Monday, June 21, 2010

Houston, we have a problem...

...Actually, we have a couple problems. First, as demonstrated below, our dog is C-R-A-Z-Y. The recent string of thunderstorms has her in a downward spiral and her normally loving parents considering various wording on a potential death certificate. Lucky for her, our vet is closed in the middle of the night and by morning we have come to our senses and decide to keep her around for another day. Despite increasingly heavy medication, she attempts to find safety in storms by digging (tearing our fibers of carpet) or climbing atop furniture (breaking a glass table). We hate that she is so terrified, but my sanity is tested at 3:30 in the morning when she is either trying to climb on top of our floor lamp or trying to sit on my head. Suggestions welcome.



Second...you might remember we don't have cable in our temporary apartment digs. We don't have internet either. Upon moving in, we were able to "borrow" a wireless signal from a neighbor. She moved about one month ago. This has strongly hindered our ability to upload photos into our picasa album - the method we have chosen to chronologically file photographs. For now, they are trapped in our camera. My organized self says take your camera, cords and laptop to my parents' house and use their wireless signal, etc....problem solved. Just hasn't made the top priority list. Consequence is our blog is quite boring these days; however, our life is not!


We are loving these long, hot summer days. Swimming, parks, sidewalk chalk, splash parks, early morning walks (before the heat is too much), wiffle ball, freeze pops, leaving the house without dressing a child in a coat, picking black raspberries from our backyard (of the house we don't live in yet) and eating them warm...the list goes on and on. The fact the July 4th is approaching gives me that feeling that summer is half over, when it really just started today. Soon enough I will have the same excitement about fall, but for now, I just want summer to linger.


In honor of Father's Day, I wish I could post some recent photos of Zach and Bennett (darn wireless). And I wish I could explain the excitement beaming from Bennett when he hears or sees his daddy arriving home each day. One day last week, Z surprised us by arriving home a little earlier than usual and Bennett was playing in the bathtub. The second Zach walked in the door...Bennett stood up and said, "all done." Tried climbing out of the tub that instant, just so he could be near and follow his daddy around the apartment. At times, this "fatherhood" thing can be stressful for Zach (mostly worrying about Bennett - health, well-being, you name it and Zach worries about it). But really...he is so, so good in the "daddy" role.


So, thank you Zach. And thank you to my dad, my father-in-law and my grandpa. All great dads who have shared and given much to us. We love you.


And because I think a post without pictures is not nearly as fun, here is a photographer pic of Bennett from Whitney and Eric's wedding...

Thursday, June 10, 2010

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This is what I see frequently when I return home from work. It is great to get home and have this brighten up my day. I am very thankful for the health and happiness we have been blessed with.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

18 months...

I think I could write quite a lengthy post about all the reasons I love this age with Bennett. Along the way, friends have shared with us how each stage is unique and just when it can't get anymore rewarding, it does. Bennett is so inquisitive and is communicating more clearly every day. We love helping him explore his surroundings. It is the little things he finds so amazing...a birdie or two flying off our balcony railing, the ants disappearing in the cracks of the sidewalk, how a bush tickles his hands. And the affection Bennett shows for his mommy, daddy and doggy is contagious. His nighttime routine is not complete without many hugs and kisses. Not that there are not challenges...him challenging us, that is...because they definitely happen, but we happily take the little bad because there is so, so much good.


Here are a few (okay, a lot) pictures from a little 18-month photo session we recently did. Our plans to go to Holcomb Gardens were switched up because of soggy weather, but the IMA suited us just fine. As busy as he is, this had its share of challenges, but I think captures Bennett's little personality quite well.

These columns made for great hide-and-seek.

Sitting still...for just a moment.

We were trying to allow him to explore the many beautiful flowers. I am not sure this poor flower survived. Instead of gently touching, smelling, etc...B decided to just take it down. He resembles the dino on his little john-john. So appropriate.


Another moment where he both sat and smiled just long enough to snap a few pics.

His shy smile. My favorite smile.

Exploring a bridge and fallen tree limbs after the storm. He loves nature...rocks, sticks, bugs, water, dirt, mulch...all of it. He asks to go "side," a.k.a. "outside" multiple times throughout the day. He will grab anyone's hand willing to take him there.


We were fully christened over the weekend with "summer" weather. Hot days were cooled with dips in the pool, freeze pops and strawberries. The child can eat a quart of them in one sitting and tries his darndest to say "strawberry". We have already removed 3 splinters from the bottom of those little feet. I love seeing his toes too much to always put shoes on them.