Big Red Ball

Bennett's FAVORITE book is Stop That Ball by Mike McClintock. Jeff and I loved this book when we were little and my parent's gave a copy to Bennett (Claire also received the book and Jeff and Margaret, I'm sure, understand the "again???" feeling when Bennett brings the book to Mike or me for the 5th time that day). We read it multiple times each day and I truly believe the book actually gets longer each time! But we love this book too and the excitement it produces from Bennett. Mike and B went shopping this weekend and they found a ball!!!! Bennett proudly showed it to me as soon as I woke up - he is such a ball freak! Here are some pics - sorry they are mostly blurry but B and I were both on the move!





Staring at our reflection...


...talking to the ball "baa"....


...trying to pick it up...


...and rolling it all over the house!


A video of Bennett reading the word "ball"

New Playhouse

Melissa from work picked up this great playhouse for B - I didn't even have a chance to put it together or wash it before B was all over it! He loves it!! Thanks Mel!!!!


It also has a slide and a climbing wall








I LOVE this picture!!!!!!!! Look at all that blonde hair!!!


We also played with a sand pile in the driveway...


...and walked a letter to the mailbox. (It was actually a piece of junk mail that we had just picked up from the mailbox. Halfway up the driveway I gave it to B to carry into the house, he looked at it, turned around, and walked back towards the mailbox - such a smart boy!!!)

Sunday Dinner

Dad, Potise and Mozie came over for an early dinner last Sunday. Before they came over we reviewed with Bennett "Mozie" and "Potise" and although he couldn't say their names, he kept pointing to their pictures all weekend. Bennett had fun showing off his toys, sharing his books and loved playing with "Tuney" (Moz, I'm not sure how you spell Petunia's nickname!). After dinner the boys hit a few golf balls in the back - it was a great spring day!

Papa and B reading his "Zoom!" book - an interactive book that adventures through things that go.




It was great to have Petunia here - Bennett loves her and gave her very gentle pats.




"Princess Petunia"

More than the sniffles...

On Wednesday we took Bennett to see Dr Johnson because he had a congested cough and runny nose for 5-6 days and on Tuesday we noticed he was losing his balance and falling a lot more than usual. He has yet another ear infection, described by his doctor as looking "like glue in his ears." She also diagnosed him with pneumonia! I feel terrible that we didn't bring him in earlier! He had his 15 month well-child check-up only a week before and there was a small amount of residual fluid in his ears from his previous infection (which was only 3 weeks ago). Poor little buddy. No wonder he couldn't walk straight. He has been having such a hard time sleeping due to the congestion and probably pain from sinus/ear pressure. We have been using the humidifier, a menthol vaporizer and his breath-right strips (which are very cute by the way) and round the clock medicating with Tylenol/Motrin. His lungs sounded clear on Sunday night while he slept and I tried to listen on Tuesday before I went to work but he was playing, running around and not at all interested in sitting still so I could listen to his lungs. But I listened again Wednesday afternoon and sure enough there's a decent wet rattle in his left lower lung. I wish I could cough for him to get it all out. And when do they learn to blow their nose? It's like a constant drip but not enough to get at with the bulb suction. We have started him on the antibiotic Zithromax and it's been >24hrs since his first dose. He has already improved -- when I last checked on him he was sleeping soundly (and quietly) through his nose. So, a few more days of the antibiotics and hopefully we will be back to normal. We follow up in 3-4 weeks to check for fluid in his ears and if it is still there Dr Johnson wants to think about getting tubes. yikes!

But, kids are tough and B didn't let a thing like pneumonia get in his way of playing and having fun.


Climbing into his "garage" where we store all of his cars/trucks/airplanes. I had to make a quick decision between pulling him out (teaching him right from wrong) or grabbing the camera...


...the camera almost always wins.

Spring Visit

My parents came down for a spring visit - it was the perfect weekend hitting 60degrees on Sunday!


Walking through the back woods




B had fun getting a shoulder ride from Papa but I still had thoughts of him somehow falling....oh well, once a mom, always a worrier!


Our house is in the middle on the hill - itty bitty!




This is Bennett's smile face - Papa was mimicking him! Before Mimi and Papa came down, we placed their photos with their names on the entertainment cabinet where B would see them. Hew quickly learned who was who and by the middle of the first day was saying "Pa-pa." When asked where Mimi and Papa were, B would run for the living room and point to their pictures!
Mimi tried all weekend to get B to say "Mimi" but he was stuck on his Papa.




We walked around Rockford and the Rogue River dam.




Kathy and Phill came over on Saturday - we always have so much fun! Here we are playing the "cow race" game on the Wii




We played team-bowling -- Phill and I rallied for the win! (It helped that I had a champ on my team!)


We thought we were losing our Ellie on Sat night - she somehow was in A-fib (for those of you who don't know that's when the atrium of the heart begins to flutter instead of pumping effectively). We could feel her heart racing and hear it using a stethoscope, (having two nurses in the house probably made things worse as we speculated and described what could possibly be happening and why), it was beating/fluttering between 240-300 bpm - way too fast to be perfusing her body - her breathing increased, her ears and gums were cold and pale. We gave her all the love we could. Sometime around 5am - my Dad stayed up with her most of the night- she went outside (he thought to die) and after "doing her business" and barking into the night she came inside. Shortly after that, dad noticed her breathing was slow and regular and her heart rate had slowed to normal. What a miracle! We still don't know what had caused her heart to beat out of control but we are beyond grateful that she is her old self and still with us!


B wearing his new hat




One of my favorite pictures of the weekend




We went to the GR museum on Sunday. Bennett was mostly interested in the floor and lights. Here he is pointing to the "sta" (star)


Another "sta"




All folded up in a theater chair


Behind the bar wasn't a close enough view -- note his little "leash" hanging out under his jacket: I put a harness on him so I could enjoy the museum and not keep my eye on him every second. He didn't particularly enjoy it when he got to the end of the rope but it was quite helpful for us.








First carousel ride - we had to get on the lion!


Everyone went for a ride






My parents are awesomely young at heart and love to have fun! "Hold on!!! You can make it!"


We took a walk across the foot bridge - I took a picture of the museum - notice how high the river is?? The ramp is under water!


Officially hit 60degrees!


Bedtime stories - we sometimes forget to put him down on time because it is so light outside!



Mimi and Papa left on Monday morning after dropping B off at daycare (Mimi went too to see where he plays during the day). We love it when they visit - they are so easy-go-with-the-flow type people and they always offer to get up early with B, giving us a rare chance to sleep in (to 8am-ish). We always look forward to future visits. Kisses to Mimi and Papa!!!

Side note: Bennett has had a cold for the last few days and is sleeping poorly which means we are not sleeping well either. His little nose is all stuffed up and he has a cough, both which wake him up through the night. Poor little man. Sometimes I go in and rock him back to sleep. I tend to rock him beyond falling asleep because I love to snuggle him close to me and watch him sleep. Hopefully he gets over this soon!!!