8 Months and Seems so Old

Ben is now 8 months old, I thought that you know kid's grow up, but I am still amazed at the rate that they do the growing up @. It seems like Ben is getting faster and better at getting around with each day that passes. He also thinks that he is growing up and for the last week or so he had decided that he no longer needs naps. What can I say, it's been a really long week. Here are a few pictures of Ben and is growing too fast.This is Ben is his snow suit that was to be for this winter. It is way too tight for him, so tight that he was having a really hard time sitting. I had to quickly shoot this one before he fell down, he couldn't bend @ the waist.

It totally looks like he is standing on his own here. He is leaning on the chair.

I sat Ben down in his bed so that he wouldn't get into trouble while I was doing something and he grabbed onto the rail of his bed and pulled himself up to standing. He seems to like the view from standing and tries to get to standing whenever he can.

Here's a better shot of him standing in his crib.

To the things I didn't realize I knew

Today was an interesting day, filled with ups and downs but in the end I think it was good (pending on a little guy falling asleep really fast). The day started with church where I started to think about the words that I speak to others. Mine aren't always the most encouraging and they should be. Then a relaxing afternoon with Mike and a stressful one with Ben, strange how an afternoon can be both. Then this evening someone reminded me about a little girl I met the first time I was in Africa and that made me think of Benard, the 18 month old boy that I also met the first time I was in Zambia. The I thought of the circumstances of Zambians and how I am truly,truly blessed to be where I am today and to have my little family. No matter how I look at things, I have more than in my life than anyone that I worked with in Zambia could ever dream of. I have a husband who loves me and respects all aspects of who I am and respects my opinions. I also have a son who is super healthy and is such a joy in my life, even though some days I don't seem to see that. And they are both just the start of what I have, what else could I ask for?

I know this is truly sappy, but lately I've been in a little bit of a funk and this day just was a slap in the face that even with all the hard changes and decisions that I have to make in my life, God is with me and he is blessing me. "Thank you Lord for all that you have done for me. I do not deserve the love that you give to me. Thank you for Your blessing."
Here are just a few recent shots of my little family because I know that I like pictures to go along with a blog posting. first; mike and I at a ball game, above; ben and mike at the rodeo.

POOP Happens Everywhere

My little Ben is almost 8 months old now and I'm proud to say that tonight was the first time that he pooped in the tub while he was having a bath. All of a sudden there was this rumble from beneath him and then there were little logs in his little tub. My mom was asking me the other day if this had happened to us yet and I proudly said, "no," but no longer is that the correct answer. He pooped in the tub and well, I'm sure that it will not be the last time.

Ben Standing on His Own

My mom put Ben in her laundry basket today and so she yelled at me to get my camera to take pictures because it was just too cute. He was being cute and just playing around in there and then all of a sudden he pulls himself up and he's standing. Of course he is holding on for dear life but he is actually doing it. I was so amazed and just kept taking pictures. It was a good moment. When I told Mike about it later, he was all cool and calm like the kid does this every day. I tell you, I was so glad that I had my camera out because it is not every day that your kid stands for the first time. It was great.

Three Computer Nerds in the Woods

Yesterday we went out to 'The Homestead' to meet with Mike's coworkers @ Redphone. It was kind of funny to think that we were trapezing around the woods and roasting wieners with computer nerds. I never would have thought that would be how I would spend a relaxing sunday evening. We really did have a wonderful time and realized that we really don't do things with people outside our family much, outsiders can be fun too. We went and had a wiener roast and then went for a little hike before the evening of R&R around the fire. Ben also had a great time with Zane, Dave son (Mike's boss). It was a really great time

Ben and Zane having a blast with Zane's truck.