The Adventures of Ben & Andy

Lots of catching up

2012-02-05T10:23:00.001-08:00

The winter quarter has brought lots of illness, and, as a family, we've been down for the count with a series of colds, stomach bugs, and pink eye. But we've had lots of fun, too. Here are some random pictures and highlights. Andy's new found love of the pantry:

Ben shows his mom's gift of gab and love of the phone...

Our news kitty, Doc...

Andy continues to love walking, running, and standing on things that rock and bounce:

The boys play very well together for the most part. They both love Legos!

Ben, a chicken, and a runny nose...

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Stepping out

2011-12-04T16:15:00.001-08:00

Today I watched Andy take 4 steps. Of course my camera was nowhere nearby. I later bragged to my neighbor, who informed me that he'd seen Andy take a few steps over a week ago when mommy was sipping on wine and not paying as close attention as she should. Whoops... But in my defense, he's only 9 months old and I thought we had some time before he was really walking.

So I don't have video of him walking on his own, but I so have him scooting along with the cute walker we bought. Enjoy!

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Coco visits!

2011-11-20T13:53:00.001-08:00

Coco came for a short visit to celebrate my birthday. We spent most of the time hanging out with the boys, and as usual I didn't take many photos. Hopefully I'll get some of hers up here soon.

Among the photographic highlights are...

Farmers market fun with Ben.

And Andy walking with his walker toy...

YouTube Video

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

2011-11-14T13:10:00.001-08:00

Recently Andy has been sticking his tongue out a lot. I'm fairly certain it's because he's teething, but it pretty cute regardless:

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Fall fun

2011-11-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

Once again I've fallen behind with the blog...

It's been a great fall! Lots of nice weather and fun for the kids. Ben is thriving in his preschool and and continues to change everyday.

They play hard and sleep hard.

Halloween brought a tiger and spiderman to our house.,,

There was actually another spiderman across the street. They played together...

Andy's diet now includes a few true solids. Graham crackers are his favorite...

And Ben continues to practice his biking skills... He even puts on his own helmet!

Self portrait with the boys. And Ben's beloved spider ring.

Happy fall!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Runny nose smile

2011-11-04T17:17:00.001-07:00

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pumpkins!

2011-10-08T14:10:00.001-07:00

Today we went to a local pumpkin patch. Ben had fun, though he was more interested in the new toy airplane his dad had just given him than the pumpkins. But Andy loved the wagon ride and we all enjoyed the gorgeous sunny day!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hangin' at the park

2011-10-02T11:26:00.001-07:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Play time with Andy

2011-09-30T19:01:00.001-07:00

Andy continues to be way ahead of the curve in his development. He crawls, cruises, and talks with confidence and proficiency. He's quite a charmer, and remains the happiest baby I've ever encountered (do I sound biased??).

Here he is in action:

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Andy the conductor and banging around

2011-09-14T15:59:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I took the boys to Starbucks after picking up Ben at school. Andy had fun playing with a straw and I wondered if he might make a good conductor someday...

YouTube Video

In other news, Andy continues to crawl and try to stand. Consequently, he has been getting banged up from frequent falls.

Here's a shot of sone fresh marks on his forehead from today's adventures, and a close up of his knee... Both knees are red from the crawling!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cruisin'

2011-09-10T16:37:00.001-07:00

Here he goes!

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Here comes trouble

2011-09-09T14:07:00.001-07:00

He's crawling! For real. He's six months old and is crawling like Ben did at 9 months.

YouTube Video

Yesterday when I picked Andy up at daycare, four different staff people (including the director) told me that not only had he been crawling around like crazy but that he also pulled himself up to standing on anything and everything he could. One of his teachers said he even let go and stood by himself for a few seconds.

I'm not writing this as a proud mommy bragging about her super charged baby... In fact I'm a bit ambivalent. I love seeing Andy develop and watch him become so happy with himself as he gets around. But I also feel like this is all going too fast!

I started this post yesterday. Here's a video from today. See the baby gate? Yeah. It's a necessity!

Here comes Mr. Cute!

YouTube Video
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bonus shots!

2011-09-05T19:51:00.001-07:00

Last week Andy stayed home from daycare, as we thought he had hand, foot, and mouth disease... On Wednesday, my friend Ginny watched him at her house. Ginny's taking photography lessons and is armed with a pretty awesome camera. She practiced done of the techniques she'd recently learned in a class on Andy.

She says this shot is her favorite as it's how she sees Andy's curiosity and happy personality.

I like this action shot... Our days are numbered before he's running around with Ben!

But this is my favorite. My baby. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rock Climbing

2011-09-03T14:40:00.001-07:00

Today we took Ben to a local rock climbing gym. He was hesitant at first but then, not surprisingly, he loved it!

YouTube Video

Not to be outdone by his brother, Andy gave it a try, too!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Brothers at play

2011-09-02T17:20:00.001-07:00

Today I picked up a new small play rug at Ikea for Andy's room. The boys both seem to like it, and I've enjoyed watching them play together.

YouTube Video

Ben says he wants a new rug for his room, so I might have to make another trip to Ikea soon. I have to admit, I love that place! I also bought a "shape sorter" toy for Andy, which is a bit too advanced for him. But Ben likes it!

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lego fun!

2011-08-28T15:50:00.001-07:00

It's a hot day... Nearly 100. Too hot to play outside, so we're inside playing with Legos!

YouTube Video

And check out Andy... Maybe he'll skip crawling!?!

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Six months old!

2011-08-26T16:39:00.001-07:00

Yesterday marked 6 months since Andy's birth! It feels like he's been with us forever (in a good way!).

Here's what he's been up to:
Sitting up
Almost crawling
SMILING
Hugging and giving "kisses"
Sucking his thumb, left thumb exclusively
Eating! (bananas, oatmeal, peas, brown rice, avocado, sweet potato, carrots, apples, peaches, plums...)
Making friends at daycare
LOVING his big brother
Sitting outside (in the grass is preferable to on a blanket)
Swinging
Babbling
Sucking his toes
Watching animals intently
Sleeping well (in bed 12 hours/night with 1-2 wake ups)
Still teething, but no teeth

Here's a video of him playing. I often set him down with a basket of toys, and he'll play happily for quite awhile. He really is a very happy guy!!

YouTube Video

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

First day of school

2011-08-24T20:44:00.001-07:00

Today was Ben's first day of "real" school. He will spend three years at Redbud Montessori, and we're all psyched! Yesterday was a brief orientation day, and all of the kids received shirts:

Ben lives the construction trucks! There us a building project going on next to the school, so each morning we watch diggers, rollers, dump trucks, and "excabators" at work!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Almost crawling!

2011-08-22T17:11:00.001-07:00

Andy is getting very close to crawling...

YouTube Video
He's also very good at pulling himself up on pretty much anything in sight!

YouTube Video

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

At the park

2011-08-08T09:26:00.001-07:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just saying Hi!

2011-07-26T14:27:00.001-07:00

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Is it finger painting...

2011-07-23T16:03:00.001-07:00

If he uses his whole arm??

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Doesn't Get Cuter...

2011-07-21T15:02:00.001-07:00

Than this!

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Andy eats!

2011-07-10T18:23:00.001-07:00

Andy is ready to eat, and I've been reading up on good first foods. I wanted to avoid the standard rice cereal, as I remember Ben not really liking it. Apparently, bananas and sweet potatoes are good first foods as well, so tonight I baked an organic sweet potato, mashed it, and watered it down. Here's the result!

YouTube Video

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Shopping with Ben

2011-07-10T15:54:00.001-07:00

So I've been letting Ben play with my iPhone camera when we are out and about lately. It provides a good distraction, and he's very proud of the pictures he takes. I'm sure I'm going to end up regretting this decision, but for now, I'm happy letting him play with it.

This morning I took the boys to Trader Joe's. Here is Ben's photo--and video--essay of the trip!

(Definitely not loving this photo if me, but the photographer loved it!)

(We did not buy these cookies, though now I wish we had!)

YouTube Video

Do you think TJs would like to hire Ben to do advertising??

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

More sitting up

2011-07-08T16:36:00.001-07:00

Andy's been working hard on sitting up. He doesn't like to lean back in my arms when I hold him on my lap... I think he's getting geared up to start running after Ben!

Here he is practicing:

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

More swinging

2011-07-01T13:46:00.001-07:00

I can't get enough of Andy on his swing!

YouTube Video

Also, we went to the zoo last night. Highlights included the giraffes...

And chocolate ice cream!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ben's Last Day of School

2011-07-01T07:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Ben's last day at school. He started just 2 weeks after his 2nd birthday, more than a year and a half ago.

At this school, Ben has made some of his first and best friends, has learned many skills, and has become a very independent little person!

When I picked him up yesterday, we cleaned out his cubby, and his teachers gave me the binder that they've kept, documenting his progress and learning. Though it had been sitting on a shelf in his classroom for over a year, I never looked through the binder until last night.

I was blown away by the pictures and comments that tell the story of Ben's time and adventures at school.

I have really loved this school from the start... Within weeks of enrolling, everyone knew us and was quick to talk about what Ben was up to.

Ben quickly distinguished himself as a VERY active and engaged kid who, I'm very proud to say, charmed and befriended almost everyone he met at school. I love running into parents who tell me how much their kid(s) like Ben. I'm excited for the adventures we'll have at Ben's new school, but will miss this first chapter in his life, too.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

New swing for Andy

2011-06-29T13:46:00.001-07:00

YouTube Video

It's actually Ben's old swing... But who's counting?!?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Nap Time

2011-06-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

4 Months Old!

2011-06-25T15:49:00.001-07:00

Today Andy is four months old. Yesterday, Ben turned three and a half! It's definitely a time of fun and growth... For all of us.

(I love Andy's look of confusion in this photo.)

Here is a short video of Andy playing. His favorite things to do (besides sleeping and eating) are grabbing things and rolling around on the floor. Enjoy!

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Milestone: Sitting up!

2011-06-23T13:40:00.001-07:00

This entry now brings me current as I catch up with blogging.

Andy has been sitting up on and off for a couple of weeks now. Today I snapped this photo of him. Yes, he fell over right after, but one of my neighbors was there and she agreed that this definitely counts as sitting up!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ben's bench

2011-06-23T13:37:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I got a case of the "buildies." Ever since Jonathan and I started building together, I've periodically had the overwhelming urge to make something... Usually when we're broke and don't have supplies handy.

So when Andy went down for a nap I went to the garage to check out our pile of scrap wood. We also had a pallet so I started thinking about building Ben a little adirondack chair for the front yard. Well, the chair became a bench.

I built it in just 2.5 hours, rushing each step as I assumed Andy would surely wake up any minute.

Last weekend Ben and I sat under the tree in the front yard and painted it.

It was one of those fantastic moments. He kept saying, "Mommy, we're working together. C'mon, let's get started!" It was cute, especially since he said it again and again over the course of a couple of hours.

I liked the bench when I first finished it. But now I really love it!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Neighborhood Fun!

2011-06-23T13:13:00.001-07:00

As most of you know, we love our neighborhood and our neighbors. The kids all play (as do the grownups!) and we're pretty much a big extended family.

Here are some recent pictures of our adventures...

Ben riding the plasma car:

Attack of the muddy toddler!

YouTube Video

Typical scene of kids on bikes...

YouTube Video

The dynamic duo:

Mommy and Andy hanging out under a tree.

Look at my big boy!

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lots of photos

2011-06-23T12:03:00.001-07:00

Here are photos of the past couple of months... I promise to be better at writing *real* posts from now on!

YouTube Video

Ben napping...

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Let's try this again...

2011-06-23T11:47:00.001-07:00

So that obviously didn't work. Let's try this again with a different app.

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

We're baaaaack!

2011-06-23T11:37:00.001-07:00

I'm testing blogging apps for my phone. Since Ben "hupped" clean my laptop and destroyed it, I haven't had time to get photos off our back up drive to post. But I have tons on my phone so I figure it will be fun to see if I can just update the blog from the phone anyway.

So here goes...

I'm going to add a photo and a video and see what happens.

Catching up...

2011-04-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

I've been terrible about updating the blog recently, but I blame having the new task of juggling two boys! The transition from a family of 3 to a family of 4 has been great, if very busy. But so far, we're doing well, and Andy is fitting right into the groove of life on *the outside.*

Ben has taken on his role of big brother with the gusto we expected... he loves holding and helping with Andy, and we're very happy to report that there have been no accidental injuries from over-enthusiastic hugging!

We were lucky to have Coco come stay with us for a whole month!! She really helped with the transition, and had lots of bonding time with Andy.

I really love seeing my crew of boys hanging out together...

Ben's Baby Brother is Here!

2011-02-28T13:38:00.001-08:00

On February 25, we welcomed Ben's little brother, Andrew Paul, to the family!

At 9lbs, he was a big boy... but the delivery was great and he and mommy did extraordinarily well...

Family Time

2011-01-02T14:36:00.001-08:00

It's been a quiet week since Christmas, which we've enjoyed primarily because of the quiet. The weather has been cold and rainy, and we've spent a lot of time inside playing (and going stir-crazy). A few days ago we had a break in the weather, and Jonathan hung up the swing CeCe and Papa gave Ben for his birthday. We put it in the front yard, and Ben spent most of the day on it!

We've also spent a lot of time cleaning out our garage... which was a very good thing! Right now, about 2/3 of it is dedicated to Jonathan's tools and woodworking equipment, and since I've had the woodworking bug lately myself, I'm happy with this arrangement! The other 1/3 of the space (separated by a wall of bookshelves) is the laundry area. It's a good sized space, so I put down a rug, brought out all of the art supplies that make a mess in the house, added Ben's small table and chairs set, and we now have a play area adjacent to the woodworking space! It's been fun to be out there all together doing "projects" this week. Ben loves to help his dad in the garage.

Right before Christmas, I built us a new coffee table that is also a huge train table. It's great largely because the top comes off in two pieces and inside is enough space to store TONS of his toys. I had to let Jonathan prime and paint it, and we chose a cool sage green color. Here's a shot of the table with the top off.

Today we've been working on another project as well... I can't wait to post some photos, but will hold off until it's done! But here's a look at Ben covered in sawdust, helping us out!

Lastly, I was inspired (reading a blog last night) to make a couple of small terrariums for our kitchen window. They're really cool, and I thought Ben might enjoy helping me assemble them. Well, I was right on the first count, but the assembly proved a bit too delicate for him, so I ended up doing it myself! But I'm really happy with how they turned out. One in an olive jar and the other in an inverted baby food jar. I've since painted the tops of both to match, but here's a look at my handiwork. I can't wait until Ben is a little bit older and can enjoy things like this! For now, he'd much rather shake up the jars, which defeats the purpose, as you might imagine.

Christmas Morning!

2010-12-25T19:56:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas! Our morning didn't start too early (7am, which is quite late for Ben) and was pretty leisurely. Ben spent time playing with most of his gifts as he opened them, which was fun for all of us. Here are some videos!

Ben's first gift. Toy Story dominoes...

Here's Ben opening his gift from Tommy and Kate. It's a Leap Frog spell pad... Ben already has a Leap Frog laptop (an early gift from Mom Mom) that he loves... which is what he's referring to when he says that this gift is "another 'puter."

We couldn't have let the holiday go by without getting yet another truck. I honestly didn't know this one made so much noise, or I wouldn't have bought it... but Ben loves, it, which makes it fun. For now.

Coco and Papi sent Ben a pirate ship, complete with thousands of little (i.e. swallowable) parts, action figures, and gadgets. You can guess that he LOVES this!! So far so good, as far as putting small parts in his mouth (we've put the most choke-able ones aside) and he's been playing pirate all day!

A small gift that ended up being a big hit was the set of wooden block-beads and string that is meant to be threaded... a good developmental game for hand-eye coordination (and cheap at Target!). Ben and Daddy had a good time playing with this gift together.

Finally, here is Ben opening one of the last gifts of the morning... a set of Legos from CeCe and Papa! He's been loving the Lego set they gave him last month, and he immediately started playing with these when he opened them.

Happy Holidays to All!!

Papa and CeCe's Visit!

2010-12-13T07:30:00.001-08:00

As usual, I'm a bit behind in posting... CeCe and Papa came for Thanksgiving, and we had a great week of playing! Ben enjoyed reading with CeCe, sailing with Daddy and Papa, and Mommy enjoyed watching him spend time with his grandparents. Here are some highlights...

Papa hanging out watching Ben rake leaves...

CeCe and Ben at Habit Burger...

Ben wearing the shark mittens that CeCe and Mom Mom gave him...

Playing in the leaves...

I have to admit that I've been terrible about taking pictures lately, but I will be better during the holiday season!

Zoo!

2010-11-11T15:44:00.001-08:00

Today we went to the Sacramento Zoo. It was a blast, though Ben was more interested in playing on the playground than in looking at the animals. But it was a fun day, nonetheless!

Checking out the giraffe...

Flamingos!

How cute is Elliot?!?

Ben the Butterfly!

I love Ben's expression... no idea what he's thinking or doing.

Happy Belated Halloween!

2010-11-07T20:44:00.001-08:00

Cousins!

2010-10-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

Ben's cousins, Tommy and Kate, came to visit last weekend! It was an amazing few days of laughter, tantrums, and lollipops. Tommy and Ben are just 6 months apart in age, and it was so fun to see them hanging out as best buds. And though she's just 17 months old, Kate held her own with the boys... both in terms of energy and lung-power (that little girl can really yell!).

I was pretty bad about taking photos, but did take some videos of them all playing. Here is one of my favorites, taken just minutes after the kids' reunion in the backyard. Ben and Tommy discuss Ben's latest "owie."

Here's another one from that first day... Kate playing while the boys and grown ups talk...

Farmer's Market!

Here is Ben showing us his "treasure" (his word for "sword") and playing with Tommy and another kid at the Farmer's Market. The balloon animal maker is a popular attraction each week for kids, and swords are pretty popular items among toddlers and little kids. You can see the older kid get tag-teamed by the cousins!!

Here is Tommy showing off his sword (he has the right word for it) and you can hear Auntie Amy's reservation about the older kid, who seemed to take a bit too much pleasure in beating up our toddlers with his own sword! (We never saw who the kid's parents were... maybe they dropped him off for a few hours and went to run errands?)

Not to be outdone, Kate had her own sword, too!

Fall is Here!

2010-10-03T08:36:00.001-07:00

There is a small farm on the outskirts of town called Impossible Acres. Each October, they have a barn (and barnyard) full of baby animals that kids can hold and pet. Last year Ben loved it, and so we decided to go visit yesterday, their opening day! We had a blast--despite the fact that Mommy was HOT in the bright October sun--and Ben enjoyed the animals, the hay bale "fort," and the tractor ride. We can't wait to bring Cousins Tommy and Kate next weekend when they're here!

The pumpkin patch...

Baby goats with their mama...
Ben and the pony...

More Pony Tails and Chuck E. Cheese!

2010-09-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Ben continues to arrive home from daycare with pony tails in his hair. And he continues to love them. I have to admit, I find this hilarious, and I am quick to snap a few photos when I have him in the car (he won't sit still for a photo when he's not strapped in!)... Here are a few gems:

In the photos above and below, Ben is wearing a pink shirt that's too small... it has rhinestones that spell out "Miss Waikiki"... When I picked him up this particular day, his teachers explained that he had soaked his own shirt playing outside at the water table, and they found just this one "spare" shirt to lend. Once his own shirt was dry, however, Ben had no interest in changing back, and insisted on wearing his pink shirt for the day!

On Sunday we went with the McReynolds to Chuck E. Cheese... needless to say, it was a huge hit with the kids. And not so bad for the adults, I must confess (skeeball, anyone?). The best part: the kids were exhausted within two hours, and we all took long naps! Here are a couple of shots of Ben playing on some of the "rides."

The Farm, Part 2

2010-08-19T19:39:00.001-07:00

Here are some additional photos from our week at the Farm. We had a great time!

Paddle-boating:

Bedtime snack:

Fishing with Papa:

Relaxing on the porch...

Celebrating Greg and Mom Mom's birthdays!

The boys...

The Greg Feagle family!

Auntie Amanda and Chris...

Similar expressions?

Ben's Feminine Side

2010-08-13T19:14:00.001-07:00

When I arrived at Ben's daycare this afternoon, I found that someone had put a little pony tail in his hair. It's really cute, and he is very proud of it! When I asked what it was, he said, "It's my pony. My pony tail!" Here he is showing it off...

Catching Up: The Farm (Part 1)

2010-07-28T18:25:00.001-07:00

So it's been far too long since I've updated the blog... apologies to the three people who tune in regularly for updates. ;-)

There are three new entries, the most recent is first, so be sure to keep reading!

We spent a week at the Farm in Georgia and Ben had the time of his life! Here are some random pictures. I will post another entry with some additional photos (of more family members) when I get them from CeCe (we didn't bring a single camera on this trip... oops!).

Ben enjoying ice cream on the porch:

Splashing with Anna and Graham!

Papa helped Ben catch his first fish! (I think Ben looks more like a kid than a baby in this photo.)

The catch!

Ben and his Papa:

Lounging on the hammock:

Ben LOVED the play structure Papa built...

Playing along with the player piano...

Napping with CeCe:

Tire swinging...

How's that for a smile??

Fearless on the slide...

Our attempts at a family portrait:
Jonathan feels something rolling up his back...

Yup, that would be a truck...

Here's the best we could come up with:

This might be my new favorite photo. Remember Charlie Brown's friend Pigpen? He ain't got nothing on Ben!

Catching Up: Ginny and Mark's Wedding!

2010-07-28T17:14:00.001-07:00

In late June we traveled to Currituck, North Carolina for my best friend's wedding. Ginny and Mark have a beautiful daughter, Ellie, who stole the show all weekend long. Ben came in a close second, and I basked in the compliments we received on how cute and polite(!!) he was. Here are some photos taken by a truly wonderful photographer and former high school student of Ginny...

Ben loved playing on the tractors at Ginny's brother's house during the rehearsal dinner (a pig pickin'!):

The beautiful bride...

Ellie's spontaneous participation in the ring ceremony was incredibly sweet...

My maid of honor speech... in which I cited Beowulf (in the original Anglo Saxon) and made myself cry...

Mr. Ben enjoyed the lawn games and art table after the ceremony!

Catching Up: Coco's Visit and Katie's Graduation

2010-07-28T16:52:00.001-07:00

In June, Coco came to visit and to celebrate my graduation! Ben had a wonderful time with Coco, though we managed to only snap a couple of photos of them together. Here's one:

Coco is constantly taking pictures, and Ben became obsessed with her "cammer" (camera). So Coco bought him his VERY OWN digital cammer. Here he is taking the first of hundreds of shots of his own fingers. But he loves it and it's been fun.

What I love most about visits from friends and family are the photos we get of ourselves! We rarely remember or take the time to get photos with Mommy and Daddy with Ben. So here are a couple, the first of which I absolutely love (I know, I'm not mother of the year!):

Here we are reading one of this household's favorites, Llama Llama Misses Mama. A classic, for sure!

I (FINALLY) finished my Ph.D. after (WAY TOO MANY) years in UCD's English Department. I'm happy to be done, and I was so glad to have my mom and husband there to celebrate! We left Ben at home with our friends the McReynolds, which proved to be smart since the ceremony went on for almsot 3 hours!

But we came home to find homemade banners decorating the yard. They say "CONGRATULATIONS Dr. Rodger, aka Mommy, aka Katie!" It was a very cool thing to see. And they were, of course, decorated by the kids.

This cake proved to be the richest chocolate I've had in my life. It actually kept me up that night due, I believe to the caffeine content! But soooooooo good!

Our little family...

The Dynamic Duo!

2010-05-22T08:39:00.001-07:00

The day began innocently enough. Elliot came to spend the morning with us while his sister was in preschool (accompanied by her mom)... The boys seemed happy doing some basic finger painting in the back yard. While enjoying some banana muffins.

I went inside for just a minute, and when I came back, both boys had managed to get more paint on themselves--and in their hair--than on the paper!

They played.

And climbed.

And played some more.

It was a great morning!

Ben and His Horn

2010-05-22T08:34:00.001-07:00

A couple of weekends ago the UC Davis Marching Band was at the Farmers Market. The players welcomed kids (and grown ups) to come check out their instruments between songs, and Ben was particularly fascinated by the horns... The first instrument we bought for Ben was a recorder, which he still calls his "horn," and we think (and hope) he's definitely going to end up playing someday.

Needless to say, the largest horns were the most interesting for Ben, and we spent quite a bit of time watching him explore. One of the band members was particularly friendly, and even showed Ben how to blow into the mouthpiece (which Ben didn't want to do). But it was clearly the highlight of Ben's morning!

Spring Has Sprung!

2010-04-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

The weather has been very spring-like for the past couple of weeks (though as I write this it's raining again!). We've had lots of fun outside... playing with friends, working in our garden, and hanging out at the park. Here are some random photos:

Ben "hupping" me trim the hedges. Note that he's using his plastic toddler-friendly scissors. He became very frustrated when they wouldn't cut very much!

My recent favorite photo. He's sucking on a "wa-pop" (lollipop).

Flowers blooming at the park! (Wa-pop in his mouth.)

Ben loves the sand box at the park...

We go for a wagon ride almost every day around the neighborhood. Here Emma and Elliot join us!

Lots of photos...

2010-04-08T21:56:00.001-07:00

During Papa's visit, he and Daddy did quite a bit of sailing, leaving Ben and Mommy to fend for ourselves. We spent lots of time at the park and hanging out. Here are a few pictures...

Ben very much enjoys spaghetti dinner...

Last weekend, after Papa left, we took Ben to the boat for the day. We're hoping he'll grow up comfortable with the water and sailing. So far so good! He had a blast playing and "hupping" (helping) aboard...

Papa Comes to Visit!

2010-03-30T08:39:00.001-07:00

Last night Papa (Frank) arrived for a visit. We're so sad that CeCe couldn't come too, but we've already had her with us... this is video of Ben reading "CeCe's Book," a recordable story that has her voice! Needless to say, he LOVES it...

Here's Ben reading the book on his own...

A Funny Story...

2010-03-25T18:47:00.001-07:00

Today I took Ben with me to pick up a tree I found on Freecycle. I love Freecycle and have found some wonderful plants and trees for my little garden. This morning I went to pick up a small, unidentified tree from a woman on the other side of town. I told Ben we were going to get a tree! He seemed very excited. When we arrived, he jumped out of the car and ran to where the woman had the tree in a wheelbarrow... I said, "Look, Ben, a tree!" At which point he dissolved into tears, crying "Treat, I want a treat!" It was kind of sad. And cute.

When I told Jonathan about it he said that this was a story he hopes we'll remember years from now. So I'm writing it down here.

Later in the day, Emma came to play and she and Ben had a great time dressing up in hats and scarves...

In other news... Ben has figured out how to ride tricycles!

Benisms...

2010-03-20T11:58:00.001-07:00

I wanted to write down the funny things Ben says, primarily so that I have a record of them myself. But it occurred to me that some of you might be amused as well, so here goes!

Random Benisms:
*nannies = bananas
*supie coo-ah = super cool
*Star Hoes (formerly Stah Whores) = Star Wars
*Dahth Vadah = Darth Vader (yes... he's watching Star Wars, and yes he seems to have a Boston accent!)
*Eeiss = Ellie (my friend's daughter)
*Eeott = Elliot (our friend across the street)
*ah-some = awesome
*boo dozer = bulldozer
*finging = swinging
*fimming = swimming

Ben seems to have a strange obsession with benches. A few weekends ago I took him swimming at the gym. On the way in, he tripped and fell on the sidewalk and skinned his knee. Since then, he proudly states, "I fall off bench. I got owie."

Here are a few shots from this morning... playing with trains and trying to get a decent photo with Mommy.

Missing Daddy!

2010-03-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

Jonathan is with his class at science camp for the week, so it's just Mommy and Ben for a few days! So far so good, though it's been a long day (Ben is in daycare MWF, but not on Tuesdays)... So today we were awake at 4:45am and at the park by 7:30am!

Ben had fun playing in the sandbox...

He loves the airplane in the sand...

After naptime (for both of us) we went to the Co-Op for some groceries and a snack. Ben LOVES veggie sushi. Here he is chowing down on a carrot roll!

We're hoping to go visit Daddy on Thursday at camp and check out the area. There's snow up there, which will be a blast for Ben. More soon...

Potty Training Has Begun!

2010-03-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

We are starting down the long winding road called POTTY TRAINING! Ben has been very prompt about telling us that he is pooping, and we've seen him hold in his pee (while running away naked as we try to get a diaper on him!)... so we think it's time.

Today I bought 14 pairs of underpants and some stickers that may be used for rewards, though I'm still hoping it might not come to that. (I had a hilarious conversation with Amy today who had promised Tommy a cupcake if he would poop in the potty... proof that we all get desperate!)

Here are a couple of photos I snapped with my phone, showing Ben in his Cookie Monster underpants! He wouldn't pose, so forgive the quality. Stay tuned for the madness that will no doubt ensue!

School Update

2010-02-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

Ben has been in daycare--which we call "school"--for just over a month. The transition was much harder than we'd expected. For a kid who has had zero stranger anxiety, or fear of any sort that we could detect, Ben was pretty overwhelmed by the routine of being dropped off for 7 hours, 3 days per week. But we love his school and the teachers and families there--all of whom assured us that such transitions are normal--so we stuck it out.

And it has paid off!! For the last 2 weeks or so, Ben has done WONDERFULLY! He loves "the kids" as he calls them, and has a special affection for his teacher, Miss Pam. The school sends home daily reports (we can pick them up in batches periodically) tracking such wonders as diaper changes, eating and nap habits, and overall achievements. The first few of these were very uneventful, but we finally received the one we were waiting for!

Here is Ben's first really positive day! It's hard to read, but the first comment is "Much better day!" which made us so happy. The teachers included a photo of him doing an art project, and we've seen quite a bit of subsequent drawing and painting since this day...

A closeup of the photo... (Note that Blue Ted, Ben's teddy bear, is right next to him. Blue Ted accompanies Ben to school everyday, which I'm hoping will eventually stop.)

Here are the first 3 masterpieces that came home!

Lots Going On!

2010-01-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy month! Lots of changes in Ben and in our life... First off, Ben is now in daycare ("school") 3 days/week. It's been a rough transition, which actually surprised us. This is a child who has wandered through airport terminals befriending anyone and everyone he's come across, and always plays with the kids at the park - no matter how old they are! So we were definitely surprised to hear that he had pretty real separation anxieties when we left. Though it makes perfect sense when we stop to think about it. As of last Friday, however, things have been getting better, so here's hoping the worst is behind us.

On Saturday, we took Ben to the boat. Though we didn't sail, we had fun hanging out aboard, letting Ben get used to the feel of the water... he did great!

Ben's language and vocabulary have taken off! Everyday he has new words and is now making clear sentences. Among his most popular words are "careful," "butterfly" (buh-sye), and "here it comes!" A very random sampling, I know. He also likes to begin about 1000 sentences a day with, "Hey, Mommy..." or "Hey, Daddy..." Though sometimes all that follows is babble (at least to us). He's quite a chatter box, though we can't understand where that comes from!! ;-)

Daddy brought a new friend home from San Francisco last week... Ben loves his lion and sleeps with him each night.

Birthdaypalooza!!!

2010-01-03T18:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a huge block party to celebrate Ben's second and Emma's third birthday(s)! For those who don't know, Emma lives across the street and she and Ben (along with her little brother Elliot) are best buds. Like Ben, Emma's birthday is right near the holidays, so the two dads planned an extravaganza for the two kids. It was AWESOME!! Here are some highlights...

The birthday cake bounce house (see the candles up in the tree branches?)

Petting zoo!!

Pony Rides!!

Piñata!

And, of course, CUPCAKES!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-26T06:53:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas! We had a wonderful holiday--up EARLY, at 5am--filled with gifts, food, and friends.

This was the year of the wheeled-vehicle for Ben... lots of cars, trucks, and trains!! He LOVES anything with wheels, so he was happy.

His stocking was filled with Matchbox cars... which worked wonderfully on the new train tracks he received from his friends across the street.

Coco and Papi sent a basketball hoop...

Daddy received an iPhone from Santa...

Mommy was psyched with a leaf mulcher... watch out compost, things are about to get crazy!!

Daddy (wearing the hat Mommy knitted) reads to Ben from a book given by Mom Mom (a book about TRUCKS!)...

Here's a video of Ben playing with the car track thingy that Tommy and Kate gave him... he LOVES it!

Stay tuned for more posts... Ben's birthday on the 24th, and the impending party on the 2nd!! Happy New Year!

'Tis the Season!

2009-12-14T09:05:00.001-08:00

Last weekend we went to a Christmas Tree farm and cut down our tree. This was more than your average tree farm, as it had hay rides, a tractor-driving Santa, and all kinds of activities for kids. It was a blast!! Mommy's favorite were the rocking reindeer--wooden and iron reindeer that rock like rocking horses. They were AWESOME and could be ridden by kids and parents! Here's Ben giving one a whirl...

There were also hay horses to ride!

After what seemed like hours and miles spent walking and searching, we found the perfect tree!! It's a variety of redwood, and is really beautiful. Daddy cut it down while Ben "hupped" (helped) by sprinkling sand and gravel around.

The tree is great... the star on top keeps tipping over and Ben likes to pull down the bottom string of lights... overall, we think it's a spectacular tree!!

Happy Holidays!!!

Coco and Papi (PeePaw) Visit!

2009-12-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

Ben's grandparents came to visit for Thanksgiving and it was a fun-filled week! One of the great highlights was Ben's decision to re-name Papi, reversing the pronunciation to "PeePaw," which continues to stick with him even after PeePaw has been away for a couple of weeks. Here are some of the other highlights of the visit...

Here is Ben helping Coco make some of the Rodger's world famous chocolate fudge frosting (which was DELICOUS!).

Ben's first taste (with Coco looking on):

Success!

Ben was very attentive to PeePaw... especially with PeePaw's cane and chair. Here are the two boys together.

We went to visit the Buter-Casanova clan, and Ben had a chance to meet Romeo, Susan's beautiful horse, up close!

Ben had a blast playing with Grayson, his third(?) cousin...

We played with Emma and Elliot (of course!):

And we got some good shots of Ben with Mommy and Daddy...

Finally, here are a few of my favorites of Ben from the week... Enjoy!

Halloween!

2009-11-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

We had a great Halloween. Jonathan bought a 55 pound pumpkin (or "pokon" as Ben calls it), and the night before Halloween we had a carving party with the McReynolds, our neighbors across the street. Ben and Emma helped decide on the design...

Who wouldn't try to cram their kid into a 55 pound pumpkin?? Ben didn't like it too much...

Though he didn't mind as much when Emma was crammed in there too...

Elliot was much more willing to hang in the pokon (at least for about 5 seconds, and then he cried too)...

Ben wore his cow costume all week... here he is on his way to music class!

And here he is in Diaper Daredevils... gotta love a kid in a costume doing a faceplant!

Happy Halloween!!!

CeCe's Visit!

2009-11-06T22:15:00.001-08:00

I've been terrible about updating the blog lately! We've been busy during the past month...

We had a wonderful visit with Grammy, who Ben re-named CeCe!! She was with us for a week, and gave Jonathan and me a FANTASTIC weekend away (all by ourselves!!). Ben absolutely adores CeCe, and he mentions her still on a daily basis--often saying "MY CeCe," with a strong emphasis on the "my." It's really cute! We are grateful that she could come visit, and we're hoping that she and Papa, as Ben is now calling Frank, will be here together soon (hint, hint!). Here are some highlights from her visit.

I like this one, even though CeCe looks like she's in the middle of a laugh!

Ben and Mommy (I'm so grateful when someone else is behind the camera... I have very few photos of me with Ben!).

Goofing around with Daddy...

CeCe takes some of the best photos of Ben--ever!

I love this one as well...

Maybe Ben gets his wild hair from his daddy!?!

Helping with the laundry...

Here's Ben at his Diaper Daredevils class (baby gymnastics). CeCe had a chance to see him in action!

And perhaps best of all, CeCe *weaned* Ben from his pacifier! While we were gone she forgot to give it to him at night, and he didn't need it. We've gone weeks now with NO binkie, and even though every once in awhile he'll ask for his "bink," we're fairly certain it's totally behind us now!! THANKS CECE!!!

R.I.P. Binkie!

Impossible Acres!

2009-10-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

This morning I took Ben to a local farm and pumpkin patch called Impossible Acres. We met up with our neighbors, Elliot and Emma, and their cousin Katie. It was a blast!! I'm posting a few videos of the dozen or so I took... mostly showing Ben with the animals that he could get VERY close to. Enjoy!

Salsa

2009-09-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

Ben loves salsa. And chips. So whenever there is salsa around, he must eat it. Even if it's mommy's HOT, spicy salsa. Now, to be fair, I could have taken it away from him. But I know him and I know that if I don't let him at least try something that he wants, he'll throw a tantrum. And his tantrums are nothing to mess with! So he tried my hot salsa. This is what happened.

When you watch, note that when he says "WAH!" that means "more" in Ben-speak.

Mommy's New Toy!

2009-09-11T09:34:00.001-07:00

I haven't been happy with the quality of the videos I've been taking with my old digital camera. So, I splurged and bought myself a Flip camera!! It's SO easy to use, and the quality is 100% improved. See if you notice the difference...

ps-I just watched the video here on the blog, and the quality doesn't seem as improved as it does when I watch it on my computer (watching from the file directly). I'll have to figure out if there's a way to make it even better on the blog.

Body Art?

2009-09-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

I think this speaks for itself...

Halloween Preview

2009-09-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

(I JUST UPDATED THIS POST WITH A BETTER, RIGHT-SIDE-UP VIDEO!)

Yesterday I saw this Halloween costume at Costco... a COW! I knew that it was for Ben since he loves to MOO at pretty much anything and everything. We did a trial run to make sure it fit. He had a blast! My favorite part of this video is that there is still a hanger sewn to the hood... so funny! Enjoy...

Lunchtime Fun!

2009-08-30T12:12:00.000-07:00

The three of us had an early lunch together today and Ben was happily giving "nose kisses" to his daddy so I grabbed the camera! I think this video speaks for itself. In my humble opinion it's one of the cutest things in the world!!

PS- If you listen closely, you can hear Ben say "bye bye" at the end!

The Artist!

2009-08-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today I was reminded that there is no limit to what I will do in order to keep Ben entertained. He was pretty grumpy this morning so I grabbed the roll of paper and some paints and turned him loose in the backyard. These photos give a small sense of what fun he had... I will be cleaning paint off of not only Ben, but off of the patio furniture and steps for quite awhile. But it was so fun to watch him paint!!! Enjoy...

The little artist is napping now... here's a peek at the damage he did to himself!!!

Bye Bubbles!

2009-08-16T10:43:00.001-07:00

Ben and I were playing with bubbles this morning and he started waving and saying "Bye bubbles!" each time they started to blow away. It was really sweet, so I grabbed my camera and tried to capture him doing it. You can get a sense of it here, though he was reluctant to let me blow more bubbles for him once the camera was rolling... But he did show off the wonderful *art* he composed on his legs this morning. He LOVES pens and drawing on himself (and anything he can get his hands on... our couch is in need of some spot cleaning!). Enjoy!!

Vacation Part 2: The Farm

2009-08-10T19:36:00.001-07:00

On the second leg of our vacation, we visited the Farm in Georgia! Ben had such a blast hanging out with the entire family. He especially LOVED riding on the golf carts with pretty much anyone who would take him for a spin! Grammy and Grandpa both went on lots of rides... and Mom Mom took him out for a spin or two, too! He hung out with Auntie Amanda and got to know his cousins, Anna and Graham, which was such a great thing to witness. Overall, it was a truly fantastic week! Here are some photos in no particular order (as usual!):

Mr. Ben hanging out on the stairs...

Mom Mom with sweet Graham...

Grammy with little Anna...

Auntie Bonnie with her babies!

Jonathan with Anna...

Daddy and Ben on the big tractor...

A John Deere advertisement...

Driving the tractor!

Playing with Anna!

Feagle men...

Grandpa and his little helper...

Favorite time of the day!

The family of four!

Ben's water world...

Greg and Amanda on Greg's birthday...

Ben riding on the Red Monster...

The Three Feagle Cousins!

The family...

Vacation Part 1: Cape Cod

2009-07-26T12:05:00.001-07:00

We spent the week of the 4th of July with my family (minus my dad, Ben's "Papi") at the Cape! It was so fun watching Ben and his cousin Tommy get to know each other better and to PLAY all the time! Here are a bunch of photos... in no particular order, but with some captions to make some sense of things.

Ben and Mommy checking out Wellfleet Harbor...

Coco and Ben...
Mommy and Daddy sharing a laugh...

The cousins playing behind the cottage...

Hanging out...

Boy/Man time...

Cousins on the 4th...

At the beach...

Wellfleet Harbor...

The Dubows (minus Kate)...

Ben, Daddy, Coco, and Tommy...

Coco and Tommy at the freshwater pond...

Ben chewing on a flag on the 4th!

Ben and Daddy in the cottage...

Most days were pretty sunny, but even the rain didn't stop the boys from playing outside.

Auntie Amy and Tommy...

Ben walking the beach...

Heading down the dune to the ocean... this is Ben's first trip down...

The cousins on the bennnnnnn-CH (as Tommy pronounces it!):

Daddy and Ben headed to the beach...

Playing on the rocks...

Ben at the freshwater pond...

Hi-jacking some other kid's tube at the pond...

Tommy pondering the meaning of life...

Auntie Katie and baby Kate...

Ben and Tommy ran around in their "Super" capes... it was hilarious and cute to see them as superheroes!

Ben and the ocean...

I have to add this bonus video... Coco and Ben playing "This is the way my lady rides." So funny and cute!!!

Can you tell he's a bit hyper?

2009-06-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

So a friend asked me "How different can a baby and a toddler really be?" (She was kidding, but it was a funny question just the same.) Here is my answer: a baby is pretty mellow. A toddler is a crazy, mobile maniac. See these videos for proof...

Ben has *almost* learned the sounds that certain animals make:
cow = "maw"
dog = "wuf"
pig = "nk" (he only gets this one once in awhile)
duck = "kuck"
cat = "mow" or "ow" (an abbreviated version of "meow")

He also knows many of his body parts. This video is cute, but Ben actually knows the difference between his eyes and ears better than this would suggest... and he normally says "eye" when he pokes himself in the eye (versus saying it when he touches his ear, as in the video). Enjoy!

Grammy's Visit!

2009-06-08T21:09:00.001-07:00

I've taken way too long to post an update about Grammy's visit in May (blame the end of the spring quarter and Ginny's visit last week for my delay!)...

Grammy spent the whole week with us, and helped out SO MUCH with Ben! They played, ate, and hung out together every day, and I was able to get quite a bit of work done, which was fantastic. Some of these photos were taken by me, and some by Grammy. I'm especially grateful that she snapped a few good candid shots of Jonathan, Ben, and me together. We have so few of the three of us together! Here are some of the highlights of Grammy's visit (in no particular chronological order).

Lots of books were read that week!

Grammy and Ben had lots of fun in the backyard!

I love this shirt... it was a gift from Grammy!

Hanging out in the backyard...

The Feagle boys...

The farmer's market! (Ben fell asleep about 30 seconds after we took this photo!)

Ben and his Grammy...

Staying Cool

2009-05-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

We're having a heatwave. Today it's going to be about 98 and tomorrow it will hit 103. It's hot. Ben and I are staying cool (while Daddy's at the boat) by hanging out in the shade, eating popsicles, and playing in the sprinkler.

Future Career?

2009-05-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

Ben loves helping out around the house. This is a good thing. And lately, he's become very *insistent* on doing the sweeping and vacuuming ALL BY HIMSELF. I'm starting to think he might have a future in the janitorial arts...

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T20:20:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a great day... This morning Ben and I played a bit in the backyard.

He loves his slide!

Then he *helped* me with my potted veggie garden. (This photo was taken right before he snapped my pepper plant in half!)

Ben likes climbing on his inchworm...

And what day wouldn't be complete without some naked pool time?!?

Almost a year ago...

2009-05-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of photos from last summer. Thanks, Auntie Amanda, for reminding us of how much Ben has grown up!!!

(And look at those fat little legs!)

My Boys

2009-05-01T22:27:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love them both! So cute...

I wish it was chocolate...

2009-05-01T19:48:00.001-07:00

During his nap today Ben somehow managed to pull off his DIRTY diaper (through the leg hole of his shorts!) and then *play* with the mess. It was the most disgusting thing he's ever done. And yes, I took the time to go get my camera and take a picture!! Gross. But he's still so cute!

Our Little Helper

2009-04-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday our latest purchase, a Learning Tower, arrived. I'd heard about these, and we finally gave in and bought one for Ben (they're not cheap).

Lately Ben has become fussier when we cook, do dishes, or do anything that he can't be a part of and see what's going on. This tower is a way for him to be up at the counter--or table--and HELP, safely. It's pretty great... very sturdy, attractive, and adjustable. The customer reviews are universally positive, and I can see why, even after less than a day.

This morning I was doing the dishes, and Ben started pulling on my knees to get my attention. I put the tower in front of the sink, filled up one side with soapy water and spoons for him to *wash*, gave him his own sponge, and he was instantly happy working along side mommy. It was really fun!

Chicken Wee-kka

2009-04-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

I know this is a blog devoted to life with Ben... but I have to brag about the amazing dinner I just cooked and ate. I found this recipe for Chicken Wee-kka with Cucumber Mint Raita at my new favorite blog, Weelicious, a site devoted to food for kids. I also made a couscous salad to with it, also from the same site. (The photo is from Weelicious, though I will say that the food I made looked just as good!)

The funny part is that Ben, Mr. Picky Eater, didn't like the food (no surprise) but Jonathan and I did... I can't wait to try some other recipes from the site. Even if our "wee one" doesn't like the food, the "big ones" in this house certainly do!

LOTS of new pictures...

2009-04-19T09:36:00.001-07:00

We have been busy during the last couple of weeks, so I've posted a bunch of new photos... Enjoy!

Ben's Breakfast

2009-04-19T09:35:00.001-07:00

Who knew purple crayons were so delicious?!?

Picnic Day!

2009-04-19T09:20:00.001-07:00

Every spring, UC Davis hosts a huge festival called Picnic Day. Yesterday was this year's Picnic Day. The campus sets up booths with all kinds of activities and crafts, there are bands playing, a parade goes through campus and downtown, and there are exhibits of all kinds. Thousands of people attend. We wanted to take Ben after his nap yesterday but, of course, he didn't nap in the morning. So we just put him in the bike trailer and headed downtown. He fell asleep on the way and then slept for about an hour in the backpack (he missed the parade!). But once he woke up, he had a GREAT time! We watched some music, ate, and visited the petting zoo... Mommy and Daddy also had fun, and walked a lot, which was good too. Here are some of the highlights:

Arriving downtown with a sleeping baby (he did have a helmet on during the ride):

Snoozing while we walked to campus:

Awake and ready for some music!

As usual, Ben seeks and finds a new doggie friend!

Lunch break for Daddy and Ben.

First look at the petting zoo:Ben tries to grab the goat's tail:

Ben's first Picnic Day was a huge success!!

Ben's Slide

2009-04-17T17:14:00.001-07:00

I found a slide for Ben on Craigslist... it's proven to be the best $40 I've spent in a long time! Check him out. The first video is from about a week ago. The second is from today. Enjoy!

Farmer's Market Fun

2009-04-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the farmer's market. On Wednesday evenings there is music in the park, and it's a great time for families with kids... it's cool to be part of *that* crowd now! Ben had a blast, and danced, ran around, and made friends with a pug puppy, among other activities. Here are some of the highlights.

You may notice here that Ben has had his first haircut! I did it myself a couple of nights ago, and it seems ok (his bangs are a bit crooked, but not too noticeable).

More Lawn Mowing!

2009-04-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

Ben may be destined for a career in landscaping. The kid LOVES mowing the lawn (and pulling my veggie seedlings out of their pots, but that's a different post!). Here are some photos from last week of Ben helping Daddy, and then some from last evening when he helped me mow the backyard. Enjoy!

Look What I Found!

2009-04-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

Months ago, I promised to post photos from our visit with Grammy, Grandpa, and Auntie Amanda. Then I lost the cd of photos Grammy sent me!! Guess what turned up the other day?!? Here are some of the highlights from their trip to Davis in late December and early January!

Jonathan gave Amanda his first official box, made in his workshop in the garage...

Grammy had a wonderful time with Ben!

As always, Grandpa and Ben have a special connection...

Fun in the toy store!

Ben loved (and still does) to read!

Look how young he seems just a couple of months ago!

My cute boy!

Daddy and Ben...

Ben loves Aunt Amanda!!

Ben reading in the bookstore!

Better late than never, right?!?

New Mexico!

2009-03-28T10:52:00.001-07:00

Ben and Mommy just returned from a fantastic - if too short - visit with Coco and Papi in New Mexico. Ben did so well on the flights, and was a trooper through the whole trip.

He LOVED playing in the garden! Especially the rocks...

Coco bought Ben a "popper" to play with. He loved it. We didn't love the noise... but it was fun to watch him drag it along behind him, instead of pushing it in front!

Ben had a great time *helping*Coco water the garden... he followed her around, "stirring" the dirt once it was watered. It was a mess, but lots of fun!

He insisted on tasting the water...

Ben also had his first taste of watermelon!

I don't know if it was because the watermelon was cold, but he held onto his ears while eating it, which was really cute!

Like his cousin Tommy, Ben was fascinated by Papi. He liked to follow Papi around, watching everything he did very carefully!

And Ben loved playing with Papi's walker (which Papi doesn't have to use much anymore!)... it was like a little jungle gym for Ben.

On the way to lunch at Josephina's Gate, Ben fell asleep. He slept in Mommy's arms until midway through the meal. Then he had to explore the cafe's garden. He especially liked saying hello to the statue of Mary!

Overall, it was a wonderful trip!!

Welcome Mai Kai to the family!

2009-03-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Last week we also bought a sailboat!! Jonathan found her online--for sale out of Sausalito. Last weekend we went over to see the boat, and we were sold. We want to especially thank Grammy, Grandpa, and Mom Mom for helping us get the finances together... this really is a dream come true!

The best part is how wonderfully Ben has taken to the boat! The previous owner, Rob, took us out that first day for a quick sail around the Sausalito harbor. Ben did GREAT. Yesterday we spent a few hours exploring the boat and making a list of the work we need to do to get her into top ship-shape. It's going to be so much fun working on this boat as a family!!

Here are a few photos from last weekend...

Spring is Here!

2009-03-22T16:25:00.001-07:00

Ben and I hung out in the backyard last week on one of the first really nice days we've had a awhile. I planted some vegetable seedlings for the garden I'm going to put in our backyard, and Ben helped with everything!! He loves the sidewalk chalk we got for him... our little patio is becoming covered in his *artwork*!!

Hi-Ho, Silver!

2009-03-08T15:13:00.000-07:00