Benny's Life

Ben has been such a busy little guy in the last several months since the Christmas season has ended. He has really got the knack of potty training, learned so many different things and even ice skated for the first time!

Ben finally decided he should potty more at home vs. just at school. He knew how to but really it was at point where it was up to him. Plus he wanted to wear some cool spider man underwear which probably helped push it a little further along. He had cool underwear in the past, but he is certainly a guy that when he makes up his mind to do something then he goes for it! He still wears pull ups for nap time and bed time, but that will come with time. I am just happy he is doing fantastic being dry all day. He even at one point while his Nagypapa wasn't serving liturgy asked his Nagypapa to take him potty! Ben did not want his Mom or Nagymama to take him. I believe that it was the first time I have EVER seen my Dad leave during a church service for something in all the years I've gone to church with him. Ben certainly can pull more strings then I ever could.

Ben is learning new things every day. He really likes school and comes home with some pretty awesome art work. He knows how to spell his name and is working diligently on writing his name out. That letter "B" is certainly a difficult letter to make, but he's doing pretty good at getting it. He does really great with tracing out dot-to-dot letters, so it won't be long before he writing them himself. He does pretty amazing with writing out the letters, "A", "O" and "M" when requested. Ben prefers more then anything to cut with scissors and glue paper. He certainly is a crafty little guy! He loves cutting out ringlets, circles and houses. He is so sweet to make sure that everyone including Lucas and Joey get their own piece of art work each time he uses the scissors. Ben is a very thoughtful little guy.

In other news, Ben made me one proud Mom yesterday in experiencing his first time EVER ice skating! I had zero expectations really because there are a lot of new things he'd have to experience that may or may not be scary to him. I wondered how he would react to putting on ice skates, stepping out into the ice or how he'd be with other people skating around him. We arrived to Ashburn Ice House just before the public skate time started. We watched the older kids play hockey in one rink while his Dad stood in line to buy tickets. He loved watching the kids play and requested to play hockey with them. I told him he certainly could when he gets a bit older and learns how to skate first. We headed back just in time to get his ice skates. He was very interested in them. They had "swords" on the bottom of them. I told him it would be funny to walk in them, but he'll get the hang of it. He was completely entralled when his Dad was putting on his shoes.
He was a bit wobbly at first but with a helping hand he soon got the knack of walking around. We had a few more minutes before the public skate opened up, so his Dad and I both took turns getting him used to just being in the shoes and walking with us. He showed no fear and was actually loving his rented skates!


Before long Ben was fine mostly on his own walking in the shoes. I was a bit nervous, but he was determined to try it out on his own. I made sure someone was right there with him. I wanted him to be comfortable without me freaking him out being a helicopter parent, but I also didn't want him to fall down and get discouraged. Look at him go!



Once the skating rink opened, Ben was biting at the bit to get on the ice. He was pulling his Dad's arm saying, "LETS GO." He wanted nothing more then to go try out his skating legs. I was nervous for him but he eased me a little having such a great attitude about going out and trying something he never has done before. I couldn't be more proud at that moment. Ben did great getting on the ice. He was slipping around like crazy and his Dad had to keep picking him up. We told him to march on the ice, but he did prefer getting rides on the ice via his Dad.

By the end of the session, Ben was holding onto the boards and walking by himself. This completely exceeded my expectations on what he would do and met his Dad's expectations on his first day on the ice. Ben never cried, whined or was worried once. He just went out there and did it. He showed no fear. That ruski blood certainly runs deep.



I'm still beaming each time I think of how awesome he was about just trying something new and going for it. We don't know if he'll be gung ho in the future to skate or play hockey, but he certainly will be given every opportunity in the world to learn and experience it. He certainly has a very awesome and patient one on one teacher to help him learn how. I love watching how amazing Ben is in growing up and learning new things. He has such great confidence in himself that just amazes me. I wished that he had his Dad's confidence when he was a little guy and he certainly has it. I hope all my children have that wonderful trait as well. I'm so proud of you Ben!!!!

36 Weeks

Here it is. I am finally in the last month of my pregnancy. While parts of it seemed to zoom by, now that it has hit March 1st, the days are coming to a screeching hault. I’m not sure how I feel about that. My body in one way is just done. I feel huge, achy, sore and tired. On the other hand I know how much another little being can completely change a household. I will admit I’m a little nervous about labor, delivery, birth and what it will mean for when we go home. How easily will I learn to re-juggle? How will it be once my husband goes back to work? More importantly, how will my son adapt? Don’t get me wrong though, I am in absolute and amazingly humbled that my little girl will soon be entering the world. There is always the fear of the unknown though.

Physically I’m quite healthy. My blood pressure is measuring out nicely. My weight is on cue with this pregnancy. I’ve actually gained the perfect amout of weight, which is nice since I will admit I’ve spoiled myself with an extra cookie or Reeses here or there. After a very sick first trimester, having to undergo the three hour glucose test (which I passed) and miraculously busting my butt to find a new job and all those stresses that goes with that, I figured I deserved
it every so often. Now that I hit 36 weeks, it is like on cue that the horrible back contractions have started. I remember back labor when I was induced with my son. It was a throbbing, annoying pain that really never went away. I saw an epidural in my future and knew at some point I’d get it and therefore stayed focus on the marvelousness of the epidural’s magic powers that would eventually come to me. However with these back contraction episodes, it catches you off guard and it feels like a knife is stabbing you over and over again. The first time it hit I was unprepared and thus fought it. Bad idea. It literally left me shaking in pain and I was home alone with a three year old. Uncool. The subsequent times it has happened, I’ve learned to mediate and work it out which in turn seems to not last as long nor get as bad. The downer side is it still happens without too much warning and having to pull over on my way to work several times this
week has become a bit annoying. I’ll take my epidural now please.

I will admit I am quite nervous about labor and delivery. I ideally would like to get my long list of stuff accomplished first. It is dwindling down as my patient husband and I work diligently on it each night when we get home from work. I would also like in my little ideal world to have it start by my water breaking while I’m taking a shower or bath so I create as little mess as possible and I’ve had a chance to wash my hair. I really really REALLY do not want my water breaking at work. I also don’t want to have to start timing my contractions at work either, but in that case I’ll go home if that business starts happening. I just rather it happen while my husband and I are both home so I’m not driving anywhere. I hate leaving my car places….and I am NOT driving to the hospital by myself. I know. I know. I’m quite demanding but hopeful! I also am wondering how long this labor will take until I deliver. Will it be quick? Will the epidural take? How big will my daughter be? Will she be okay? Will I remember to bring the camera? There are a lot of questions and concerns!

I’ll also need to re-juggle things once more. In every day life you learn to re-juggle all the crud that is thrown at you. I guess I’ll just figure it out! As far as my relationship with my son and my
daughters goes, I hope he loves her. I think he already does given how protective he already is and how much he loves being called a big brother. My son is a very active little boy, but man does he have a caring protective nature about him. He notices things. He watches out for things and if it isn’t just so or isn’t fair, he will tell you. I can’t tell you how many times he’s decided his Dad was cold so he brought over a blanket for him or the little pride on his face when he does something cool like cleaning up dishes or something along those lines. He has the making to be a great brother. He already is a pretty terrific son. I just want to make usre he knows he isn’t second and that he’s just as special. My husband and I balance things pretty well so I’m pretty sure he’ll be good to go. Do I expect hiccups? Yes. Do I expect there may be some jealousy? Some. My son is pretty nonchalant and easy going, so as long as we balance turns (turns are big in our little house) and give some special time just for him which I am already planning on. Babies to require lots of attention but he also doesn’t require being babied and actually hates it when I do baby him too much.

So I guess I’m ready. Ready to see what how this little girl will change my world, my husbands world and her brothers world. I want to do everything possible for my children. I want them to hopefully be great friends some day. I can’t wait to see how much a daughter changes my already softy of a husband. I cringe at guessing what her hair will look like the mornings I’m not there. It will be fun to see the relationship my children will have. It is just going to be another amazing journey in our lives together. I'm humbled. Nothing is more awesome then being rich in family and love.

I'll see you soon Alexis!