Let's go fly a kite!

It was a sunny, windy day on Saturday - perfect for kite flying. So Kelly bought Benjamin his first kite (shaped like a shark) and off we went. We had such a great time. Once the kite was assembled, Kelly handed the string to Benjamin and told him to start running. Benjamin has never even seen a kite flying, but he needed no further instruction. He took off, and the kite lifted into the air on his first try. He was thoroughly enthralled for as long as a 1 year old can be expected to stay interested in anything. Then the rocks, dirt, and nearby playground became more interesting. That gave me a chance to fly it too, though! I haven't flown a kite since my mission. There was one fun P-day when the son of our landlord decided he wanted to fly a kite, so we flew one from the roof of our house because there really isn't anywhere on the ground wide open enough to do any kite flying - gotta love urban sprawl. It flew quite well for a homemade kite!

Here's some pictures of our day. The first is how I initially thought our whole day would go. Those "easy to assemble" kites aren't always so. Luckily, I had a soccer ball in the trunk with which to entertain Benjamin while we waited. :)





This is what happened when Benjamin lost interest. Kite handles make good shovels too, apparently.

Not much longer

I had my 38 week ultrasound today. I loved getting another chance to see my little girl. (They confirmed that again - thank goodness or this boy would be wearing a lot of pink!) At 38 weeks it's a lot harder to see what's going on than at 20. She's so squished up in there that much of what I was looking at was just a blur to me. However, I could make out her head and hands and spine and could tell she's doing well. That's always so reassuring. Also, I've been having frequent contractions and cramps for over a week now and they're apparently having some effect. Dilation and effacement have begun - unlike Benjamin where they didn't begin until after my due date - so things are moving along well. It's exciting. After my baby shower I gave into my nesting urges and went full blast. All clothes and blankets are washed. The curtains, rug, sheets, bumper pad is ready. Bottles and breast pump have been cleaned. Car seat is cleaned. Bag is packed. You name it - it's done. I'm feeling much more at ease now. I hope that she doesn't come before my mom gets here, but I've been overwhelmed by the number of people who have (of their own accord) come to me and offered to be the person to get woken up in the dead of night should this baby pick an inopportune time to arrive. It's very comforting knowing I've got back-up.


In the meantime, Benjamin has been filling his time with all sorts of out-door fun. He just can't get enough of soap bubbles, ducks, playgrounds, pinecones, and puddles. He's in little boy heaven whenever he's outside. His vocabulary is also expanding. He's now saying "bye" to everyone and everything and today he started pointing to things and saying "mein" meaning "mine" in German. I guess, since they're said the same way, it's anyone's guess which language he's really speaking, but he started saying it after he drew all over the kitchen table (rather than the paper I'd given him) and I angrily took the pen away declaring in German that it was now mine. From then on, everything related to paper or pens was "mein." I'm not sure if he thinks that's how you say pen or if he gets that it's a possesive. Time will tell. His other obsession is the sprained ankle Kelly got playing basketball. The cast, bruise, and ace bandage wrap intrigue him and so at least 10 times per day, whether Kelly is around or not, he declares out of the blue, "Owie dada" with a really sad tone of voice.


I've had a few requests for pregnancy photos, but honestly, I'm still not so sure I want to do that. This being my second pregnancy, the charm of watching my body expand just isn't there. It was all so exciting and new with Benjamin and now I just look in the mirror and feel heavy and huge. Not a look I'd like plastered on the internet.

We love sunshine!

I am so happy that Spring seems to finally have come for good. We've been having a good time. There's just only so much you can do indoors and I get really sick of it after a while. Outside the time just seems to go so much faster and I love the smell of fresh Spring air. Sometimes Benjamin's energy level exceeds my ability to keep up while carrying this heavy belly around, but we've been spending a lot of time at play grounds and parks. There are many days when I really miss just sitting and reading and I would give anything to have a child that is better at self entertaining, but that's not Benjamin. Even pulling a book of mine off the shelf elicits a wail and a frantic "all done" sign. So, when I just can't chase him any more, we go out in the back yard and blow bubbles. At least that's something I can do sitting down! But only three weeks to go until Isabella is here (unless she's a procrastinator like Benjamin). Then my mom can chase Benjamin for a while! Yay! :)

Here's some pictures of recent adventures. I have gotten so tired of my maternity clothes! So, I borrowed some from a friend. When I was trying them on, Benjamin insisted that he get to as well. Who says you need a girl to play dress up? Of course, being a boy, he also had to play around with the cd player while we tried on our clothes.


This is Benjamin's best "can I please look at the pictures now?" face.


Spring and sunshine mean new sunglasses! I didn't think he'd actually wear them, but he really loves them.


I keep trying to get action shots at the playground, but the minute he sees the camera, he poses and then runs to see the picture I took. So, nothing flashy, but cute none-the-less.



There are ducks in a stream by one of the playgrounds we frequent and they were so exciting to him until one thought Benjamin's lunch was its lunch and came right out of the water towards him. After that, Benjamin kept an eye out behind him at all times.



The tough issue we're dealing with right now is Benjamin's tendency to hit, kick, or head-butt me. All day long I'm getting beaten up by a one-year old. If he doesn't want his diaper changed or his shoes on, or if I tell him he can't do something, or that he did something inappropriate, I get a firm whack or kick. If I'm holding his arms or legs, his head comes flying at me. Time outs seem to have no effect and I'm starting to run out of patience with this abuse. The other day I told him to stop throwing toys and he threw one right at my eye. I still have a bruise! I'd say the "terrible twos" have begun. He's definitely better than some kids I've seen who throw themselves on the ground and kick and wail for what feels like forever, but I'm at a loss as to how to deal with this physical punishment he doles out. I hope it's just a phase that many energetic boys go through and he'll eventually stop if I just keep consistently doing what I can to stop it.

Happy Birthday Kelly!

I just wanted to wish my sweet hubby a very happy 29th birthday!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day filled with plenty of cake and cream puffs. :)