Whew!! (1st Rollover)

Just in time, after much fanfare, waiting, screaming, coaxing, practicing, and yes, a video chat with Dr. Aunt Towbin (Physical Therapist Extraordinaire) Ben rolled over yesterday!!  He did the hard one first...tummy to back.  He came very close to the other way too but my excitement at the first may have been all he could take yesterday.  I was yelling and screaming and calling Dad and he just laid there beaming and shaking his arms and kicking.  Maybe wondering, "I don't know what all the fuss is about but Mom sure is excited."  he was doing some tummy time while I was picking up in the kitchen and rolling on his side and back a bit.  He got close and I rushed to him and stopped short to avoid temptation of pushing him over.  So there I stood jumping and motioning from the next room and over he went.  If this is rolling over, what will the first left-handed lay-up bring?????

Jammie Time

Ben loves jammie time.  Well, Ben loves being naked.  It may not have anything to do with jammie time.  Jammie time is a blessing each evening when our little nugget is getting tired and fussy and suddenly smiles and giggles with delight at the prospect of some nakedness.  Ryan started leaving his shirt on his head and making "ears" or calling him the flying nun so that's now a part of the routine as well.  

You gotta fight

Anyone born between 1970 and 1985 should know how the rest goes, but I titled this post this way to remind me to introduce Ben to a little Beastie when he's perusing these pages.

Yes, this was a weekend of partying.  Our friend Peter Hall turned 2 and celebrated with pizza and cake on Saturday and the TS family kindly allowed us to join in their festivities of all things food and football-the Superbowl.  The Green Bay Packers packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in a pretty good game.  As per usual though food was the best part and there were a couple of good commercials.  Volkswagen and eTrade stole the show.  I know I'm a biased Mama but I do think Ben would be a good eTrade baby.

 

Peter talking on the phone Ben got him

 Ben with his faux hawk at Peter's party

 Intently watching the Superbowl

 "playing" at Cadyn's play-date

In other news this week, Ben tried sweet potatoes and, of course, loves them.  In fact, I'll be shocked if there is a food this monster does not like.  Acorn squash is up next.  We had another great play-date with Cadyn and Charlotte and their Mamas, (at Cadyn's house this time) and are looking forward to the next one.  Ben is OH SO CLOSE to rolling over.  I think he's gonna wait until right before his six month appointment just to keep me nervous.  Another blast of winter is on its way tomorrow and Wednesday but the pantry is stocked with hot chocolate and Similac, so bring it on.

Blog Life

"oh, yeah, the blog."  That's the response I frequently get from mostly older relatives when I say, "there were pictures on the blog," or "I wrote about it on the blog."

My blog is for me, for Ben, and for readers near and far to stay in touch and share in our lives in ways they wouldn't be able to without the blog.

I've been very surprised lately by how many of my adult conversations are centered around blogs we follow and how much following them is a part of my daily routine.  A blogger I follow recently posted about how she wishes her blog could make money for her family the way others do ie.-Pioneer Woman.  Now this blogger is also a photographer and has a HUGE following but still not enough to make money from it.  She was a little down and needed a little reassurance that profitable or not, her blog was meaningful to lots of us.  My response was meaningful to her and she posted this as follow-up to her post of defeat:

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Oh dear. You are all so kind to care for me and encourage me so much.

I wasn't really feeling sad. But that is what you heard. 99% of you.
I wasn't thinking of quitting at all, but gosh, it must have sounded like that.

I love you all so much. I am the lucky one.
I would miss you so much. I am not going anywhere.

Thank you for your support and love.


And guess what book I am reading?

Happy are you poor? by Thomas Dubay

Isn't that perfect?

The thing is. I am so far from poor it's a joke. I have an abundant life. Monetarily and spiritually.

Like Jess said in the comments....warm home, warm heart, happy baby. (babies :o)

That is more than enough.

Listen to this...

"Our destiny is literally out of this world. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard; indeed, it cannot even dawn on our unaided imagination the unspeakable delight God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor2:9)
Before this destiny all worldly glitter is dull, all tinsel is cheap, all adventure is prosaic, all attraction is unsatisfying."

And then this..


"In this new era happiness is found not in eating and drinking this or that but in personal goodness and in the peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit....The New Testament assumes that happiness is found not in things but in persons and especially in the Divine Persons."


I get a thrill out of reading things like this.

I need to read things like this. Words like these help me 'snap out of it'.

Watching too much glam tv and looking at pretty houses and dreaming of travel takes me down the
road of lusting after things.

To hear words that speak truth to me feels like a good spring cleaning.


I am thankful that this blog is accomplishing something important and I absolutely know that
the best parts are in the comments. No doubt in my mind.


I am thankful that God has allowed me to do this.

Mostly I just feel like a goofy girl.

The good parts come from God.


I'm pretty sure.

Yes, Donna Boucher's daily reminders of "encourage one another," and "love you, mean it!," and simple writings about every day life as mid-western mother and wife give me, as I told her:

You inspire me with your words everyday-to be a great mom and wife-to focus on what's really important-and to have confidence that it's ok if all I need to make my life great is a warm home, warm heart, and a happy baby.
Thank You!

You see, that's another part of what is so great about, "oh, yeah, the blog," they connect us, encourage us, and inspire us, over miles and oceans and years.