I'm happy to know Pat is imparting this great wisdom to Ben at such a young age. At least he made sure to say it was worth the wait. :)
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| I'm lucky to have these boys wait for me! |
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Life Lessons
It is important for fathers to pass on life lessons to their sons. Pat is already working on that with Ben. I walked out of the bathroom the other evening to find Ben and Pat on the bed, staring at me. I was happy to see them of course, but curious as to what was going on. Then I heard what Pat was saying to Ben. The gist of it- "Get used to this Ben. You will spend a long time waiting for Mommy. Then later in life you will spend a long time waiting for your wife. Women take forever to get ready for everything. Find a comfy spot and have a sit."
I'm happy to know Pat is imparting this great wisdom to Ben at such a young age. At least he made sure to say it was worth the wait. :)
-Kim
I'm happy to know Pat is imparting this great wisdom to Ben at such a young age. At least he made sure to say it was worth the wait. :)
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Diaper Derby- The second, and final, try
We entered Ben in a diaper derby back in June. That one, well, it didn't go super well. Ben was great. He was cute, he was happy, he looked good. But he wasn't crawling yet. It wasn't surprising then that he didn't win. We were still very proud of him. This past weekend, Meo heard that there was going to be a diaper derby at the Corn boil in the next town over. We decided to head on over and check it out!
Neither Pat nor I had ever been to this Corn boil before. It was cute. The usual small town stuff we are used to seeing around here. They did have a nice children's area with little activities for the kids. It appeared as though there were several contests for children during the day. The Diaper Derby, honestly, was not the best though. It appeared to be thrown together at the last second, and there was no real game plan in place. But, hey, whatever, right? It's all for fun. Basically they just lined a couple of kids up and said go. Pat and I were more prepared this time though. We had a plan. We had 'lures' to try to get Ben to want to crawl to us. Omi was able to make it to see the race, so we had someone at the start gate and finish line, leaving me free to take pictures. (This was obviously the most important part of the whole event.) We also had the most important part- Ben was able to crawl! We were raring to go.
Except for one thing- Ben was not raring to go. In fact, Ben was completely against the race. He cried. That's it. No crawling, no push up, just tears. Poor boy. There were a few possible reasons for this. 1. This race was in a gym, and the place was a little loud. Everything echoed. 2. He is older and more aware of strangers now. This can sometimes make him uncomfortable and want the comfort of being held. 3. The race was at 2pm. No matter how I play with nap times, this is always a nap time. Either the very start of one or end of a super early one. Usually it is right in the middle. But trying to race at a time when you are normally napping is hard. And finally, 4. Ben's a baby. That really sums up a lot of his behaviors. ;)
Once we picked Ben back up he was fine. After the attempt at racing we headed home and Ben got his much needed nap. We did learn something from this. Pat and I were curious to see how Ben would do with a really late nap, or possibly no nap at all. We don't plan on skipping naps normally. But we are having people in town for Ben's birthday, and it would be good to know how Ben could do with changes to his afternoon nap. Now we know it is possible to miss part of that nap, but Ben will need a lot of cuddling and attention to get through. He probably can't go without a nap at all in the afternoon though. This is good to know and helps with our planning. While Ben didn't win this derby either, we did gain some good data from it.
We also learned that Ben hates diaper derbies. Poor little guy.
I'd like to say a special thank you to Omi, who dropped everything and drove a good bit to come meet us at the race. The race itself didn't go so well, but it meant to much to me that Omi was there to support Ben. Thank you, Omi!
-Kim
Neither Pat nor I had ever been to this Corn boil before. It was cute. The usual small town stuff we are used to seeing around here. They did have a nice children's area with little activities for the kids. It appeared as though there were several contests for children during the day. The Diaper Derby, honestly, was not the best though. It appeared to be thrown together at the last second, and there was no real game plan in place. But, hey, whatever, right? It's all for fun. Basically they just lined a couple of kids up and said go. Pat and I were more prepared this time though. We had a plan. We had 'lures' to try to get Ben to want to crawl to us. Omi was able to make it to see the race, so we had someone at the start gate and finish line, leaving me free to take pictures. (This was obviously the most important part of the whole event.) We also had the most important part- Ben was able to crawl! We were raring to go.
Except for one thing- Ben was not raring to go. In fact, Ben was completely against the race. He cried. That's it. No crawling, no push up, just tears. Poor boy. There were a few possible reasons for this. 1. This race was in a gym, and the place was a little loud. Everything echoed. 2. He is older and more aware of strangers now. This can sometimes make him uncomfortable and want the comfort of being held. 3. The race was at 2pm. No matter how I play with nap times, this is always a nap time. Either the very start of one or end of a super early one. Usually it is right in the middle. But trying to race at a time when you are normally napping is hard. And finally, 4. Ben's a baby. That really sums up a lot of his behaviors. ;)
Once we picked Ben back up he was fine. After the attempt at racing we headed home and Ben got his much needed nap. We did learn something from this. Pat and I were curious to see how Ben would do with a really late nap, or possibly no nap at all. We don't plan on skipping naps normally. But we are having people in town for Ben's birthday, and it would be good to know how Ben could do with changes to his afternoon nap. Now we know it is possible to miss part of that nap, but Ben will need a lot of cuddling and attention to get through. He probably can't go without a nap at all in the afternoon though. This is good to know and helps with our planning. While Ben didn't win this derby either, we did gain some good data from it.
We also learned that Ben hates diaper derbies. Poor little guy.
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| Getting pumped up for the race. |
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| This was a bad idea! |
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| Why is this happening? |
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| A little better. My brave boy. |
-Kim
Monday, July 28, 2014
Family Swim Lesson
This week Pat decided to join Ben and I in the pool for Ben's swim lesson. Ben loved having his Daddy in the water with him. I was a little worried our lesson would be short, as it was chilly! Well, chilly for the end of July. Ben didn't seem to mind and enjoyed splashing around. He even went all the way under the water, twice!! He sputtered a little, but it didn't upset him at all.
We signed up for these lessons for fun, and to introduce Ben to the idea of swimming. I think he is taking home more than that though. His bath time splashing has increased dramatically since we started splashing in the pool. It is good to see he is having so much fun.
Since we were both in the water, we don't have a lot of pictures. But here are a few from this week's lesson.
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| Excited to be going to the pool! |
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| The boys ready to go! |
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| Daddy and Ben, pre-swim |
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| Me and my little water baby! |
-Kim
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Swim Prep: Wife vs. Husband
Warning: This post is meant to be humorous in nature. I am not trying to attack anyone. This is, however, based on actual events.
Getting a baby ready for parent and me swim classes can take a little time and preparation. It isn't as easy as just tossing the kid in the car and driving to the pool. There are nap times and meal times to take into account. You have to worry about towels, swim diapers, sunscreen, swim shirts, plastic pants, and so many other things. Unless, of course, you're a husband.
Here is how Pat and I get ready for Ben's swim lessons.
Swim prep: Wife's version.
Sunday night: Plan out the week. Note that there are swim lessons on Saturday, and we need to be prepared. Try not to schedule anything else during or around that time. Ask Husband if he would like to swim with baby on Saturday. Husband isn't sure. Explain that you have plans for shortly after swim lesson. If you are swimming it will require extra get ready time after lesson. If Husband is swimming you need to wake up earlier to get ready. This decision impacts your entire day. Tell Husband he needs to decide by Wednesday.
Wednesday: Do some laundry. Be sure towel, swim suit, and swim shirt are all washed. Make sure swim shirt and swim trunks air dry. Towel can be put in drier. Hand wash plastic pants because you can't remember if you washed them after the last swim lesson. Wonder again why the kids need a swim diaper, plastic pants, and a bathing suit. Sheesh, that's a lot of items. Ask Husband if he plans to swim with baby on Saturday. Husband isn't sure. Explain again that you need to know in order to plan your day. Your time table effects other people's timetables. Tell Husband he needs to decide by Thursday.
Thursday: Meal plan and make grocery list for the week. Be sure to include any snacks needed for pre- and post- swim lesson. No one likes the person who forgot snacks. No one likes the screaming baby who just needs a couple of raisins because lunch is late. Ask Husband if he plans to swim with baby on Saturday. Explain that you need to know in order to plan your day. Husband isn't sure. Tell Husband he needs to decide by Friday night, latest.
Friday: Plan out the timing for Saturday's swim lesson. Wake up is earlier, lunch time is later, two naps need to be fit in. Plus other Saturday duties wife needs to perform. Go over schedule with Husband while he watches tv. Go over schedule again when Husband looks up at the end and says, "What?" Write schedule out after Husband looks confused. Restrain self from reminding Husband we did this last week, it's the same as last week. Ask Husband if he plans to swim with baby tomorrow. Husband isn't sure. Demand an answer. Explain the getting ready situation again, and that you need an answer in order to plan your day accordingly. Husband says no to swimming. Make Baby's breakfast for morning. Make Baby's lunch for tomorrow.
Saturday: Here we go:
6 am: Wake up. Shower before baby wakes. Husband isn't swimming. You are, so don't wash hair. Get dressed and do make up.
6:30am: Get Baby up. Half an hour early. Change diaper. Note Baby's sheets are suspiciously damp. Change sheets.
6:40 am: Play with Baby so he doesn't think it is breakfast time. Can't have an early breakfast followed by a late lunch.
7 am: Nurse Baby
7:15 am: Give Baby breakfast while pumping. Oatmeal, eggs, and fruit. Try to explain to Baby why he can't eat just strawberries. Give up and just put strawberries away.
7:30 am: Hose oatmeal off Baby in the sink. Let Baby play while wiping oatmeal off high chair and floor.
7:35 am: Get Baby's swim suit, swim shirt, and plastic pants out of his closet. Grab extra swim and regular diapers.
7:40 am: Stop Baby from eating cat's kibble.
7:50 am: Husband wakes up, gets himself some breakfast and kibble.
8:00 am: Review schedule with Husband.
8:03 am: Repeat.
8:05 am: Just toss written out schedule in front of husband.
8:10 am: Grab cat for vet appointment. (Or whatever Saturday morning chore needs to be done.)
8:15 am: Change Baby's diaper. Remind Husband that nap time is in 15 minutes. Out the door with cat.
9:30 am: Back from vet, release angry kitty to go hide. Notice Husband is finally in the shower. Baby is sleeping. Quick clean kitchen, do some cooking prep, find cat and give her a treat, get swim bag ready to go. Chug some coffee.
9:50 am: Husband is checking email and Facebook. Tell Husband you are going to change into swimsuit and get up Baby. Husband looks up and says, "You know, I think I will swim today." Try not to give murderous look to Husband, who couldn't have decided that a week ago, three days ago, or yesterday when asked if he wanted to swim or not?!
9:55 am: Baby is up. Get him and have him play while getting self ready.
10-10:10 am: Change diaper. Put sunscreen on Baby. Keep Baby from licking sunscreen off his hand. Put sunscreen on self, as Baby has already splattered it everywhere. Put swim shirt on Baby. Put swim suit in bag with swim diapers and plastic pants to be put on at pool. Explain to Husband again how swim diapers work. No, we cannot put it on here at home. Double check swim bag. Triple check emergency raisins. Grab extra towel for Husband. Get Baby into car seat. Grab diaper bag and swim bag. Grab phone, house keys, car keys, and camera.
10:15 am: Get everyone out of house and to the car for swim lesson,
Half way to pool: Husband asks, "Did we remember to bring towels?" Put head in hands.
Swim prep: Husband's version
Sunday Night: Wife says something about swim lessons. That's a week away. Don't care.
Wednesday: Wife says something about swim lessons. That's a few days away. Don't care.
Thursday: Watch Wife make meal plan and grocery list. Suggest buying chips. Wife says something about swim lessons. That's in two days. Don't care.
Friday: Wife waves a paper with writing on it at me. Ignore. Wife says something about swim lessons. That's tomorrow. Don't care. Wife insists on knowing whether or not Husband is swimming. Eh, decide no.
Saturday:
7:50 am: Wake up, way too early for a Saturday. Grab some breakfast.
8:00 am: Wife talking. "What?"
8:03 am: Wife talking again. "What?"
8:05 am: Wife tosses paper down. "What was that all about?"
8:15 am: Wife goes somewhere with cat. Build mega block tower with Baby. Mega blocks are great. Baby is great.
8:30 am: Baby to nap. Sorry kid, piece of paper Wife left says nap. Check diaper, still good. Score
8:35 am: Play on computer. Check ESPN. Do whatever husbands do. (Note: Wife gone at this time, not sure what actually takes place.)
9:25 am: Decide to shower up.
9:50 am: Check email and Facebook. Wife announces she is going to change. You know, swimming with Baby would be fun. Good bonding. Tell Wife, "I think I will swim today." Wonder why Wife looks so angry.
9:55 am: Change into swim suit. Put sunscreen on self. Get flip flops. Ask Wife why we don't put swim diaper and swim suit on here at home. Lose interest in her answer.
10:10 am: Grab wallet, keys, and phone.
10:15 am: Leave for pool.
Halfway to pool as Wife, "Did we remember to grab towels?" Why does she look so defeated?
At least in both versions the whole family had a great time at the swim lessons. And yes, all of us swam together in the lesson.
-Kim
Getting a baby ready for parent and me swim classes can take a little time and preparation. It isn't as easy as just tossing the kid in the car and driving to the pool. There are nap times and meal times to take into account. You have to worry about towels, swim diapers, sunscreen, swim shirts, plastic pants, and so many other things. Unless, of course, you're a husband.
Here is how Pat and I get ready for Ben's swim lessons.
Swim prep: Wife's version.
Sunday night: Plan out the week. Note that there are swim lessons on Saturday, and we need to be prepared. Try not to schedule anything else during or around that time. Ask Husband if he would like to swim with baby on Saturday. Husband isn't sure. Explain that you have plans for shortly after swim lesson. If you are swimming it will require extra get ready time after lesson. If Husband is swimming you need to wake up earlier to get ready. This decision impacts your entire day. Tell Husband he needs to decide by Wednesday.
Wednesday: Do some laundry. Be sure towel, swim suit, and swim shirt are all washed. Make sure swim shirt and swim trunks air dry. Towel can be put in drier. Hand wash plastic pants because you can't remember if you washed them after the last swim lesson. Wonder again why the kids need a swim diaper, plastic pants, and a bathing suit. Sheesh, that's a lot of items. Ask Husband if he plans to swim with baby on Saturday. Husband isn't sure. Explain again that you need to know in order to plan your day. Your time table effects other people's timetables. Tell Husband he needs to decide by Thursday.
Thursday: Meal plan and make grocery list for the week. Be sure to include any snacks needed for pre- and post- swim lesson. No one likes the person who forgot snacks. No one likes the screaming baby who just needs a couple of raisins because lunch is late. Ask Husband if he plans to swim with baby on Saturday. Explain that you need to know in order to plan your day. Husband isn't sure. Tell Husband he needs to decide by Friday night, latest.
Friday: Plan out the timing for Saturday's swim lesson. Wake up is earlier, lunch time is later, two naps need to be fit in. Plus other Saturday duties wife needs to perform. Go over schedule with Husband while he watches tv. Go over schedule again when Husband looks up at the end and says, "What?" Write schedule out after Husband looks confused. Restrain self from reminding Husband we did this last week, it's the same as last week. Ask Husband if he plans to swim with baby tomorrow. Husband isn't sure. Demand an answer. Explain the getting ready situation again, and that you need an answer in order to plan your day accordingly. Husband says no to swimming. Make Baby's breakfast for morning. Make Baby's lunch for tomorrow.
Saturday: Here we go:
6 am: Wake up. Shower before baby wakes. Husband isn't swimming. You are, so don't wash hair. Get dressed and do make up.
6:30am: Get Baby up. Half an hour early. Change diaper. Note Baby's sheets are suspiciously damp. Change sheets.
6:40 am: Play with Baby so he doesn't think it is breakfast time. Can't have an early breakfast followed by a late lunch.
7 am: Nurse Baby
7:15 am: Give Baby breakfast while pumping. Oatmeal, eggs, and fruit. Try to explain to Baby why he can't eat just strawberries. Give up and just put strawberries away.
7:30 am: Hose oatmeal off Baby in the sink. Let Baby play while wiping oatmeal off high chair and floor.
7:35 am: Get Baby's swim suit, swim shirt, and plastic pants out of his closet. Grab extra swim and regular diapers.
7:40 am: Stop Baby from eating cat's kibble.
7:50 am: Husband wakes up, gets himself some breakfast and kibble.
8:00 am: Review schedule with Husband.
8:03 am: Repeat.
8:05 am: Just toss written out schedule in front of husband.
8:10 am: Grab cat for vet appointment. (Or whatever Saturday morning chore needs to be done.)
8:15 am: Change Baby's diaper. Remind Husband that nap time is in 15 minutes. Out the door with cat.
9:30 am: Back from vet, release angry kitty to go hide. Notice Husband is finally in the shower. Baby is sleeping. Quick clean kitchen, do some cooking prep, find cat and give her a treat, get swim bag ready to go. Chug some coffee.
9:50 am: Husband is checking email and Facebook. Tell Husband you are going to change into swimsuit and get up Baby. Husband looks up and says, "You know, I think I will swim today." Try not to give murderous look to Husband, who couldn't have decided that a week ago, three days ago, or yesterday when asked if he wanted to swim or not?!
9:55 am: Baby is up. Get him and have him play while getting self ready.
10-10:10 am: Change diaper. Put sunscreen on Baby. Keep Baby from licking sunscreen off his hand. Put sunscreen on self, as Baby has already splattered it everywhere. Put swim shirt on Baby. Put swim suit in bag with swim diapers and plastic pants to be put on at pool. Explain to Husband again how swim diapers work. No, we cannot put it on here at home. Double check swim bag. Triple check emergency raisins. Grab extra towel for Husband. Get Baby into car seat. Grab diaper bag and swim bag. Grab phone, house keys, car keys, and camera.
10:15 am: Get everyone out of house and to the car for swim lesson,
Half way to pool: Husband asks, "Did we remember to bring towels?" Put head in hands.
Swim prep: Husband's version
Sunday Night: Wife says something about swim lessons. That's a week away. Don't care.
Wednesday: Wife says something about swim lessons. That's a few days away. Don't care.
Thursday: Watch Wife make meal plan and grocery list. Suggest buying chips. Wife says something about swim lessons. That's in two days. Don't care.
Friday: Wife waves a paper with writing on it at me. Ignore. Wife says something about swim lessons. That's tomorrow. Don't care. Wife insists on knowing whether or not Husband is swimming. Eh, decide no.
Saturday:
7:50 am: Wake up, way too early for a Saturday. Grab some breakfast.
8:00 am: Wife talking. "What?"
8:03 am: Wife talking again. "What?"
8:05 am: Wife tosses paper down. "What was that all about?"
8:15 am: Wife goes somewhere with cat. Build mega block tower with Baby. Mega blocks are great. Baby is great.
8:30 am: Baby to nap. Sorry kid, piece of paper Wife left says nap. Check diaper, still good. Score
8:35 am: Play on computer. Check ESPN. Do whatever husbands do. (Note: Wife gone at this time, not sure what actually takes place.)
9:25 am: Decide to shower up.
9:50 am: Check email and Facebook. Wife announces she is going to change. You know, swimming with Baby would be fun. Good bonding. Tell Wife, "I think I will swim today." Wonder why Wife looks so angry.
9:55 am: Change into swim suit. Put sunscreen on self. Get flip flops. Ask Wife why we don't put swim diaper and swim suit on here at home. Lose interest in her answer.
10:10 am: Grab wallet, keys, and phone.
10:15 am: Leave for pool.
Halfway to pool as Wife, "Did we remember to grab towels?" Why does she look so defeated?
At least in both versions the whole family had a great time at the swim lessons. And yes, all of us swam together in the lesson.
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| Our little water bug! |
Friday, July 25, 2014
11 Months Old!
Ben is 11 months old today!!
I can't believe next month he will be a year old. We won't have a new baby, we will have a one year old. Wow. These 11 months have been amazing. Every day brings new smiles and laughs. I look forward to every new adventure you bring our way.
The photo shoot was, as they are now, a little challenging. Someone is quite the wiggle worm. We managed to get a few good ones. Good thing Pat was there to help.
I love you so much, Ben!!!
-Kim
I can't believe next month he will be a year old. We won't have a new baby, we will have a one year old. Wow. These 11 months have been amazing. Every day brings new smiles and laughs. I look forward to every new adventure you bring our way.
The photo shoot was, as they are now, a little challenging. Someone is quite the wiggle worm. We managed to get a few good ones. Good thing Pat was there to help.
I love you so much, Ben!!!
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| What's going on behind me? |
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| Can I go yet? |
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| Proud 11 month old! |
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| My big boy! |
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| Finally sitting still. |
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| I love this little guy so much! |
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Thankful Thursday: New Opportunities
This week, I am thankful for opportunities.
Pat tutors at a local tutoring center. One evening he ended up working later than normal, so Ben and I stopped by with a sandwich for his dinner. We had never been there before, so it was nice to see where he worked. We got the chance to meet his boss and a coworker. His boss mentioned that they were looking for ACT tutors. In order to be an ACT tutor you just need career experience and to take the sections of the ACT you would be tutoring. You don't need an education background. Pat's boss suggested that I apply. I hadn't really considered tutoring before. A large reason was that I didn't realize I could do so without an education degree. Well, before I applied Pat and I talked about it. We decided it would be good for me and our family if I at least tried for the job. It would give me a new challenge, and hey, a few extra dollars never hurts.
So I went for it. And I got the job!! I am super excited for this new opportunity. We are going to be a bit busy for awhile. I have to complete some training. After that though we are scheduled based on our availability. That means that Pat and I can be sure to alternate when we work so we can take care of Ben. We will be a little busier around here, but I think it will be a positive change for our family. This opportunity is perfect for us. I am able to work an additional job, but because I came into it through Pat, our boss knows that we have a small child that we are scheduling around, along with my day job. (I'm not leaving Omi & Associates quite yet.) Any working parent knows that having a work life balance can be tricky. But knowing that our boss knew all about our situation before I was even offered the chance to apply takes a little bit of pressure off. Everything is already on the table.
I am excited for this new challenge. I am a little nervous to know I will have more time away from Ben in my future. (Not too much, but any time is too much!) I think overall that will be good for both Ben and me though. I am so thankful that this opportunity came to Team Cartwright. It is also helping me to remember to be thankful for all the opportunities that I have had and have before me. I am thankful for the fun new challenges that are ahead of me too!
-Kim
-Kim
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Food Update
Ben has really changed his preferences in eating over the past couple of months. When we first started solids, he ate pretty much anything we gave him. Green beans were no good, and carrots were hit or miss. Everything else was pretty good. He actually loved Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower. Well, those days are long gone. One of the perks of baby led weaning is a kid who supposedly likes to eat all foods. That does not seem to be the case for us. Ben has taken a turn into the no-vegetable land.
Ben is still a pretty good eater. He of course throws some food to the floor. We are working on that, but not throwing food is a tough concept for an almost 11 month old. I get it, you don't want to eat it you just chuck it away. He is too young to think through the consequences of the action. We of course tell him no sir, no throwing food. But being so young, I am not always sure he can communicate that he has had enough food, or understand that meal time will end due to misbehavior. So warnings are about all that happens right now. Luckily he is pretty good, and we are able to stop a lot of throwing before it happens. Ben has also learned how to sign all done. This is a huge help in wrapping up meals. If he starts throwing a lot of food, we can sign all done and he usually repeats it. I try not to suggest it too early, as I do want to make sure he is getting enough. He is getting better at signing more, but it is still a little inconsistent. Still, it is so wonderful that he can answer back all done!!!
He still enjoys a variety of food. He has started to like some breads and crackers. He loves most fruit. And he adores meat. Yes, this is our child. Meat is pretty much his favorite thing right now. Luckily, while he doesn't like veges on their own, he will eat them mixed with other items. I make little meat patties for him using ground turkey and diced vegetables. His morning egg yolks have vegetables in them. He also enjoys a chunky pear-apple sauce I make him with cinnamon and, that's right, vegetables. I am all about sneaky vegetables. You can ask Pat, most food I make isn't what it seems. There is usually some sort of healthiness tucked in there somewhere. I have tried making assorted breads, muffins, and even crackers for Ben to get more vegetables into him, but so far he likes the first few bites, then he is done with it.
I am trying not to worry too much about what Ben is eating. I know he is a baby, so he should be pretty in touch with his needs. Overall I think he is doing well. He gets protein, vegetables mixed into other foods at every meal, and healthy dairy. We don't serve him anything that could really be considered unhealthy, and he is still nursing. He should be getting all the nutrients he needs. I hope I can foster a love of vegetables in him. That will help kick off a life time of healthy eating. But I know I need to be prepared for the picky stages it seems every kid goes through. I try to keep Pat and I eating healthy as well, and wanting Ben to only eat the good stuff is and will help us to be better eaters.
Another area Ben is good about is fruit. The boy loves fruit. Well, we haven't found a melon he likes. All other fruits are good though. Apples and pears no longer need to be cooked, yay for me being able to be lazier about that! It is so much easier to just add an apple to our lunch back than slice and cook them up. Bananas are still a hit, but I think have been replaced with raisins as the favorite. Ben adores strawberries. He still likes peaches and plums. If he isn't eating a ton of vegetables, I feel better knowing he is getting a variety of fruits. He tried a new one tonight, and loved it. Cherries. I think they are going to be a bath night only food though.
Super messy. They are also apparently good when you rub them into your hair. Or at least Ben seemed happy when he did that. These have also been added to list of things Ben can't eat when wearing white or light colored clothing. Good thing he had red on tonight. :)
-Kim
Ben is still a pretty good eater. He of course throws some food to the floor. We are working on that, but not throwing food is a tough concept for an almost 11 month old. I get it, you don't want to eat it you just chuck it away. He is too young to think through the consequences of the action. We of course tell him no sir, no throwing food. But being so young, I am not always sure he can communicate that he has had enough food, or understand that meal time will end due to misbehavior. So warnings are about all that happens right now. Luckily he is pretty good, and we are able to stop a lot of throwing before it happens. Ben has also learned how to sign all done. This is a huge help in wrapping up meals. If he starts throwing a lot of food, we can sign all done and he usually repeats it. I try not to suggest it too early, as I do want to make sure he is getting enough. He is getting better at signing more, but it is still a little inconsistent. Still, it is so wonderful that he can answer back all done!!!
He still enjoys a variety of food. He has started to like some breads and crackers. He loves most fruit. And he adores meat. Yes, this is our child. Meat is pretty much his favorite thing right now. Luckily, while he doesn't like veges on their own, he will eat them mixed with other items. I make little meat patties for him using ground turkey and diced vegetables. His morning egg yolks have vegetables in them. He also enjoys a chunky pear-apple sauce I make him with cinnamon and, that's right, vegetables. I am all about sneaky vegetables. You can ask Pat, most food I make isn't what it seems. There is usually some sort of healthiness tucked in there somewhere. I have tried making assorted breads, muffins, and even crackers for Ben to get more vegetables into him, but so far he likes the first few bites, then he is done with it.
I am trying not to worry too much about what Ben is eating. I know he is a baby, so he should be pretty in touch with his needs. Overall I think he is doing well. He gets protein, vegetables mixed into other foods at every meal, and healthy dairy. We don't serve him anything that could really be considered unhealthy, and he is still nursing. He should be getting all the nutrients he needs. I hope I can foster a love of vegetables in him. That will help kick off a life time of healthy eating. But I know I need to be prepared for the picky stages it seems every kid goes through. I try to keep Pat and I eating healthy as well, and wanting Ben to only eat the good stuff is and will help us to be better eaters.
Another area Ben is good about is fruit. The boy loves fruit. Well, we haven't found a melon he likes. All other fruits are good though. Apples and pears no longer need to be cooked, yay for me being able to be lazier about that! It is so much easier to just add an apple to our lunch back than slice and cook them up. Bananas are still a hit, but I think have been replaced with raisins as the favorite. Ben adores strawberries. He still likes peaches and plums. If he isn't eating a ton of vegetables, I feel better knowing he is getting a variety of fruits. He tried a new one tonight, and loved it. Cherries. I think they are going to be a bath night only food though.
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| Yum! |
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| These are so good! |
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| I love my messy boy! |
Monday, July 21, 2014
Soccer Ball Fun
Every day Ben is able to do something new. He is now army crawling all over the place. It makes him so happy to be able to get around on his own. Now he can get to the toys he wants, not just the toys I happen to put next to him. It does make for some bigger messes, but it is a lot of fun to watch.
Ben has recently taking a liking to a yellow, soft soccer ball we have. He has played with this toy before; we used it a lot during the World Cup. But Ben goes through cycles, like all kids do. The yellow soccer ball is a favorite once again. Ben knocks it around, rolls it, tries to eat it. The usual for babies. This weekend he knocked it over to me. I rolled it on back. He rolled it back to me. You can see where this is going. He can finally play this game!! I was so excited.
We rolled the ball back and forth for several minutes before I grabbed the camera to tape it. He was laughing and enjoying himself! It is so funny how something so simple is such a joy when your child is enjoying himself. I would roll that ball for hours with Ben if he wanted. Being a baby, he lost interest after a little bit. But we have been enjoying the game ever since.
Of course I got a few pictures of my little man with his ball. Uncle J knows this ball well. I may have acquired it from him in a totally legit way. I mean, it isn't stealing from family, right? ;) Thanks for the ball Uncle J, Ben really loves it. You can see the video of him playing with it here.
Every day with Ben is more and more fun!!
-Kim
Ben has recently taking a liking to a yellow, soft soccer ball we have. He has played with this toy before; we used it a lot during the World Cup. But Ben goes through cycles, like all kids do. The yellow soccer ball is a favorite once again. Ben knocks it around, rolls it, tries to eat it. The usual for babies. This weekend he knocked it over to me. I rolled it on back. He rolled it back to me. You can see where this is going. He can finally play this game!! I was so excited.
We rolled the ball back and forth for several minutes before I grabbed the camera to tape it. He was laughing and enjoying himself! It is so funny how something so simple is such a joy when your child is enjoying himself. I would roll that ball for hours with Ben if he wanted. Being a baby, he lost interest after a little bit. But we have been enjoying the game ever since.
Of course I got a few pictures of my little man with his ball. Uncle J knows this ball well. I may have acquired it from him in a totally legit way. I mean, it isn't stealing from family, right? ;) Thanks for the ball Uncle J, Ben really loves it. You can see the video of him playing with it here.
Every day with Ben is more and more fun!!
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| My little soccer fan. |
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| He's so cute in his yellow jammies! Even if he is a little drooly. :) |
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| My smiling guy. |
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| I love Ben! |
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Swimming pictures
Ben had his first swim lesson this weekend!! Oh my goodness, it was so much fun. Pat and I both love to swim, so we are hopeful that Ben will enjoy the water as well. I was pretty sure he would enjoy the pool. He has loved the splash pads, and he enjoys his baths. A pool is very different than a bath tub though. And being fully submerged in water is different from being splashed by it. I was prepared for Ben to hate the pool, but fortunately, he loved it!
We had originally signed up for a water babies class. All little ones ages 6 to 24 months, all with a parent. Unfortunately the time we signed up for didn't fill up enough. We had the option to switch to a different water babies class, but that one interfered with nap time too much. You know I don't like messing with Ben's schedule. We opted to go with the parent and preschool class. It was for ages 2 to 4, but everyone still had a parent with them. Since every kid had their own adult, it didn't matter at all that Ben was so much younger. If he didn't like a move, or it was above his level, we just didn't do it. The class was pretty simple. We sang songs, moved the kids around in the water, and lifted them up and down. The bigger kids practiced some swimming moves. Ben and I did our best, but sometimes we just played around.
We got to the pool a little early to give Ben a chance to look around and be comfortable with his surroundings. They redid the pool this summer, and it is so nice! There is a zero depth entry area, a slide, and a big deep end for swimming laps. There is plenty of deck space and a playground right nearby! We will be spending some more time there for sure. Pat had to tutor in the morning, so he met us there a few minutes after the lesson started. Luckily Meo was able to come with us and get plenty of pictures. I was so happy she was able to be there too!
When we first entered the pool Ben just started giggling and smiling. He liked the water right away. He liked being pretty close to me the whole time, but he wasn't too clingy. He liked being moved through the water on his tummy and upright. He did not enjoy being on his back. We just didn't do those moves. Miss Kayla was a wonderful teacher and led us through some songs and practice moves. The bigger kids worked on actual swimming techniques. They pushed off the walls, they kicked, the practiced swimming after toys. Ben really enjoyed splashing and kicking his feet. When I would move him through the water he would actually start to do a little butterfly kick of sorts! It was so cute!! He really enjoyed watching the other kids as well.
We have four more lessons to go still! I am super excited them all. Pat might go in with Ben at a future lesson, which will be fun to watch. I love swimming with Ben!
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Thankful Thursday: Office Hijinks
I am very thankful for my job. It gives me the opportunity to earn a living and take care of Ben at the same time. Ben also gets to see Meo and Omi almost every day. My job also gives Meo and I the chance to have a little fun with Ben while he is still small. He's a good sport about it, and seems to enjoy the fun places we put him.
I am thankful that I work in an environment that allows for some fun. We work hard, but you need to have a laugh every once in awhile too. And I am thankful that Ben enjoys these little picture sessions as well!
Here is an example of our fun. We had a baby in the office. We had a big basket in the office. Is anyone surprised by what happened?
I am thankful that I work in an environment that allows for some fun. We work hard, but you need to have a laugh every once in awhile too. And I am thankful that Ben enjoys these little picture sessions as well!
Here is an example of our fun. We had a baby in the office. We had a big basket in the office. Is anyone surprised by what happened?
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| Checking out the ribbons. |
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| Why am I in here? |
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| This feels neat. |
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| Still in the basket... |
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| We do really work too. |
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
It Starts...
All peace and quiet is ending. Well, what peace and quiet one can expect with a baby in the house. Ben has started inching forward. He has been moving and scooting for some time. He has been spinning and backing up. For a baby who didn't crawl, he was really able to get around. But it was never really forward, or with any real intentional direction. He would spin and wiggle and end up somewhere other than where he started. He's been doing his planks, and just started getting his knees under himself without falling right away. But nothing that would really be defined as crawling.
Until today. Okay, it still isn't crawling as much as impersonating an inch worm, but he is moving forward with intention!!! I am so excited for him! Oh, I am worried too. I mean, it was so nice when I could put him somewhere and he would stay put. Now there are so many more things to worry about. But there are so many more things to explore with Ben!! I am really excited and can't wait to see what else he gets into!
Here are the videos of Ben inching his way along: video 1, video 2, video 3.
-Kim
Until today. Okay, it still isn't crawling as much as impersonating an inch worm, but he is moving forward with intention!!! I am so excited for him! Oh, I am worried too. I mean, it was so nice when I could put him somewhere and he would stay put. Now there are so many more things to worry about. But there are so many more things to explore with Ben!! I am really excited and can't wait to see what else he gets into!
Here are the videos of Ben inching his way along: video 1, video 2, video 3.
-Kim
Monday, July 14, 2014
Splash Pad
After seeing how much fun Ben had at the Splash Pad we went to while on vacation, we decided we had to check out the local one. We were not disappointed! This past Sunday was a perfect day for it. It was warm and sunny, but not too hot. The splash pad was busy, but not too crowded. It was our first time there and it was nice and easy to find. This pad had all different water spouts. It had misters. It had hanging buckets that would slowly fill with water then dump over randomly. It had a couple of water cannons for kids to blast at each other. It even had a little section of smaller water jets for the little ones!
Ben spent a lot of time studying the water and observing everything around him. I think he enjoyed himself though. He carefully watched the water and splashed around in it. Pat and I enjoyed playing around in the water too. (Perk of having a child- getting to play with all the cool kid stuff!) After we were done with the splash pad, we went over to the nearby park to play and dry off in the sun.
There are some videos of Ben at the splash pad here: video 1, video 2, video 3, and video 4.
We will be heading back there in weekends to come. It was a ton of fun!
-Kim
Ben spent a lot of time studying the water and observing everything around him. I think he enjoyed himself though. He carefully watched the water and splashed around in it. Pat and I enjoyed playing around in the water too. (Perk of having a child- getting to play with all the cool kid stuff!) After we were done with the splash pad, we went over to the nearby park to play and dry off in the sun.
There are some videos of Ben at the splash pad here: video 1, video 2, video 3, and video 4.
We will be heading back there in weekends to come. It was a ton of fun!
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| Checking things out |
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| Mommy's having fun! |
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| Getting all wet! |
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| Waiting for the jets to turn on |
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| It's coming... |
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| Fun! Trying to grab the water |
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| Focused on the water |
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| Boys having fun! |
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| I know it's coming... |
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| There it is! |
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| Getting soaked! |
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| Splash! |
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| Having a blast. |
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