Happy Anniversary

October 13 is an important day for our family.  It’s both Grams and Pops’ anniversary and B’s grandparents' anniversary.  If both those couples hadn’t gotten married, neither one of us would be here today   While Grams and Pops celebrated their 32nd anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa Conroy celebrated their 55th!  Amazing!  To help them celebrate we had a family celebration at B’s Aunt and Uncle’s A.MAZ.ING house.  More like a resort.  We drove down to Austin on Friday for the occasion.  After a stop for lunch in Waco, Ben finally fell asleep.

 

just makes me laugh

We hadn’t been to Nick and Sheri’s since they added their addition to their already stunning house.  I think for my next vacation I’ll just go stay in their guest house.  It was the perfect place for a fun night!  Ben loved playing with Nicholas and did such a good job being careful of the pool.  Sweet Briggs even had such a good time that he didn’t fall asleep at all while we were there (we left at 10).  Gramma brought juice boxes for Ben and the little squirt drank 4!!!  We never give him juice.  Pretty sure he was on a sugar high.  I tried to take some pictures of the party when I wasn’t holding Briggs or chasing Ben.

Gorgeous outdoor kitchen

My favorite couple :)

B with the guests of honor

A view from above.  The addition includes a roof top observation deck with 360 degree views of the Hill Country and Austin.  It’s also next to an outdoor music theater so you can sit up there and just listen to the bands play. 

Briggs and Uncle Nick

Ben and Nicholas

Such a gorgeous addition and gorgeous home!

Ben and Nicholas up in the ‘lookout’ calling down for each of their grandmas.

Reading a book with Gramma

Briggs and Gramma playing

We love Aunt Tina

Sunday morning we left Ben behind and headed home.  I thought he could use a couple days of being the center of attention.  Two nights was the most I could handle.  Thankfully Tina sent me pictures when she could.  Ben had SO MUCH FUN with Tina, Boots and Gramma.  He was spoiled rotten.  He ate probably 1,000 donuts (and has the poop to prove it).  He was super well behaved and respectful.  I missed him like crazy though!

Helping Boots fertilize

He got to walk to the fire station with them, eat ice cream, watch football, wrestle, read books, help Gramma with her makeup, let balloons up in the sky and eat tons of pizza!  Gramma took him to Toys R Us because he doesn’t have enough toys (ha).  He picked out a million toys and then told her to put them all back when he saw the Home Depot tool collection.  He came home with the tool box and power tools.  The rest will probably arrive via Boots and Gramma at Christmas. 

We met halfway today to pick him up.  Briggs (who has popped not one, but two teeth) missed Ben too because he’s been a little fussy lately (and very clingy).  I drank three large drinks at lunch which made for a very uncomfortable ride home.  Our favorite 2 year old got french fries when Mommy had to stop to potty just 20 minutes after leaving Gramma. 

 

Showing Briggs his tool box and what each tool does.  He likes to “fix” things!  Like father (and grandfather) - like son!

We are so thankful we have so many people who love our boys so much.  Thanks Boots, Gramma and Aunt Tina (Brad, too) for taking such good care of my favorite blonde boy! 

Two Doctor Visits and the Zoo

1.  I received another nomination for Mom of the Year!  So remember when I thought Ben might have an ear infection because black gunk was coming out, well it turns out he did.  Only I had to be TOLD to take him in by Ashley.  What I thought was just wax was really ooze.  No wonder he was a total stinker that week, poor kid was sick and for almost 2 weeks before I got him relief!  At least Ben has Ashley to look out for him.

2.  Good Baby had his 6 month check up on Tuesday and was…wait for it…GOOD!  He didn’t even cry after the first shot, just grunted (he did get upset with shots 2 and 3).  He is doing great.  I think he’s just huge, but he’s still so much smaller than Ben was at the same age.  I was told to put him to bed and leave him for 8 hours.  We tried that the first night in his pack n’ play in the room next to ours where he’s been sleeping, but his cries were too much being so close so now he sleeps in his crib.  Yes it took 6 months, but he made it!  Briggs has always taken his time in doing things so I was worried that he’s not sitting unassisted yet.  Sure enough when we come home from the doctor I start trying it and he did it.  Wasn’t long before he toppled.  I gave him a sippy cup with water today and he drooled it out.  I don’t think he knows what to do with water. 

Stats (with Ben’s 6 mo to compare):

weight:  17.13 lbs  (20.1)

height: 26.75 in (27.3)

head: 17.5 (18.5)

I took this picture of Briggs and then as I was looking back realized I took a very similar one of Ben at his 6 month appt. 

Sometimes I think they look so much alike and then sometimes (like in these pictures) they don’t look anything alike.

 

3.  On Wednesday we joined some friends from Ben’s playgroup at the Dallas Zoo.  I was kind of nervous having both boys alone without B, but Briggs was great so it wasn’t bad at all.  Our fearless kid has turned into a huge wimp and even told me before we left that he didn’t want to go because he was “scared.”  He even freaked out on the carousel and we had to sit on the BENCH instead of the fun animals.  He wanted off, but I spent $2 so he was going to ride, darn it!

No, your eyes aren’t fooling you.  That is Ben touching a goat.  After this he refused, but we had a little success at the children’s area.

He loved these fish and liked watching them eat.

This picture is so cute!

How Briggs enjoyed the zoo.

Checking out the Alligator with Grady.

For $5 you can get a measly 3 pieces of lettuce and feed the giraffes (I’m sure it’s organically grown and has tons of extra vitamins).I thought Ben would really like it.  NOPE!  NOT AT ALL!!!  I gave him a piece of lettuce and told him to try and he threw it on the ground.  This was after we spent time watching our friends try it.  He was digging his hands into my back.

This was at the end of the day before we left.  Everyone (mommies included) was pooped!  Speaking of poop I had to change 4 diapers at the zoo.  That is a zoo itself!  Can they not do their business at the same time???  But we had so much fun we’re going back in November!

6 Months

Oh Good Baby!  Can you really be half way to 1?  Just doesn’t seem possible.  I feel like I should just copy and paste what I wrote last month because it’s pretty much the same-you are the BEST baby!  So happy, sweet and GOOD.  You are also the crappiest sleeper in Texas…STILL!  Some highlights of my wonderful little Good Baby:

*You are a really good eater.  So far we’ve been tried with peaches, pears, applesauce, peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, beef and chicken.  You’d prefer not to have the last two, and they smell like cat food so who can blame you.  You’ll eat them, just normally not as fast as the others.  You love oatmeal cereal.  You don’t try to shove it in your mouth.  You eat and when we’ve eaten it all - that’s it.  Not too much fussing.  You can’t have too much milk at one time or you spit up.  Ick!

*You laugh when Ben does his whiny cry.  Probably because you think he’s laughing and you’re copying him, but I like to think you’re laughing at him for getting into trouble.

*Your daddy lights up your world.  Your sweet smile grows 10x’s it’s size when he walks by.  I think it’s because you see yourself in 30 years and are amazed how good looking you will be!

*You have the stinkiest poop ever!  Worse than Ben’s.  GROSS!  You also are super gassy.  I’m telling you-you are your daddy’s mini me!

*You go with the flow better than any baby I know.  You rarely fuss when we’re out.  We can come and go without any problems.

*You turn from your back to tummy like you’ve been doing it for years and flash a huge “I’m so proud of myself” grin when you do.  While this is all fine and dandy, you like to do this while you’re sleeping and then totally freak out.  Yes you can turn back.  The world is not ending!

*While you’re the best baby during the day, you’re the worst sleeper I know.  I’m serious.  Those few 8 hour stretches have now turned into 3-4 if I’m lucky.  You wake up screaming.  Lately it’s because you’ve rolled over.  Lay your head down little man and go to sleep on your tummy.  You’ll love it, I promise!  it’s your favorite way to nap.  99% of the time you’ll go right back to sleep after being fed or your paci.  Last night you woke up at 11, 2, 5 and 6.  Oh how I miss you sleep!!!

*You light up as we walk out of school after dropping Ben off.  It’s like you know you have Mommy to yourself.

*You sit up in the round chair in the tub now. 

*You are super tickelish under your arms and your collar bone.  Changing your clothes makes you laugh so hard.

Ben 1, Mommy 0

Okay Ben- YOU WIN!  You have succeeded on you quest to rule the roost!  Yes you are (well can be) a sweet, funny, curious little boy, but this past week you have been nothing short of a 4 letter word.  Some highlights of this week:

*you SPANKED mommy when you got mad at her

*you SPIT in mommy’s face when she was trying to talk to you

*you colored your door in your room (still have no idea where this secret stash of crayons was located) when you woke up –see pic below

*you PUSHED friends

*You took said friends’ toys

*You threw the toys when asked to give them back

*You RAN OUT of Hobby Lobby because I told you that you’d have to get in the cart

*once in the cart, you used your arm to brush all the scrapbook paper on the floor and then laughed

*You opened mommy’s water bottle after church and dumped in on the floor inside the house

*You yelled at mommy just about every day

Yes, it has been the WORST week in my mommyhood role.  One of those weeks I wished you were in school everyday.  Speaking of school-Mrs. Wilkins said you are PERFECT.  Seriously?  While I’m ecstatic this terror like behavior isn’t happening there, why aren’t you perfect at home?  Now I’m not saying you haven’t had your cute moments this week because you have and for that I am very grateful. I’m also not going to be one of those moms who refuses to put any blame on herself.  Obviously it’s something I’m doing (or not doing).  We will be trying a variety of things in the coming weeks to see if we can curb this unacceptable behavior.  Either that or I’m going to have to find a full time job I’m looking into toddler reform/boarding schools!  I’m also holding out hope it’s just those molars I see peaking out from your mouth or maybe an ear thing (not sure black gunk should be coming out of anyone’s ears). 

I love you little man-more than you’ll ever know, but good God, please get your act together.  PLEASE!  I don’t think Daddy can tolerate any more tears from me.  I know two year olds can be stinky and I don’t expect perfection, but I don’t think I’m asking for too much to have you tone it down a little!  Just a little!  PLEASE!!!

Little Picasso strikes again

Brothers

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.

-Marc Brown

So I thought when Ben was born life couldn’t get better, then we had Briggs and I thought that was the best.  Well, having them both TOGETHER is the best.  Having a sibling is something that I will never understand, let alone having boys who are siblings, but I love getting to ‘experience’ it with them.  When we found out we were pregnant with Briggs I so badly wanted it to be another boy.  I LOVED (and still love) watching B and Tommy.  Now I have that with my own boys!  Briggs and Ben’s relationship is starting to really develop.  Ben views Briggs as more than just a ‘thing’ mommy has to take care of.  He brings him toys and LOVES to make him smile.  He gets mad when he fusses, but loves to watch me change his diaper (Ben has learned a lot about the male anatomy lately).  He also whines when Briggs reaches out and touches him when they’re laying together or if Briggs brushes his hand on one of Ben’s toys.  I love when Ben comes into a room and asks where Briggs is if he can’t find him.  The two of them together seriously make my heart melt.   How did we get so lucky???

 

Does anyone else notice Briggs has a cone-shaped head???

This is my favorite.  I ran upstairs to get my naked boys some clothes and left Briggs on his back on the floor and Ben playing in the other room.  I saw this as I walked down. 

Notice who has a haircut?  Daddy got tired of Ben’s dollop of hair in the front and buzzed it off.  Now he looks so much like Ben as a baby.

School is Cool

Today was a BIG day for Ben-we started MDO at Sonshine School!  He goes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-2.  We’ve been talking to him all weekend about it getting him excited and telling him what to expect (mommy leaving, naptime, lunch, etc.).  When I woke him up this morning the first thing out of his mouth was, “school today!”  Yep, he was ready!   I know he went to daycare for 2 years, but this was the first time he had a real first day where everyone was there for the first time and experiencing things together first.

We had Meet the Teacher on Friday.  His teacher, Mrs. Wilkins read a story and we did a craft.  His friend Addie is in his class, too!  This makes mommy very happy!

Meet the Teacher hugs for Mrs. Wilkins

We had a homework assignment this weekend for him.  We had to create a scrapbook page that Mrs. Wilkins will copy and laminate for Ben to carry around and she can use it to relate to him.  We were told to add all the important people to him and things he loves.  I went out and bought all this elaborate scrapbook paper and B reminded me that this needed to be visual for a 2 year old.  Oops

His class list!

For some reason Ben would not smile this morning for pictures.  Little stinker!

Michelle (Addie’s mom) embroidered his name on his napmat

Yes this momma cried watching her sweet little two year old walk into school

How cute is that!

After we put our stuff down he ran into his class and immediately started to play and then THEY WOULDN’T LET ME IN!  No parents in the room.  I totally understand why and wish I could have had that rule teaching, but man it was hard.  I had to put my sunglasses on so he wouldn’t see me cry as I gave him a goodbye hug and kiss.

We left and met some of our playgroup friends at Chick fil A for breakfast.  Have I mentioned how much I love these groups?  These moms have become great friends!

After a very quiet and easy few hours it was time to get our buddy!  I can’t believe how easy it was with only one!  My mom took me for ice cream after the first day of school each year from preschool to my senior year and I wanted to start this tradition with Ben.  I even let him have his own cone for the first time. 

Addie and Michelle joined us for some yummy fun, too!  They still had SO much energy and just ran around the whole time.  Sadly Ben started a complete meltdown while we were there (played with a friend during naptime instead of sleeping).  I was NOT a happy mommy with him!  We came home rested with Mickey and then Mayson came over for a little bit until Ashley got off of work. 

I thought it would be a good idea to take them to the park to blow off whatever energy they both had left (she started school today too).  Yes, he was exhausted when we got home.  He kept laying down on the floor behind the couch.

This is what I found when I walked in after quiet time (His favorite toys are in his Monday and Thursday bins so I let him play with those instead of the Tuesday one).  Poor baby was completely out!  Briggs was also sleeping so B and I thought we’d do the unheard of and have a nice dinner outside since the boys were both asleep.  Yep, that lasted 5 minutes before Briggs woke up SCREAMING which in turn woke up Ben.  Fun, fun, fun!

But we are excited for Thursday and Ben’s been walking around telling us about his friend, Mrs. Wilkins!