Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and to give thanks. Even through all the bumps and twists we are thankful to have a healthy and beautiful family. Take a moment to reflect and give thanks to someone or something that is part of your life.

Communication Breakdown

Somewhere along the lines of our marriage over the last few years my wife and I have had a major communication breakdown. Check that, we have actually had many, but there was one in particular that occurred this week that made me laugh. In honor of that you will be hearing Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown" this week.
And away we go...

As I mentioned, over the course of our marriage there have been many communication breakdowns, mishaps and just plain misunderstandings. Sometimes she is to blame, sometimes it is me and sometimes it is equal. The communication breakdown that transpired this last week is so comical that I thought it deserved a post in and of itself.

Now with a young child we have incurred a few new expenses: some expected and others unexpected. I think it was either this past Sunday or Monday that Abby and I had a come to Jesus meeting over expenses.I think my exact words were, and I quote, "We need to reduce all expenses." We agreed that saving money was key now and going forward in our life.

Fast forward to this morning... Keep in mind that this is four or five days after our "We need to reduce all expenses" conversation. I am playing with Bennett before work and happen to look over beside his rocker. And on the floor I see an open shoe box with a pair of boots sitting next to them. Now I know with winter coming and Bennett being able to walk it is almost cruel to not let him have some pair of boots that he can throw on to keep his feet warm and dry, but this pair of boots that were purchased for him are the least functional, gayest (pardon my slight at those with alternative lifestyles- I know it is not politcally correct) pair of boots on the planet. They are actually designer boots that may only be worn inside. They are soleless/treadless Uggs. The same kind of boots that were popular for young women to wear five or so years ago. Only this pair comes equipped with no sole or tread. Making it a danger on anything slick and giving them the ability to soak up moisture, rain or slush. They are about as functional as one of IU's foreign and heavily accented math teachers.
As I showered afterward I pondered just where Abby and I's communication breakdown may have ensued. And finally it hit me. Abby plays with Bennett and is trying to teach him to speak. Many times she picks something up and will try to point out other things that rhyme with said object.
When we had our discussion and I blatantly said
"We need to reduce all expenses."
What Abby heard was "We need to produce mall expenses."
And there you have it.
Pictures soon to follow.

Flu Season...go away

I think the cold and flu season is going to test Zach and I's patience over these winter months. That combined with less time spent outdoors and more fearfullness of taking Bennett to public indoor places....well, lets just say, we are going to have to "get creative." Thankfully the weather this weekend was mild and dry - so we could, at the very least, go for walks. Bennett awoke Friday morning with a horrible mucasy nose and Saturday morning we discovered he has pink eye...in both eyes. No problem, right? Just one drop of antibiotic in each eye FOUR times a day. I think Bennett is convinced that we are abusing him as one holds him while holding down his arms and the other forces open his eye lid and attempts to get the drop in his eye.

We know this is just "all part of it" and temporary, but the poor little guy just seems so miserable when he has a cold. On a positive note, we are very thankful to have had a great well-baby visit last Monday afternoon. One-year stats: 19 pounds 6 oz. and 30 inches tall. Overall he is a very healthy guy and Dr. Cumming was pleased with how well Bennett's ears looked after his most recent ear infection (although with this cold, we are not holding our breath. He said the best way to prevent future ear infections, is to keep him from getting a cold = almost impossible). Bennett survived 4 shots and a finger prick and when Dr. Cumming set him down - to see him walk - Bennett practically ran to me. Not much of a fan of the doctors/nurses at this age.

Lastly, we did Bennett's one-year pictures and family pictures a few weeks ago. You can view them by clicking on the cake (to the right). Password is cupcake. We were sad not to include Fenny, but she does not like Bennett and getting us all in the same frame would have been a difficult task. Although, somewhere along the way, Bennett has picked up the most adorable habit - he will walk over to Fenny and just rest his head on her...even if she is standing. He really does love her and deep down I like to think Fenny feels the same. She does this low, quiet growl when he lays on her that I like to pretend is her "purring".

"It's my party...

...and I will cry if I want to..." This song went through my head a few times the afternoon of Bennett's birthday party! I think he had a great time, but at this age, he is more comfortable in a low key environment - not quite used to the excitement that 10 little ones and several adults bring to a party. While trying to keep up with the bigger kids, he had a couple wipe outs resulting in tears streaming down his face, but he was one happy boy with an iced cupcake in front of him.

New Toys!! He loves his push toy and musical instruments. We have to watch him while walking with a drumstick in his mouth...somehow, I don't think that would end well.

Camden, Carson and Will (front to back) trying out some of Bennett's new toys. He could ride his trike (Zach or I pushing him) or push his alligator clacker for hours on end. The new toddler toys are a welcome addition to our home - Bennett loves exploring all of them!

Here are 8 of the 10 tots that joined Bennett in celebrating one! The oldest and youngest are sitting in the chair on the right - Camden (5 in February) and Cooper (1 on November 21). Other little friends include Jake, Catie, Carson and Dani (all standing) and Will and Paxton sitting in the other chair.

Mmmm...no hands needed. I will just suck the icing off the cake.

This is going to take me a long time without any hands.


Below is a link to some photographs Bennett's Auntie Whitney took and sent to us from the day. We were lucky she was able to be in town for the celebration. The hand-painted chair in the photos was a project completed by Mark Ford's side of the family - each aunt/uncle/cousin painted one piece (all done without knowing what the other is painting) and then sent it to the Fords for assembly. Whitney painted the seat - adorable farm animals. Seeing it was a highlight of the weekend for Zach and I.

http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=100991257817267569/l=2470554012/g=92811427/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Happy Birthday, Bennett!

This past Friday, November 6, was Bennett's first birthday! As I am sure all new parents say this, but it is true, "We can't believe it has already been one year!" It is hard to believe one year has past since we welcome him into our lives. Over this past year, Bennett has warmed our hearts a thousand times over, made us laugh and even cry. He has already taught us much about life and wanting to be a good, positive role model for him.

A picture from November 6, 2008...just a couple hours after meeting Bennett for the first time...

...and on November 6, 2009. We could not get him to look at the camera...very busy.

This past Saturday, we celebrated Bennett's birthday with family and friends OUTDOORS at our home. The weather was unseasonably warm - a treat for the little ones to play outside. More pictures recapping the weekend are forthcoming.

Pig or Monkey?

We misjudged Bennett's halloween costume this year...we think a pig would have better suited our little guy as we spent the weekend, we were so looking forward to, with a sick little boy...typical, right? We are just happy to report that he is on the road to recovery and we hope to have a healthy boy in time for his first birthday...only 3 days away!

Our weekend did inlcude a brief trip to the ER after 3 days of a yo-yo fever and the start of vomiting on Sunday. Doctors at the hospital discovered left and right ear infections and the possibility of H1N1 or maybe just a viral infection. Antibiotic and around the clock motrin seem to be doing the trick - today has been much better than the previous 4.

We did make it out for a visit to both Zach and my parents' houses' on Halloween. Above Grams is showing Bennett his new sword.

Sitting with Poppie - the hat is always the first to go in his sock monkey costume. I have one chance to get a hat on him, if I fuss with it, he immediately realizes he has something on his head and wants to take it off.

We continued on to my parents' house - strategically arriving after the Prather boys (which was a total bummer to miss them) so we didn't risk spreading any illness to them. We were excited to spend some time with my mom's cousin, Frank, and his wife, Rita, and their dog...Jack the Dog (pictured above). They are visiting from HHI.

Look at that belly! He had just finished eating...most days he closely resembles a trash compactor at the dinner table...eating everything in sight. Still, at the ER, he only weighed in at 19 pounds. I think he has Zach's high metabolism.

Clarian North

Oink oink