Yeah... I think we're about ready to be home, even though home is very VERY cold right now, so I hear.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Lunch with the Disney Channel Characters...
... HUGE hit. And, consider the Disney Channel Dine and Play Character Lunch at MGM's Hollywood and Vine officially recommended to all of my mommy friends. Really, really adorable.
They did little "dance breaks" every 15 minutes or so. Benjamin ran up every single time and danced his little heart out. We discovered he has a thing for June from the Little Einsteins. Who knew?
Here's the video...
Pictures from the rest of MGM and Epcot later...
They did little "dance breaks" every 15 minutes or so. Benjamin ran up every single time and danced his little heart out. We discovered he has a thing for June from the Little Einsteins. Who knew?
Here's the video...
Pictures from the rest of MGM and Epcot later...
Hoop Dee Doo Video...
We got picked as part of the "They Come from Many Places" song... (we're after they sing about West Virginia)
Napkin waving during This Land is Your Land.
Playing the washboard during the big finale... he SERIOUSLY got into this... ;)
Napkin waving during This Land is Your Land.
Playing the washboard during the big finale... he SERIOUSLY got into this... ;)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Pics from the Last Two Days...
In a cool old car at the Grand Floridian...
Five of the whitest white people you ever did see... in the pool at Saratoga Springs... left to right: Uncle Taylor, Pap, Daddy, Benjamin and Uncle Marc.
On the monorail, the announcer says over and over, "Please hold on to the handrail..." Ben took it to heart and every time the train would start, he'd grab the handrail and not let go...
Baby ducks and their mommy in the Wilderness Lodge pool...
With Uncle Marc at the Hoop Dee Do Review... he's laughing because one of the actors on stage had just made a "butt noise" joke. ;)
His favorite part of the Hoop Dee Do... playing the washboard with a spoon...
I have some video from the Hoop Dee Do... but it'll be awhile before it's up. Our internet connection is leaving much to be desired. :\
The weather has been very nice. It's coming to an end though... Thursday is supposed to be rainy and cold. :( Tomorrow is salvagable though, so we're taking Ben to the parks then. So lots of pics to come tomorrow evening. :)
Five of the whitest white people you ever did see... in the pool at Saratoga Springs... left to right: Uncle Taylor, Pap, Daddy, Benjamin and Uncle Marc.
On the monorail, the announcer says over and over, "Please hold on to the handrail..." Ben took it to heart and every time the train would start, he'd grab the handrail and not let go...
Baby ducks and their mommy in the Wilderness Lodge pool...
With Uncle Marc at the Hoop Dee Do Review... he's laughing because one of the actors on stage had just made a "butt noise" joke. ;)
His favorite part of the Hoop Dee Do... playing the washboard with a spoon...
I have some video from the Hoop Dee Do... but it'll be awhile before it's up. Our internet connection is leaving much to be desired. :\
The weather has been very nice. It's coming to an end though... Thursday is supposed to be rainy and cold. :( Tomorrow is salvagable though, so we're taking Ben to the parks then. So lots of pics to come tomorrow evening. :)
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
We Are Here!
We have had a LONG day. However, I am VERY happy to report that Ben stayed dry ALL DAY LONG. And that includes the 2 hour and 20 minute flight, during which he announced he HAD to use the potty, but was then too afraid to use the airplane bathroom. He proceeded to hold it for another half hour until we landed and got to the bathroom in the Orlando airport. I was SHOCKED, to say the least. Hooray! :D
The rest of the day was spent having lunch, going to the grocery store, waiting for our hotel room and eating dinner. Hopefully tomorrow we will get to the more fun stuff, like swimming. Because hey! It's 80 degrees here! (I am SO SO SO very amused to hear it's snowing at home... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) ;) No really, I'm truly sorry. ;)
The rest of the day was spent having lunch, going to the grocery store, waiting for our hotel room and eating dinner. Hopefully tomorrow we will get to the more fun stuff, like swimming. Because hey! It's 80 degrees here! (I am SO SO SO very amused to hear it's snowing at home... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) ;) No really, I'm truly sorry. ;)
I'm Awake...
It's 3:30 a.m. and I don't NEED to be up until 5. And no, I'm not awake due to vacation-excitement insomnia. I'm awake because I woke up itching all over. And then I started sneezing. (totally unrelated, I'm sure, but irritating, nonetheless) I think a dryer sheet accidentally got into the dryer with my clothes the other day. For some reason, the ones I bought most recently seem to bother me. Of course, I don't know which clothes are affected, so I'll probably spend the entire week itching on and off.
At any rate... now I'm pondering if I shouldn't just stay awake and start getting ready. Of course, that means I'll be practically comatose and ready for a nap by the time the plane touches down in Orlando. And by dinner tonight? I'll be drooling in my lap. Decisions, decisions... I may not have a choice. I'm REALLY awake right now.
Here's a question for you all frequent flyers. You know Southwest's online check-in thing? Is it possible to check-in but not print your boarding pass until you get to the airport? Just wondering because we have no way of printing boarding passes for our return flight, but we WILL have internet access. Last time, we all got group C, which doesn't matter for Tom, Ben and me because we preboard (YAY! Though I still like to be Group A, it's just a a thing with me) but between the three of us, we can only save so many seats for the rest of the family before other passengers people try to have us thrown off the plane.
Off to ponder my current state of awakeness... I'll post again when we're there and get the internet connection setup. (which is truly as important to me as remembering to bring underwear... it's just sad)
At any rate... now I'm pondering if I shouldn't just stay awake and start getting ready. Of course, that means I'll be practically comatose and ready for a nap by the time the plane touches down in Orlando. And by dinner tonight? I'll be drooling in my lap. Decisions, decisions... I may not have a choice. I'm REALLY awake right now.
Here's a question for you all frequent flyers. You know Southwest's online check-in thing? Is it possible to check-in but not print your boarding pass until you get to the airport? Just wondering because we have no way of printing boarding passes for our return flight, but we WILL have internet access. Last time, we all got group C, which doesn't matter for Tom, Ben and me because we preboard (YAY! Though I still like to be Group A, it's just a a thing with me) but between the three of us, we can only save so many seats for the rest of the family before other passengers people try to have us thrown off the plane.
Off to ponder my current state of awakeness... I'll post again when we're there and get the internet connection setup. (which is truly as important to me as remembering to bring underwear... it's just sad)
Friday, January 19, 2007
Gr...
He just peed on the floor and went about his business.
When I directed his attention to it as he stood IN the puddle, he acknowledged he had wet his underwear and wasn't going to get a Star Wars figure tonight, but didn't really seem to care. Should I keep this up? Or just quit again?
I'm inclined to throw in the towel quickly, it's something my husband always criticizes me for. But seriously, this potty thing is just so frustrating. I thought we were getting somewhere, but he wasn't even UPSET he wet his pants. In fact, he really wanted to splash in the pee puddle on the rug. ?!?! I find it hard to believe that a person who wants to frolick in their own pee is ready for the potty big leagues.
Thank goodness for scotch guard. That's all I have to say.
Okay, back to packing. I'm not really here. You didn't see me.
When I directed his attention to it as he stood IN the puddle, he acknowledged he had wet his underwear and wasn't going to get a Star Wars figure tonight, but didn't really seem to care. Should I keep this up? Or just quit again?
I'm inclined to throw in the towel quickly, it's something my husband always criticizes me for. But seriously, this potty thing is just so frustrating. I thought we were getting somewhere, but he wasn't even UPSET he wet his pants. In fact, he really wanted to splash in the pee puddle on the rug. ?!?! I find it hard to believe that a person who wants to frolick in their own pee is ready for the potty big leagues.
Thank goodness for scotch guard. That's all I have to say.
Okay, back to packing. I'm not really here. You didn't see me.
Day Three!
Ben stayed dry ALL day yesterday too! Even during his two-hour nap! (he asked for a diaper for his nap, guess because he was afraid he'd get his underwear wet... but when he woke up, the diaper was dry!)
Tom and I decided the next step, maybe after Florida, is to STOP asking him if he has to pee pee. We're figuring he won't tell us a few times and will lose out on a couple of Star Wars figures, which should hammer the point home that he needs to let us know before it's too late.
If any other pt'ing moms have thoughts on that particular aspect of the process, please let me know! :)
In other news... I SERIOUSLY need to pack today. So if you see me on here or on Yahoo, yell at me, okay? I may even have to just unplug our internet for the day. (hahahahahaha, yeah, that's funny)
Tom and I decided the next step, maybe after Florida, is to STOP asking him if he has to pee pee. We're figuring he won't tell us a few times and will lose out on a couple of Star Wars figures, which should hammer the point home that he needs to let us know before it's too late.
If any other pt'ing moms have thoughts on that particular aspect of the process, please let me know! :)
In other news... I SERIOUSLY need to pack today. So if you see me on here or on Yahoo, yell at me, okay? I may even have to just unplug our internet for the day. (hahahahahaha, yeah, that's funny)
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The Adventures of Benjamin and Mommy...
Ben and I have taken to eating breakfast out a LOT lately. It's a bad habit, but one that will end in a few months when I can eat and drink normally before 9a.m. AND when the coffee we make at home doesn't make me hurl. For whatever reason, the only coffee I can drink right now is Dunkin Donuts (my favorite), Starbucks (#2) and Panera (least favorite, but it'll do in a pinch.)
So this morning, Dunkin Donuts it was. We got our usual coffee, chocolate milk and a muffin to share and sat down. We usually get it to go, but today there was an open table. Now, I don't know about your DD, but ours has a large group of retired regulars that hang out all morning. This particular morning, I was treated to two widows discussing the necessity of a having a boy-toy after their husbands died, a lively discussion about a water main break up the street and, my favorite part, the very sweet old man who approached our table and asked if he could make Benjamin a balloon animal. I said, "Sure!" and 30 seconds later, he handed Ben a balloon dog. You should have seen Ben's little eyes light up. Way cool. :) And he politely said, "Thank you!" Later, when Ben spilled his chocolate milk, one of the "gang" went and got a mop to help us clean it up.
I may have to make a habit of frequenting this DD... the Starbucks and Panera have their regulars, but not friendly people like that! Usually the people there just give me death stares while I try to order my coffee, juggle my wallet and simultaneously try to keep Ben from touching everything at the register... or try to beat us to whatever table is open... or swoop in and buy all 13 of the last four-cheese souffles, which is just RUDE.
Anyway, after that we were off to Target to pick out more potty training rewards since the current ones seem to be doing the trick, and some Pullups for our trip. Our favorite cashier was there, a.k.a. one of the elite who know the sex of Baby Too. ;) Benjamin was humming Star Wars while we were in line and she recognized it, which just tickled him to death. He started going on and on about storm troopers and Star Wars. Apparently, she raised boys (who were also into SW) because she seemed to understand everything he was talking about. ;)
Home now and he is asking me to draw pictures of Star Wars characters. Y'all, I can't draw worth a darn, especially on a magnadoodle. But somehow, he is content with my renditions of C3-PO, R2-D2, and Darth Vader. Three-year-olds have low standards I guess. ;)
So this morning, Dunkin Donuts it was. We got our usual coffee, chocolate milk and a muffin to share and sat down. We usually get it to go, but today there was an open table. Now, I don't know about your DD, but ours has a large group of retired regulars that hang out all morning. This particular morning, I was treated to two widows discussing the necessity of a having a boy-toy after their husbands died, a lively discussion about a water main break up the street and, my favorite part, the very sweet old man who approached our table and asked if he could make Benjamin a balloon animal. I said, "Sure!" and 30 seconds later, he handed Ben a balloon dog. You should have seen Ben's little eyes light up. Way cool. :) And he politely said, "Thank you!" Later, when Ben spilled his chocolate milk, one of the "gang" went and got a mop to help us clean it up.
I may have to make a habit of frequenting this DD... the Starbucks and Panera have their regulars, but not friendly people like that! Usually the people there just give me death stares while I try to order my coffee, juggle my wallet and simultaneously try to keep Ben from touching everything at the register... or try to beat us to whatever table is open... or swoop in and buy all 13 of the last four-cheese souffles, which is just RUDE.
Anyway, after that we were off to Target to pick out more potty training rewards since the current ones seem to be doing the trick, and some Pullups for our trip. Our favorite cashier was there, a.k.a. one of the elite who know the sex of Baby Too. ;) Benjamin was humming Star Wars while we were in line and she recognized it, which just tickled him to death. He started going on and on about storm troopers and Star Wars. Apparently, she raised boys (who were also into SW) because she seemed to understand everything he was talking about. ;)
Home now and he is asking me to draw pictures of Star Wars characters. Y'all, I can't draw worth a darn, especially on a magnadoodle. But somehow, he is content with my renditions of C3-PO, R2-D2, and Darth Vader. Three-year-olds have low standards I guess. ;)
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
I Think It's Working!
Two days! Two dry days! Today, we ventured out very briefly to the grocery store and Ben wanted to wear his big boy underwear... so off we went! I told him that if he had to pee pee while we were in the store, to tell me and we'd find the bathroom.
Just as I was heading toward the checkout lanes, he said, "Where is the bathroom in this store?" I took that as an urgent request and ran him to the potty. As soon as we got into the stall, he looked up at me and said, in a *very* worried tone, "I don't like this bathroom... I don't need to pee pee here." Hee hee...
Glancing down at the yicky toilet seat and since I am generally not so much a fan of public restrooms myself, I didn't fight him on it, and instead, hurried through the checkout lane and back home (which is luckily 30 seconds away) to find him STILL DRY. Hooray! :D
Just as I was heading toward the checkout lanes, he said, "Where is the bathroom in this store?" I took that as an urgent request and ran him to the potty. As soon as we got into the stall, he looked up at me and said, in a *very* worried tone, "I don't like this bathroom... I don't need to pee pee here." Hee hee...
Glancing down at the yicky toilet seat and since I am generally not so much a fan of public restrooms myself, I didn't fight him on it, and instead, hurried through the checkout lane and back home (which is luckily 30 seconds away) to find him STILL DRY. Hooray! :D
Good News/Bad News...
The good news: Ben was just playing and muttered something about his underwear still being dry... then I looked over and he was doing an obvious pee pee dance. I took him to the bathroom and he went!
So we're on day 2 of staying dry all day. Pretty darn cool. I figure we'll get the pee pee thing down first and then work on the pooping.
What will be interesting is making it through the airport/a two-hour flight with a potty training child on Sunday. If anyone has suggestions, I'm all ears. I'm thinking we'll do Pullups instead of underwear for the flight, just so if it comes down to it, it won't matter if he has an accident... but we can still take him to the potty quickly since they are easy to get on and off. I'm not generally a Pullups fan, but in this case, it might be the best option.
The bad news: I think I might be coming down another stomach bug. This might explain why I havn't been hungry at all today... maybe it's just a passing thing. Here's hoping. Blehhh...
So we're on day 2 of staying dry all day. Pretty darn cool. I figure we'll get the pee pee thing down first and then work on the pooping.
What will be interesting is making it through the airport/a two-hour flight with a potty training child on Sunday. If anyone has suggestions, I'm all ears. I'm thinking we'll do Pullups instead of underwear for the flight, just so if it comes down to it, it won't matter if he has an accident... but we can still take him to the potty quickly since they are easy to get on and off. I'm not generally a Pullups fan, but in this case, it might be the best option.
The bad news: I think I might be coming down another stomach bug. This might explain why I havn't been hungry at all today... maybe it's just a passing thing. Here's hoping. Blehhh...
Back.
...from Gymboree where I would have sworn someone slipped Benjamin an espresso when I wasn't looking. Holy freakin' cow, he was ummm... especially "spirited" today. Home now, and he seems to have calmed down a bit. Thank goodness.
Hoping for a nap today. I wonder if that's too much to ask!
Oh! I forgot! (and by sharing this with you, I'm taking the risk that the Blog Gods will hear this and curse me)... Ben was in big boy underwear yesterday and stayed dry ALL day long. We even left the house in them! What I can't figure out is how it is possible for him to have to pee EVERY SINGLE TIME I ASK!
Where is it all coming from?! He wasn't even drinking much yesterday!
Anyway, at the end of the day, as his reward, he got a new Star Wars figure that he picked out earlier in the day at Target.
Progress people! I think we have progress.
Hoping for a nap today. I wonder if that's too much to ask!
Oh! I forgot! (and by sharing this with you, I'm taking the risk that the Blog Gods will hear this and curse me)... Ben was in big boy underwear yesterday and stayed dry ALL day long. We even left the house in them! What I can't figure out is how it is possible for him to have to pee EVERY SINGLE TIME I ASK!
Where is it all coming from?! He wasn't even drinking much yesterday!
Anyway, at the end of the day, as his reward, he got a new Star Wars figure that he picked out earlier in the day at Target.
Progress people! I think we have progress.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Coming to a Stage Near You in About 20 Years...
Benjamin!
Just happened to catch this earlier today right before the battery to camera died.
Please note the microphone that he placed on top of the piano for the maximum Billy Joel effect. ;) I was laughing SO hard, but managed to contain myself for the 30 seconds of video.
Just happened to catch this earlier today right before the battery to camera died.
Please note the microphone that he placed on top of the piano for the maximum Billy Joel effect. ;) I was laughing SO hard, but managed to contain myself for the 30 seconds of video.
SO Not Ready...
EDITED TO ADD:
HOLY COW, I totally forgot THIS was part of the MGM Studios parade. Ben is seriously going to FLIP! Ohmahgah.
We are leaving for another week-long Florida trip this Sunday and am I ready? SO NOT even close. All the luggage is still in the basement closet. I haven't even started my famously detailed to-do/packing lists. (complete with check boxes and categories)
I DID however, try on my various bathing suit options and, as it turns out, the regular bathing suit I bought when I was there last time that is just three sizes bigger than my normal size is the winner. I'll have to pay close attention to the umm... (cough) chest region when I'm swimming, but it's sure better than the floating tankini top.
I also tried on my short-sleeve prego wear. I was briefly in a panic because a lot of what fit when I was 13 weeks pretty much looks like spandex on me now. Trust me when I say that this is NOT a good look for me. But, just when I was thinking I'd have to make an emergency run over to Motherhood and spend money we don't have on yet MORE maternity clothes, I discovered that the non-pregnant me apparently thought ahead and purchased a bunch of tees and polos at Old Navy last summer... in the next size up! Score! And yay for the non-foggy-headed me. :) My shorts mostly still work (though this will be the LAST time they fit me though, me thinks... let's hope shorts weather stays away until after Too is born, kay?), which is also quite lucky.
So next up is getting out Ben's warm weather stuff and hoping HIS tees and shorts fit, because he is growing almost as fast as I am.
I HAVE started my obsessive pre-vacation laundering of every available item of clothing in the house.
Other than that, I'm sure I am going to be running around like a spaz on Saturday cursing myself for not starting this massive undertaking earlier... :\ OH HOW I HATE PACKING!!!!
Looking forward to relaxing in the sun though. I'm also really looking forward to taking Ben to see MGM Studios. We're going there next Thursday and having lunch with the JoJo (of JoJo's Circus), Leo (of Little Einsteins), Goliath (also of JoJo's Circus) and one other character I can't remember. There is also a meet and greet with the Cars from Cars!!! I am downright giddy to meet Lightning McQueen. (or at least, to see Ben's face when he sees him!) He's also so into Toy Story right now... I'm hoping to track down Buzz and Woody for a photo op and maybe even catch the Toy Soldiers doing their thing. SO excited! :)
HOLY COW, I totally forgot THIS was part of the MGM Studios parade. Ben is seriously going to FLIP! Ohmahgah.
We are leaving for another week-long Florida trip this Sunday and am I ready? SO NOT even close. All the luggage is still in the basement closet. I haven't even started my famously detailed to-do/packing lists. (complete with check boxes and categories)
I DID however, try on my various bathing suit options and, as it turns out, the regular bathing suit I bought when I was there last time that is just three sizes bigger than my normal size is the winner. I'll have to pay close attention to the umm... (cough) chest region when I'm swimming, but it's sure better than the floating tankini top.
I also tried on my short-sleeve prego wear. I was briefly in a panic because a lot of what fit when I was 13 weeks pretty much looks like spandex on me now. Trust me when I say that this is NOT a good look for me. But, just when I was thinking I'd have to make an emergency run over to Motherhood and spend money we don't have on yet MORE maternity clothes, I discovered that the non-pregnant me apparently thought ahead and purchased a bunch of tees and polos at Old Navy last summer... in the next size up! Score! And yay for the non-foggy-headed me. :) My shorts mostly still work (though this will be the LAST time they fit me though, me thinks... let's hope shorts weather stays away until after Too is born, kay?), which is also quite lucky.
So next up is getting out Ben's warm weather stuff and hoping HIS tees and shorts fit, because he is growing almost as fast as I am.
I HAVE started my obsessive pre-vacation laundering of every available item of clothing in the house.
Other than that, I'm sure I am going to be running around like a spaz on Saturday cursing myself for not starting this massive undertaking earlier... :\ OH HOW I HATE PACKING!!!!
Looking forward to relaxing in the sun though. I'm also really looking forward to taking Ben to see MGM Studios. We're going there next Thursday and having lunch with the JoJo (of JoJo's Circus), Leo (of Little Einsteins), Goliath (also of JoJo's Circus) and one other character I can't remember. There is also a meet and greet with the Cars from Cars!!! I am downright giddy to meet Lightning McQueen. (or at least, to see Ben's face when he sees him!) He's also so into Toy Story right now... I'm hoping to track down Buzz and Woody for a photo op and maybe even catch the Toy Soldiers doing their thing. SO excited! :)
Monday, January 15, 2007
My Love Hate Relationship with Bank Holidays...
1) I love them because Tom is off
2) I hate them because the whole world is disrupted...
- everyone is out, Target was PACKED, parking lots everywhere are PACKED... this throws a huge wrench into my usually quite peaceful routine
-Tom is off... I normally clean on Mondays and he is very hard to clean around. Besides, it's annoying knowing that I'm cleaning in one room and he's in another room messing it up.
-There is no mail. Getting the mail is one of my favorite parts of the day. Especially when I'm expecting things and right now I'm expecting two packages and two Netflix! Grr...
-The banks are closed. Today we went to buy a bunch of things we need for the baby's room -- a dresser, a crib mattress, a lamp and a new diaper genie... you get 10% off at BRU if you apply for their credit card, so we were going to take advantage of it. But noooooo, they couldn't approve us! At first, I was all, "HUH?! WHAT?" because we have perfect credit... and then I realized, the stupid banks are closed. LAME LAME LAME. So we had to put everything back.
2) I hate them because the whole world is disrupted...
- everyone is out, Target was PACKED, parking lots everywhere are PACKED... this throws a huge wrench into my usually quite peaceful routine
-Tom is off... I normally clean on Mondays and he is very hard to clean around. Besides, it's annoying knowing that I'm cleaning in one room and he's in another room messing it up.
-There is no mail. Getting the mail is one of my favorite parts of the day. Especially when I'm expecting things and right now I'm expecting two packages and two Netflix! Grr...
-The banks are closed. Today we went to buy a bunch of things we need for the baby's room -- a dresser, a crib mattress, a lamp and a new diaper genie... you get 10% off at BRU if you apply for their credit card, so we were going to take advantage of it. But noooooo, they couldn't approve us! At first, I was all, "HUH?! WHAT?" because we have perfect credit... and then I realized, the stupid banks are closed. LAME LAME LAME. So we had to put everything back.
Joy.
At my grandmother's house yesterday...
I'll write more later. Busy weekend. Working a very large to-do list at the moment. :)
I'll write more later. Busy weekend. Working a very large to-do list at the moment. :)
Saturday, January 13, 2007
I Don't Know...
... there's something going on today with some big football game. Everyone is wearing purple. Even the car dealers have the cars decked out with purple balloons. At the Panera today, there were several tables full of crazies wearing purple from head to toe. ;)
(I'm really not that oblivious, I know what all the hype is, I'm just not a football fan)
I couldn't wear purple even if I wanted to. I don't own anything purple. Though I'm surmising from my husband's glares that my choice of a blue shirt this morning was not a wise one. We are headed to a football party today, but I'm only going for the company and the food. (there is a mac and cheese dish that will be there that I'm already thinking about) Ben seems to be into it though, so I guess he'll watch the game with the men.
Tomorrow we are off to visit my grandmother in West Virginia and Monday, Tom has off! Woohoo! :D
(I'm really not that oblivious, I know what all the hype is, I'm just not a football fan)
I couldn't wear purple even if I wanted to. I don't own anything purple. Though I'm surmising from my husband's glares that my choice of a blue shirt this morning was not a wise one. We are headed to a football party today, but I'm only going for the company and the food. (there is a mac and cheese dish that will be there that I'm already thinking about) Ben seems to be into it though, so I guess he'll watch the game with the men.
Tomorrow we are off to visit my grandmother in West Virginia and Monday, Tom has off! Woohoo! :D
Friday, January 12, 2007
Grr...
You know, I love Suburban Turmoil. But I DO wish she would stop going after Gymboree. :( It's such a great place! It's not like it's flashcards and school with promises to make your kid a genius or something.
It's just a place to play and burn off energy! Yes, they tailor each "level" to the developmental milestones your child is reaching at that point in time, but all it is is age-appropriate play! I know a lot of people look at it with a certain amount of disdain and think only snobby, pretentious parents take their kids there. But again, SO not true, I mean, at least not the one we go to. There is not a single mom in our class like that. Nobody seems like they are insanely wealthy or like they are pushy moms. They all just seem like they are there to let the kids have fun and maybe have a little adult conversation.
Just irks me, is all. Again, I love ST, but I wish Gymboree didn't keep getting lumped in with some of those other classes. It's not like I'm sending my kid to karate or french class or Suzuki violin lessons at age two. I mean come on... it's just a place to play and interact with other kids and moms. (sigh)
It's just a place to play and burn off energy! Yes, they tailor each "level" to the developmental milestones your child is reaching at that point in time, but all it is is age-appropriate play! I know a lot of people look at it with a certain amount of disdain and think only snobby, pretentious parents take their kids there. But again, SO not true, I mean, at least not the one we go to. There is not a single mom in our class like that. Nobody seems like they are insanely wealthy or like they are pushy moms. They all just seem like they are there to let the kids have fun and maybe have a little adult conversation.
Just irks me, is all. Again, I love ST, but I wish Gymboree didn't keep getting lumped in with some of those other classes. It's not like I'm sending my kid to karate or french class or Suzuki violin lessons at age two. I mean come on... it's just a place to play and interact with other kids and moms. (sigh)
More Fun Questions...
Stolen from Erin
1. Where is your cell phone?:
charging.
2. boyfriend/girlfriend?:
husband!
3. Your hair?
flat
4. Your mother?
bookworm
5. Your father?:
musical
6. your favorite item?:
laptop
7. Your dream last night?:
labor
8. Your favorite drink?
smoothie
9. Your dream car?
minivan
10. The room you are in?
dining
11. Your ex?
none
12. Your fear?
lots
13. What do you want to be in 10 years?
momtothreeorfour
14. Who did you hang out with last night?:
tom
15. What you're NOT?:
competitive
16. Muffins?:
corn
19. The last thing you did?:
email
20. What are you wearing?:
jeans
23. The last thing you ate?:
muffin
24. Your life?:
happy
25. Your mood?
relaxed
26. Your friends:
supportive
27. What are you thinking about right now?
oldnavysale
28. Your car?
mess
29. What are you doing at the moment?:
typing
30. Your summer?:
sleepless
32. What is on your tv?
dust
33. Yesterday?:
nonstop
34. Last time you cried?:
?
35: School?
done.
1. Where is your cell phone?:
charging.
2. boyfriend/girlfriend?:
husband!
3. Your hair?
flat
4. Your mother?
bookworm
5. Your father?:
musical
6. your favorite item?:
laptop
7. Your dream last night?:
labor
8. Your favorite drink?
smoothie
9. Your dream car?
minivan
10. The room you are in?
dining
11. Your ex?
none
12. Your fear?
lots
13. What do you want to be in 10 years?
momtothreeorfour
14. Who did you hang out with last night?:
tom
15. What you're NOT?:
competitive
16. Muffins?:
corn
19. The last thing you did?:
20. What are you wearing?:
jeans
23. The last thing you ate?:
muffin
24. Your life?:
happy
25. Your mood?
relaxed
26. Your friends:
supportive
27. What are you thinking about right now?
oldnavysale
28. Your car?
mess
29. What are you doing at the moment?:
typing
30. Your summer?:
sleepless
32. What is on your tv?
dust
33. Yesterday?:
nonstop
34. Last time you cried?:
?
35: School?
done.
Who Needs Sitcoms When You Have a Kid?
I was halfway down the down the basement stairs when I overheard the following last night:
(Tom and Ben were sitting at Ben's little toy piano with his pretend microphone going back and forth with the parts from California Dreamin') Read all the way to the end, I promise, it's worth it. ;)
Tom: All the leaves are brown
Ben: The leaves are brown!
Tom: And the sky is grey
Ben: And the sky is grey!
Tom: I've been for a walk
Ben: I been for a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaalk
Tom: On a winter's day
Ben: On a winter dayyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Tom: I'd be safe and warm
Ben: I'd be safe and warm
Tom: If I was in L.A.
Ben: If I was in L.A.!
Tom: California dreaming
Ben: California dreamin'
Tom: On such a winter's day
Tom: Stopped into a church
Ben: Stopped into a church
Tom: I passed along the way
Ben: I passed along the wayyyy
Tom: Well, I got down on my knees
Ben: Got down on my knees!
Tom: And I pretend to pray
Ben: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Forever and ever. Amen!
(Tom and Ben were sitting at Ben's little toy piano with his pretend microphone going back and forth with the parts from California Dreamin') Read all the way to the end, I promise, it's worth it. ;)
Tom: All the leaves are brown
Ben: The leaves are brown!
Tom: And the sky is grey
Ben: And the sky is grey!
Tom: I've been for a walk
Ben: I been for a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaalk
Tom: On a winter's day
Ben: On a winter dayyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Tom: I'd be safe and warm
Ben: I'd be safe and warm
Tom: If I was in L.A.
Ben: If I was in L.A.!
Tom: California dreaming
Ben: California dreamin'
Tom: On such a winter's day
Tom: Stopped into a church
Ben: Stopped into a church
Tom: I passed along the way
Ben: I passed along the wayyyy
Tom: Well, I got down on my knees
Ben: Got down on my knees!
Tom: And I pretend to pray
Ben: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Forever and ever. Amen!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I'll Be Away for Ben's "Monthday"...
... and I haven't done any decent monthday updates in awhile, so I thought I'd devote this post to one big list of things Ben can do these days...The baby book is in desperate need of an update! Truly, he amazes me every day with how smart and sponge-like he is!
* He knows his ABC's, actually has for awhile. But now he can sing the song too. He recognizes all the letters and all of his numbers up to 24. (that last part is thanks to our Advent calendar and the fact that his bday is on the 24th) ;) He knows both capital and lowercase letters!
* He also knows days of the week, what we do on certain days of the week and when his birthday is! We're working on months right now because he keeps asking about his birthday. (after the Christmas insanity, he is VERY excited for it this year) "Right now is January, then February and then MARCH and that's when your birthday is!"
* He can recognize his name written, as well as a few other words. When he first started saying individual words, I got a notebook and filled it with the ones he said all the time. Simple words like "mommy", "daddy", "baby", "dog", "cat" etc... he can recognize all of them! I don't know if it's technically what you would call reading, but I'm sure it's the foundation for it.
* He LOVES LOVES LOVES to be read to now. I'm so happy about this because for the longest time, he had no attention span for books. Now he goes to his bookshelf and picks ones we've never read before, brings them over and asks to "read this one, please!" It's so much fun! His current favorites are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, This is Not My Cat (the plotline in that book is seriously lacking), The Alligator Under My Bed and Busy Day, Busy People. He has several of them almost memorized and "reads" them to himself after we put him to bed at night. He also likes to finish the lines as you are reading to him!
* Almost 100% sure he is left-handed. This isn't so much a brag or a talent, but I think it's cool. Something fun I passed along other than my hair color, face shape and big toe.
* He says his own prayers before bedtime. He'll either do the Lord's Prayer (seriously THE CUTEST THING you have ever heard) or he'll God Bless people. The list of people he God Blesses changes from day to day, though some people get more God Blessing than others for some reason, i.e. "great grandad"
* The song lyric thing... the kid knows entire songs. And he loves music! I wish I could attribute it to the fact that I played him music all the time when I was pregnant, or that we listen to music all the time at our house, but I think it's just an inborn thing. I can't wait to see what he ends up doing with it. He even loves instrumental stuff and will sit and listen to pretty much anything we put on and be totally enthralled! Tom plays the Star Wars soundtrack for him and when certain songs come on, he'll tell you what is going on in the movie during when that music is playing. I think THAT is pretty darn smart.
* He talks nonstop. Clear, complete sentences.... he definitely has opinions and loves to express them!
* He has an amazing imagination and will sit and play cars/trains/Star Wars figures forEVER and most times would rather do this than anything else! (except when he's tired, then he likes to watch Toy Story) He makes up elaborate storylines to go along with them and can't be distracted while he's inthe middle of it. I find it fascinating just to sit and watch him play. The other day, he played out an entire scene with Darth Vader and Stormtrooper that involved a trip to Panera to order a "you pick two and a coffee with cream". He cracks me up!
* His coordination is absolutely amazing. We've always known this, because he sat up, crawled and walked so early. (no, not necessarily a good thing) But now that he is older and is learning to do things like throw and kick, we're seeing that he has some natural athletic ability. He really can throw HARD... we've had to teach him there is no ball throwing in the house. His Pap has already taken him outside with a tiny golf club and reports (with great surprise)that he can hit the ball pretty accurately! This part summer, he was hitting a ball off a tee... HARD! I'm guessing there will be some little league games in my future. I'd rather attend piano recitals... but we'll see. ;)
*At our Gymboree class, he is SO well behaved. I am always in awe of this because that place is overstimulation central. But when it's time to sit on carpet squares and listen to a story? He stops what he is doing and comes to sit down... he sits for the story, participates and answers questions. If you could see what some of the other kids his age do, you'd find this pretty amazing as well. Some of them I have NEVER seen sit down for the story and they just run around like little out of control hellians the entire time.
* Most importantly, he is sweet, polite (most of the time) and kind. He knows please, thank you, I'm sorry and you're welcome. He understands consequences and we have pretty minimal problems with tantrums and whining. He also shares reasonably well for a toddler, not always happily, but he does it. I'm proud of the fact that we can take him to out restaurants and he is well behaved (again, within reason for a toddler). Now THAT? Took work... so Tom and I take full credit for that one!
If this sounded like a list of brags, well, yeah, it is. :) He's my baby, and I think he's the smartest, cutest kid in whole world. (and I can say that for another four months or so) After 16 hours of labor and spending practically 24 hours a day with him for almost three years, I have bragging rights, no? ;) I can't believe he is almost three!! Only two more months! (cry!!)
* He knows his ABC's, actually has for awhile. But now he can sing the song too. He recognizes all the letters and all of his numbers up to 24. (that last part is thanks to our Advent calendar and the fact that his bday is on the 24th) ;) He knows both capital and lowercase letters!
* He also knows days of the week, what we do on certain days of the week and when his birthday is! We're working on months right now because he keeps asking about his birthday. (after the Christmas insanity, he is VERY excited for it this year) "Right now is January, then February and then MARCH and that's when your birthday is!"
* He can recognize his name written, as well as a few other words. When he first started saying individual words, I got a notebook and filled it with the ones he said all the time. Simple words like "mommy", "daddy", "baby", "dog", "cat" etc... he can recognize all of them! I don't know if it's technically what you would call reading, but I'm sure it's the foundation for it.
* He LOVES LOVES LOVES to be read to now. I'm so happy about this because for the longest time, he had no attention span for books. Now he goes to his bookshelf and picks ones we've never read before, brings them over and asks to "read this one, please!" It's so much fun! His current favorites are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, This is Not My Cat (the plotline in that book is seriously lacking), The Alligator Under My Bed and Busy Day, Busy People. He has several of them almost memorized and "reads" them to himself after we put him to bed at night. He also likes to finish the lines as you are reading to him!
* Almost 100% sure he is left-handed. This isn't so much a brag or a talent, but I think it's cool. Something fun I passed along other than my hair color, face shape and big toe.
* He says his own prayers before bedtime. He'll either do the Lord's Prayer (seriously THE CUTEST THING you have ever heard) or he'll God Bless people. The list of people he God Blesses changes from day to day, though some people get more God Blessing than others for some reason, i.e. "great grandad"
* The song lyric thing... the kid knows entire songs. And he loves music! I wish I could attribute it to the fact that I played him music all the time when I was pregnant, or that we listen to music all the time at our house, but I think it's just an inborn thing. I can't wait to see what he ends up doing with it. He even loves instrumental stuff and will sit and listen to pretty much anything we put on and be totally enthralled! Tom plays the Star Wars soundtrack for him and when certain songs come on, he'll tell you what is going on in the movie during when that music is playing. I think THAT is pretty darn smart.
* He talks nonstop. Clear, complete sentences.... he definitely has opinions and loves to express them!
* He has an amazing imagination and will sit and play cars/trains/Star Wars figures forEVER and most times would rather do this than anything else! (except when he's tired, then he likes to watch Toy Story) He makes up elaborate storylines to go along with them and can't be distracted while he's inthe middle of it. I find it fascinating just to sit and watch him play. The other day, he played out an entire scene with Darth Vader and Stormtrooper that involved a trip to Panera to order a "you pick two and a coffee with cream".
* His coordination is absolutely amazing. We've always known this, because he sat up, crawled and walked so early. (no, not necessarily a good thing) But now that he is older and is learning to do things like throw and kick, we're seeing that he has some natural athletic ability. He really can throw HARD... we've had to teach him there is no ball throwing in the house. His Pap has already taken him outside with a tiny golf club and reports (with great surprise)that he can hit the ball pretty accurately! This part summer, he was hitting a ball off a tee... HARD! I'm guessing there will be some little league games in my future. I'd rather attend piano recitals... but we'll see. ;)
*At our Gymboree class, he is SO well behaved. I am always in awe of this because that place is overstimulation central. But when it's time to sit on carpet squares and listen to a story? He stops what he is doing and comes to sit down... he sits for the story, participates and answers questions. If you could see what some of the other kids his age do, you'd find this pretty amazing as well. Some of them I have NEVER seen sit down for the story and they just run around like little out of control hellians the entire time.
* Most importantly, he is sweet, polite (most of the time) and kind. He knows please, thank you, I'm sorry and you're welcome. He understands consequences and we have pretty minimal problems with tantrums and whining. He also shares reasonably well for a toddler, not always happily, but he does it. I'm proud of the fact that we can take him to out restaurants and he is well behaved (again, within reason for a toddler). Now THAT? Took work... so Tom and I take full credit for that one!
If this sounded like a list of brags, well, yeah, it is. :) He's my baby, and I think he's the smartest, cutest kid in whole world. (and I can say that for another four months or so) After 16 hours of labor and spending practically 24 hours a day with him for almost three years, I have bragging rights, no? ;) I can't believe he is almost three!! Only two more months! (cry!!)
On Potty Training...
I have to say that this whole potty training thing has to be my least favorite part of parenting thusfar. And that includes the several months of colic and about 14 months of very interrupted sleep.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Pottytraining Breakthrough! (Knock on wood)
I *think* we have figured out Ben's potty training currency.
Star Wars figures.
We're also working very slowly... right now, all he has to do is wear big boy underwear (which he is now super-excited about, a breakthrough in itself)and keep them dry for the two hours Tom after daddy comes home and before bathtime.
Next week, we'll try for maybe late afternoon on... and work backward from there. I would say we'd try for a whole day this weekend, but we'll be out of town on Sunday, so I'm afraid we'd lose some ground.
In the meantime, I'm running out of Star Wars figures to buy... so if you know of any place that sells a huge selection? Please do share... Target kinda stinks in the Star Wars department.
I'd really love to get him trained by his birthday so he can go to Gymboree preschool. They won't take him unless he's fairly dependably potty trained. (sigh) It would also be nice to not have to change two sets of diapers come May, but that is secondary, I don't really mind diapers all that much. It's buying them that is annoying.
Star Wars figures.
We're also working very slowly... right now, all he has to do is wear big boy underwear (which he is now super-excited about, a breakthrough in itself)and keep them dry for the two hours Tom after daddy comes home and before bathtime.
Next week, we'll try for maybe late afternoon on... and work backward from there. I would say we'd try for a whole day this weekend, but we'll be out of town on Sunday, so I'm afraid we'd lose some ground.
In the meantime, I'm running out of Star Wars figures to buy... so if you know of any place that sells a huge selection? Please do share... Target kinda stinks in the Star Wars department.
I'd really love to get him trained by his birthday so he can go to Gymboree preschool. They won't take him unless he's fairly dependably potty trained. (sigh) It would also be nice to not have to change two sets of diapers come May, but that is secondary, I don't really mind diapers all that much. It's buying them that is annoying.
ABC Meme...
Stolen from Dawn
Available or Taken ..... Very taken
Best friend ..... Jen
Cake or pie ..... Either, hand me a fork
Drink of choice ..... Fountain coke
Essential item I use everyday ..... laptop
Favorite Color ..... blue, pretty much any shade
Gummy bears or worms ..... bears, the clear'ish pineapply ones
Hometown ..... Baltimore, MD
Indulgence ..... ice cream sundaes once in awhile
January or February ..... February. It's less dreary than january and I like valentine's day decorations (even though I'm not a huge v'day fan, myself)
Kid's names .....Benjamin and.... HA! Wouldn't you like to know?!
Life is incomplete without .....my laptop My husband and son ;)
Marriage ..... March 31st
Number of siblings ..... one, ten years younger
Oranges or apples ..... oranges... apples are ICK... unless they are in pie, in which case, see above.
Phobias or fears ..... Too many to list... but here are a few: heights, public speaking, snakes, those giant brown centipede things that live in my basement
Quote ..... To laugh
often and much,
to win respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch, or a
redeemed social condition;
to know even one life
has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is the meaning of success. - Emerson
Reason to smile ..... little baby kicks!
Season ..... Spring
Unknown fact about me ..... I used to do gymnastics and have always regretted both not starting earlier and quitting when I did. I think I could have been pretty good!
Veggie I don't like ..... I don't think I've ever met a vegetable I didn't like... maybe beets.
Worst Habit ..... too many.... biting my fingernails is up there.
Xrays ..... Just dental ones.
Your favorite food ..... Currently? Fruit smoothies. French fries run a close second.
Zodiak ..... Pisces
Available or Taken ..... Very taken
Best friend ..... Jen
Cake or pie ..... Either, hand me a fork
Drink of choice ..... Fountain coke
Essential item I use everyday ..... laptop
Favorite Color ..... blue, pretty much any shade
Gummy bears or worms ..... bears, the clear'ish pineapply ones
Hometown ..... Baltimore, MD
Indulgence ..... ice cream sundaes once in awhile
January or February ..... February. It's less dreary than january and I like valentine's day decorations (even though I'm not a huge v'day fan, myself)
Kid's names .....Benjamin and.... HA! Wouldn't you like to know?!
Life is incomplete without .....
Marriage ..... March 31st
Number of siblings ..... one, ten years younger
Oranges or apples ..... oranges... apples are ICK... unless they are in pie, in which case, see above.
Phobias or fears ..... Too many to list... but here are a few: heights, public speaking, snakes, those giant brown centipede things that live in my basement
Quote ..... To laugh
often and much,
to win respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch, or a
redeemed social condition;
to know even one life
has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is the meaning of success. - Emerson
Reason to smile ..... little baby kicks!
Season ..... Spring
Unknown fact about me ..... I used to do gymnastics and have always regretted both not starting earlier and quitting when I did. I think I could have been pretty good!
Veggie I don't like ..... I don't think I've ever met a vegetable I didn't like... maybe beets.
Worst Habit ..... too many.... biting my fingernails is up there.
Xrays ..... Just dental ones.
Your favorite food ..... Currently? Fruit smoothies. French fries run a close second.
Zodiak ..... Pisces
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
What to Do Today?
After yesterday's marathon Toy Story viewing, followed by a viewing of Cars... (during which, I DID get a lot done!), I've decided we HAVE to do something today. I need to run out to the grocery store and to Babies R Us later for a few things and to check out the potty supplies (I'm hoping a standalone potty seat might provide a fresh new approach). So I thought I'd take Ben to Panera for a treat... after that? I'm stumped. There IS a Gymboree music class we could try for free. I've been saving up our free pass for a day when we're REALLY bored. Maybe that day is today. All I know is Pixar is banned from our house today.
I can't even seek refuge at my parents' house because my brother has the evil stomach plague. Just in case it's NOT the one we already had, we're staying FAR FAR away.
Speaking of my brother, has anyone been on You Tube lately? He has turned into an internet star. His current video has over a million views and he just signed a contract with an agent. I kid you not. I know, it's insane (especially when you see the video that has the million views. He was doing it to make a point about how You Tube features only the DUMBEST videos and well, he proved his point quite well by ending up on the front page the first day). Their first project together is to try to get him on Leno or Letterman and then some bit parts in movies. He may even end up in California for the summer. I hope it all works out better than the Jimmy Kimmel show did! Either way, looks like SOMETHING is going to happen with it.
I can't even seek refuge at my parents' house because my brother has the evil stomach plague. Just in case it's NOT the one we already had, we're staying FAR FAR away.
Speaking of my brother, has anyone been on You Tube lately? He has turned into an internet star. His current video has over a million views and he just signed a contract with an agent. I kid you not. I know, it's insane (especially when you see the video that has the million views. He was doing it to make a point about how You Tube features only the DUMBEST videos and well, he proved his point quite well by ending up on the front page the first day). Their first project together is to try to get him on Leno or Letterman and then some bit parts in movies. He may even end up in California for the summer. I hope it all works out better than the Jimmy Kimmel show did! Either way, looks like SOMETHING is going to happen with it.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Tees...
If I owe you a t-shirt design, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you. I've just now gotten back into working on my shop after the holiday insanity.
I just got this one done today in anticipation of Ben's birthday, but also since it was a request for my friend Lisa.
This one is ready to go too: (as well as its Big Sister counterpart)
I think I owe three other people designs... coming soon, I promise. :)
I just got this one done today in anticipation of Ben's birthday, but also since it was a request for my friend Lisa.
This one is ready to go too: (as well as its Big Sister counterpart)
I think I owe three other people designs... coming soon, I promise. :)
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Out of the Mouth of Ben...
Background: Yesterday, while we were downtown, Tom was explaining to Ben that we get to go to Port Discovery (the children's museum) because great-Babby and great-Grandad gave us a MEMBERSHIP for Christmas. Ben kept repeating the word "membership" as he is apt to do when he hears a cool long word he's never heard before.
So after the museum, we wandered around the Harbor and Ben was fascinated by all the ships. He kept calling them cruise ships and pirate ships... which was amusing in itself... but then... fast forward to the ride home...
Tom: Benjamin! What did we do today?
Ben: We went to Port Discovery!
Tom: And what else? What did we see in the Harbor?
Ben: Ships!
Tom: What kind of ships did you see?
Ben: Memberships!
So after the museum, we wandered around the Harbor and Ben was fascinated by all the ships. He kept calling them cruise ships and pirate ships... which was amusing in itself... but then... fast forward to the ride home...
Tom: Benjamin! What did we do today?
Ben: We went to Port Discovery!
Tom: And what else? What did we see in the Harbor?
Ben: Ships!
Tom: What kind of ships did you see?
Ben: Memberships!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
His Wish is Our Command... Apparently...
This morning, Ben announced that he wanted to go to "downtown Baltimore!" Thanks to Tom's grandparents, we have an annual pass to the children's museum. That, coupled with the fact that it was 72 degrees out today (WHERE do I live again?!?!), pretty much meant we were more than willing to oblige.
So we spent the whole day downtown. We went to the museum for a couple hours and Ben pretty much just RAN the entire time. Weighed down by the protrusion on my abdomen also known as Baby Too, I quickly tired of following Ben and Tom around, so I just meandered from bench to bench and people watched.
After that, we wandered around the harbor for awhile. What a BEAUTIFUL day!
This weather right now is truly bizarre. There were people everywhere wearing shorts. (my husband included). I had on a tshirt and so did Ben, though I think even I would have been comfy in shorts! The whole city was out and about like we had
fast-forwarded to May or something! (But unfortunately, it's, in fact, NOT May, it's still january, which means I still have another four months of hauling Baby Too around in my pelvis.)
So we spent the whole day downtown. We went to the museum for a couple hours and Ben pretty much just RAN the entire time. Weighed down by the protrusion on my abdomen also known as Baby Too, I quickly tired of following Ben and Tom around, so I just meandered from bench to bench and people watched.
After that, we wandered around the harbor for awhile. What a BEAUTIFUL day!
This weather right now is truly bizarre. There were people everywhere wearing shorts. (my husband included). I had on a tshirt and so did Ben, though I think even I would have been comfy in shorts! The whole city was out and about like we had
fast-forwarded to May or something! (But unfortunately, it's, in fact, NOT May, it's still january, which means I still have another four months of hauling Baby Too around in my pelvis.)
Friday, January 05, 2007
This Was Fun!
Stole this from Joan. And yep, it was accurate. I'm from Baltimore, hon! ;)
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: Philadelphia Your accent is as Philadelphian as a cheesesteak! If you're not from Philadelphia, then you're from someplace near there like south Jersey, Baltimore, or Wilmington. if you've ever journeyed to some far off place where people don't know that Philly has an accent, someone may have thought you talked a little weird even though they didn't have a clue what accent it was they heard. | |
| The Midland | |
| The Northeast | |
| The South | |
| The Inland North | |
| Boston | |
| The West | |
| North Central | |
| What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz | |
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Imagination Gone Wild... or... How a Pullup Became a Darth Vader Helmet...
All on his own he decided that the Pullup was his Darth Vader hat, the cane (which was a prop for one of my brother's movies) is his light saber, and the cape is, well, a cape.
Here's the moving/talking version, wherein he has a light saber battle with his reflection in the fireplace.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Just the Beginning, I'm Sure...
Since it seems to be spring here, not the dead of winter, Ben and I were outside this afternoon. He was having a great time taking his bike up to the top of our court and riding it down as fast as he could with his feet in the air. (anyone want to wager on how many emergency visits there will be in 2007?)
So anyway, about the fourth time up the hill, he stopped halfway up, pointed to me and said, "No no. You don't come. You stay right there."
Of course, I didn't listen to him... instead I followed about three tricycle lengths behind and stopped everytime he turned around. Probably a metaphor for the rest of his life, I'm sure...
So anyway, about the fourth time up the hill, he stopped halfway up, pointed to me and said, "No no. You don't come. You stay right there."
Of course, I didn't listen to him... instead I followed about three tricycle lengths behind and stopped everytime he turned around. Probably a metaphor for the rest of his life, I'm sure...
How to Raise a Compassionate Child...
Interesting article I found today on cnn.com. Thought some of you might find it interesting and useful too! :)
How To Raise a Compassionate Child
How To Raise a Compassionate Child
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
New Year's Day...
We spent New Year's Day at my grandmother's house and got to hang out with family I don't often see, which was really nice. My cousin and his wife were there with their little girl, Keira, who is 1-1/2. She is quite the little music lover too! (it's a dominant family gene) ;)
Ben, my dad and Keira playing a gig:
The really funny thing is that after seeing her, I feel like Ben is so BIG now! He's on the small side, but has about a head of height on her.
Ben, my dad and Keira playing a gig:
The really funny thing is that after seeing her, I feel like Ben is so BIG now! He's on the small side, but has about a head of height on her.
The Official 2006 Questionnaire...
Stolen, as it is just about every year, from my SIL.
----------------------------------
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Learned to navigate Harford County reasonably well (uhh, with the assistance of Tom's laptop and its satellite thingie), redid a bathroom (with some help), and uh... yeah, coming up short on this question.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make new year's resolutions, but this year, my big goal is to get the house 100% in order, furnished, decorated and all the little, annoying things fixed.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Jen had Lily in March!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
We had to put one of our cats to sleep in June, otherwise a quiet year, deathwise.
5. What countries did you visit?
None except my own!
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 7th and August 6th... the days I lost the last two babies before this one.
:( Ben should have originally been a big brother around September 10th of 2006. Just wasn't meant to be.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My t-shirt shop is a huge success!
9. What was your biggest failure?
potty training Ben... (sigh)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tons and tons of rubbermaid containers for all of our junk!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband continues to be such a great partner in crime, the love of my life and a wonderful daddy. (despite teaching our son songs about drinking)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
many a politician as well as a certain eventual-ex-husband of a close family friend
14. Where did most of your money go?
bills, house projects, taxes
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
about 60 positive pregnancy tests and then finally a a little heartbeat. Hooray!
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Piano Man, it's only been playing around our house for the last two months or so... gah.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier
18. Thinner or fatter?
Currently about 20 pounds fatter. Oy.
19. Richer or poorer?
Both. Tom's partnership benefits kicked in at work which technically means more $$... but then the stupid government swooped in and took it all away. Grr...
20. What do you wish you'd done more of?
House projects, there is always something to be done and the list just keeps growing. Oh, and did I mention the leak in the dining room window? (banging head against the wall)
21. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying and charting basal body temperatures
22. How will you be spending Christmas?
I don't really want to think about it until November. I'm done with the holiday stress. All I know is I can't wait to wake up and watch my TWO (ohmahgah two!!!!) children enjoy the holiday in their own way... Ben will be tearing it up because he has officially been Christmasified, and the new baby will be 7 months old and eating paper, I'm sure.
23. Did you fall in love in 2006?
just the same old, same old. ;)
24. Any one night stands?
Not to my knowledge
25. What was your favorite TV program?
Lost and Gilmore Girls
26. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
not really.
27. What was the best book you read?
reading? what's that? seriously... I have been on the same page of Wicked for three months.
28. What was your greatest musical discovery?
that my two year old can carry a tune
29. What did you want and get?
a new bathroom
30. What did you want and not get?
another new bathroom, a new kitchen and the house painted
31. What was your favorite film of this year?
Cars, I'm pretty sure it's the only film from 2006 I've seen
32. What did you do on your birthday?
I actually can't remember... ?
33. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If Ben hadn't chosen to give up daily nap around the time I found out I was pregnant
34. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
shorts, jeans, tees, polos, khakis, tennis shoes... I call it, "Erin Chic"
35. What kept you sane?
naptimes and grandparents
36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I've always thought Toby Maguire was adorable...
37. What political issue stirred you the most?
stem cell research being stalled by people who don't understand what it's all about... Grrr...
38. Who did you miss?
Pretty much everyone I love is nearby...
39. Who was the best new person you met?
Beth, who introduced me to the rest of the neighborhood girls. They're such a great group of people! :)
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
You can make all the plans, try to have all the control you want... but the outcome is ultimately up to God. I always believed this, but was forced to really come to terms with it in 2006.
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Oh yeah, Here in Topeka, the rain is a fallin';
The faucet is a drippin' and the kids are a bawlin';
One of them a toddlin' and one is a crawlin';
And one's on the way.
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1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Learned to navigate Harford County reasonably well (uhh, with the assistance of Tom's laptop and its satellite thingie), redid a bathroom (with some help), and uh... yeah, coming up short on this question.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make new year's resolutions, but this year, my big goal is to get the house 100% in order, furnished, decorated and all the little, annoying things fixed.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Jen had Lily in March!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
We had to put one of our cats to sleep in June, otherwise a quiet year, deathwise.
5. What countries did you visit?
None except my own!
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 7th and August 6th... the days I lost the last two babies before this one.
:( Ben should have originally been a big brother around September 10th of 2006. Just wasn't meant to be.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My t-shirt shop is a huge success!
9. What was your biggest failure?
potty training Ben... (sigh)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tons and tons of rubbermaid containers for all of our junk!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband continues to be such a great partner in crime, the love of my life and a wonderful daddy. (despite teaching our son songs about drinking)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
many a politician as well as a certain eventual-ex-husband of a close family friend
14. Where did most of your money go?
bills, house projects, taxes
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
about 60 positive pregnancy tests and then finally a a little heartbeat. Hooray!
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Piano Man, it's only been playing around our house for the last two months or so... gah.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier
18. Thinner or fatter?
Currently about 20 pounds fatter. Oy.
19. Richer or poorer?
Both. Tom's partnership benefits kicked in at work which technically means more $$... but then the stupid government swooped in and took it all away. Grr...
20. What do you wish you'd done more of?
House projects, there is always something to be done and the list just keeps growing. Oh, and did I mention the leak in the dining room window? (banging head against the wall)
21. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying and charting basal body temperatures
22. How will you be spending Christmas?
I don't really want to think about it until November. I'm done with the holiday stress. All I know is I can't wait to wake up and watch my TWO (ohmahgah two!!!!) children enjoy the holiday in their own way... Ben will be tearing it up because he has officially been Christmasified, and the new baby will be 7 months old and eating paper, I'm sure.
23. Did you fall in love in 2006?
just the same old, same old. ;)
24. Any one night stands?
Not to my knowledge
25. What was your favorite TV program?
Lost and Gilmore Girls
26. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
not really.
27. What was the best book you read?
reading? what's that? seriously... I have been on the same page of Wicked for three months.
28. What was your greatest musical discovery?
that my two year old can carry a tune
29. What did you want and get?
a new bathroom
30. What did you want and not get?
another new bathroom, a new kitchen and the house painted
31. What was your favorite film of this year?
Cars, I'm pretty sure it's the only film from 2006 I've seen
32. What did you do on your birthday?
I actually can't remember... ?
33. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If Ben hadn't chosen to give up daily nap around the time I found out I was pregnant
34. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
shorts, jeans, tees, polos, khakis, tennis shoes... I call it, "Erin Chic"
35. What kept you sane?
naptimes and grandparents
36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I've always thought Toby Maguire was adorable...
37. What political issue stirred you the most?
stem cell research being stalled by people who don't understand what it's all about... Grrr...
38. Who did you miss?
Pretty much everyone I love is nearby...
39. Who was the best new person you met?
Beth, who introduced me to the rest of the neighborhood girls. They're such a great group of people! :)
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
You can make all the plans, try to have all the control you want... but the outcome is ultimately up to God. I always believed this, but was forced to really come to terms with it in 2006.
41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Oh yeah, Here in Topeka, the rain is a fallin';
The faucet is a drippin' and the kids are a bawlin';
One of them a toddlin' and one is a crawlin';
And one's on the way.