Morning Thoughts

Hey little Caribou-

As I write this you are still asleep in your bed and your Mom is up early praying for you. Did you know that you are very particular about the way you sleep? You have to sleep on your stomach with your bottom in the air holding on to a stuffed animal. I try to changed the animal every night so you won't get too attached, but you definitely prefer the frog that your cousin gave you. Oh, and your Daddy calls you Caribou in case you were wondering. Mom started calling you Carrie B because it is short for your name, Caroline Bennett, and then Dad turned Carrie B into Caribou. I like it. But we also call you butterbean, little B, and smiley, so who knows what will stick.

Did you know that you are seven months old? I can hardly believe it. You are days away from crawling, although you can get anywhere in a room on your own just by rolling and scooting. You love to feed yourself rice cakes and lights fascinate you. If anyone smiles at you, you smile right back. A lot of people think you're pretty special. Sometimes at church I can't find you because people are just passing you around. I think you know who certain people are, because you like going to them the best.

I really love the way the small of you back feels in my hand. I love the way your sweet little body looks so warm and sleepy in your crib. I love when you sit on my chest and your toes curl around my arm. I adore your big blue eyes. I love when you laugh at Meg the dog. I love when you pump your legs when your Dad plays songs on the guitar.

You will probably wake up soon, and so I should go before you call out for me. Oh, and I love when you call out "MaMaMaMa" from your crib. I melt every time. So, anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I love you. See you when you finish dreaming.

Love,
Mom

Seven months is way too long

Bennett hasn't seen her grandparents since she was one week old. That is unacceptable in my opinion. It has been too long between walks to the park, songs about Old Griner, rocking sessions on the back porch, and bouncing on their knees. Bennett absolutely adores her Mamaw and Grandaddy and I am so happy they are getting to spend time with their redheaded (we think!!) granddaughter.


Hooray! They're here! Let the games begin.

What'cha doin' down here on my level?

Too many rings! So confused. Which one goes where?

Sometimes you just need your grandaddy to put you to sleep

My bleeding heart

I found a dog on the side of the road. Again. And for the umpteenth time I rescued a dog, printed up posters, searched for the owners, fed the dog, took him to the vet to look for a chip, scared my other dog to death b/c he thought he was getting replaced, and then finally after having a mangy mutt sleep on my couch for three days, reunited him with his owner.

Only this time, the dumb dog tore up our blinds. My soft spot for dogs cost me about $120 this time around.

Tonight Rob and I were driving home and we saw three dogs in our subdivision looking scared. We stopped. I petted them. I poured out some water for them. And then we kept going. My bleeding heart days are over.

Are you kidding me?

So I went shopping the other day which deserves a blog entry of its own, seeing as how I hate shopping. But, I drug myself to the store and attempted to buy clothes for a body that's not quite back to its pre-pregnancy size, but I like to pretend that it is anyway. So, this is what I found.

And my question is: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I know I am not on the cutting edge of what's trendy these days, but didn't I wear this stuff in 1985?

And while I like the 80's as much as the next girl, I am not quite ready to pull out my keds. Once you go neon, believe me, you can go back. I do have fond memories of the 80's. I loved my garbage pail kids, jam shorts, side ponytails, Jem and the Holograms, shirt corners tied in knots, care bears, and Madonna. Oh, how I loved taking my little white boom box outside and shakin' it to Whitney Houston and NKOTB!!! However, I went to a Christian school, so I also had to shake it to my Twila Paris and Sandi Patti tapes. I had my requisite Kirk Cameron poster on my wall and I do believe that I owned an Alf doll.

All that being said, it was great. It was fun. It is nostalgic. And it is over. I refuse to wear neon again. I refuse to shop until this trend is over. And I refuse to wear slap bracelets all over again. I do, however, plan to download a few NKOTB songs. Some things are just a little too dear to the heart.

Sudden awareness

It's as if a light bulb went off in Bennett's world this week. For 6 months she has been in a blissful state of oblivion and this week she has decided to loudly proclaim that she is a member of the human race. When anyone walks into a room now, she acts as if the circus and the Jonas Brothers have all come to town at once. And if someone leaves a room, she cries out, "Mamamamamamamamama" until either she is picked up or the person returns.

She is sitting up all by herself (hence the picture above!!), she's holding her bottle on her own, starting to wave bye-bye, laughing out loud when she is tickled, she's fascinated with the dogs, and she smiles whenever someone talks to her on the phone. She gets mad if you take away a toy, is attempting to crawl, she rolls over in our laps to get a better view, and is babbling constantly.

Bennett is not the only smarty pants in the family though. This week I managed to change the diaper genie all by myself, and Rob is working on his Mandarin. So you see, the family that learns together.....

More 6 month shots

Six Months Old

Who Likes Peaches Anyway?

Thank Goodness it's Monday

I never thought I would feel that way. In fact, I can see my 12 year old self reading this blog disapprovingly. But after a l-o-n-g weekend, I am finally resting on Monday. Since Thursday I have driven to Birmingham to celebrate my sweet niece turning 3, driven to Georgia to celebrate my sweet husband turning older than 3, attended a rehearsal dinner, a wedding, and a reception, cooked a lot of food, and shopped more than my budget allowed. I helped throw a baby shower, ran 6 morning worship services, an evening worship service, and cared for a 6 month old.

I woke up this morning with every intention of cleaning my neglected house, but I think instead that I am going to drink my coffee, sit on my porch swing, and stare at the clouds. Because I can.

Happy

VP

The Scene: Last Night in my Living Room
The Time: 10:30pm
The Action: Watching Sarah Palin accept the nomination for VP

Me: She's amazing. I want to be just like her
Husband: Mmmmmmmm
Me: Did you hear me?
Husband: Uh, huh
Me: I mean, she just joined the local PTA and look where she is
Husband: Sounds good
Me: No, seriously. I could do that. I mean, I don't have a PTA to join, but one day I will and I can make a difference too
Husband: Mmmmm.....
Me: Are you listening to me?
Husband: What?
Me: I have ideas and I need for them to be heard
Husband: Lauren, you can't say more than a sentence without mixing up metaphors
Me: That's why they have telepromters
Husband: You don't really have a platform
Me: Umm.... I think all children should be able to sing and dance
Husband: I'm ignoring you again
Me: Listen to me. I think I really identify with her. She reminds me of myself
Husband: You hate dressing up, you would cry on the campaign trail, you don't play hockey, you can't skin a moose, and you would rather watch reality TV than make a campaign speech
Me: Hmmmmm...... point taken. Pass the chips.

She's talking

It's official. Her first word is......mamamamamamamamamamama. And when shortened, Mama. Rob is extremely bitter and is in serious need of your prayers.