Miserable Monkey and the West Side Will's Wedding at Westminster Watchers Club

 

Soundly Sleeping Miserable Monkey

Sadly, the excitement that had been building inside me for the last several months about the Royal Wedding diminished quickly last night as my Monkey grew more miserable.  All three of us have been fighting some mild congestion this week, but for the Monkey the mild quickly grew to major yesterday.  By last night I knew I'd be spending a major part of the night upright in the recliner in Ben's room, as his nose was so stuffy he could only breathe through his mouth while laying down.  We tried to put him down for bed like normal and he cried and cried-which is not normal, and I knew we were in for a long night. 

Ryan rocked and slept with him on his chest until shortly after 9 so I could get ready for bed and into some comfy chair-worthy PJ's. 

I sat there broken-hearted over my miserable Monkey and thinking I wouldn't sleep a wink but woke after 11 and successfully laid Ben in his crib.  I went to my own bed and tossed and turned waiting for Ben to scream again.  I awoke to look at the clock thinking I must have only slept a minute and it was 450 am!! and I had been dreaming!!  I was so thankful to have gotten some sleep and quickly the excitement of Christmas morning grew over me as I remembered the Royal Wedding was in full swing.  As I quietly crept down the stairs I heard Ben tossing and whimpering and scooped him up along with his cold treatment accoutrement and took him with me to watch.  He cuddled with his Loveys and blankies and just as we turned on the telly, .....Kate arrived at the Abbey. 

I was so glad I hadn't set the alarm for an hour or two earlier when the coverage began.  Ryan joined us about 530 claiming he would "just watch for a second.  I was just checking on Ben."  He had to tear himself away at 630 to shower!!

Kate's dress was gorgeous though a bit more traditional in the bottom half than I expected.  I am anxious to see what her next two wardrobe changes for the day will bring.  The whole affair really was like a fairytale as Kate mouthed, "Wow," when the balcony doors of Buckingham Palace opened to the crowds amassed below.  Another favorite highlight of mine and perhaps some of the billion other viewers was when Harry said to Will, "wait till you see her!" as he watched Kate walk down the aisle towards her Prince.  We watched throughout the morning until the famed kiss (2) on the balcony and Ben napped successfully in the swing.  

He's now on nap round 2 and my only goals for today are to comfort and cuddle him and relieve him of as much congestion as possible............and to see the next 2 dresses, of course!!

"Where's my Guy?"

That's what my Grandpa Ken would say every time we entered or left a room on our last two visits to Arizona with Ben.  Although I know Grandpa couldn't see him well, he was always worried about Ben's whereabouts and would talk about how lucky we all were to have each other.  I'm so very thankful now that Ben got to meet him and will have pictures of the two of them to treasure.  I look forward to telling Ben how enamored his great-Grandpa was with him and how concerned he was with his well-being.  Grandpa Ken joined his lovely bride of 63 years in eternal peace yesterday morning.  I know it's common and somewhat cliche, perhaps, but I just think after that many years with another by your side that you don't know how to live without them.  It was somewhat surprising to all of us and mostly unexpected as he took a quick turn and had little medical explanation for his passing.  I will find peace in knowing that he gets to spend eternity with his "Red," as he called Grandma, and in the memories of his wittiness and humor that were strong even in our last visits with him. 

We love you Grandpa.

 

Grandpa with Baby Halia

 

With Halia in 2004

 

Grandma Theresa, Grandpa Ken and me in Oct 2004

 

With Ben in Jan 2011

First Easter

We had a wonderful first Easter with Ben..........................................starting at about 2 pm.  Actually it was a nice day all around and Ben enjoyed the morning surrounded by all his new Jellycat loveys and Donald the Walking Duck. 

I asked Ryan to prepare dessert for the dinner we were hosting at 3 pm.  Although dinner was not to be served until 5 pm, dessert was not complete until almost 2 (more than 6 hours after is was begun and not  counting some prep the night before.)  All the time, stress and frustration was worth the home-made Paris Brest.  It is a giant doughnut shaped eclair originally made to commemorate a famous bike race in France long, long ago.  I love that no baking undertaking is too great for my husband and learned that next time I need to provide preparation time constraints :).

In addition to the amazing dessert, we served ham, cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, and spinach salad to 14 of our nearest and dearest.  Home-made bread, sticky buns and delicious appetizers were provided by our guests.  It was a lovely evening celebrating each other and the miracles of spring.  

Tisha and I failed at being bossy enough photographers and did not force a group or child photo but will not make that mistake again!!  We did get a few good shots of the some of the fams and kiddos in action...

 

Tisha, Caleb and Cadyn

 

 

Chrystal, TJ and baby Riley

The Jones' and Ryan and TJ with their boys

Hop Hop it's Easter

Clement reading Ben's french book, Barbapapa

For a video of the reading   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNi4PwwstFI

Swim Lesson Graduation

Ben had his final swimming lesson this morning.  The final of his first four-week session that is.  I explained to him this morning, as we left the pool, that he's lucky he got a morning person Mama 'cause swim practice starts real early!  I'm so glad he loves the water and his lack of fear makes me more glad we have him in lessons.  In the 2 weeks since I've been, he now happily falls off the edge of the pool towards the duck toy all on his own.  Dad is of course there to catch him but he also tried this while staring at other kids, rather than paying attention to where he was falling!!  Ryan also took him on the big slide at the end and he seemed completely unphased-just happy to be in the water.  

I think we'll try to go swimming as a family for a couple weeks and start lessons again after our May vacation.  I think Ben asked the Easter Bunny for a shaded float to enjoy in Vegas and at our neighborhood pool.  My current plan is to try to spend MWF mornings at the pool this summer.  I want to embrace his fishiness and wear him out for some good looooong naps!

 

Duck! You will be Mine!!

 

A no-look face-first fall

 

Very content to hold on with only one arm so the other was free to splash

 

A Nugget and a Noodle

 

Kickin' Crazy

 

Again with the no-look falls!

 

This is the Alligator Crawl

Changes

It took me a couple days to be able to write this post but I think I can handle it now.  Riley's last day with Ben and me was Wednesday.  While this was completely my choice, it was still difficult.  Shortly after Riley started I decided I couldn't be the Mom to Ben that I'd always wanted to be with Riley here.  Basically I felt that the reasons and benefits from all the sacrifices we make so that I can stay home weren't being realized.  I gave Riley's Mama 3 months to find something new and she found a great center for him with Grandma's to love him all day.  I'm excited for all that Riley will learn there and to have the summer mono-e-mono with my Nugget.  "it's a Magical World Hobbes, old buddy, Let's go Exploring."-Calvin

We started our exploring with the mall on Thursday with our walking buddies Tisha and Cadyn.  It turned out to be nice enough to walk outside but we had some important and official Easter Bunny business to finish so it all worked well.  Tisha got some cute pics of the babies on the ride on toys.

We had another guest Friday in the form of 2-year-old Madeline.  The day had been planned for several months as I used to work with her mom and her daycare was closed for Good Friday.  Thank goodness Riley's last day was Wednesday as just Maddie completely exhausted me, and Ben too!  She was very sweet and very well behaved but by 10am Ben grew so tired just watching her run around that he slept for 2.5 hours.  Of course he awoke at the beginning of Maddie's (short) nap time so there was no rest for the wicked on this day.  With two naps shot we spent lots of time on the swingset.  I had explained to Maddie that there was dog poop in the yard so she couldn't go run in it and every time she reached the bottom of the slide, she would proclaim, "poop poooooop, poop, pooop, poooooooooooooooop."  She also permanently hid the basket and eggs from our family room egg hunt and anytime I tried to pick them up she would say, "no. shhhhh! hiding."  She was a blast and we look forward to her future days off with us.  I'll just know to make more coffee and load up on B vitamins in the days ahead next time.

Now, as they say, "the world is our oyster."  I'm very excited about what the summer with Ben holds.  I've started a list of mostly free activities for us, and I'll update you here as we check them off :).

Easter Benny

Yes, Grandpa Jim gets the credit for that one-though I hope no one ever calls him Benny.  In fact, when we were home in December a bagger at Safeway, Ruth, told me repeatedly how I should call him Benny.  I told her his name was Ben or Benjamin and and she told me that was "too bad."  Her blue eye shadow was "too bad."
Ben's first Easter festivities began this weekend with our neighborhood egg hunt.  Ryan and I have volunteered in the past, but this year Ben had swimming lessons so the boys made it just in time for the beginning of the hunt.  The hunt was a success as usual and what takes weeks to prepare was over and cleaned up in twenty minutes.

 

Taking notes on the Hunt for next year

 

Ben's Special Egg Hunt Prize from Sherilyn

We spent the rest of Saturday afternoon buying plants and planting and doing yard work.  Ryan also finished and baked croissants-yum!  Ben laid and played in the yard while we planted and worked.  Saturday evening while we were relaxing on the couch Ryan talked about how great it was to have Ben outside playing with us.  He talked about how he wasn't prepared for how much joy Ben would bring to us and how such a simple thing made him so happy.  He perfectly stated what I'd been thinking all day.
The fun didn't stop Sunday for most of us.  My ulcer was acting up and out of control so I did my best to put on a smile and make it through the day.  I tried to send the boys alone to the EB photo op at the YMCA, but burst into tears at the thought of missing it and drug myself out of bed.  Said photo op was also right in the middle of nap time so there were no smiles to be had.  I would say tolerance was a strong theme for 2/3 of our family at the event.  
We hurried home to finish preparations for dinner with friends Ken and Tracy but sadly I couldn't bear the thought of sitting upright for another 2 hours and we postponed our dinner date.  Part way through Monday I'm feeling at least 50% better and looking forward to some more Easter photo ops this weekend.

 

Sooo ready for a nap

 

Clearly not impressed

 

"Look at all the eggs that kid got!"

 

Done!

Letters

FINALLY!! Ben has noticed the monogram in his room.  Riley was drawn to it the first time I changed him in Ben's room, but Ben has hardly given it so much as a second glance-until recently!!

Now he looks for it each time when we walk into his room and cranes his neck towards it when we leave as if he wants me to again repeat the letters, names and colors.  I'm glad he has spotted it and loves it as much as I do.  

 

  

The ? held the place of the B for several weeks as we kept Ben's first name a secret.  Props to Ryan for the clever Frogtape ?.

Makes me wish I had fit something like this into his decor scheme.  I absolutely love this idea from both a design and a learning standpoint.  (see the alphabet ledge up in the corner??)

And I also came across this one-too fun!! 

First Cold

YuCk!

When I found Ben on his tummy Monday morning, he was quite congested.  I attributed this to his new sleeping position as it cleared fairly quickly.  His crankiness and sleep patterns Monday should have been a sign!  By Monday at bedtime, I knew a cold was upon him.  Considering how stuffy he seemed and how much of that stuffiness I was able to relieve, he was really in decent spirits.  Sleep Monday night was a bit rough and I finally brought him into bed with me at 330.  

He was pretty stuffy all day Tuesday but took lots of short naps, had a couple extra small bottles, and a couple trips out into the beautiful sunny day.  It breaks my heart that he is sick, but his contentment to lay around and relax a little more is pretty cute.

He slept surprisingly well last night and when he awoke for the day at 440, I put him in my bed again and he slept until 8!!  He sounded pretty clear over night but does still have a bit of congestion today.  He is already taking a snooze at 10am and spent the last hour quietly laying in his boppy playing with his loveys-this NEVER happens anymore.  I will try to enjoy the positives of his down time but hope he is back to his old "on-the-go" self again soon.

 

Sleeping in the jogger after our run Monday afternoon-he normally kicks and giggles and talks the whole time.  I sat outside for over an hour to let him finish his snooze.

 

Loungin' in the boppy

 

at 1 month (a little boppy size perspective)

 

Oh Sophie! What would we do without you?