Surprise!!!!

In addition to helping Nana celebrate last weekend, we (Tante, Ryan, Ben and I) also worked very hard on a special surprise for MeeMee.  She was away at Breckenridge and on a church retreat so we painted and furnished the secondary guest room/nursery while she was away.  She and Tante had started this project many many moons ago by removing wallpaper and choosing paint, but the room had become a craft and sewing catch-all and barely usable (only by inner-circle members of the Compound) second guest room.

In addition, Ben and his things had been taking up parts of 2 other rooms as it was always the goal that this room would house his crib and belongings both now and when we move to a home of our own.

We couldn't start the project until Friday evening as MeeMee was bopping in for a bit Friday afternoon.  By 745 PM Friday night we had sanded and taped and were ready to paint.  Ryan's help was crucial in watching Ben and in being the Photoshop master for Ben's early Mother's Day gift to MeeMee.  We rose early Saturday to apply a second and final coat of paint and start putting furniture into place.  We delayed Ben's nap just a bit on Sunday to hang the art and lights in case MeeMee arrived while he was asleep.

Shortly after MeeMee got home completely exhausted, her pup Oenghus started nosing into a Lowe's bag on the table and removed a switch plate that seemed particularly appetizing.  This clued her in as almost instantly Tante stated, "Mom, why don't you follow us upstairs?"  As she ascended the stairs MeeMee said, "You guys painted the nursery, didn't you? That's why you have switch plates?"  I think she was absolutely delighted and she stated time and again that her complete exhaustion from the weekend wouldn't allow her to thoroughly show her delight and excitement.

We've slowly gotten Ben's things moved in despite MeeMee's plan to paint the dresser and bed white sooner than later.  It feels great to have his things in one space and to have made a basically unusable space so functional again.  It also felt great to put my painting hat back on and really get into a home improvement project.  I have missed them since Ben came and since we have been in our current migratory pattern and without a home (sort of).  I'm very excited to help MeeMee some more as she will soon be done with work for the summer and can keep an eye on Ben, and also at the the thought of a whole new home of possibilities that will one day be ours.

the before:

 

TA DA:

 

MeeMee has been singing this song to Ben since he first joined our family:)

 

The lights were an afterthought but the color was perfect and Ben loves them.  Everything was re-purposed from this room's last life or elsewhere in the house except for paint, supplies, and Ben's gift.  The daybed needs some big pillows to make it more couch-like, and the walls a bit more art.  MeeMee has been planning to paint the furniture white for some time and I think it will look great.  There's also a great amount of floor space left that will be great for playing now and for years to 

come :).

Happy Happy Happy

For Ben's Nana this Saturday, it was Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary (for Grandpa Jim too), and Happy Mother's Day....all just a little early. Ryan will be out of town for work this coming weekend when all three events actually occur so we took advantage of Cinco de Mayo and some early celebrating to enjoy some delicious margs and Mexican food. It also happened to be a regular car show night in downtown Golden so there was lots of fun to be had after dinner just walking around. By the end of the evening Ben was the most tired I've ever seen him (while still awake), and by midnight that night we knew why.  He awoke with a 102.3 degree fever. After a couple days of intermittent lethargy, fever, and Motrin, he is now back to his bright-eyed self.

I was very thankful to get to extend the Mother's Day celebrations and that Ryan got to celebrate with his Mom in person this year.

 

Ben in his handsome microcheck pink shirt (that his Dad picked out at H&M)

We were asked if we were from the South because of our attire:).  A compliment in my book any day!

my favorite car of the night. swoon.

looking down at Clear Creek

one tired Monkey :(

I dip U dip WE dip

Thanks to some blogger techno-blunders, I recovered most of this long-gone post I started last week:

I need to have a contest (that no one will enter) about how many of my blog posts are song titles or song lyrics. 

And already I digress! This morning I tried to help Ben in his first "dipping" meal experience.  He has had salsa with help from grown-ups but today I planned his whole breakfast around dipping.  I cut his waffle as I often do and pondered what besides a little butter I could put on it?? (he is still not a big pb fan).  The Vann's waffles I buy have a hint of cinnamon and are delicious on their own but the plain old Kroger multigrain leave taste to be desired:).  Voila! Applesauce! Perfection! Yum! 

Poor Ben just could not get on the dipping train.  He would happily feed himself the waffles or lick the applesauce off his hands or be fed the dipped waffles by mama, but flat out refused to dip them himself or eat the pre-dipped ones I left sitting in the sauce. I was in stitches just wondering what goes through their little minds.  Ben's friend Cadyn often describes foods as being "dirty," and I wonder is dirty universal for her about anything out of place or does she actually think there is dirt on her food?

We haven't tried the dipping again since as I find most things adults dip are not healthy but I'm trying to brainstorm a test to determine whether it was an isolated incident or a general dipping aversion.  I will report my findings soon.

Guest Post: Camp Tante

The first-ever Camp Tante (pronounced Tawn-Tuh, for those who may be confused) - as we have dubbed it - was a smashing success!  Meal time and nap time were both interesting as we didn't have any of Ben's normal equipment (dining chair/pack-n-play) and I found it difficult to feed myself, but we made it work and I don't think either of us was any worse for the wear.  We had so much fun going to the park, the Children's Museum, having a dinner date and doing lots of snuggling.  Having a small apartment is a little challenging with someone who likes to run, but having Ben really encouraged me to be out of the house which I really appreciated.  It certainly is never easy caring for a small toddler, but everything truly went smoothly and it was much easier than I had anticipated.  It was tough to capture pictures and I'm pretty sure everyone confused me for a Teen Mom which also kept things interesting.  I was happy on Sunday night to be back in my own bed and to be alone in my apartment (and I know Jess and Ryan were VERY happy to have their Monkadoo back), but I can assure everyone (including Ben) that Camp Tante will be a regular occurrence for this family!  

Just a city boy (running around Hobo Park)

Friday's nightcap

Saturday morning destroyer!!

Adventures with Tante

Swingin' at Wash Park

More Wash Park fun

Waiting for a table for dinner, giving me the "Crazy Tante" look.  (A title I wear with pride, I might add)

 My handsome dinner date

 

It was truly one of the best weekends I've ever had.  Ben is one of the best things in my life and I will treasure our time together this weekend forever.  It was nice to spend time together just the two of us.  It warms my heart to know that Ben knows who I am and that I make him happy.  I hope we keep a close bond until the end of both of our days. 

I love you, Nugg Bug!