Invented Signs

Ben has invented some new signs recently. Here are the explanations and then enjoy the short video demonstration.

• He has a video of Elmo teaching him about his elbow. I am sure he has seen it less than 5 times, but you will see his sign for when he wants to watch that video.
• He has a complete infatuation with chapstick and Vaseline right now. He made us this sign for it and unless you apply it for him, that is precisely where he puts it. And lots of it!
  
• Daddy puts his shaver on Ben's face some mornings. Ben has begun to ask for it.
• When Ben and I were in Texas he got to talk to Daddy on the phone a lot. Before the trip he was never allowed to touch the phone. Now he signs for it constantly - and even signs to other people begging for their phone. When Ben and I first got back Ryan was worried his ear was hurting since he hadn't been with us to see the invention of this sign.
• Finally, teeth brushing. He has an electric toothbrush that he loves to hold on his tongue. Mommy gets a turn first, then Ben to ensure the actual teeth are cleaned.
  

Just a Day

Back to last night...not quite the game we were hoping for, but my two boys are so cute watching the Rangers together. Ben had to wait until the middle of the inning before we could read our story and get tucked in so that Daddy could join us.

It was a chilly morning. Ben tried on Daddy's jacket.

Where else do you eat a pear but the laundry sorter that you have strategically placed in the living room?

Posing with his pumpkin.

He set the table for his snack all by himself. Each evening I am thankful for my dishwasher, but after this I am even more thankful because he used at least half of these to eat his snack. And even posed for the picture - that smile shows his personality.

32 Week Update

I went for my 32 week check-up yesterday morning. Ben came along and was not a fan this time! We had a hard time getting my weight because Ben insisted on clinging to my leg on the scale. I don't know what had him so freaked out, but he and I did not lose physical contact the entire time visit. It is in moments like that when I am terrified to bring a newborn home. ha.

At this appointment I had only gained less than a pound (not quite my usual) and my doctor said I was measuring exactly the same, meaning no growth in two weeks. She asked if I thought the baby had dropped. I am definitely not a woman that is in tune with her body, so I don't know if he has dropped or not. I don't feel any different...I don't think. She didn't seem too worried since Nate is a very active baby, but said we would do a sonogram in two weeks if there wasn't any significant growth. It has me a little freaked out, but she wasn't too worried so I will try not to stress. I have been much more attentive to Nate's activity since yesterday morning though. There is so much going on in our lives right now that honestly, this pregnancy is just another thing on my to-do list. Poor baby #2.

I am constantly asked about the differences in these two pregnancies. So much of the actual pregnancy seems the same, but my attention to it and emotions about it are different. Lacking may actually be a good word for it. I have so much going on with our church planting efforts and the day-to-day chasing of a very active toddler keeps my mind off the fact that we are crazy enough to be adding another little one to our organized chaos. That is, until I sit down after Ben's bedtime and realize my feet are swollen and my body aches and I have heartburn...then I remember! With Ben's pregnancy, everything was so new and I was reading constantly to stay informed of what was going on with my body and how to care for him once he arrived. With Nate, I feel like I just did all this yesterday so I don't read my weekly email updates, I haven't gotten out my books and his room is full of baby items, but in no particular organized way. Heck, he doesn't even have a crib in his room right now because Ben is still using it!

Don't get me wrong though, we are thrilled to be having Nate and anxious to see how his presence will change our little family dynamic. As with all things in life, it will be an adjustment at first and then we will find a new normal and I will learn how to juggle one more thing and we will keep going! That can be your prayer for us - that God prepare us now for the changes that will come and that we quickly find our new normal in our home and for me in my World Impact roles.

Woah. Is Ben really that big? Is Nate really going to be that small?

Pumpkin Carving

We took Ben to pick out a pumpkin tonight.

I told him to run to Daddy. He did.

He was not in the mood for a photo shoot.

Then we came home for some gutting and carving of our pumpkin.

My child does not like to be dirty. So I threw the nastiness at him.

We had some good laughs, all 3 of us.


I had to agree to do bath time for throwing nasty pumpkin guts at him. We topped off the fun with an orange bath!

He was very careful not to get dirty.

All Videos

All the videos are around 30 seconds.

Playing Basketball with Great Grandma!



Figuring out the electric car my mom got for him. He is too spoiled. He loved it though, of course.



Cooking with Aunt Can Can



The water pressure was a bit too high for him to control.



My mom taught him to say "No Doggie" when the dogs were getting in his face. Since returning home, he has continued to say it to us often and at random times. And never has there been a dog anywhere around.



Love with a Sprinkle of Meanness

Lost My Child in Texas

Ben and I (and Nate) pulled out of our driveway at 8:30am last Thursday. We made it to the Oklahoma City airport and flew to Dallas. Then flew to Midland. Then drove to Andrews to see family. Then to Denver City to stay with family. Then, Ben was gone. It was as if we finally got to our final destination and he disappeared. I didn't find the Ben I know until we got back home to Kansas. He barely ate anything the entire time we were there. He whined about everything. He basically got whatever he wanted from whomever he wanted it (except his mother who had to turn a blind eye, but never participate in the spoiling). Ben and I (and Nate) joyfully pulled back into our driveway at 3:30pm yesterday. The Ben I know is mysteriously back! We have a few re-training things to do, but overall he is completely back to normal. Yeah!

Here are a lot of pictures from our attempt at fun. Actually, I think I am the only one that didn't have as much fun as I thought it would be. All the grandparents, great grandparents and aunts thought he was just fabulous. They loved caving into everything he asked for. He loved getting everything he asked for. I couldn't stand watching all my hard work look like nothing. Motherhood lesson learned.

Now for the picture overload... Videos tomorrow or Thursday.

First stop in Andrews to see my Grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins on my dad's side.

Great Grandma Sherrill playing basketball with Ben. He knew what to do but couldn't throw the ball up high enough.

Mama D spoiled him way too much. He had an electric 4 wheeler waiting for him. He was scared of it at first, but he quickly got the hang of it.

5 long days without Daddy. This was the best we could do.

Chillin with Great Grandma.

Go away Mom.

Aunt Can Can played with Ben for hours! She is the best babysitter I have ever had. Ben was only happy when outside. We even suffered outside at 54 degrees one morning so he could play.

We took a trip out to Granddad's farm.

The horse's name is Duke. I learned how to ride on him. It was important that Ben meet Duke. He was not thrilled.

Ben wouldn't wear the hat. He wanted me to wear it.

Oh yes, 30 weeks pregnant and I got up on Duke bareback. Everyone was holding their breath, even Duke.

Sisters

Ben's favorite part of the farm was the "dogga" Crawford.

Just for you Can!
This proves that they did anything to make him happy. He was given a grilled cheese picnic style.

My mom took us to Fiddlesticks Farm in Midland. It has lots of baby animals, lots of fun stuff for little ones and a corn maze. Ben was happy for maybe 10 minutes and then screamed his head off. Remember, not the kid I thought I left the house with.

My favorite cowboy!

Inside the fence is good.

This was his favorite part but it was so hard for me to squat and use the levers because he couldn't actually do any of it himself.

So after the drama at Fiddlesticks, my mom took us to a fun yogurt place with a really great little play area. He loved it! Of course. My mom spent tons at the farm where he screamed then barely anything for yogurt and he loved it.

Aunt Can Can did his hair for his last ride on the 4-wheeler.

Getting My Girl Fix

I still think that I would be happy to raise all boys, but fixing a little girls hair and watching her shine is loads of fun (for one day).

Last March I went over to our friend's house at 7:50am to fix beautiful Bree's hair for school picture day. She loved her braid!

Yesterday Ben and I went over to beautiful Bree's house at 7am (new school, earlier time) to do her hair for school picture day. These pictures don't do justice to how she sassed around the house and stared at herself in the mirror. She lit up with such innocent joy. So much fun! Ben wandered around their house in his footy pjs just loving all the activity of getting them out the door. Angie (Bree and Ethan's mom) and I stood with Ben on the front step and waved them goodbye as they got on the bus - their dad Matt is out of town on a World Impact recruiting trip. I must say it scared me to think that my little Ben will be skipping away to the bus in no time. (Wipe tear.)

Thanks Penner family for inviting me and Ben over in our pjs to be a part of your kids' special day!

19 Month Update

On this momentous day of 10-10-10 Ben is 19 months old. He hasn't added a lot of skills or words, but rather perfected some of the ones he already had. Just when I think he can't possibly get any more independent, he finds something else that he wants to do all by himself. It is a lot of fun to watch him learn and try. He is getting pretty good at taking his clothes off for bath time. He desperately wants to put on and take off his own shoes, but he can't get it yet.

The only words he added (that I can think of) is Grandpa and Nana after their visit. He practices saying that in the crib when he is falling asleep for his nap. He calls our friend Tina "Nana" because they sound so similar.

My brain isn't coming up with much more to update you. It has been quite a weekend. Ben ran a fever all day Friday and just preferred to cuddle and give hugs and kisses all day. We had a sitter lined up that we had to cancel. Then, Saturday, he was perfectly well. Today, Ryan is running a slight fever and not feeling well. Our sitter had graciously rescheduled for tonight, but we had to cancel again. I can't get a break...ha.

Enjoy the pictures.

This boy loves yogurt!

Pants on the ground...still a little big.

Helping Mommy cook - he snatched them out of the drawer and put them on all by himself. And spread all the utensils on the ground by himself too :)

My handsome boys.

This one is a little old, but I like it. We were walking at the nature center.

Two-fisted eating and a "smile for the camera."

Having a play date with our friends Tina and Jackson.

I lovingly call this picture "doofus!"