We went to feed the geese this weekend. It was gorgeous outside. There were tons of people (dislike) but we found a little spot all to ourselves (really like).
Beware. He can grip really well.
So sweet.
Ben prefers his Daddy for most everything right now.
Loving the hat hair.
Trying for a brother shot.
A sweet moment. I cherish them during this stage!
Trying to get a pic of myself. I think I look like my mom in this picture.
Ryan: "Ben, why do you keep reaching for my wallet?"
Ben: "I buy ducks, Dad!"
Lately Ben says, "Look mom/dad!" for everything. He wants us to watch everything he does. This morning he was sitting on the kitchen counter while I was at the sink. He says, "look mom." I turn to see him pulling the sides of his mouth to make a funny face. ha.
Just to show off how smart he is, I got two gallons of milk out and Ben said, "Two milks mom." He's so smart. He says 8, 9, 10 in correct order, but still mostly counts 4...8...4. When we ask him to repeat numbers after us he just thinks it's a funny game. We don't actually work on it formally, but just in every day stuff when we have the opportunity. Like when he gets all 30 of his books off his bookshelf and he has to put them all back one by (really slow) one.
He does a lot of other really smart stuff, but I'll move on to pictures and videos now!
It would actually be helpful if he held the vacuum against the carpet, but it's too heavy.
This morning he said, "Tanks mom. I wuv these ban cakes."
These last few days he has not taken a nap, but played in his room instead. This is what I found today. He was actually very happy with himself, but just playing shy when I got the camera. See all his book on the floor? And he emptied all his socks and took apart most of the pairs. Ugh.
A different day when he didn't nap. He says, "I me no nite nite. I me e." E is his word for a destination. He was asking to go to the living room. Toddler talk is a complex language!
He put his art smock on himself to cook in the kitchen this morning. I love independent play.
Ben is not shy of telling us what he wants. In this video he says, "I need dad this. I need dad no stand up."
Nate and Daddy sharing a moment. Nate has a really great grip so it is always a risk to get too close.
Another favorite phrase is "I need wow." Wow = lots. He needs "wow"' of everything!
There are days that I don't love my job as caregiver to my not-always-perfect children. That should come as no surprise to anyone that has raised a child or been around children much. They aren't always full of smiles and cuddles. Sometimes they through tantrums. Sometimes they refuse to nap. Sometimes the snot is smeared all over their face and your shoulder. It is not a glamorous job in any way.
Ryan has been teaching a class on Thursday evenings so that leaves me to do bath and bedtime alone. Last Thursday Ben had a really rough day and I was doing everything to keep my cool until he finally went to bed. I walked past the bathroom after putting Nate to bed and saw this.
Even in all my frustration I had to stop and smile (and grab my camera). I had never even seen him play on his tummy in the tub.
Tuesday and yesterday Ben refused to take a nap, just screamed in his room. Yesterday Nate didn't nap except for an hour while I wore him in the Moby. They were long days. Today Ben was perfectly quiet soon after going down for his nap. Nate went down 15 minutes later. I had an entire hour of perfect peace and quiet. It was amazing. I thanked God for the promise of each new day. An hour later however they both woke up within minutes of each other just screaming their heads off. They both continued on like this for quite some time. TV fixed it for Ben (yeah, yeah, go ahead and judge me) and the football hold did it for Nate.
Tonight I sit here waiting for my husband to come home and I have an hour of peace and quiet again. Thank you God that tomorrow has the promise of a fresh start again. And the next day. And the next. Thank you God for the amazing little boys that you have given to me...even if I don't fully appreciate them as often as I should.
Being around missionaries constantly, I often hear the phrase "in my previous life." Many missionaries worked 8am-5pm jobs in corporate America before giving it all up for the glamour of missions. I don't really have a "previous life" to refer to, but I am honing some skills that I think I might could use one day if they kick me out of here. (That is a joke. I have no intention of leaving anytime soon.)
I was able to make a diaper cake for a lady in our church that is expecting her fifth child. She said she has never had a baby shower before so I wanted to make it extra special. I had so much fun doing this.
It all began with an online purchase from my favorite place to buy diapers.
276 diapers to be exact!
It took me about an hour and a half to roll all of them and secure them with little rubber bands.
Then, I bound them with yard to make the tiers. Ben helped!
Then, the pretty ribbon!
And some toys and baby stuff as decoration.
All done. They have 2 boys and 2 girls - hence the little green bags and balls.
I have the most beautiful flowers in front of our house, but we had a cold front come through and no flowers are blooming. I had to go with this silk flower, but my real one would have been better.
It took up its fair share on the table at the party.
Completely unprompted, this is what Ben had to say about my work. I just grabbed the camera and asked him to say it again.
I know I recently posted a video of Nate splashing Ben, but it is just funny enough for a second video (in my opinion). He kicks like this the entire time he is in the tub with the exception of the moments I am washing his legs. There is usually water all over the floor (and me) by the time he is done in the bath and I only put an inch of water!
Ben's friend Nadia joined us on a hot spring day to play in the water. Sadly, our backyard is lacking much grass so the water play turned into mud play. It was great fun!
I didn't get any good mud video, but this little bit is still super cute.
