What did you learn in class today?

So I wasn't sure what to write about. Seems like my life is the same, "Hi, my names Laura I am a mom and wife." Well before I was a mom I had this little thing called a career, no biggie...just that thing adults do to make money. I almost forget what those days are like and wonder how I will do it all when I go back...

Well while I am a stay at home mom I am getting my masters in early childhood education. That's right people, future preschool teacher here. In all realness though I have learned more about my own child going through this program, I feel like I should've started this the day I found out I was pregnant.

Tonight we had to watch a two minute video and write a discussion...here's the video:

Before you watch know, I watched this and my thoughts were "well that's weird, makes sense I guess" ...now how did I turn that into 3-5 paragraphs, I still don't know...but here watch this, it's called the Still Face Experiment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0


if you are really interested you can watch this too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG89Qxw30BM


I almost got more out of this one only because it showed older children at the end...

Communication is something Ben has learned from birth, which is scary to me because I feel like that is when I communicated the worst with others (I was so tired). Recently though I realize how important it is to teach him to communicate in the right ways with others. One of the things I try NOT to do is be on my cell phone while his attention is on me. After watching these videos I am reminded of that mom in the waiting room on her cell phone and her kid screaming "MOM MOM MOM" trying anything to get her attention. Children need attentive adults teaching them to communicate and not just in words in actions too. I forget how Ben can communicate even though his go-to word is "da" ...he points, smiles, screeches, hugs and etc all not words but all the same they have meaning.

It is so crazy how fast Ben is learning and I want every moment to count. I love watching him grow and learn and think gosh how blessed I am to see those little and big moments every day.

Well there you have it, that's what I learned in class today/tonight...

Boys

When I was pregnant, I wanted a girl. I have to be honest. Although, I want a healthy baby more than anything. Well, I had a boy. A healthy beautiful boy or handsome as his daddy likes me to say. Now I am oh so glad! I was always told God would give me the baby I was meant for but I never really understood that until now. Even when Ben was younger I would think "God, I can't handle sleep deprivation, why did you give me a baby that doesn't sleep" Then I hang out with my friends who have girls and look at how different it is and I laugh. God knows exactly what he is doing.

What I have grown to know and love about my boy:

Dirt is okay, actually encouraged...please go roll around and get some of that energy out!

When going on a park play date, wear tennis shoes because that boy will not stop running ...

If he doesn't like something he will let you know...this is usually in public, screaming

He will fall, a lot, and your girl mom friends will look in horror while you just sigh and go about your day

Sleep, enjoy it when it last and don't expect it. No, don't even try to compare him to the little paci poppin' princess down the street!

How to stop and enjoy the "calm" moments like reading a book. They do come and are so precious.

They can charm the pants off a stranger with one smile.

Putting together an outfit is so much simpler when you don't have to coordinate bows...plus it will probably be dirty within the hour


I love my boy, although he's a lot to keep up ....we know we were meant for each other.

Where to go...

Well hello there! Finals and life kept me from blogging for awhile, but guess who's back...back again :)

I have a lot of random thoughts this morning, so bare with me. Mostly because that is how my brain works these days. I can go from thinking "what should I make for breakfast?" to "Crap, it's really quiet, what is Ben doing?"to "I should probably make the neighbors cookies."

Recently there has been more and more talk of what to do post-army in this family. This topic is scary and exciting. I love the friends I have met through the army, I love my house, I love that I stay at home with Ben and can we say health benefits?! I don't even want to know what it cost to have a baby in the "real" world will be. However, and a big HOWEVER...there are negatives. Such as, Logan being gone,  being away from family, Ben pitching a fit because he wants "dada"  and the list goes on. I try not to dwell on the negative because then I become one of those "bitter" army wives (not to stereotype, but fo-realz, they are a breed on their own).

So where to go from here? Logan's answer: back home, the land of corn and beautiful sunsets and FAMILY. Me: somewhere random! Nashville, please oh please Nashville (TN) but as long as we are within a reasonable distance of family. Needless to say, we are still figuring this out and we have about a year (and a half?) . If you are reading this, please pray! We could use all the help we can get. Until then, enjoy this picture of us in Nashville, TN...look how happy we are ... :)

I know God has a plan greater than we can imagine. I look foreword to seeing what that plan is and for now I will enjoy this beautiful ride that life is right now. Well it's quiet again...I better see what Ben is up too....

Take Care

A Day in Benjamin's Life

SO I have been a mom for a year now, and Ben is one, how did that happen?! Everyone says it goes quickly and man it does (although those first three months were rough). I wanted to take the time and document Ben for a day so when he is older he can look back and say "Wow, mom, thanks for doing that, I love it"...or so I can hope.

I have to tell you though when I had this idea, I had a vision for the possible moments I could capture. Well, about maybe 2 of those happened. He usually wakes up talking to himself, or Leia, and then we eat breakfast...he woke up screaming because of his teeth. He also usually takes a bath, reads a book and then goes to bed...well he passed out on the couch at 6:45p.m. Just goes to show how unpredictable babies (Or now toddlers?)  are and truly is a great representation of a day in his life!

First, we eat breakfast...while mom has her coffee :) I had bananas and waffles

Then we PLAY! (Sorry for the blur, I never stop!)

                                    Dad lets me stick my fingers in his mouth! It's a great time

 Then eventually we get dressed for the day, I love to sit on mom's bed...I think I am so cool

Oh, I drool A LOT, all the time...there is always a constant stream. Mom can't get the bibs on me fast enough! 

Then we play some more...toys everywhere! 

Sometimes there are cuddles, especially when I try to fight sleep...

But dad never fights sleep...

                              Oh, I have these moments too, the world is just not fair sometimes!

Then we have dinner, mom keeps trying to get me to eat this cake stuff...I just poke it

               I got presents too! I do like those...Dad thought I needed my first "action figure"

Mom thought these magnets would be great! She was right, this is my best friend Leia on the left

Since it's my birthday I did what I wanted, I passed out before 7p.m. Ha! Just when they thought I had a routine. 

Grief

This time of the year is always rough for me. Mainly because at the end of the month is the anniversary of my father's passing.  I try to remember the memories not the memories I wish I had. Of him holding Ben, him seeing our wonderful home and the list goes on...

Grief is a strange thing to talk about and everyone talks about it differently. For me I either 1)Cry, just ugly face cry or 2) I don't talk about it
I have to say I have experienced a lot of grief with my family and I can recognize things that help me, maybe they will help you too?

Walks: just get out of the house! I am lucky the weather is nice here in GA
Food: I find comfort in great tasting food, making and eating it
Friends: I went to the park with a friend the other day and it was the best "distraction"
Family: making new memories and remembering to laugh

With Logan gone nights it has been hard to distract myself, but I am beyond blessed to have the memories I have with my Dad, he was a great one!

Dancing

This may sound silly but before Ben was born one thing I look forward to was dancing with him. Not the formal at his wedding kind of dancing (although I do want that) but the silly middle of the kitchen dancing with spoons as microphones kind. When I was pregnant I would always dance just for fun with him and I think he took to it! Lately he has been more and more creative with his dancing and I love to watch him. I used to dance with my Dad I think is a large reason I wanted that for Ben and I...I remember multiple times dancing on his toes across the kitchen floor.

With dancing comes music. I have always loved blaring music in my home I feel like its part of what makes our home ours (that and the ridiculous amount of candles always lit around the house! Smell is a great way to feel warm and cozy in a home). When we came to look at our house for the first time the previous owners had their music on and it gave me goosebumps!

These memories we are making are the ones I love. The random ones that you have to make time for because they make life so great. Between all the laundry, dishes, errands just take a moment, stop, and dance! You won't regret it.

Here is a video of his new moves, he is getting creative! Not just the simple bounce anymore.

Gift Giving

I love giving gifts, I also love getting them...but who doesn't?

Recently I hosted a White Elephant gift exchange, the idea being to exchange gifts that you already had laying around the house. Some of them quite humorous and others turned from trash to treasure with the new owner.

I gave a Christmas decoration that I cannot remember  where I required it from, but it had plastic greenery that resembled algae. I received a very LARGE spatula that I could be used to flip a pancake the size of a large pan, or a pizza. I loved it! I mean it is something I would never buy but if I ever needed it, now I have it!

In my opinion I love hand made gifts (that includes baked goods) or gifts that you put together as several parts. For example, we received a picnic basket for our wedding day. Inside, it had all the things necessary to go on a picnic. Just something that doesn't say "Hey I picked this up at Macy's last week, it was pretty."

That is why my favorite place to buy gifts for others are local stores. Instagram is EXPLODING with independent businesses. Some of my favorite include: The Banner Shoppe,  Just Add Sunshine Inc.  Hello Lovely People (Watercolor prints), Gulush Threads, and Dunn Rustic Designs...is it sad I could go on and on?

This year for Christmas I tried to shop at local stores  ( I did have to go to Macy's for two things, no shame). Some of the best places were two little shops in Eufaula, AL, which looks like a story book southern town..someone told me it is where they filmed Sweet Home Alabama? It was great to support their local business. One was Superior Pecans & Gifts, they were beyond excited! They even took a picture of our group...which we get a lot of attention for all the sweet babes!

Although a gift can be physical, I also love gifts such as "Go have a date night" which my mom loves to give Logan and I or go sleep in, I will watch Ben!

No matter what the gift is I believe as long as it comes from a place of love whoever receives it will feel the love!