Sheesh, it's been a while.

So obviously this thing has not been a priority to me the past few months but I hope to change that. Life's been so busy and our computer went belly up for a while to do anything 'high tech' like a blog or facebook.

To sum up the last few months, Benjamin has turned one, spent the night in the hospital for croup, learned to walk and climb everything and I mean everything. Rob is moving up the chain at TMMK, I became the coordinator for our local MOPS group (check us out at http://www.gbcmops.webs.com/ and on Facebook), and now I have signed up for a local 10K in Lexington this coming July.

Things are in constant motion here at our home. If you can't find me and Benjamin, we are probably at the gym. I've dropped 2 sizes, lost a few pounds and have almost radically changed my life. I have three things/people to thank for that: One, Carol M. she's my trainer that pushes me to the edge and is my cheerleader. Two, Benjamin. I'm wanting him to grow up in a family that is healthy and active. Three, the TV show Hoarders. If you have never watched in on A&E, you need to watch it this Monday at 10pm. I've dramatically changed my habits and I hope to constantly making a positive stride.

Basically, my life is on detox right now and I'm being extra careful about what goes into it. I'll write more later, sleep is calling my name.

10 Months

Little Blue Eyes, he's just too handsome!

Benjamin is now 10 months old and it's very surreal to think of what I looked like and felt like this time last year. He's doing all kinds of things and it seems like his arms grow an inch every night because there is always something that he couldn't reach last night but is having no trouble reaching today. He has started to let go of things while he's cruising and will stand there for a short moment and yesterday he found the stairs. I'm surprised that he hasn't shown an interest until now.

Rob has been on vacation all week and tonight is his first night back. It's always weird for me that first night that he goes back after a vacation....very quiet around the house! I've been working hard on my new endeavor which is being the Publicity Coordinator for our local MOPS group here in Georgetown. Take a look at some of the work I've been working on and for those of you in Georgetown, if you're interested in MOPS let me know and I'll give you a call. For those of you who know someone who could be involved, give me a call about them.....the more the merrier! http://www.gbcmops.webs.com/ to learn more about MOPS International visit http://www.mops.org/

Benjamin had fun at our church picnic a few weeks back...this picture is priceless.

I don't know what's funnier, Benjamin or the fact that Rob has the same expression on his face...

The Space Between

I've been having major difficulties with my computer now uploading the pictures that I really want to put on here but somehow the videos upload. I know it's been a while and soooo much is going on.

Benjamin had his first official VBS at our church the first week of June and that went very well. I also had the honor of teaching in the preschool building and had a blast with my fellow rockin' teachers and awesome kids. These past two weeks, Benjamin has been involved in Water Babies at the Pavillion and they exhaust him! He has learned how to blow bubbles in the water, hold onto the side of the pool, how to 'swim' in the pool....as much as a 9 month old can! It's been a great exercise time for myself! I never thought I would be getting a workout for his swim 'lessons'. There are only four of us in the group and it's a close group. We've been having fun!

Father's Day was great and Rob loved his presents from Benjamin and Sadie. When I can load the pictures, I'll place some on here!

Sadie has had a hard time adjusting to the new stages of Benjamin. She sort of freaked when we brought him home, especially when he pooped or cried. Then it was him rolling around, then onto sitting up but she has had the hardest adjustment with him crawling and pulling up on everything. I think she's finally coming around since we've made a few places in the house that only she can get into and Benjamin hasn't found them yet! She loves to play with him by running around the house and then stopping abruptly and licking him-he of course loves it.

Today is Ben's 9 month appointment and I still remember very clearly this time last year being pregnant. It's a very odd feeling! I'm excited to go to the doctor and share about his milestones. The ones that I will be reporting since our 6 month checkup will be crawling perfected, pulling up, cruising, 2 TEETH, 3 words (mom, da-da, and ba (bottle)), pincher grasp, claps hands when asked.

Probably one of the most important events that has taken place was our Child Dedication service held at our church Georetown Baptist. It was a wonderful day with the sun coming through the gorgeous stained glass and Benjamin was dedicated with some of our best friends. We had 9 little ones total and it was a wonderful day.

If I remember correctly, L to R are: The Singers, The Hisels, The Schindlers, The Johnsons, The Wrights, The Powers', The Whitcombs, The Sextons, and I can't remember the last family....Amy can you help me on that one?!

Needless to say that the space between 7 and 9 months, he's grown in so many ways and it's bittersweet. I love to see him grow and find new things but I relish the earlier days. I think everyone knows what I mean there.

Crawling-check! Pulling up on things-check! Getting into everything we own-check! Says "ma-ma", "da-da", and "ba-ba"-check! Growing out of the carseat-check! Recognizes Sadie's bark-check! Meghan ran her first 5k-check! Found the coolest toy ever!-check!!!!

You Know, One of Those Days

Yep, it's been one of those days. Benjamin pulled over my mug of coffee on me this morning, hit every red light in town, it started raining as soon as I pull into the gym parking lot, the lady at the gym that's a 'gym freak' was all in my space at the gym...you know, one of those days. However. It was totally worth it because after my heart pumping workout, I go to pick up Benjamin and here's what he's made for me: TOTALLY WORTH IT!

I just love Melanie & Liz who watch Benjamin at the gym!

Easter & Cookouts

Easter was great! Benjamin and the rest of us were dressed up spiffily and it was nice to have good weather all day. Benjamin opened up his two Easter baskets (one from Grandma W. & the other from us and Grandma & Grandpa D.) Seriously, he opened them and of course had more fun with the tissue paper than the toys we bought him.

The following week we visited Cincinnati and I was able to take this picture of Benjamin with his Great Uncle Kenneth. It was so nice to take this picture because of what my uncle Kenneth has meant to me all of these years. He's always been around for my important life events and it was wonderful to see them together.

While we were there, we were able to see the brick that has my father's name and Naval service info at the almost complete Springdale Veterans Memorial. We of course had Benjamin take his picture with next to the brick.

Not too much is going on with us at the moment. Mainly just figuring out if we need the AC or the heat on in the house and today it's definitely the AC. We are also in a battle for space with a family of wasps. This hasn't been fun to say the least but we have to thank Sadie who attacked the wasp that was in Benjamin's playpen the other night-She's a good dog.

My mom has these two pictures hanging up at the house. That's me in 1982 and Benjamin in 2009. I think it's cute.

Benjamin's growing up. He's thinking about crawling and maybe a tooth...I'm not so sure. He rolls EVERYWHERE and chews on EVERYTHING. He's such a happy baby and so easy to take care of...he makes life pretty darn good. See why I love him so much?

Is it winter or is it spring?

This weather is the pits! Yesterday I was in shorts and a t-shirt, today I'm in sweatpants. Global warming my tooshie. Honestly I don't mind it that much but what gets to me is the sickness that comes with the drastic weather changes. This is our first official family illness. It started with Benjmain a few weeks back with a respiratory infection (he's fine now), then it went to me with strep throat (I'm getting there) and now Rob has a combo of everything. Bad thing too is that I was on penicillin for the strep and now Benjamin is recovering from the allergic reaction that we now know he has to penicillin. GO FIGURE.

I now truly understand that the whole family can get sick and it isn't fun. I have to admit I used to think that some parents would use their kids colds as an excuse to not do anything but now I see that I was totally wrong. I think I've been maybe 3 places in the past 3 weeks and that's not counting the doctor's office. I think we are paying for our pediatrician's kids educations now.

I felt good enough this morning to venture out to the gym and I was throroughly embarrassed at how out of shape you can get in 3 weeks. Luckily, the group of high spirited women that I run with made me feel like a million bucks with the encouragement. I can't complain there!

Benjamin has learned to shake his head no. Well I guess I should say that he shakes his head like he's saying no-he can't talk back yet. It's cute and of course I can't capture it on video, he just won't let me. I think he's getting ready to crawl so I'm trying and trying to 'babyproof'. I use this term lightly because I don't think it's 100% possible to do so but you get the drift. Picking up the obvious stuff and storing away what's just not really needed at a moment's reach.

I have to give some serious kudos to our pediatricans' office. They are absolutely wonderful and have taken care of Benjamin since day one. Those of you who live close to Scott County and need a new doctor, try Dr. Joel Knight and Dr. Andrew Balbaugh @ Bluegrass Pediatrics and Internal Medicine. They are next door to Western Elementary/Chevron/Givoannis on 460. Anything that we have ever needed or wanted, they have gone above and beyond!

All's quiet on the Homestead Front. Sadie, Benjamin, and Rob are asleep and now I'm going to go get into something. Not sure what yet but if it's exciting enough, I'll write about it later!