Big Day

Today was Bennett's first day at Mother's Morning Out. She will be attending 3 days a week in the mornings so I can work. I love it because she is at the church with me and it is only for 3 hours. I can check on her every time I walk by the nursery and we LOVE her sweet teachers. Here was her report from her first day.

My favorite part is that her favorite activity was smiling. That's about her only activity at this point, but wouldn't that be great if that's what was said about all of us?

Anyway, this afternoon was her 6 month check-up. She weighs 14.2lbs which puts her in the 20% range and is 26 1/2 inches long which puts her in the 75% range. We have us a gangly one. So, between the doctor and daycare, we have had a busy day and are ready for some green beans, a long bath, some fun books, and Dad's night time songs on the guitar. Being a baby is the best.

Greenbeans and Grandma

Bennett doesn't normally eat dinner on such a fancy table. But that's how they roll at Elmcroft, otherwise known as my Grandmom's assisted living home. We take Bennett out there to see her several times a week and we thought that we would let her have lunch with her Nana. Nana could have her fried fish and Bennett could taste green beans for the first time. Please note the three bibs her slightly neurotic mother put on her. We have found that one bib just doesn't cut it around here. And that's how we roll at the Webster house.

Oh, and one more thing. Apparently, solids are to Bennett what spinach is to Popeye. In the past week since we started her on solids she has started talking even more, can sit up on her own for a few seconds at a time, and can stand on her own with us barely holding on to her. I say lower the Olympics qualifying age to 3 years. All she needs is some solid foods and a balance beam.

Philympics

Who cares about Usain Bolt? That's our friend Phil running sound for the Olympics. And really, Rob and I just watch to catch glimpses of Phil in the background. However, he's not normally in the background. He is right there in some of the most iconic shots of the games. In fact, when they run highlight reels of the games, they keep showing the shot of Bolt by his world record number, and there's our Phil in every shot. We are so proud. And Phil- if you're reading this- we're watering your hydrangea for you.

And the World Record goes to..... the guy on the left for best sound

Solid Foods

We started. And she's indifferent. I think she likes the spoon better than the food. But it's still rice cereal. Once we hit the big time with green beans this weekend we might see more of a reaction.

waiting for dinner

Lovin' some cereal

I'll let her Dad clean up

My thoughts on the Olympics

I'm old. And out of shape.

Me and my girl

Blog Peer Pressure

My good friend Carmen tagged me with this and so out of respect for my former accountability partner, here goes:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
So, here we go:

1. I confuse aphorisms and can combine two sentences every time I speak

2. I am becoming more of a germaphobe every single day. I am one dateline special away from having a nervous breakdown next time I stay in a hotel

3. I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 21. But dangit, I sure can ride one now. Making turns on one is a different story.

4. Eating strawberries would be a fate worse than death.

5. I once skipped two weeks of college to follow some friends to California to film a documentary. I am only posting this to see if you really read this blog, Barrett.

6. I interned at the Pentagon for a summer and snuck into the press room so I could stand behind the podium


And I tag Anna, Brittny, Jen, Melissa, Stacy, and Lori. I would tag Courtney, but her blog seems like it is more for her business and I don't want to mess her up.

Just a few more

Told you I might feel crazy. Here are a few more Austin pics and then I'm done. Maybe.

Daddies and Daughters. But it's funny for guys who absolutely hated to be dressed alike when they were kids to now subject their children to the same fate. Or maybe their wives did it.
Ah yes, the classic chicken fight. It looks to me as if the three year old beat the seven year old. Hmmmmm......
Reminiscing about our show choir days

Sweet Home Alabama

We made it back from Austin this afternoon and Bennett couldn't have been happier. Well, she was very sad to leave her aunts, uncles, and cousins, but she was oh so ready to get out of her car seat. I had to run errands this afternoon and my sweet baby who never ever cries thought that my putting her back in her car seat was a fate worse than death. But, all is better now, and once she was finally able to be on her blanket, free from those horrid seat belts, all was right with the world again.

We had a great trip and we miss our family already. Here are a few pictures from the weekend. I think that between Rob and his siblings, over 1000 pictures were taken. Here are a few though and if I'm feeling really crazy, I may just post more later.

Dad, stop it! That beard tickles.

Bennett and her cousin, Madeline
Moments like these make everything else seem so unimportant
Our Aunt Laura likes to dress us alike
Speaking of Aunt Laura
All of the cousins
The Family

The Bald and the Beautiful

Bennett and her Uncle Hazen. One is bald by nature. The other bald by choice. You decide which one is which.

We're here

My first trip to Texas.

By: Bennett Webster
More stories to come, but I have had a very busy few days. Let's see- I felt sad for the alternator in my parents (totally awesome) van, thanked my grandparents for loaning us their van, spent the night in Cajun Country and fell asleep listening to crickets chirping about a swamp, rocked out to Baby Mozart on my 12 hours car ride, met the rest of my family, watched my parents eat a lot of food, squealed a LOT, compared bald heads with my Uncle Hazen, cheered for Michael Phelps, hung out with my cousins, pooped in the swimming pool, laughed at Callie the dog, and slept a lot. Here are a few pictures, but there will be a lot more to share when I get home. Let's hope the alternator in my grandparents van works better than the one in my parents.

Hey Jameson- our Dads have pretty much identical DNA. Why don't you look more like me?
You may now kiss my arm
Meeting Max and Madeline
Hey Sophie. Good to see you again. I'm not quite as breakable now, so feel free to play with me. I hear you're going to paint my toenails pink.

I have no idea whether my Dad or my uncle is holding me, but I think they're both pretty cool.

See you guys later

I'll be chillin' with my cousins in Texas. I might just come back with a cactus tatoo, 'cause that's how crazy I am.

You can tell a lot about someone....

I want to give my neighbor across the street, Amanda, a shout out on this blog. I think I solidified in her mind last night what crazy neighbors she has, but to her credit she made me feel as normal as she could under the circumstances.

So, last night at about 9:00, I decide to go clean out our van for our upcoming trip to Austin. (Yes, we have a mini van. And we got it on EBAY. And it's totally awesome.) Our dog Meg runs out the door and attacks our neighbors who are returning from catching frogs. Amanda comes to the driveway and chats with me as I am cleaning out my van. As she talks I start loading the contents of our (totally awesome) van onto our lawn. First up- a box of costumes. She looks a little alarmed when she sees the huge life size ketchup and mustard outfits, but I explain to her that I teach drama to kids and these are some of our costumes. She smiles politely, but I can tell she thinks I am slightly insane. Next out of the van- a boogie board. I tell a mildly bewildered neighbor that I had taken some kids to camp and that one had left this in my van. She smiles weakly. The next item dumped on my grass- a bag filled with Disney princess streamers. I sheepishly told her that it had been my birthday and how my friends had thought it would be funny to decorate the church with princess stuff.... and I just let it go. Next item- a mic stand. "Oh, ummm... my husband is a worship leader and I guess this is from... well, I don't know." By this time she just stood and watched as a tripod, a glide cam, salt and pepper costumes, a travel bed, and damp swimsuits followed. She seemed completely relieved when I finally brought out a box of diapers. Maybe I restored a little bit of normalcy in her eyes with this last item.

So, I started wondering- does your car (or totally awesome van) give away who you are? I thought about this as I stood surrounded by costumes, streamers, a boogie board, a mic stands, camera tripods, diapers, strollers, and so much more. I guess my van would say that we are an artsy family who loves kids, drama, music, and fun. Or else it could say that we are procrastinators who never clean out their car.

But I like to think that we are young at heart and fun and hopefully my neighbor knows that she will never need to go out and buy a Halloween costume. Or a boogie board.

Somebody's Getting Old

Sigh....... 30. I remember when 17 seemed SO old. A friend of mine in elementary school had a brother who was 17 and I just couldn't believe it. Seventeen!!! How times change.

My day started with a baby spitting up on me and ended with a baby spitting up on me, but everything in between was pretty fun. I did feel slightly bad when the Wii shaped pez dispenser made me scream out, "Rob Webster!! you got us a Wii!!!!!" Well, I wouldn't have felt bad if it was true, but I felt awful when Rob sheepishly said, "Ummm, no, that's just a pez dispenser there."

Rob had decorated the house with streamers, gifts and roses and then when I got to the church (at 6:30 am!!) my dear friends Taylor and Corey had decorated our green room with streamers, balloons, and even a pinata. They got a cake for me as did my parents, so by the 11:00 service we were all on a massive sugar high. Well, they were all high on cake. I was just high on pez.

We then went to Shoney's for lunch. Yes, Shoney's. I have been teased all day because of it but I wanted to see my family in Birmingham and the town that is exactly halfway between the two cities only has a Shoneys. Laugh all you want, but it's not what you eat, but rather who you share the meal with. Still, the breakfast bar on your 30th is a little bit lame. But I got to be with my family and I'll take that over soggy cornbread any day.

I had to be at the church all night tonight (didn't the pastor know it was my birthday?) and then we went to dinner with some good friends. I had lots of e-mails, lots of calls, some very sweet and dear cards, and gifts sent from college friends who know me so well and still remember. Very fun. Very tiring. And I feel very old. Time to go wash off the spit up and go to bed. But first, here are a few pics from the day.

my peeps

Some Contemporary Worship folks hanging out during the sermon. Don't tell John that we weren't listening.

The two vandals who broke into the church at 10:00pm to decorate.

Ummm... didn't you get the memo? Blue smocked dresses with swimmers is so in this season.

We don't care what anyone says. Shoney's is the coolest place to celebrate your birthday. Where else can you get salad, creamed corn, AND french toast all on one plate?