Rockin' the beach

Night 5, and sadly, our last at the beach. We have had the best time. I have been on so many bike rides, swam in the pool, walked along the beach, chilled out on a porch swing, played with my nieces, and just had a relaxing and wonderful time.

Bennett has some big news. She slept the entire time in a big girl bed! I was so worried about it before we came because they didn't have cribs here and she doesn't do well with pack and plays. So we tried a big girl twin bed and she loved it. Maybe it's time to make a change when we get home. Sniff, sniff.....But until then, here are a few more shots from our trip.

This may be my favorite picture of Bennett ever. I think she looks like Alice in Wonderland in this picture. Definitely a framer.

Don't worry. This tree was low to the ground and I was just off to the side. I can't get over how much older she is looking just in the past few months.

My handsome little boy all dressed up. How much do I love this little guy?

Another framer. Bennett sure does love her Daddy.

BEACH!

We are in Seaside, Florida and having a blast. Besides running around 24/7 trying to keep Bennett safe in a huge un-baby proofed beach house, we are loving every second.
I absolutely love this sweet picture. It looks like Bennett is saying a prayer on the beach. She's not, but work with me.

My entire family

Will fell asleep on our way home. I like this shot because you can see the town of Seaside behind us. I had to wrap him up in a towel because I left his blanket at the house, but he didn't seem to mind.

All the girls in my family and sweet little Will. He'll be a tough kid.

Will and his big cousin, Emmie. Two beautiful and precious children.

All I want for Christmas...

Hey Will- Guess what? Santa's coming soon. Pick out something that you would like. And make it good, little brother. Santa is known to bring on the loot.

Will's reply, "I don't need anything because I already got my super duper way too cool for school excersaucer. I am such a big boy."

Best Friends

We have been so fortunate to have so many family members and friends come out to Kansas to visit us since Will has been born. It means so much every time someone takes the time and effort to see us. Last weekend my best friends from college came to see me. Beth and I shared a dorm room and Christy lived across the hall from us. Then we finally all moved into one house together along with 3 other of our dear friends. We had the best weekend reminiscing, catching up, and playing with the kids. I miss them already.

Me and my Roomus. For those of you that don't know what a "Roomus" is, it is someone you roomed with three years in college. It takes someone special to be a Roomus. You must know all of one's secrets, put up with years and years of drama, and be able to love unconditionally. I am so thankful for mine.

Me and Christy. Christy was my very first friend at CNC. I think Christy and I have been in 30 plays together, we were in each others weddings, and have been through so much together. I love her so very much.

Rob took this picture and told us to act dramatic. Christy and I struck a pose without missing a beat, of course. Beth laughed at us. This was about as typical as you can get for us.
Rob loves my roomies. So does Meg.
I am so glad Bennett and Will got to meet "Aunt Beth," and "Aunt Christy." Please ignore Rob's apron. He doesn't get out much.

The problem with fair skin

When you have fair skin you have to deal with certain problems in life. You can't ever go to the beach without 5 gallons of sunscreen. You can't ever wear pink lipstick. When your dog scratches you, you bear those scratches for days. Yellow sweaters must never find their way to your closet. And when you get hives, these are the results. I will spare you the shots of the backs of her legs and the back of her neck. Not pretty.


We had a pretty rough few days, but thankfully they are gone. And I am not minimizing how bad they were, but I know the fair skin makes them look pretty horrific. But don't worry. She got more hugs, kisses, and story time than she knew what to do with. Well, when she wasn't knocked out from the Benadryl that is.

Hot Mess

4 months old

Happy 4 months, my sweet Will. You have brought so much joy to our family and have added more than you will ever know. You made me the Mommy of a little boy and you gave Bennett a sibling to play with and someone who will be in her life for a long time. You have brought us laughter, quiet moments of cuddling, and so much love. I adore all 4 months of you.


A few things about Will at 4 months

- He weighs 13.9 lbs and is in the 25-50% for weight
- He sleeps from about 8:30pm until 5:30am
- He takes three good naps a day
- If you make eye contact with him, he will burst into a huge grin
- He loves to laugh. Funny faces and noises make him laugh as does tickling
- He sleeps on his side and is extremely close to rolling over
- He can grab his toes now
- He loves to be held and would let you hold him all day
- He loves to practice sitting up and would prefer that to laying down
- He coos when he is happy. In fact, he is in my lap cooing as I type this
- He is growing up way too fast

Why double strollers are a good thing

I never use my double stroller. It's hard to open, too bulky, and annoying. I think tonight may have changed my mind.

I went to Walgreens to pick up some prints for the Will's baby album. I got there too early and had 10 minutes to wait. I had Will in his stroller and I was holding Bennett on my hip. 10 minutes was way too long to hold her and walk around the store so I let her walk. I found a few things that I needed and I put them in Will's stroller. I laughed at the bottle of shampoo laying next to his face and so I said, "Thank you, Will," I picked up a pack of gum and laid it on his belly. I said, "Thank you, Will. Thank you for being my shopping cart." He laughed right back at me and told me in his own way that he didn't mind.

So I stop on the magazine aisle. I get distracted by what Paula Deen is cooking this holiday season. My eyes aren't glued on Bennett, but I can hear her giggling and talking right beside me so I read all about a butternut squash casserole.

Then I hear Bennett saying, "Thank you, Will. Thank you, Will. Thank you, Will." I should have put away my magazine, but I thought she was just playing with him. When they finally called my name to let me know that my pictures were ready, I put down my magazine, looked down at the stroller, and gasped. I couldn't see Will. Well, I couldn't see his face. I saw two arms, two legs, a Hershey bar, a Teen Beat magazine, a tube of toothpaste, some chocolate covered almonds, and various other items that Bennett had piled on top of Will. As I realized what was going on she brought a huge bag of cotton balls over to the stroller and put it on top of the rest of her loot. "Thank you, Will," she said.

I'm a bad influence. And she's going in the double stroller next time. And Will still smells like chocolate.

How we carve pumpkins

This is how we carve pumpkins in our house.
By: Bennett Webster

Cool! Mom and Dad bought a pumpkin. What's Dad doing? I thought those were just for decorations.

Whoa! I get it. You scoop out seeds. Fabulous!

Look at me helping. I am such a big girl.

WHAT? Mom is posing with Will in front of the pumpkins. Will! Are you serious? He didn't even do anything? Why am I not in this picture? Why is Mom holding Will instead of me? I need to do something about this now.

Ahhhh... that's better. Dad's holding me now and once again I am front and center. Just where I like to be. Gotta go now because Mom is making me wash my hands. Yay, pumpkins.