Lots of New Pictures! (and an update of course!)

It has been a very busy two weeks for the Byrd family. Baseball season has begun, so Jeremy is very busy coaching. I am taking another ESOL class, so I've been working on the 38 assignments and 10 week lesson plan every free minute I've had. I will be so glad when this class is over.

Ben has had a good couple of weeks. The weather has been a little crazy; either raining or too cold to play outside most days. We are definitely looking forward to some warmer weather. Potty training is still going well. He will be ready for big boy underwear soon! He is growing up way too fast.

Here are the pictures from the past two weeks. Enjoy!

Seriously mom, do you have to take pictures in the bathroom? (Ha! Ha!)

He loves to build with the mega blocks.

Fun play park pictures!!! It was cold, but we were tired of being indoors.

Ben took this picture. Pretty good, huh?

He was so excited to watch daddy going down the slide :)

Ready, set, race!

Hooray for matching blue hoodies!

Look at this concentration...very carefully placing the watermelon on his fork.

I LOVE this grin!

Eagle Ridge Mall photos

Dinner @ Chili's Friday night.

Cheeeeese!!!!

I heart long weekends!

Three-day weekends are perfect! We took Ben to Eagle Ridge Mall Friday night to ride the carousel. It is one of his favorite things to do right now. We also took him to the arcade for the first time. He seemed a little overwhelmed by all the lights and sounds at first, but after he adjusted he had a great time with the popcorn and duckie game. We had another adventure on Saturday. We went to the Brandon Mall with Grandma and Grandpa Byrd. Jeremy needed to have his iPod fixed at the Apple store and I knew Ben would love the double-decker carousel. We had a lazy day Sunday, only getting out to get groceries that evening. Today was even more relaxing with all the rain. Ben and I played inside all day and had some quality snuggle time :)

I wish every weekend was three days long :) Here are the pictures from this weekend:

Here are some pictures from our trip to Brandon on Saturday.

Ben did not want to wake up from his nap today. He looked so cute and comfy :-)

Hello, New Year!

We are nine days into the new year and it's looking pretty good! I turned 28 January 4th and scored some awesome gifts! I've become addicted to my Kindle (the reason I'm just now updating the blog) and can't wait to use my annual passes to Bok Tower. Ben came running up to me the morning of my birthday carrying a heart-shaped tin from Brighton. He was saying, "Here's your birfday present, Mommy!" It was the sweetest thing to hear. I'll have to put a picture up of my new necklace and heart charm. It's beautiful and makes me think of my sweet boys.

Ben is doing well, although he did catch a little cold that turned into a double-ear infection at the end of this week. He's been on antibiotics since Friday and seems to be doing a little better now. Potty training is still going pretty well. He wears training pants all day except nap and bedtime. He has even worked up the courage to using my bathroom instead of his little potty chair. We are so proud of him.

I have a lot of random pictures, so I'll describe them as we go. Happy New Year!


Pictures from a visit to Bok Tower the last week of Christmas vacation:

The swans are beautiful, but the one on the right actually bit Ben! Ben was going to feed it and dropped the cracker on the ground. Ben went to pick it up, but the swan reached over and bit his hand trying to get it. Ben just looked at the swan like he was in complete shock! He never cried, but I think we'll all be more cautious next time.

He loves to climb around the big trees.

Momma and Ben relaxing in the adirondack chairs :-)

Grandma Byrd and Ben taking a break.

Enjoying his afternoon snack....I am convinced he's getting molars so maybe the cold popsicles feel good :-)

Pictures from my birthday....

Dinner Sunday night with Neal, Cindy, Papa Stone and Miss Pauline

My delicious ice cream cake

Ben singing "Happy Birthday" to me :-)

Ben was so excited to help me blow out the candles!

He thinks the ice cream cake is good, too!

Using my bathroom like a big boy!

Here are some adorable pictures of Ben using his stethoscope on Dr. LaRue Friday. His face is red because he cries from the time we get called back to the exam room until Dr. LaRue says all done. Once he's done, he is a happy camper. Dr. LaRue is so wonderful with Ben. He played right along with him and even gave him empty syringes and tongue depressors to put in his doctor's kit.

Ben and Grandpa playing with Grandma's new iPad. Ben will ask to call Grandma and Grandpa and then ask them to bring the iPad over so he can play the monkey game. The monkey game is for preschoolers, but Ben can already count the fruits, match cards, and put puzzles together.

Ben hanging out in his new chair with Pablo :-)

Jeremy's easel drawings...Ben LOVES them, ha ha!

Ben playing with his new train set tonight before bed.