First Annual Back to School Dinner

Stole this idea from some fellow bloggers and didn't quite do it justice this year. Planning on creating a special theme to live by for the school year, going over it with Ben, and presenting him with some special gift for next year and future years. This year we enjoyed a yummy dinner. went over some basic classroom rules on our handy poster-- turned placemat, and crafted some jello apples. Pictures turned out pretty poor (I'm doing research on getting a new camera before baby brother comes), but Ben enjoyed his special dinner and is loving school so much.

Because I don't want to forget . . .

Here are some phrases that Ben uses on almost a daily basis that I just don't ever want to forget:

• "You're the best."
• "I love you berry, berry, berry, berry, berry much!"
• "Why is it taking FOREVER?!"
• "You wanna fight, Daddy?"
• "That was my accident."
• "I have a perfect idea."
• "I'm STARVING!"
• "I'm not tired." (said whilst yawning).
• "You promise me!"
• "Why you so mad at me?
• "Tell me!"
• "Lets do it."
• "You cheat me."
• "Two minutes."

Half Way There

I am 21 weeks along and feeling good. Everything looked wonderful with baby brother at the ultrasound (which was done at about 19.5 weeks). He's weighing in at about half a pound, and I am weighing in at ___. Yah right! No cravings as of now, only a brief stint with baked potato cravings in the early stages. No obnoxious symptoms of pregnancy yet that I had with Ben (i.e. heartburn and charley horses). But I'm sure I just jinxed myself. Bending is becoming a more difficult task by the day and my back is taking a beating already from the extra weight. I purchased a prenatal yoga video yesterday so I hope to do it regularly to help relieve my aching back and tone and stretch my muscles so I can feel my very best until the end. Yesterday there was a very unexpected thunder and lightening storm that has me longing for cooler days. Fall is by far my favorite season and I am so glad to be pregnant during the cooler months this time around. I have been feeling baby brother move since the day of my ultrasound (August 30th), and he hasn't stopped since. Even James and Ben have felt him already, which was so fun for both since James barely felt anything out of Ben (he wasn't much of a mover). Feeling a little life move around inside of you never gets old!

Mommy's Boy

Not to be confused with mama's boy, because that Ben is not. He is a very tough kid. It takes a lot for him to cry from a physical injury. But a mommy's boy, he very much is. I get more love from this kid than I could have ever dreamt of. I am so blessed to hear all day long, "I love you mommy," and "you're the best mommy." He takes good care of me too. He's concerned if I make the slightest sound of discomfort, which I do often now just doing things like getting up from the couch (this belly is already feeling so heavy). And while he is not always the best at his pleases and his thank you's, he makes sure to thank me for meals with a sweet, "thank you mommy for my dinner." Followed by a demanding, "did you thank my mommy for your dinner?" Directed at his Daddy. And ever since starting preschool last week he thinks about how I'm ALL by myself ALL day long now (it's two days a week, two and a half hours a day in reality). He assures me that I'll be okay because I can "just eat breakfast and then do laundry." And he reminds me of how I will soon have another baby and then I wont be alone anymore. I love this child so much and can't imagine how much fuller my heart is going to be when I get to love two of 'em. I just hope baby brother is half as sweet as his big brother. : )

First Day of Preschool

Today was my baby's first day of preschool. And he did awesome. As soon as I got him out of the car he said "bye, mom" and started walking towards the school. Good sign. Then he got a little cautious and wanted to make sure that I was walking in with him. After washing his hands in the bathroom (which I love that they make them all do upon arrival), I got him situated in circle time and told him that I was leaving and would be back soon to get him. He said okay, so I took my lead and left. Like a bandaid, right. I was the quickest one to leave, but felt good leaving him in a good place, rather than dragging out the goodbyes. I didn't cry, nor was I all that emotional honestly. Mostly it felt strange just leaving him there. I've only ever left him with family and for nursery I'm in the building. So just weird dropping him off and driving away.

When he got home this is what I was able to get out of him over the course of the day: he liked the play doh. He painted a picture of a panda bear, which I'm very curious to see what that looks like (he left it at school). He didn't play with anyone. But it wasn't boring. He was upset that their pet snake was sleeping and the teacher didn't get him out. Yes, they have a pet snake. And yes, they let the kids hold it. All his friends liked his shoes. But no one said anything to him about them. I guess he just got that vibe. Maybe they were all staring at them with envy. He was a little shy to his teacher. He poured his own water for snack. And he got oranges and gold fish crackers. They were asked to bring their favorite stuffed animal with them, and apparently they threw them up in the air. One little boy cried. But he didn't. He didn't miss me (which I told him I was glad because I want him to have fun-- but of course, it sucked a little bit). And someone squirted him with water in the bathroom. What a busy day!

I spent my two and a half hours in a less entertaining matter, but nevertheless quite productively. I: watered the plants in the front and backyard. Washed, dried, and folded one load of laundry. Made mine and Ben's beds. Washed some dishes. Cleaned the kitchen. Enjoyed a pudding cup on the couch. And went to the bank. It's funny how Bentley actually recognized and acknowledged the fact that I would be home alone while he's at school. He pointed out how Daddy is at work and now he will be at school, and I'll be home by myself ALL day long. He assured me that I would be okay and I could just eat breakfast by myself. Silly kid. : )

I am so proud of Ben and couldn't be happier with how the day went. I know that he will enjoy preschool very much and it will be so great for him. Especially once the baby comes for him to have time just for himself, playing with his friends, learning, and accomplishing things that will make himself feel proud. I'm glad I made the decision to start him this year instead of waiting until next. He will get three solid years of preschool before kindergarten and I know he will have a great start because of it. Now here are the classic first day of school pics.

It's a . . .

This Tuesday (August 30th) was the big day. The day I have been anticipating since Mother's Day-- gender reveal day. I am just NOT one of those mom's who can wait and be surprised. I am much to much of a planner for that. Plus I wanted to get Ben very familiar with the idea of having either a little brother or a little sister. My appointment was at 2 pm so James decided to take the entire day off, which was very nice. We all got to sleep in a little bit and then headed to our new local donut shop for our weekly fix (we missed our normal Saturday because we were camping).

On the short ride over to the hospital I was nervous for Ben for two reasons. One, he fell asleep on the ride over because it was his nap time, so I was worried he would be cranky when I awoke him just ten short minutes later. Ended up being no problem at all. Two, I was concerned that he wouldn't be able to make out the images we would see on the ultrasound and just keep asking where the baby was and feel let down because I have been telling him for weeks that he would see the baby on TV. Well as it turned out he was an expert at deciphering what he saw on the screen. He kept calling out "look there's the eyes," "and the cheeks," etc. I was quite impressed and so happy for him that he was enjoying it so much.

It was unbelievable for me too. It's amazing how much more real it feels once you see that baby inside of you. Just incredible. At first baby was sleeping with little legs tucked under it's body, bum up in the air, hands held close to the face. After the technician continued to move the camera all over my belly, pressing down slightly, baby was aroused from sleep and began to move a little. At this point however, baby is not much of a mover. It did however give us a nice little wave hello and a thumbs up, both of which Ben thought was pretty cool.

We had asked the technician when we walked in to not say the gender aloud because we didn't want Ben to know yet. The next day we had the families over for dinner to reveal the news and didn't want Ben to give it away before the cake (I'll explain in a bit). We asked her to just say B or G. I thought it was very funny when she actually wrote the one letter and didn't even say it. I just sorta thought to myself: lady, he doesn't know how to read yet. When we saw that letter appear on the screen James and I looked at each other, laughed a bit, and smiled goofily of course-- so overwhelmed with love already for this new tiny addition.

Funny side note: Ben kept telling me during the ultrasound that he wants an orange baby. I thought that because I had been telling him that I was going to make either a pink or blue cake to reveal the gender to everyone at the dinner the next night, that he was requesting that I make an orange cake. What I didn't realize, because I was looking at a different monitor than he and James, was the technician was snapping pictures and some of them were orange in color. He was a little disappointed when his orange baby printed in black and white only. But he is excited to have a picture that says "he Ben" on it to put on his family tree page at his new preschool. After we left the doctor's I requested that we go to dinner to celebrate. So my lovely husband treated us to a delicious meal at The Cheesecake Factory.

The next evening both sides of the family joined us at our home for a pizza party and cake reveal. It was a great evening and everyone was excited with the news that a new baby ____ will be joining the family soon. I'm going to make you watch this to find out!