A porch update

I promised pictures of our new porch when it was finished.....and then we never quite finished it. I mean, it still needs a couple of little things, like a ceiling fan, an air conditioner, and a new rug. BUT, I feel like I've been putting this off long enough, so....TADA!!

As you might recall, it previously looked like this. And a few of your might remember further back, when it looked so bad that I refused to take pictures of it. Really, really, bad. Anyway...Joel laid the tile and we painted the walls Benjamin Moore "Hawthorne Yellow." Actually, the paint is Behr but the color is Benjamin Moore for Pottery Barn. The wicker furniture is a collection of odds and ends that I spray-painted glossy espresso. The pillows are also a mismatched set that I was previously using throughout the house. The cushions are.....old pillows covered with painters' drop-cloths. Yep. I didn't want to run right out and spend a bunch of money on new cushions, and I needed something VERY durable since I knew Ladybird would be lounging on them. Also, I can't sew. I would like to get something else eventually, but that's pretty low on the priority list. Hey! Somebody should sew me some new cushions!! (Just sayin'.) The other side of the porch has a table of plants, hooks for coats and bags, and various other things. It looks pretty nice, just not nice enough for pictures right now :) The stair-step in the picture leads to a set of double doors that open into our kitchen. We leave them open most of the time.

We love our porch. Benjamin spends a good bit of time taking all the pillow and cushions off the furniture, and Ladybird likes to lay on the couch. I spend my time sitting in the rocking chair and reading magazines, and Joel and I drink our coffee there in the mornings. It's been a good investment so far!

Joel's new project

Last night my husband came home with this:

It's a 17 ft. 1969 Boston Whaler "Nauset." A classic, I'm told. As with any classic vehicle, the point of ownership is restoration. Eventually, Joel would like it to look similar to this:

But for now, it works, seats 2 people very comfortably and 4 people semi-comfortably, and it can pull skiers. Wanna come visit?

13 Months

These are the things Benjamin can do at 13 months:

says "mama" "dada" and "ba" (ball)--I think he is saying other words, but I'm not paying enough attention to distinguish them from other sounds--I'm pretty sure he said "doggy" the other day

expresses affection by hugging all of his stuffed animals--he especially loves his doll and rubs his cheek on it's face--very cute

understands basic requests, like "put that back in" "take it out"  "get your shoes"  "give that to me" etc...

understands A LOT of words--much more than we realize, I'm sure

claps his hands in time to music

stands on his own

places lids with their containers, and has figured out basic puzzles

plays with toy cars and trucks the way they are intended to be played with, and makes "vroom" sounds

He is still crawling everywhere, and I don't know how close he is to walking at this point. Once he decides to do it, it will go fast. His favorite things to do are dance and go outside, especially if he's on my back in the Ergo. He has become kind of a picky eater, but I'm hoping that's just a phase. His favorite foods are still bananas and peanut butter and honey sandwiches. The other day, he looked at his peanut butter and honey, then looked at me with a BIG smile, and hugged his sandwich close to his chest. He LOVES peanut butter and honey! Benjamin has always been good in social situations, but the other day at the airport he started actually playing with some big boys. He was crawling after them and trying to do everything they were doing, and really interacting with them. (talking, initiating games, etc...) He loves games of chase and his ball. We have been working with using forks and spoons, and so far he can use them for a few minutes. He knows HOW to use them, he just doesn't have the coordination at this point. Oh! And when we took him to doctor for his ear infection, they weighed him and he's gained a whole pound since his birthday!

falling asleep on my back in the Ergo

at the airport-- yes, we are those parents who let their kid run around with a snotty nose

at the hotel before leaving for Utah--he was pretty excited

going for a walk in Park City--obviously he wasn't too happy about something

Utah

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Park City, UT. We had a great time, but the flight home wasn't too fun. Benjamin has been on 5 round-trip flights, and I think the last leg of our flight home was the worst. It was a perfect storm made up of the tail end of an ear infection (his first), teething, a time change, delayed flights, missed afternoon nap, and a VERY full flight to Raleigh-Durham. Screaming ensued. Lucky for us the flight only lasted an hour, and most people were pretty nice. I think everyone felt a little like Benjamin. 

STUFF WE DID IN UTAH

stayed at Uncle Aaron and Aunt Sarah's house 

stayed with Mimi and Poppy at their rental house

went on a couple of hikes

attended a MLS game between Real Salt Lake and the L.A. Galaxy--David Beckham wasn't there, so that was disappointing (for me, at least) but the game was exciting--3 goals in the last 3 minutes!

went fly fishing (well, Joel did that)

shopped at REI, not once, not twice, but THREE times

shopped at the outlet mall

ate buffalo meat

had GREAT Mexican food

read the entire Twilight saga (ok...so that was me, not Joel)

suffered from extreme sleep deprivation because sick baby + time change = BAD

had lots of great wine, courtesy of Joe and Cathy 

saw how beautiful the Rockies are, even when they're not completely covered with snow

STUFF I NOTICED ABOUT UTAH

at the outdoor store, they were selling LONG hiking skirts...that's right...skirts....to hike in...and they're long---Aaron mentioned that Salt Lake City and maybe some random Kansas outposts are probably the only customer base for this item. Apparently, you can also buy long skirts to ski in as well. Mmmm...sounds comfy! *sarcasm

when we went to the soccer game, I got a beer because I was offered one, and I was with the boys, so why not? out of the 16,000 attendees I believe there were only about 20-30 people drinking beer, and I was the only woman--I have never felt like such a conspicuous sinner in my life.

on the plus side, that was probably the only sporting event I have ever attended where there was absolutely NO cursing or people acting inappropriately---it was very relaxing

there are no black people in Salt Lake City, and I looked...HARD

people, (myself included) will wear flip flops and tank tops when it's 55 degrees outside

Gardening

Well, I have a suitcase to pack, a floor to mop, and errands to run, but I'm on the computer. I feel like this blog could easily go by the wayside if I don't set aside more time to update, so that's what I'm doing. We're leaving to visit Joel's parents in Park City, UT tomorrow morning, so blogging next week will probably be sporadic, or non-existent!  I just looked at weather.com...85 degrees here on Saturday, 54 degrees in Park City. IT"S MAY PEOPLE!!

I can't believe April is over. What a busy month. Birthdays, Easter, house guests, a trip to VA, gardening....and May is looking just as full. That's good, though. By the time July rolls around, the high heat and humidity will make us all slugs. The garden is coming along really well. This past week Joel harvested all of our greens. Bok choy, kale, spinach, lettuce, and mustard greens, plus a few carrots he had planted in late winter. I'm so thankful Joel enjoys being outside and working in the garden. If it were up to me, there is NO WAY we would have a garden. I mean, it seems like a good idea when it's 60 degrees outside, but by the time summer rolls around we would have a problem. I'm happy to report we ate ALL of the greens this week, except for one bag we gave to a co-worker of Joel's. 

Our menu this week:

Friday: Pizza w/ goat cheese, caramelized onions, and lettuce

I tried to copy a recipe from a restaurant we visited, but it didn't turn out that great. I was supposed to use arugula, but just used what we had instead, and that was a mistake. Just so you know, regular lettuce on pizza isn't very good.

Saturday: Spinach lasagna and salad 

Strawberry and rhubarb crisp

Both of these recipes were superb, and healthy! AND, Benjamin wolfed down the lasagna, which is the important part! 

Sunday: Eggs in a Nest

This is a recipe from "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in sustainable agriculture and eating locally. The author and her husband literally live down the road from Joel's grandmother, in Meadowview, VA. This book is a chronicle of her family's experience eating exclusively from their garden or from local merchants for a year. They also own a restaurant in Meadowview called the Harvest Table that only serves food in season and from local growers. Awesome!

Monday: Sweet Potato Quesadillas

Another great recipe from "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle."

Tuesday: Greens stir fry with kale, bok choy (surprisingly delicious!) mustard greens, onions, carrots, and brown rice.

Wednesday: Spinach quiche

     Ok, I have to admit something. I think Joel was jonesin' for some meat at this point, so he      volunteered to get some BBQ from a local rib joint. They were giving 10 percent of their proceeds to help the victims of fires in Myrtle Beach. I think that was just an excuse though! We still had the quiche for breakfast the next day, so it wasn't a total loss.

Thursday: Spinach, onion, tomato, and cheese quesadillas

That brings us to today, and we'll probably eat out since we're leaving town soon. BUT, we ate (almost) vegetarian this whole week. That wasn't really a goal of ours, but when you eat so many vegetables, you don't really have a lot of room in your diet for meat. The majority of our food came from our garden, or the Wilmington Farmer's Market. And even though both Joel and I love vegetables, we still ate things we never would have experimented with previously. Who knew that I, a lifelong carrot hater, would enjoy them sauteed in a little olive oil? And I never would have bought bok choy or kale from the grocery store. I'll have to publish some of these recipes a little later, when I have more time.

Onions and tomatoes should be next. Stay tuned!

Benjamin 1 Year

I don't have much time, but thought I would post these pictures. They aren't that great. I think we stopped using the camera after the birthday celebrations. We'll get more, I promise!

Benjamin woke up from his nap the other day crying and feeling upset for some reason. Of course, like most good mothers, I quickly ran to get the camera so I could take a picture of his crazy hair. 

By the way, remember when I spoke about Benjamin trying to eat Ladybird's food, and I said I should just let him do it, and then the thrill would be over? Well, he did it. Four times so far. Unfortunately, it's his favorite snack. He doesn't make a face, doesn't spit it out...he just sucks on it like candy. I really hope he's not gonna be that kid who eats paste.

I'm pretty behind on this update since we were out of town last week.  Let's see....Benjamin's favorite things to do right now are: be read to, play with his soccer ball, listen to music, and play outside. He is really getting into books (especially his touch and feel books, and his peekaboo book), and loves story time. We've been playing with the soccer ball for a couple months now, but he is starting to make up his own games. Yesterday he basically played soccer by himself. This involved him rolling the ball across the room, intently chasing it and saying "babababa." When he got it, he would roll it again. He definitely had a "goal" in mind, and was trying to direct the ball. 

His affinity for music is becoming more obvious. He's always loved to dance, but now when he hears his favorite songs he will try to keep the beat by slapping his hands on the ground, or frantically look around for one of his rhythm instruments. I'm so proud! And as for being outside...what can I say? He is always content to sit in the grass and enjoy the breeze. Being in the yard isn't necessarily playtime for Benjamin, but a chance to feel the sun on his face. 

Benjamin is a very content baby, and I feel so lucky everyday.  He laughs constantly, and is always happy to make a friend. He is pretty calm and collected, and never seems scared of anything. Loud noises never frighten him. I can start the vacuum cleaner, the coffee grinder, or the hairdryer, and he just crawls up to take a closer look.  He deals with change very well. Last week we were in VA visiting Joel's grandmother, and Benjamin had to meet several new people, didn't get regular naps or mealtimes, and was carted off to a new place everyday. He never cried or got upset, but just went with the flow. I guess that's where the "laid back" label becomes pretty obvious. 

When I think back on the NICU stay, then the colic, then the NEVER sleeping through the night until, ummm.....2 months ago, it's all been worth it because of the happy little boy he's become. This is most fun I've ever had!

1 Year

Ben's 1 year checkup went well. He weighs 19.2 lbs and is 30 inches, which means he is in the fifth percentile for weight and the fiftieth for height. Those are the same percentiles from his 6 month appointment. The nurse kept remarking, "he's so tall!" and the PA kept saying, "he's so thin." Two different outlooks, I guess.  

The PA wanted to make sure he was eating enough and that I was feeding him plenty of fat, (like cheese, yogurt, and butter.) She was glad to hear that I am still nursing 3-4 times a day, since breast milk has more fat than whole cow's milk. She seemed slightly concerned, but Benjamin is obviously healthy so there isn't anything to worry about. His personal growth curve has remained very steady, so that is a good sign. There would be more concern if he had gained a lot of weight and then suddenly stopped, or lost weight. I told her that he had gotten pickier over the past month and wasn't eating as much, (which is normal for his age) and she said we could reassess the situation at his 15 month appointment. Then he went home and gorged himself on BBQ chicken, peas, 2 pieces of bread and butter, and a piece of toast with honey, so what do I know? 

Benjamin was the ideal patient. He smiled at everyone, and didn't even blink when the nurse pricked his finger to draw blood for his iron test. She had to squeeze his finger for a long time because his blood was moving slow, and he just sat there and stared at the test tube. The nurse said she has a favorite little boy now! She also mentioned that magic phrase, "he's so laid back!" When I told her he is always like that, she told Joel and I we had done a good job. I was a proud mama! Ben cried when he got his shots, but stopped immediately and was in a great mood the rest of the evening. We found out he has two teeth coming in, and they will probably pop through in the next couple of days.  

We didn't really have any serious concerns to discuss with the PA, but I did have one question. At this age, babies are supposed to be saying mama and dada, and then one other word (like baba.) Benjamin went through a phase of saying mama and dada constantly, and now he just looks at us with amusement whenever we try to make him say those words. This actually happens a lot; we try to teach him various things, or get him to repeat actions or words that he knows, and he won't do it. I've started to worry a little bit about this. Periodically, I've wondered if Benjamin is on the right track developmentally. I've worked with him on pointing to parts of the body, (like belly button and nose) and various words, like "gentle." I'm always trying to teach him new things, and constantly reinforcing what he already knows, and every time he just looks at me with that same little smile.  So, I told the PA all of this and let her know I'm probably just being over-anxious, blah blah blah....And she said, "weeeeeell, if you still feel this way at 15 months we can do some tests." And then she looked at me and said, "but I think that sounds more like a personality issue. I think he just doesn't want to do those things."

WHAT!!!

Well, crap. I forgot that now I'm dealing with a person. It never occurred to me that Ben might be making his own decisions. I mean, I know he doesn't like certain things like having his diaper changed, or getting in the car seat, but this is different. The fact that he is so polite about it cracks me up. Like, he just smiles at me, but inside he's thinking, "nope." No fuss, no tantrums, just...."um....no." Because Benjamin is so relaxed most of the time, I guess it had never occurred to me that he would deliberately not do something I ask him to do, at least not at this age! Man, the Super Nanny is totally going to be coming to my house in a few years. I'll be that mom who keeps saying, "I don't know how this happened! He's always been so sweet!" He's totally gonna play me like a violin.