three

This boy is so amazing

 He is the "son" in my shine (sunshine) :)

 He leaves me breathless

 and speechless

 I am so proud to be called his momma

 He is growing so fast

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

This little boy

 This little boy, sure knows about adventure.  

He never has a fear of jumping, running, and sliding.

This little boy sure knows how to make his momma happy 

and keeps her on her toes.

This little boy sure brings joy to his family

 This little boy is growing so fast.

This little boy is turning 3 in a week.
This little boy has skinned knees
This little boy still crawls in his mammas lap for a hug

 

This little boy is potty trained.
This little boy runs through the house playing pirates and monsters

This little boy has no more baby, and all big boy

Catching up Part 3, June

After everything started to calm down and life got back to the "normal" I tried to stay busy so I wouldn't think about much.  I started cleaning the house and before I knew it, the whole laundry room was gutted and cleaned along with several corners in the house.  Alanna's tball games began and they were just as much fun as practice. Until it was time to be in the field, then Alanna would end up on her butt in the rocks playing.  Her coach makes her run the bases for playing in the rocks.  But she enjoys the running, so its a lose situation for the coach, hehe. 

A few weekends later Chris had his company picnic.  The Repo Rodeo, they call it.  There was a clown, bounce house, lots of food, games/prizes and much more.  Chris won second place in the rodeo...The drives had to drive the tow truck through a maze of cones, to a parked car and get the VIN #, then they had to go back and tell the person the VIN # and they were timed...

The kids had a great time.  They loved the balloon animals and the fun prizes they got.  YoYo's, plastic snakes and lots of candy.  The bounce house of course was the favorite.


We also tried spending our days outside to keep busy.  Lots of trips to the park and library over the weeks.  Different parks with friends, and picnics outside. 

 Before we knew it, the end of June was here.  With all the cleaning I had done, we had lots of stuff to donate/sell.  We decided to have a garage sale.  The garage sale was at Chris' dad/stepmoms house and it was ok.  We didn't get a whole lot of traffic, but it got most of the stuff out of the house and the rest was donated.  The money from the garage sale will be enough to redo our master bedroom, and bathroom. 

By the end of June we were so used to being busy that it hasn't stopped yet. 
stay tuned for part 4, July.
part 1 here 
part 2 here

in the moment

The courage she has amazes me.  Times when my stomach is full of butterflies, she looks at me and tells me its going to be okay, as she walks ahead.

His curiosity is something I've never seen before.  He explores and roams, and learns.  He teaches me to calm down and enjoy the moment.

The innocence she carries with her leaves her high above the rest of us.  She sees the good in everything and teaches everyone around her to enjoy nature and all that it has to offer.

Where would I be 

without these 3?

in the moment

Right now there are dishes in the sink, and clothes in the dryer. There are toys on the floor, and the trash needs to be emptied.

I tell these confession, because I'm not sorry. 

I tried to load the dishwasher, and I tried to fold the laundry, and I tried to take the trash out.

Instead I sat around for most of the day.

I sat with a cuddly (not so baby) boy on my lap.

He has been playing so well by himself.  On his belly, running the cars up and down the couch.  Little vroom vrooms coming from his sweet lips.

But for today he just wanted to cuddle.

So I stopped trying to get the daily chores done, and I just sat down and smelled his sweet head, and gave a million and one kisses and enjoyed every minute, every second that he let me.

Random updates with pictures

I forgot about all the pictures I had on my camera.  Today I was going through it and realized I haven;t shared what we have been doing lately.  A couple weeks ago we went to Joes Crab Shack (and yes if you live in FLORIDA{Mom, Tim} some of you may say yuck, but to us who don't live by the ocean it has to do).

Here is the dessert (ice cream sandwich with fudge, sprinkles and mini M&Ms to put on top..so cute!) Alanna got after she stuffed herself with macaroni and cheese, fries, crab stuffed mushrooms and crab from her grandma Jan's plate. The next picture is Chris eating is hot, steam pot bib and all.  Bed is picking at his plate, but loved his fries.
Some may know a little secret about me and that is I have never been a big fan of seafood.  Its not that I don't like it, its that I never grew up around it and just afraid to eat it.  I have been tasting it here and there when I am feeling brave, and this night I promised myself I would get something other than chicken or steak.  So I got the shrimp and steak..baby steps people!  I got the coconut shrimp with the pineapple plum sauce.  IT WAS AMAZING!  I ate all my shrimp before one bite of steak and wanted more shrimp.  I didn't even want my steak after that.  Now all I can think about is coconut shrimp.

Last week I took the kids to get some much needed hair cuts.  I was tired of getting Bens hair trimmed and then a week later he needed it again, so I opted for a big boy hair cut.  He looks so much older.  Its so sad seeing my baby grow up.  But I LOVE running my fingers through his new short hair..and I can spike it and that is adorable!

And then what would St Patty's Day be without some pictures of the kids. wearing green.  Ben is showing so much of his personality in these pictures, it makes my heart sink.  Alanna too, look at those big goofy grins. I am so proud to be mommy to these kids :)

"time" for Ben

Picture is a little blurry it was taken with my phone...better pictures to come later.  

 The watch says 8:00 when its facing Ben, any guesses why I choose that time?

Finally something made for Ben

I seen this little boys felt watch on Etsy for $16.25 and said to my self, SELF I am NOT paying that much money for a felt watch, so I made one...and it only cost me $2.75 and I could make probably 5 more with my supplies.  I sewed it all by hand.  Alanna likes it so much she wants one that is pink and purple.  (stay tuned for that one) (maybe I will even share how I made it).  I put it on Ben and he LOVED sporting his new cool bracelet. 

This was another of my craft projects crossed off the list. 

Sleepy

These pictures remind me of the nyquil commercials...

"For a better looking tomorrow"

The worse feeling ever

**Edited to add pictures**


Today was a day that I hope to soon forget.  Its been one of those days that I also hope to never repeat.  If you follow me on facebook, you may have already read this, but here it is again with a little more detail.

We woke like any other day, got the girls off to school and ate breakfast with Ben.  He has been sick for a few weeks, and earlier in the week had a fever for about 4 days.  He started coughing pretty bad at breakfast and I knew it was time to take him in.  I called the dr and made an appt for the afternoon.

Lunch time was coming up fast so I went to the fridge to find something to make for Ben and I.  Ben was playing with the dog and  reminded him to be nice.  I turn my head to the fridge and 3 things happened at once. The dark barked, Ben started screaming and the day turned into one of the scariest days of my life.

I turned my head and Bens face was covered in blood.  I ran to him with a towel in my hand and placed it on his face.  I reached for the phone and called Chris.  I remember tears rolling down my face as the words came out.  The dog bit my baby.

I knew I had to calm down and be mom at that moment so I sucked in my breathe and removed the towel.  5 small puncture wounds laid across my little guys nose.  Picture 5 finger nails digging into his face and thats what it looked like.  I continued to wipe the blood from his face and hands and calmed him down.  I yelled at the dog to go to her cage.

After what seemed like a lifetime I got Ben to stop crying and cleaned his face.  So much blood for such little wounds.  I dabbed some peroxide to his nose and then Chris was walking in the door.

We decided that even if Ben did do something to the dog we could never trust either one of them again and that our dog needed a new home.  Preferably someone without small children.  An ad was on craigslist in the next 20 minutes and a few hours later her new owners were at the door loving on their new dog.

I took Ben to his dr appt we already had scheduled.  Diagnoses for the sickness was Roseola, with a sinus infection on top.  He received antibiotics for the sinus infection and for the dog bite.  He also got some antibiotic cream for his face and a tetanus shot. 

We now have to watch our poor baby closely to make sure no redness appears on his face or spreads anywhere other than the bite area.  If this happens we are to take him to the hospital right away.  He has been sleeping only 3 hours and I have checked on him 12 times.

I did not spank the dog, but she did sit in her cage for awhile this afternoon.  I was sad to see her go, but my son is the most important person here and I have to think about his safety as well as for the girls.  If Ben was just an inch over, her sharp teeth could have gotten his eye, I hate to even think about anything worse.  I hope the new family we chose for her is a good one and that she will be happy there.  We did exchange email so we can get updates on her every know and then. 

Now its time for me to go to bed, and try to forget this horrible day. I ts been a lllloooonnnngggg day and I don't want to have this feeling ever again!

Benjamin

Last Monday Ben turned 18 months. I had this great post written in my head, but it never got transferred to the computer. Ben amazes me everyday. Here are a few updates on Benjamin:

• He still LOVES to cuddle, but only on his command
• He does everything Alanna does. EVERYTHING
• His new favorite word is cereal
• He LOVES the pacifier
• He carries his blanket around the house and rubs the corner in the space above your mouth, but under your nose. Thats how he calms himself at night
• He eats everything, all the time
• His favorite foods are fruit, broccoli, ice cream, cake and cereal
• Coming in close second is everything else :)
• His wind down time starts at 6:30 and then he asks to go to bed around 7:30
• His whiny time of the day is 4:30 and MUST eat dinner at 5 or whiny time lasts until dinner is served
• He loves bath time. But hates when the water gets turned off.
• Hates getting his diaper changed. It takes him away from playing, hehe.
• Says ah-ub-boo ( i love you) at night when I lay him in his bed.
• Must give everyone a kiss before nap and bed
• LOVES nap time
• Wakes up yelling MOMMY every morning. MMM.OOO.MMM.MMM.YYY!
• Will lay in front of the fire place with his feet in the air to warm them.
• loves suckers
• will grab my face and kiss me until I can no longer breathe and I have to pull away, he then pulls me back for more kisses

As you can see, Ben is just as sweet as pie. I cannot remember him not being in our family. He is a great addition and keeps us on our toes. It feels like a few months ago I was bringing this little boy home and wondering if he would be an easy baby. Hes had his moments, but over all he was and still is a great eater, sleeper and player. I can't imagine life without my little boy.

Don't forget about my giveaway here

Mommy Instinct

I am a mom. Therefore I have a 6th sense when it comes to my kids.

I took Ben to the dr on Thursday and he was diagnosed with pink eye in his right eye. He was given drops and we were on our way home, happy. Fast Forward to Saturday morning when Ben woke up and he had goup plastered to the left side of his face, his eye was swollen almost shut and he had a HUGE black and blue mark on his eye lid.

I called the dr and made an appt to be seen. They again diagnosed pink eye in his other eye, prescribed some more extra strength eye drops, and an antibiotic.

But I have been thinking..

Pink Eye doesn't cause a black eye. Yes it may cause the swollen issue and the goup issue, but black and blue?? So I sat and started thinking some more. And then I remembered that Friday late, late night Ben woke up screaming...Not just crying, shaking and screaming like he had, had a bad dream. I ran into his room and picked him up and cuddled him...5 minutes later he was calm enough to ask to go back in his bed. (pointing and grunting really) I laid him back down and went back to sleep, not thinking about it again..But what if Ben woke up and was standing in his bed, still sleeping and fell on the bar of the crib..He could have done that which might have caused the black eye.

His pink eye is already almost gone..Maybe just a little goup after naps and in the morning..Its still swollen and certainly still black and blue..Just check out these tough shots my baby gave after his bath today.

Don't you just love his faces?

Now, thats a black eye isn't it? His eyes are no longer red inside and this is still here. What do you think?

Average

I know its been a few days since I posted last. I don't know why I don't write more. I read blogs through blogger so its right there, staring at me to post something..I am on facebook way to many times throughout the day, and I check my email a whopping 80 times an hour. So its not like I don't have the computer time available. Its just been pretty average around here lately. I am having a lot of trouble controlling my yelling reflex. I do good and then get tired and start yelling. I think to myself I should stop, but it makes me feel like I am getting somewhere with the kids when I yell, and in actuality I am not. So I am still working on that. I have it figured I will be working on that until the kids are at least 30...Yes 30 sounds about right.

Alanna is off from school this week. Her preschool does home visits mid year..Sort of a parent/teacher conference my in my home. It went well. They said she was smart and getting better everyday. In the beginning of the year when Alanna wouldn't get her way she would lay on the floor at school and would stay there until she was ready to get up..The teachers would leave her there until she was ready, if you know Alanna, you won't get no where if she is not ready..They said its been awhile since she laid on the floor so, much improvement. Alanna can wrote her name and can recognise almost ALL her letters, and numbers. She is beyond the shapes and colors at this point. I am very proud of her. She is doing so well.

Ben on the other hand, discovered temper tantrums. I think he is working toward the "king" status of temper tantrums. He practices them every 15 minutes...Pretty soon he may even go pro. Hes that good!

Hannah is also working towards being a pro...with her attitude. I say hi, how was school and she replies "FINE OK!" and runs into her room and slams the door. I see her again when its dinner time, but not without the sighs and rolling of the eyes to let me know I interrupted her life and how dare I ask her if she wants to eat dinner with the family.

See I told you its been real average around here..If there isn't rolling of the eyes, screams and temper tantrums coming from my house, then you better worry.

Merry....

Merry Christmas, from the King Family

get well soon

Wow, December 1st already. All that comes to mind is "where did the past couple of months go"? As I have mentioned we have been sick here in the King house. One person will get better and another person will wake up coughing. Mainly its been Ben who is sick.
Starting back in October he wakes up all green and goopy, the dr puts him on an antibiotic and then 10 days later when the medicine is all gone he is sick again. He has been on antibiotic 3 times in 2 months and now he has no infection but still coughing and gaging and runny nose and fluid in his ears.
I have been talking with the ear dr that Alanna sees, and he recommended tubes for Ben's ears. We just have to get hm healthy for the surgery. So the dr today took some nose cultures (yuck) and sent them in for testing. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this sickness. Poor Ben has not been himself lately, and I really miss the happy, sleep through the night baby I had a couple months ago.

On this day in November, I am thankful for

I read on another blog (I can't remember where), that for everyday in November she will tell what she is thankful for in her life. I know this is day 3, but I have the perfect thing I am thankful for.

My 3 children

Without my kids, I don't know where I would be. I am a firm believer that god has things happen for a reason, and I strongly believe I became pregnant with Hannah at the age of 18 for a reason. Maybe I was headed down the wrong path, or Hannah was meant for something great in her life. I will never know, but God does.

So for November 1, 2, 3

I am THANKFUL for

Hannah Brelynn

Alanna Baylee

Benjamin Christopher

What are you thankful for November 1, 2, 3...all the way down to 30?

I (heart) honey-wordless wednesday

flashback

Since I have been spending more "one on one" time with Ben in the mornings while the girls are at school, it really has me thinking back to last year when Ben was so little and I was potty training Alanna, wow so much growing has happened in a short span of 1 year. You think now that this time next year is SO far away, but in reality next year I will be looking at pictures I tool over the weekend and realize how fast our lives are flying by and we need to take a minute to slow down! Here are some pictures I found of the kids from last September. Hannah looks so young, and Alanna has that babiness to her still, and Ben, well don't even get me started on Ben ((tear)).