Belly Sleep

Ben had his first experience sleeping on his tummy yesterday.  He's been struggling to settle down for mini-naps in the family room since learning to roll, as the mat he sleeps on is the same he rolls over and over on.  He usually ends up settling on his back but yesterday decided Max would make the perfect pillow.  I did pull Max out from under him after he fell asleep and he napped there on his tummy for almost an hour. 

He also rolled onto his belly in his crib for the first time while I had him corralled there for a minute.  He still stays on his back at bedtime and we have yet to find him on his tummy in the morning but I think we'll be dropping the crib mattress as soon as Daddy gets home!

SWIMMING!!!

The surprise return to Paris for Ryan was coupled with huge disappointment that he would miss Ben's first swim lesson.  I'm pretty sure we discussed Ryan taking the baby to swim lessons before we even knew Ben was a boy or that he'd be ours forever.  Upon realization that he'd miss this momentous day, Ryan quickly inquired about the YMCA's hours and how we were going to fit swimming into our busy weekend. 

I manned the camera and got some great shots and even better LBBV's (long, boring, baby videos.)  Ben loved every minute and as MeeMee pointed out in the videos, seemed very interested in what the other kids were doing.  

I'm excited to see how Ben's first lesson goes this weekend and SO VERY glad Ryan got to participate in Ben's first swim experience.  Sheer joy was written all over Ryan's face the whole time-that made this Mama pretty joyful too!

Ball

While waiting for Ben's passport pics last week, we wandered aimlessly around Walgreens playing with whatever we could find.  The only toy that lit up Ben's face was a $1.99 bouncy ball.  His feet held out in the umbrella stroller offered the perfect stop so he could hold the ball in his lap.  He loves it as much at home but hasn't yet figured out that he cannot chew on the ball-kinda like a puppy with a little mouth!

I promise I let him pick between blue and green and he just happened to choose the UNC blue.

 

Working on the correct jump shot position

 

Lap dribbling

I did mention to Ryan that Ben's footwork was a little concerning-he's pretty good with those feet and I'm hoping to be a Bball or Football mom rather than a futbol one!!

Passport

We were threatened with an extended trip to Paris for the second time in as many months this week and we are springing into action.  Both threats, the first of a 6 month stay, and the second a month stay, have turned out idle :(.  I told Ryan he better not threaten again unless he intends to follow through!  Just so we are prepared when the next trip comes we have started the process to get Ben's passport. 

 

Funny to think this will still be his passport pic in 5 or 10 years

Ryan leaves Sunday for TWO STRAIGHT WEEKS this time.  I'm thankful for last week's mini foray into single parenthood.  Let me be clear that I in no way think having a loving, supportive, money-making husband away for two weeks gives me anywhere near a true taste of single parenthood, but it does help me appreciate it that much more..........

Some time elapsed since I started this post and Ryan is now on his way.  We did get Ben's passport application completed and turned in yesterday morning.   Next time we'll be next to him on that jetplane! The countdown begins because this time we do know when he'll be back again.

World Traveler Again

Ok, so maybe not world, but we have to start somewhere, right?  This weekend's trip to Denver was VERY different from our previous in flight experiences.  I made some mistakes and learned some valuable lessons:

1) A CRJ-700 is not big enough for a lap child-of any age, at any time, in any size lap.

2) "killing 'em with kindness," does not always work and you may be put in the very LAST row of the plane when you ask to be seated as close to the front as possible.

3) Do not think it's worth saving $150 to fly at bedtime-it's not!

4) Every airline, every airport, and sometimes each airline agent have different policies regarding lap children, liquids, and level of helpfulness.

5) When it comes to getting bags and getting home-chivalry is LONG dead.

6) When you finally encounter an uber-helpful flight attendant (after 9 flights), she may be VERY upset when you don't allow her to help.

7) There are angels among us-one is four and his name is Levi.

8) There are a few kind-hearted people left in the world that come through just when you need them.

9) No matter how tough the journey, getting to Mee Mee, Nana, Grandpa and the Aunties is just as sweet.

10) Finally, nothing is sweeter than being home (even if it's Wichita) and reunited with your Love after 8 long days.

11) When you put on that Tarheel sweatshirt during March Madness and end up in the "special services" line behind a family of Duke fans, they will not help you as you struggle to feed a 20lb baby standing up while your stroller falls repeatedly to the ground.  You just might have to ask yourself whether you'd let them help if they tried?

1st St. Patty's Day

Seems I have a bit o' luck with me today as I have two sleeping babies at the moment.  I should be packing as Ben and I are headed to Denver tonight but what's a plane trip without a little last minute craziness??  This will be Ben's third plane trip and ninth flight leg-all in 7 months!  I never imagined he'd be such a little traveler.

I'm doing a couple Thirty-One parties in Denver this weekend and Ben will see Tante Mollusk for the first time since Christmas.  Ryan won't join us this trip as he's been in Paris all week and gets home late Friday.  Single Motherhood has been tough this week.  I have certainly developed a deeper respect for parents forced to go it alone.  

I got inspired and excited this morning for a little St. Patty's Day photo shoot with the boys.  What's harder than getting one babe to smile for the camera?? two babes?? Harder than that?? Capturing two smiles in focus in low light with no flash!  There were a couple cute ones, but I can sadly admit the best smiles were far from in focus-probably due to the jumping around required to elicit the smile:).

May the Luck o' the Irish bless my wee bit o' followers all year long!!

 

Lucky Buddies

 

Notice the finger point and sly grin

 

After a pint

Swingin'

Well look at me the slacking blogger.  To say life is more busy since Riley began sharing our days would be a drastic understatement.  However, as I always say, you can make excuses or you can make it happen!! Did you hear that Heels? Roy? (today is the start of March Madness.)

While we've certainly been doing less that's blog worthy with 2 babies to tend, I think I also have a little less energy for capturing the more blog-worthy moments-I will work on it!

I plugged in the camera this morning to prepare for a little St. Patty's day photo shoot and found these pics from last Friday.  It was a gorgeous day in the mid seventies and Ryan came home so excited for Ben to try out our backyard swing for the first time.  Ohhhhh could I tell some tales about that swingset...

Every time I've had to mow around it, I've demanded we sell it.  About this time a year ago I would look out in sadness wondering if we'd ever get to use it???  After I took these pics last Friday, I ducked inside to "make dinner," and cried tears of joy that Ryan never listened and that we get to put it to good use!!  Seems Ben is equally glad.

 

Here we Go!

Avocados! and More Visitors

Ben tried avocados last night and sadly I can say we have found a food he does not love.  He tolerated about 6 spoonfuls, but as you will see in the pics, it was just that-tolerating.  We will try again in a month or two.  Speaking of tolerating, picky eating was not tolerated while I was growing up and will not be tolerated from Ben.  I am so thankful my parents made me try things over and over as I can say it's hard to think of a food I don't like.  Ryan is the same with the exception of crunchy onions so I hope we can join forces to create a well-rounded palette in Ben.

Ryan's Grandma Virginia and her husband Robert were in Wichita from Dighton, Ks for some medical appointments and stopped by with dinner and home-made apple pie!!  It is delightful to watch Virginia with Ben-she just eats him up and grins from ear to ear.  She reminds me so much of my Grandma Theresa that my heart is full to know she would have had the same love for Ben.  We are blessed to have this family so close while we are away from home and blessed that they make it a priority to visit.

 

Ben doesn't seem so big in Robert's lap

 

Ben loved Grandma's necklaces

Playdate

The playdate rotation came back to our house this week and Cadyn and Charlotte and their Mamas joined us once again.  In the time since they were last here, Ben is rolling, Charlotte is crawling, and Cadyn is walking!!!!!!   We Mamas sat and discussed how crazy fast it all happens and it's so true-the first year really is this miracle that I've failed to truly appreciate until becoming a parent.  It's one thing to see a child grow from afar and notice how they change, but to see multiple changes each week and sometimes each day is just amazing.  I'm thankful to have these little girls around as role models and to help keep me from getting too nostalgic.  They help me stay excited for what's to come :).

 Cadyn LOVES this rocking chair and has loungin' down

 

Charlotte's pretty smile

 

Cadyn making sure Mama doesn't get too attached to Riley

 

Sneak peek at the teeth for Tante

 

Ben's, "Mom, do you know about these things I can feel in my mouth with my tongue? face

Riley

Ben and I had a new friend join us Tuesday!  Friends Chrystal and TJ's 3 month old baby boy, Riley, will be with us each weekday from 630-330.   There is definitely some transition going on this week as Ben is not napping regularly.  This could be teething or the upset to his routine-only time will tell.  I can say Ben mostly thinks Riley is the best little toy that moves and Riley does a good job of keeping Ben on his tummy which is becoming more rare by the minute since rolling began.

We've had a couple good walks with Riley in the front carrier and Ben in the jogger and if Ben took his normal afternoon nap, Riley would always be gone when he awoke-leaving the afternoon for just the two of us.  We will see how the schedule normalizes (or doesn't) over the next couple weeks.

 

Buddies

Riley enamored with his giraffe

Green Beans

There are some great videos that are apparently too long for Blogger, so here are some pics of Ben's first green veggie.  I struggle with cooking frozen things to mush before pureeing because I feel like it depletes nutrients, so I just steamed them until warm before pureeing.   Although very small, I would not call them smooth, but Ben didn't seem to mind.  Today will be day three and he eats them as quickly as any other food although there are some different faces :).