Anniversaries and Potties

Rob was on vacation all last week and we accomplished two things.  They may be only two but it was accomplished very well.  First, we repainted the entire kitchen for only $5...talk about a deal!  Second, we celebrated our 5th anniversary and went all out.  We got a babysitter...thankya Kandice!......and then went to The Holy Hill Inn in Midway, Kentucky.  I don't think we have ever spent that much money on just a dinner but oh how it was sooooo worth it!  Chef Ouita prepares food that's locally grown and her menu reflects what's in season at the time and what's ripe in the garden.  Out back. Literally. 

It's this beautiful old home with a neat history and the food is delicious.  Visit their site at http://www.hollyhillinn.com/ to see some pictures and to read their menu. 

Depending on the moment, we are either doing well with the potty training or it's on the fast track to a migrane and loads of laundry.  The last two days have been successful so maybe we're on the upswing...I don't know.  He could care less about M&M's as a reward, he'd rather have a hug or look out the window. 

Our MOPS year is getting ready to go into full swing and I'm excited this year because our team is full of fresh ideas and ready to make it great this year.  Did I mention that school starts that same week?  It's going to be crazy. 

I tried to tell him that those shoes don't go with that diaper.

Pee-pee in the Potty!

Somehow, in the last few weeks, we have started potty training Benjamin.  I didn't plan this, wish for this, or expect it at his adventurous 22 months but here we are.  It all started with him telling me when he had/or would pooped and about that same time, I found the potty that I wanted at a resale store for dirt cheap.

So we brought our little yellow Baby Bjorn potty home ( I love how it's all one piece) and he pretty much put it on his head and danced around.  He kinda reminded me of a Green Bay Packers fan with a cheese wedge on his head....quite similar.  Most nights prior to his bath, I would place him on it and go from there.  Then the other night, I got courageous. 

I noticed that immediately after a bath, Benjamin would run into the closet and pee in the corner.  I didn't exactly discourage this because at that point I knew that he had no clue about how that sensation meant pee.  I mean our carpet is fuschia pink.  It's getting ripped up anyway.  So fast forward a few days and I got my smarts on and placed the potty in the closet and voila!  Pee-pee in the potty!

He has to have the curtains drawn and he loves to dump the potty in the bathtub.  I give him an M&M every time succeeds, no scolding or frowns if he doesn't.  I mean M&M's cover everything for us as a family....Kyle Busch and the #18 M&M's Toyota Car, NASCAR.....  Today, Benjamin had 4 M&M's and he also discovered that his Hot Wheels fit in the potty as well.  Lovely!


I'm not sure where to go from here, but I'm just placing him on there when I realize that it's been 2 hours and he's dry.  He's actually a bit excited about it. 

This is the first stop in parenting where I'm really unsure of how to proceed.  Everything up to this point has been rather easy and I knew how to handle anything.  Potty training is totally new.  And I feel for moms at this point what with all kinds of non-traditional ways of raising their child, I'm thinking that there are going to be some seriously jacked up teenagers in about 15 years.  This one blows my mind: Elimination Communication.  I don't get it, I just don't get it.  Google it....it's interesting to say the least.

Off to bleach the potty....and a few Hot Wheels.

Donde esta?

Yep, it's been a while, a real long while.  I'm a horrible blogger but let me focus on what I am good at:

1. Keeping Benjmain from killing Sadie
2. Juggling MOPS, House Committee, back to college, being a mom and a wife. 
3. Laundry
4. Killing mice
5. Keeping Benjamin alive

Benjamin is ALL boy, no doubt about that but where some moms might be pulling their hair out, I'm taking it in stride. So far this summer he has managed to:

1. Open the doors and escape.
2. Flush the toilet
3. Push a chair to the dining room table and successfully walk on it.
4. Can operate his VCR without my help.
5. Lock me out of the house.

You read it right, he locked me out of the house today.  Luckily, Rob had just woke up so while he enjoyed a good laugh, he did let me back in.  I can truly say that I'm enjoying every minute of being his mom...he's an excellent son.

Myself, Rob, and Benjamin at the Scott County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner

News!  Rob and I are both going back to school!  He was accepted to Liberty University's Online College to complete a BA degree and I was accepted into Midway College's Teacher's Education Program.  I'll be studying Secondary Biology.  We are finally being able to reap the benefits of his VA/GI Bill and me receiving a nearly full ride to Midway.  God is a very gracious God.

Enough for now, I'm heading to bed and then it's off to Cracker Barrell in the morning for breakfast with some of GBC's finest. 

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!!!!