The Deck

You may remember my treatise on toys and the search for a safe play surface for our back deck. We gave up on the foam letters and got a big rug from Ikea. Done. I also found a great used children's store and scored a boat-load of those soft plastic cars, a couple of big trucks, and some soft blocks for super cheap. And my mom got Ben some great mega blocks and a dump truck. Let the fun begin. :)

Weekend Fun-ing

Saturday we went for a picnic in the park. Yay!








On Sunday we ventured out to Newport Beach. This trip went much more smoothly than Friday. Apparently the umbrella was not so much broken as I was just an idiot who didn't know how to operate it.

And somebody learned how to stand all by himself!

running to the water

grrrrrr......

After about an hour or so the umbrella blew over (several times). The last time it happened Matt was in the water so I gave up and packed the dang thing up. Ben took that as his cue to turn into Godzilla and terrorize our little area. He unloaded the trash, the lunch bag, and the backpack. He grabbed handfuls of sand and threw them everywhere. Every time I went to run and grab something he threw or emptied he turned around and threw and emptied something else. By the time Matt got to us it looked like a bear had gone through our campsite. Thus, our cue to go home.

The rest of the day was a bit dramatic as well. Overtired Ben decided a nap wasn't going to be his thing, so he spent about 45 minutes screaming. Eventually I settled in to the rocking chair with my sleepy boy and rocked him until he passed out cold. Sweet sweet boy. It's been a while since we've done that. As much as I loathe the screaming, it was nice to have a good snuggle. It won't be long before my baby will be a little boy who is much more interested in riding bikes than cuddling. So I'll take it. :)

Fun Friday

Today began with Ben (and consequently mom) finally sleeping past 6:30am. Ah, a leisurely morning.

Ha ha ha ha. Leisurely.

We woke up at 6:50. After a pretty happy morning (in stark contrast to the whiny, clingy mornings we've had every other day this week), I decided to pay my good friend Tracy a visit. That's when Ben's bowels decided to empty. It wouldn't have been an issue if Ben hadn't recently developed an inordinate loathing of diaper changes. He screams, rolls over and over, tries to crawl off the table, throws all the diapers on the floor, empties the box of wipes...you get the picture. It's like trying to change a T-Rex's diaper. This particular change had the added bonus of three days worth of poop.

So ten minutes, one quick baby wipe bath for Ben, one hand and arm sink bath for mama, one wardrobe change for him, one shirt change for me, two changing pad covers, two diapers, and a half a box of wipes later, we were ready to go.

We had a nice hour with Tracy and came back for the little T-Rex's nap. While he slept for an hour, I cleaned up, made and packed lunch, and prepared for my first solo beach adventure with the boy. I was quite proud of my girl scout self and all my preparedness. Lunch bag, check; fully stocked diaper bag, check; purse with camera and video camera, check; bag with beach towels and toys, check; beach umbrella, check; Mexico blanket, check. Everything you need for a perfect day at the beach.

When the monkey woke up I fed and wrestled him until he was diapered and dressed changed him, loaded us into the car, and took off for Newport. Oh wait, I need quarters. So I go to the car wash where we normally get laundry quarters, but the change machine is out of order. That's okay...there's got to be a bank on the way to the beach. Maybe, but the freeway is backed up two miles before it ends onto Newport, so I need to take side streets. So I slowly make my way down Santa Ana and all its stop signs to 17th where my bank is. Quarters in hand, I return to the side streets until I get to Newport and 32nd street and begin the slow search for a parking spot. I found one on 13th. I live maybe four miles from the beach and it took 30 minutes. But that's okay, because I was all prepared and we left nice and early. So we still have plenty of time. So I load up the stroller with Ben, the blanket, the bag of towels and toys, the lunch bag, the diaper bag, my purse, and the umbrella and head to the sand.

Once there, I went to set everything down and realized that my skirt was tucked into my bathing suit. So I'd been walking down Newport Blvd. with my butt hanging out. So good. After freeing my skirt, I set Ben down in the sand to play (a decision he quickly asserted he would not have made had he been able to choose for himself) and went about setting up the umbrella. We bought it a couple of months ago and used it once. Apparently it has since broken, because the half of the pole you stick in the sand would no longer go into the half of the pole with the umbrella. So I stuck the umbrella half in the sand. There was, of course, no room to sit under it. At least for me. But Ben fit under it just fine. I gave him his toys, collapsed onto the blanket (but not under the midget umbrella, of course) and sighed.


After some play time, we had a picnic. Then we played again. I went to grab my camera to snap a few more shots of Ben, only to find that it had somehow been covered in sand. I'm guessing that's bad. So I spent the next 15 minutes turning it off and on (as it was telling me to) and praying that our super awesome beach day had not also turned into the day my camera broke. It did, eventually, come back to life (thank you, Lord!). We played some more then packed up our thousand pounds of crap and headed back to the car.


When we got home, I pulled Ben out of his carseat only to discover that it (and he) was SOAKED. Swimming diapers are super. So I got Ben and the thousand pounds of crap upstairs and into the apartment. I undressed Ben and myself and hopped in the shower. Now, when Ben was a newborn and had colic, a little mommy and Ben shower was quick to calm him. Apparently that's no longer the case. The T-Rex no longer likes showers. Well, it got the pee and sand off of us anyway.

Now he's sleeping soundly in a regular diaper and a fresh outfit.

All drama and quasi-nudity aside, it was actually a pretty fun little outing.

Healing

I've had a bit of a stomach bug in the last couple of days. And while I've appreciated the rapid weight loss program (I lost three pounds in as many hours this morning), I'm glad to be feeling a little better this afternoon. So Ben and I went to the park for a picnic, some play, and plenty of fresh air. Sigh...just what the doctor ordered.

Dear Ben,

This is your mommy. I just wanted to tell you that I love you. I know right now you're not quite one and so you can't read. But someday you will, and I want you to hear this. I want you to know that I have loved you since the moment I knew you existed. And for the eight months that you spent in my tummy, I loved you more and more every minute. This wasn't always easy...having you roll around there was a bit rough on me. But you were worth it. The night you were born, I knew I would never be the same. The second I saw you, I felt a love that I never knew was possible. In an instant I loved you more than any other human being on the planet (well...you and your daddy at least tie). I want the absolute best for you, no matter what. And I always will. I will always love you, little one. I love your sweet smile and your sweet laugh. I love the way you suck your thumb and twirl your hair. I love the way you snuggle with me. You make me laugh all the time. When I walk into your room and you're standing up in your crib with a huge grin on your face, my heart stops for joy. I love watching you grow up. I love watching you discover your world and develop your personality.

And I will love you forever, no matter what. When you were tiny and I had to change your diaper every hour, I loved you. When you were a newborn and cried every night, I loved you. And now, as you run around the house pulling everything down and tearing it apart, I love you. When you're in elementary school and you would rather play with bugs than snuggle with me, I will still love you. When you're in middle school and you get all selfish and mean and don't do your homework, I will still love you. When you get to high school and college and start finding other women to love, I will still love you. When you grow up and move far away and forget to call, I will still love you. I will love you no matter what you do or who you are. Please remember that. Please remember that I will love you forever.

Right now you're napping in the next room, and I can't wait for you to wake up. I can't wait to see your sweet face and those six teeth as you smile from ear to ear. I can't wait to hug you and play with you and show you that I love you.

Thank you for being my son. Thank you for teaching me joy. Thank you for your cuddles and slobbery kisses. Thank you for all the future mother's day crafts and mud pies.

I love you, Sweet boy.

Mommy

Father's Day

Dear Daddy,

You are the best daddy ever. Thank you for being my best buddy, my provider, my protector, and my teacher. Thank you for teaching me to stand, crawl, walk, clap, and give high fives. Thank you for teaching me to play the guitar, and for passing on your great taste in music.

Most of all, thank you for loving me so very much.

Love,
Benjamin