Like Fudge

A quote from my good friend Amy-

"I think non- parents don't quite grasp the 24/7ness of small children. Like fudge, ignoring them for mere seconds can result in disaster."

If you've ever made fudge or had a small child, I'm sure you're chuckling and can relate to the above statement. It really does sum up our lives right now with a very active almost 14 month old little boy with a growing curiosity for all things....well actually for all things he's not allowed to have. Ben has more toys in our house than most daycare centers have in rooms containing multiple children. Toys everywhere you look....under tables and couches, taking over the living room, invading every bedroom, in the bath tub, on the changing tables....everywhere. You'd think this would keep him busy as a bee but no. Ben wants to play with the broom and swiffer. He wants to see how many of my things he can shove in his barn. He wants to take every shoe out of our shoe rack and strategically place them in secret locations all over the house. He wants to take all our remotes and point them at the TV and push buttons until something happens. He wants to try with all his might to take Brina's collar off her neck and remove the tags.

So our dilemma this year....what to do about a Christmas tree??? Brian loves the smell of fresh cut tree and really wanted a real tree. Especially since we aren't going anywhere for Christmas and will actually spend the holiday in our house, it would be nice to be festive rather than waking up Christmas morning to a Christmas-less house. But in the back of my mind i'm thinking "Ben+tree= DISASTER" So our solution for Christmas this year.....we have a 3 foot mini tree (cut off the top 3 feet of a larger tree) strategically placed on top of a card table in our living room. Out of reach but definitely still visible. I'll post pictures later of Ben attempting to help us "decorate" the tree.

Neat and Tidy

I admit......Ben was born to a woman who has many things higher on the priority list than having a squeaky clean house. Every New Years I resolve to do better and my house is always cleaner for the first few months but as the pace of life picks up, cleaning is the first thing to go.

Well...I gave birth to a cleaner. Ben is a boy who likes things neat and tidy and has taken it on himself to keep our house picked up. His favorite toy.....a broom. One of his favorite activities....taking wipes out of his wipe box and scrubbing the floor. The above video shows him neatly stacking the Christmas presents. This boy is neat and tidy.

Giving Thanks

This post is a bit late....but here's a list of things I'm especially thankful for this year (2010)

- Ben. I have a healthy 13 month old who brings me unbelievable joy every single day. Yes there are challenges and it's a lot of hard work but it is absolutely worth it.

- Ben has more or less been a very healthy kid. No major illnesses or injuries! Not to say we haven't gone through boxes of kleenex to wipe snotty noses or done loads of laundry after other unfortunate reversals of fortune, but he has been for the most part healthy. Blessing.

- Ben is sleeping. At least 50% of the time, he sleeps through the night without any wakings. After going 13 months without a night of uninterrupted sleep, we'll take it when we can get it.

- Ben is happy. He smiles and laughs at anyone and everyone hoping that they'll return the smile and give him an excuse to wave his pudgy hand in excitement.

- Brian. I have a wonderful husband who I've been married to for 4 years. He is working so hard to get his PhD and I admire his persistence in the important work he is doing. He is a wonderful father who sacrifices time and time again for his son and is setting an example of what it means to be a Christian man of integrity.

- Family. We have wonderful family who have been so supportive and loving. We could not make it without them. Our awesome parents are amazing grandparents to Ben. What a blessing.

- Health. We made it through 2010 without any health problems! 2006- Katie misdiagnosed with a terminal heart disease. 2007- Brian diagnosed with epilepsy after 2 seizures. 2008- Katie diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia after docs found bone tumors. 2009- Ben was born totally blue and not breathing. 2010- HEALTHY YEAR. Praise the Lord.

- Community. We love our church family. We love our neighbors. We love our friends.

We have lots to be thankful for this year. At the close of a crazy, hectic day, I'm sitting here drinking tea, looking through the pictures on my computer of the past year and giving thanks to God for all his blessings.