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

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.

Yum!

These are so good!

I love my messy boy!

 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

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!!

My little soccer fan.

He's so cute in his yellow jammies!  Even if he is a little drooly. :)

My smiling guy.

I love Ben!

-Kim

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!

-Kim

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?

Checking out the ribbons.

Why am I in here?

This feels neat.

Still in the basket...

We do really work too. 

-Kim

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

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!

Checking things out

Mommy's having fun!

Getting all wet!

Waiting for the jets to turn on

It's coming...

Fun!  Trying to grab the water

Focused on the water

Boys having fun!

I know it's coming...

There it is!

Getting soaked!

Splash!

Having a blast.

-Kim