Stretch.

He has an entire crib to stretch out in, but he ends up like this:



Yes, yes, I (quietly, oh so gently) slid that leg back inside the crib. But only after taking a picture, of course.

Bath Paint.

Since painting with pudding was such a big hit a few weeks ago, tonight we tried bath paint.

I mixed 1/2 cup baby shampoo, 2 tbsp cornstarch, a few drops of food coloring, and a wet naked baby...



Ben loved painting the tub, but eventually moved on to painting daddy, who had just been sitting innocently, holding a bowl of paint.



Such intensity.



Of course, cleaning up was just as much fun. Since I only used a drop of food coloring in each bowl, the "paint" washed off the tub and the baby without any effort at all.

T-shirt Upgrade.

You know all those old t-shirts you've held onto for sentimental reasons? What are you ever going to do with them? You can wear them, but they are pretty faded. You can just leave them in your drawer, but that drawer is pretty stuffed. Or....

You could let me make a quilt out of them for you!



These t-shirt rag quilts are backed with flannel and they are crazy snuggly. What a practical way to hang onto those memories (and see the t-shirts more often than if they were still stuffed in your drawer).

Prices are according to size- 12 squares, 16 squares, or 20 squares. Message me if you're interested!

Shutterbug.

Several of my (fantastic) family members went in to get me an SLR camera for my birthday this year! Oh, I have longed for one for the last few years, but they are so dang expensive that I'd held out on buying one. My brother is a photography whiz and he promised me I could have his camera the next time he upgraded, so I've been waiting for that... and waiting... and waiting...

Anyway, my loved ones made my dream a reality and I am so excited to learn this new camera. I've been playing around with it a bit the last few days, and though I haven't taken anything award worthy, I am just amazed at the quality of pictures the "auto" setting produces. Leaps and bounds above the old point-and-shoot.







I have a pretty adorable subject, too, which never hurts.

Ten and Twenty Eight.

Last weekend was my 10 (yes, ten!) year high school reunion! Up until about twenty-four hours before the event, I wasn't completely decided on whether or not I was going to go.

The reunion was in Houston, and because of church commitments the following morning, Tim wasn't going to be able to come with me. At first I decided I didn't want to go alone, and then it dawned on me... "Twenty-four hours alone. Twenty-four hours on my own agenda. Twenty-four hours of only having to feed and clothe one person..." I love my boys, but I wasn't going to argue with a mini-vacation.

I hit the road to Houston and thoroughly enjoyed the four-hour drive. There was a little bit of silence, and quite a bit of me belting out the words to the music of my choosing (i.e. not VeggieTales). Tim and Ben should thank their lucky stars that they were miles away from that concert.

Our reunion was held at Washington Avenue Drinkery, and it ended up being a great venue for the event- much more casual and relaxed than a hotel convention room or something of that nature, and small enough that everyone was forced to mix and mingle.

Our class officers tortured us had us all wear name tags with our senior portraits on them. It was a great ice-breaker, but oh, the humanity!



It was great to see some many familiar faces in one place. Everyone looked wonderful, and everyone was relaxed and totally approachable. I only took a few pictures, but until I went back and looked at them, I'd almost forgotten that being outside in Houston is pretty much like standing in a hot shower. Don't waste time with hair or make-up. I digress... Here I am with Janelle and Rachel, two sweet friends who were class officers and also ended up being my wedding photographers!



The night was really so fun, and I only got stuck in two conversations that were awkward/slightly inescapable (there's a reason you normally bring a date to events like these!). When I was debating going, my dad told me that I'd really regret it if I didn't go. He was right (as usual), and I'm glad I made the trip.

I spent the night with some dear friends, woke up the next morning, and hit I-45 to head home. Since it was my birthday, I splurged on a venti cinnamon dolce latte and turned the music up even louder than the day before. I love the drive between Dallas and Houston, and I especially love making the drive in the mornings. The sun in the trees and the rolling hills are so beautiful. Those four hours were good for my soul, and a great way to kick-off my birthday.

I got home and found that my boys had been busy preparing for birthday festivities!





Yes, this would be the banner I used for Tim's 30th birthday in June. You've got to admit, the guy is resourceful...



After lots of hugs and kisses and afternoon naps, five of my favorite people took me to The Cheesecake Factory. As long as I live, I think this will be my favorite restaurant. Where else can you find avocado egg-rolls, spicy chipotle chicken pasta, and chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake all in one place?



We came home after dinner to open gifts and eat cheesecake. All of our family went in and bought me a brand new SLR camera! (Woot Woot! So long, point-and shoot!) Fair warning: this means lots more pictures of a certain little boy are on the horizon.



As if all of that goodness wasn't quite enough, the day ended with massive rainstorms. I love a good storm. The perfect ending to a great weekend, and the perfect start to my twenty-ninth year!

Painting With Pudding.

Last night we let Ben "paint with pudding." The concept is simple; I just stripped him down to his diaper, gave him a big bowl of pudding and a few paint brushes, and set him on a piece of butcher paper out on our back porch.

I highly recommend this as a fun, cheap, summer activity. A box of pudding costs 79 cents. Add three cups of milk and voila! If you're going to attempt this with your child, absolutelypositively do it outside where everything and everyone can be hosed off afterwards. Not only did Ben end up covered in chocolaty goo, there was quite a bit of collateral damage.

Ben had a little trepidation at first. "Is this even allowed?" I painted his name just to get him started.


A few minutes later, he was totally digging it.



He panicked a bit when he realized he'd stuck his foot in the pudding. Not exactly sure why this bothered him so much, given what the rest of his body looked like at this point.







Mmmmm. This just keeps getting better!



The party was all over once he tried to stand up and dance around in the pudding. That stuff is slippery! Tim hosed him off while I went inside to run the bath water.



After a good dousing, we let him water the lawn a little bit. I might blow this one up and hang it over the mantle. I don't care how much it embarrasses him, I can't get enough of that dimply little booty!



Ben obviously loved this tasty little exercise, because this was his response to having to come in for a bath...



Luckily, Daddy is especially funny at bath time so Ben rebounded pretty quickly.



Thanks to Anthony for snapping some impromptu pictures during our little activity. I have a feeling this one will be a repeat!

Freeze.

Sweet Little Ben,

If I could just stop time, I would freeze you right here. At 15 months you are at such a happy, happy, easy, easy, easy, fun stage. There is just a tinge of "baby" left in you, but the growth, development, independence, and hints of "little boy" are so fun to watch emerge. I would change poopy diapers and cut all of your food up into little tiny squares forever if it just meant that you could stay this way.

I'm not sure if you were a high maintenance baby or I was a high stress mommy (yes, probably both), but the first year of your life was filled with so many questions. "Why won't he sleep?" "Why won't he poop?" "What do we do?" I went to every well-check with a list of questions for your doctor. You have an appointment next week and I can't even think of one thing to ask him. Everything seems to be right on track and we are enjoying every bit of you.

You love to brush your teeth and ask to do so several times a day.



You smile and laugh at everything. Life is a delight for you. While we were on vacation, Gramma said, "Dangit!" and slapped her knee. You thought it was the funniest thing you'd ever heard, so she did it again and again and again. Now you say "Dangit!" and slap your knee, too. We really have to be careful because you are beginning to mimic everything!



You run and climb and explore everything you can reach. By the end of the day, we are even more exhausted than you are. We just smile and sigh.



You still have an odd infatuation with the vacuum. Gramma and Grampa finally bought one that is just your size, and the fact that Dirt Devil makes one leads me to believe that you aren't alone among your peers.



You eat what we eat, which makes life simpler, too. Here you are enjoying your first corn dog at Kincaid's.



You have a crazy sweet tooth, too. A boy after my own heart. Dark Chocolate ice cream from Cold Stone? Yes please!



You love to watch animals, but every animal makes a "woof, woof, woof!" sound, just like Gramma and Grampa's dog, Buck. We'll work on that.





Our only "challenge" might be the fact that you're not going to sleep quite as easily as you used to in the evenings. We used to be able to just lay you down and walk out of the room, but now you demand some rocking and singing (sometimes it takes 30 minutes before you pass out!). This doesn't bother us a bit, because it's the only time during the day that you're still enough for us to snuggle you.

Sometimes you just want to get out of bed and hang out for a little bit longer, and we are generally happy to oblige. Sometimes we even give you a graham cracker and let you watch TV with us, just to sweeten the deal. Maybe this wouldn't win us any parenting awards, but we enjoy the "bonus" time.



You are pure joy, my boy, and we couldn't be more thankful.

Mom

The Leaky Boob.

Dear Pregnant Friends,

Ben was still bouncing around in my very rotund belly, but lots of people seemed interested in whether or not I was going to breastfeed him. Each time someone asked, I smiled and nodded, "Yep, I plan to..."

And I did plan to. Well, I didn't plan, per se, I just intended to. After all, breastfeeding is free, convenient, and best for baby, right? Plus, I'd heard some delicious rumors about how nursing expedites post-pregnancy weigh-loss. Why wouldn't I breastfeed?

Those were the extent of my thoughts/plans. I was so consumed with the fear of getting that baby out of me, I gave very little thought to actually keeping the baby alive afterwards.

It didn't take long after Ben was born (seven hours, maybe?) before I realized that breastfeeding is the most unnatural "natural process" ever invented. I'm not kidding. I still can't figure out how animals seem to do it so effortlessly.

Ben was tongue-tied and he wouldn't latch. He was also jaundiced and he needed fluids to bring his numbers down. The lactation consultants at the hospital (I'm talking to you, Harris Methodist!) were curt and unhelpful. I was exhausted and in over my head. I'll spare you the details, but the first few days were really rough.

I wouldn't shut-up about breastfeeding, but those dang "lactation consultants" sent me home from the hospital with a decent supply of formula and no game plan. A week later, I'd hired a lactation consultant on my own and begun reading blogs like "The Leaky Boob" and "The Lactivist."

Who was this desperate, disheveled crazy woman staring back at me in the mirror? She would talk to anyone within ear-shot about milk supply, clogged ducks, and proper latching. 85% of her friends and family caught her in some state of undress. She was obsessed. She was me. Ugh.

"Will.....breastfeed.......must......breastfeed.......can't.....quit......" I vacillated between steady determination and practically sobbing in the fetal position. Those weren't my finest hours.

It took 14 weeks before Ben latched properly and we were able to nurse "normally." You might have skimmed over that last little part when I said "14 weeks." Take a moment to let that set in.

14 weeks.

I'll do the math for you. It took approximately 784 feedings before my baby latched on properly (an experience I'm convinced millions of moms take for granted) and ate the way nature intended, without us having to use any other tools to help him.

During those first 14 weeks, I almost quit approximately 784 times. Ben's doctor told me to. Friends and family suggested it. Everyone wanted to take the pressure off of me, and I really did appreciate that. But there was a stubborn, determined side of me that knew I didn't get to have the birth experience I'd worked so hard for, and this just had to go our way.

I'm so glad we stuck it out. Things gradually got easier, and nursing was eventually (gasp!) enjoyable! It felt so great knowing that Ben was getting all those nutrients and immunities. I loved the convenience of being able to feed him anywhere, anytime, without having to drag along formula, find water, heat a bottle, etc. I cherished the opportunity to sneak away and snuggle him every few hours.

That was our experience. The beginning was no fun, but I wouldn't trade the rest of it for anything in the world. Ben nursed for a total of fifteen months before he weaned himself two weeks ago. I loved nursing (and I really hope you will, too).

Not everyone wants to breastfeed, and I get that, but so many moms do yearn for the experience and aren't able to do so successfully. So, pregnant friend, here are a few things I'd suggest to help you breastfeed that baby if you decide nursing is what's best for your family:

Do some research. Decide why you want to breastfeed. There are so many great reasons. Look at nutritional facts. Consider the cost of breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, the convenience, the unique opportunity you'll have to bond with your baby, etc. When the going gets tough, remember why you decided to breastfeed in the first place and you'll have great motivation to stick with it.

Get prepared. Ignorance is most certainly not bliss when you're holding that suckling, hungry little newborn in your arms and things aren't happening the way they are supposed to. Take a breastfeeding class or ask around about a good lactation consultant so you aren't scrambling (like someone we know) if you need one later.

Invest in the process. Breastfeeding is a big investment of your energy, your time, and (potentially)your resources. Although breastfeeding is certainly cheaper than purchasing formula, you can invest in a few things (like a good breast pump, storage bags, nursing bras, nursing pads, a nursing cover, etc) that can make it easier and more convenient. The $90 we spent for an in-home consultation with a lactation consultant seemed pretty steep at the time, but it's probably the best money we ever spent. The $90 investment at the beginning saved me hundreds in formula and afforded me a priceless opportunity.

Stick with it. Nursing really does get easier the longer you do it. You and your baby are a "nursing team," and there is a learning curve for both of you. As with most other things, after a while it will become second nature to you both.

Ask questions. There are an endless number of issues that can arise with breastfeeding, but luckily, there are also an endless number of resources to help you navigate them. Don't assume that you have to quit just because you have trouble! Get a second or third opinion, if necessary. Find a lactation consultant or a nursing support group (yes, they exist!). Don't be shy about asking friends what has worked for them. There is great information online. KellyMom and La Leche League were two of my go-to sites.

Soak it in. Nursing is a wonderful time to bond with your baby, and it creates a bond your baby will share with you alone. Enjoy it. Soak up the time, because it won't last forever. Before long, you'll be the crazy breastfeeding advocate sharing way too much information with anyone who will listen.

Happy "World Breastfeeding Week!"

Meagan