Ben's Biggest Fan

Ben's biggest fan, aka Dad, showing him how some Christmas toy worked last night . . . I see so much of them in each other. Some day I'll post a picture of Greg as a toddler to compare the two. They're both SO handsome!

Paigers!

So many of you ask about my sister's daughter, Paige . . . She's a darling little girl. I get to talk to her on the phone almost every day. Her first question, every time, is "What's Ben doing?" Isn't she beautiful?

Christmas Greetings!

I'm officially a Scrooge. Between runny noses (Ben's) and a week with the stomach bug (all of us) the anual Christmas card is getting the boot. I promise cute pictures though, always cute pictures, in Blogger world.

Tonight Ben was a little performer . . . He laughed at his Daddy, then ran away, always back again for more. He has this little dog that barks "Jingle Bells", a current favorite noise-maker in this house. And the tree, my lovely little tree, so far has escaped any ornament casualties. The last picture captures Benjamin's big laugh, courtesy of Greg's tickle torture.

Tickled Pink!

Baby news!! We're expecting a little girl in the spring. We've known her name for ages . . . Cameron Elizabeth. More than anything, we can't wait to see Benjamin in his role as big brother.

Thanksgiving 2007

No Thanksgiving pictures this year!! Ben had a miserable cold, I had a sore throat and Greg is still coping with back/nerve problems. That said, we still ate like champs. Greg's mom made the most amazing dinner, and we ate until we were, well, sick. Sicker than we already were, anyway.

The round table discussion at dinner included our lists of thanksgivings . . . How do you ever really sum it all up? We're so blessed by God. So incredibly blessed. Salvation, amazing grace and peace, His perfect peace. Family, each other, our Benjamin, the new baby. Our home. So incredibly blessed.

More pictures soon, I hope!

Quick trip to Midland

Ben and I jumped on the plane to go visit Big Daddy, Kate, Aunt Courtney, Uncle Dustin and Miss Paige. Ben was most fond of the piano, and especially enjoyed duets with Big Daddy (my dad). Big Daddy also took Ben to the pond to feed the ducks, and then to visit the horses at the polo fields. Paige (age 2-1/2) told Ben all weekend how much she 'loved him'. She dissolved into tears the first night when Ben's bed time rolled around. Can't wait to see those two together again . . . Christmas, here we come!

Silly Monkey

This child is a monkey, through and through! He was MOST UPSET about his costume until we got him outside with all the neighbors. Candy, hot dogs and pumpkin rolling (Ben's idea) made for a great night!

Boys will be boys!

Yesterday, Ben delighted me with his antics. Then infuriated me when he decided the piece of chicken parmesan in his mouth was no longer to his liking, so he pulled it out and threw it. ON ME. Then he peed all over the floors on the way to the bathtub. This really got me laughing, but I could have done without the necessary clean-up. Just before bed time, he brought me his very own booger. I'm learning more and more about the limitless love of a mother.

Big Foot & other Ben-isms

Random thoughts, all of these, but I haven't Blogged much lately, so here goes:

• Big Foot Ben started out the summer in size 4-1/2 shoes, and as of yesterday he's a size 8. Please let up Kiddo, your shoes are costing more than mine!



• Jibber Jabber. Baby talk is big on Ben's daily to-do list. I have no idea what he's saying, but most of it is said with conviction. I love the way it sounds . . .



• SO SHY! I walked into the pet store the other the day, and the minute the lady behind the counter said hello to Ben, his chin hit his chest, he closed his eyes and went into "Shut Down Mode". He does this wherever we go, and the only response I can get from him is to hold his arms up to be held. Greg and I were both shy as children, and I love it that Ben still feels safe in my arms.



• Bye-bye is code for I'm done with that now, you can go away, or turn off the TV.



• BAD DOG. Ellie, my (formerly) sweet shih tzu, bit Ben the other night. I'm still secretly furious with her. Ben's feelings were so hurt, and I can't say that I blame him.



• Rainy day. We had a delicious rainy afternoon on Monday, and Ben hung out by the front window (on the dog bed) for about an hour. He just drank his smoothie, talked to me on occasion, and watched the rain. I was shocked that he stayed in one place for so long.

Airplanes

Ben is in love with airplanes, helicopters and birds these days. Lizards are also on the current cool list, but they don't compete with flying objects. Every airplane we hear, we stop whatever we're doing and run to the window to scope it out. On the days when I'm not too sick, we go for walks and look for planes. During the evenings, he scopes out the skies with his Daddy. Pictures attached are my happy boy eating an 'airplane', basically cornbread, but he plays like it's an airplane. Whatever works!

Spaghetti Smooch

Greg hit the Texas Tech game today, so Ben and I had a dinner-date. I showed him how to slurp spaghetti, so I guess table manners will have to wait a bit. Sure was fun!

Big News!

Ben is going to be a big brother!

"For it was You who created my inward parts. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You because I have been fearfully and wonderfully made . . . " Psalm 139:13-14

Cupcakes and Friends

It was a busy week. That's the norm for Ben. Personally, I'd love to just sit on the sofa and read a good book, but I don't think that's anywhere in the near future. Tommie and Tay came over for cupcakes and a play-date. Tay discovered Ben's lawnmower, and Ben pretty much wanted whatever Tay was interested in! A good time was had by all.

I have to tell you that a couple of nights ago Ben was having a hard time falling asleep, so I went in his room and just held him and rocked him. He loves to pat my back after I pat his. I can't imagine a sweeter feeling than that sweet little hand patting my shoulder. Every few minutes he'd turn his head and pucker-up for a kiss. Finally he drifted off, and I just held him. PURE BLISS!!

Poor Baby

I still don't know what he was mad about, just that he DID NOT want me to take pictures, of anything, least of all him, at that moment. Goober!

I've Been Tagged!

Okay, Sharla, Kim & Rebekah tagged me . . . So here goes! Here is some life changing info about me . . .

The Rules:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (**if you’re a non-blogger, you can email them!)
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

8 Random Facts or Habits about me:

1. I have a mega-addiction to dark chocolate. Dove makes my current favorite, but just about any dark chocolate will do. Yummy! I also have a huge sweet tooth, really anything will do. Other addictions include reading and Starbucks.

2. I am a NEAT-FREAK. Not to be mistaken for a clean freak, although the two are fairly related. Seriously. I am already planning to clean out my guest room bedroom/closet, planning for Ben's big boy room, and I'm no where near being pregnant. I think b/c I was so sick when I was pregnant with Ben, I have a fear of not being able to get things done the second time around. So I'm pre-nesting. But the neat-freak part of me exists whether I'm pregnant or not! Greg calls me "Monica Gellar".

3. I have at least a ten-minute ritual for teeth-brushing. Flossing, Listerine and Water Pik included.

4. I love the fall. It's my favorite time of year. I love cold weather, blue jeans, hot coffee or hot chocolate. I love to make good soups. Love sweaters and socks. I love fall loafers. Sketchers, too. And the turning of the trees is one of my favorite gifts from God. Every year I just take it all in, and every year it seems to happen way too fast.

5. I have a TON of grey hair. Hi-lights aren't really doing their job anymore. Poor me.

6. I hate cheap stuff. If it's cheap, or marked way down, I'm like "What's wrong with it?" . . . I would rather save and save and save and get something high quality.

7. I do my own mani/pedis . . . I don't like people to mess with my feet. Plus once after indulging in a manicure I got an ingrown toenail. Then my poor mom got an infection after a pedi. I'm done for life. But I have a fully-stocked nail kit with all the goodies.

8. I met my hubby on the internet!

BONUS FACT. I hate wires. And outlets. They're ugly. I hate the computer cords so much that Greg bundled them all up and taped them behind the desk so that I don't have to see them. And I buy special extension cords (cream colored) when a cord is brown, if I don't want it to show up against my white base molding. Told you I was Type-A!

Type-A Amanda

For those of you that know me well, you'll get this. I love organization. Recently one of my precious friends Amy commented on how neat my pantry looked. I'm sure I beamed. I like things just so, just right, just like that. Benjamin has turned my neat-nick world upside-down and inside-out. And it's good for me. Today he brought Greg's shoes out (this is new morning activity), and then he sweetly put them up. Not where they go. But he put them where he thinks they should go. And I'm gonna leave them right where he put them.

Lovies

Ben's got two 'lovies', a blue blanket (Limited Edition, I can't get another one to save my life) and a little lamb that sings "Lullaby" given to him from my cherished friend Pat. Both are completely necessary in this house, to snuggle with, to sleep with, to console a teething toddler. Ben runs up to me with his lamb shouting "Mama, Mama" until I make it play the song. And the blue blanket, the poor blue blanket, gets dragged around this house all day long. It has to sit on the table next to the high chair while he eats. And he chews on the Amy Coe tag, until it's BROWN. Now the whole corner of the blanket is brown, but I think Ben likes it much better stinky and brown than freshly laundered with lots of Oxy Baby.

Dog days of summer . . .

Water Baby

Ben loves the water. Loves it. Bath time, swimming, playing on the patio with the rain water that falls off the roof. He now loves the big slide at the Country Club. I'm just thankful my swimsuit stayed on!

Toddler woes . . .

Ben has been a PILL the last few days. He is cutting two molars, so at least he has an excuse for his behavior. I think he decided he prefers life in Ruidoso to life at home with me. Last night he threw five fits in a matter of minutes, all on the kitchen floor. I ignored him, so the fits didn't last very long. The first fit was because I wouldn't let him eat the dog's food. The second was because he spit milk on the floor, so I took his milk away. The third was because he wanted more milk. The fourth and fifth, I don't even remember. I hope this isn't the beginning of the terrible twos!

Vacation

Midland, then Ruidoso, then back to Midland again! Benjamin had a blast on his summer vacation. He spent the first several days acting shy, then became Mr. Personality. Paige (22 months) was a little uncertain of "Baby" and "Amanka", and she never did warm up to Greg. Big Daddy (my dad) showed Ben the geese at the pond, which Ben found hysterical. Kate (my mom) introduced him to M&M's, another big hit. And sweet Paige shared her Mr. Potato-Head with anyone who would play with her. Ben's favorite part of the whole trip was swimming in the blow-up pools and the big pool at Ruidoso!

Tasty treats

Today Ben had his first popsicle.

He much preferred blue Crayola marker.

Summer nights

Mosquitos, rides in the red wagon, and Mom's Frappuccinos . . . That's summertime in The Woodlands! For the record, Ben cries if I don't share my Starbucks with him.

Loves me, loves me not

She loves me.Loves me not.

SHE LOVES ME!!!

How big is Ben?

SO BIG! At fourteen months, he thinks he's big. Big enough to start the dishwasher. Big enough to get on the elliptical (and fall off of it, too). Big enough to use a cell phone. The list goes on and on. He's still our tiny-mite, no matter how big he gets.

Triple Threat

Three's never a crowd with these cousins! Three's trouble for us adults, though! Ben, Caitlin and Jacob enjoyed a late evening sugar high at the golf course.

My camera is back!!

Fridge Art

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Table Manners

Etiquette is something that goes by the wayside with this little boy! He loves to gobble up rice cakes (never mind that he still won't eat PB&J), while he rests his toes on the table. A rice cake can go a long way during the cranky-before-dinner hour. I have to put Ben in the high chair so that the dogs don't take his cherished snack!

Boys Day Out

After a bunch of dental work yesterday morning, I needed some R&R, so Greg and Ben enjoyed a boy's day out. They hit the park, Home Depot and WalMart. And of course, they had a blast!

April news

Since my camera is in 'the shop', I've neglected the Blog a bit. Thought I would give all my far-away friends an update on Benjamin, sans pictures. Ben loves to say "Daddy", "Doggie", "Uh-oh". He can say "Mom", but I don't think he knows it's me yet. He loves sweet potatoes, French toast and blue berries. Loves, loves, loves walking around the house with a blanket draped over his head, and yes, he does run into things. He loves his MP3 Player from Target. Loves rough-housing with his Daddy every night. Loves to dance. He walks everywhere now, and has started to run just a bit. He does some version of touch-down, high-five, and sticking out his tongue. He gives really big open-mouthed kisses to anything and everything! He HATES peas and green beans. He's not crazy about corn, either. He cries every time we pull down the attic stairs (the sound, maybe?). He's scared of a little yellow bear that talks, and a green glow worm that sings a night-night song. That's all for now . . . Stay tuned for pictures as soon as I get my camera back!

Reality

I've been posting all of my favorite (sweet, posed, perfect) pictures over the last year, and some 'real' pictures seem long overdue. Ben loves, and I mean loves, sticking his fingers up his nose. I ignore him, and yet he persists. I suppose he is rewarded often enough for his efforts. Gross. And the last picture is his "I'm so cool, I did a one-armed touch-down for Mom" face. I love this kid.

One is fun!

Lots of firsts . . . First birthday, first candle, first massive dose of sugar. Ben had a great day! He seemed to know the festivities were planned, and so skipped his afternoon nap. He was quite the prince. When the last guest left and the sugar high wore off, thankfully, he took his nap.