First Christmas!

Warning: This post will be filled with lots of photos and not so many random thoughts & comments by me.
I will say this, for a First Christmas we would love a re-do. Tim got really sick, Cameron was teething like a maniac (see the drool-covered clothing in pictures below) and there were moments that I thought to myself, this isn't supposed to be the awe-inspired holiday I pictured in my head...but then I thought better of it. It's the Benton way and well, we make the best of every situation. So, although I'd love that do-over, I'll take the family togetherness with a sick Dad on the couch as I help Little B unwrap gifts and put every little thing in his mouth because that's what makes it feel better! We are lucky to have each other and no matter how un-Norman-Rockwell-ish our holiday might have been, we are blessed. There are families in Connecticut that were living a completely different holiday and I have lots to be thankful for...even if it's not picture perfect.

I'm a big boy and can do it myself.

 Grandma decided that Cameron was ready for a little red wagon -- look at this face, think he likes it?

Christmas is all about the sparkle in a child's eye.

Really Mom? Do you see my teeth, I will get you back.

Hope you all hugged your families and said thank you during your holiday!

The New Year Celebration is right around the corner!

25 Christmas Questions

This questionnaire survey has been around blogs and emails before, but I thought it would be fun to do it now for Cameron's first Christmas and see how it changes through the years.

1.  Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate -- I don't know that I've ever even tasted eggnog to be honest.

2.  Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Totally up to Santa. He's got the list, checked it twice he can wrap it or leave it out and we'll still be super-thrilled!

3.  Colored lights or White lights?
Right now we have white lights on the tree and they are so bright! The tree in your room has colored lights though. We go back and forth on this.

4.  Do you hang mistletoe?
It's been known to sneak in the house occasionally, but it's not a must.

5.  When do you begin decorating?
My only rule of thumb is that it needs to be December when we get the decorations going.

6.  What is your favorite holiday dish?
Sadly, I really don't have one. It used to be green bean casserole, but I've outgrown that I think. We spread our Christmas celebrations out between families and it's all good. I love the beginning of the celebrations the most. Everyone together, spreading cheer and snacking on yummy appetizers.

7.  Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Because I was the first Grandchild in our family, there were lots of good moments with my Mom, Grandparents, Uncles & Aunt. We used to travel together from Northern California to Southern California to celebrate Christmas Eve with my extended family. Santa was there, stories were told and the family togetherness was really heart-warming.  My Great-Aunt Kay would give beach towels every year, it made me smile every time I opened up her gift.

8.  What is on your Christmas wish list?
Lots of prayers and happy wishes are on my list this year. (To be completely honest, Tim and I sort of cheated on gifts because he wanted something not really tangible and I had to take my wedding ring in to get some much-needed maintenance done to it.)

9.  Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?
Typically, yes. We spread the Christmas Cheer throughout our families so we're always celebrating with someone on Christmas Eve.

10.  How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Lights, lots of ornaments (each one has a story), some red ball-like garland and a star on top!

11.  Do you remember your favorite gift?
I've received a lot of memorable gifts: family heirlooms, very thought out gifts from loved ones, a puppy with a red bow when I was little, my first telephone for my room. Looking back at it now, I got a lot of "big deal" gifts when I was a kid, and even now.

12.  What's the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Family Comes First. Tis the reason for the season!

13.  What is your favorite holiday dessert?
I'm not a big dessert person, but I love the simple, decorated Christmas sugar cookies.

14.  What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
We usually play some sort of game which gets us all laughing. Oh and A Christmas Story on TBS!
My Grandmother and the women in my family used to do a "cookie day" when I was younger where we would decorate & bake cookies all day. I might have to revive that tradition!

15.  Real tree or fake tree?
REAL!

16.  Snow...love it or dread it?
Love it, as long as I'm visiting. I don't think I could live with it.

17.  What tops your tree?
A star

18.  Do you prefer giving or receiving?
Well giving of course! Sure we all like getting a little something, but as I get older the giving is much more fun! Besides, I'm not very good at opening presents in front of people.

19.  What is your favorite Christmas song?
I like all of the new, pop ones, but I love going to Christmas mass and singing along with the more traditional ones too.

20.  Candy canes, yuck or yum?
Yum!

21.  Favorite Christmas Movie?
We always watch A Christmas Story, but I love White Christmas & Miracle on 34th Street. I'm still not sure why Wizard of Oz and Sound of Music are considered Christmas movies?

22.  Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?
In years past, we would wake up, do presents with coffee in hand and then relax while we had a good breakfast. This year, with Cameron things happened a bit differently. I imagine there will be some "growing" with our morning tradition in the years to come.

23.  What do you leave for Santa?
Carrots, cookies & candy. You never know what he's in the mood for. :)

24.  Do you prefer to shop online or at the store?
Online...unless I have something specific that I'm looking for at a store here...

25.  Christmas letter or Christmas card?
Christmas card -- by far my most favorite thing of Christmas. I love catching up with people and seeing how everyone has grown throughout the year.

Winter Solstice

It's the first official day of Winter and a "cold snap" has blown into town! I am thankful for seasons (although  I dislike the cold) but I am not thankful that whatever blew in snapped at Cameron too! Our sweet Little B has his first case of the sniffles and I hate keeping him cooped up inside! Christmas is right around the corner and there's so much I want to do. I think some fireside snuggling and some Christmas move classics are probably in the cards though.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the humidifier and lots of TLC will have him feeling better soon! I really hope we'll be able to tour the Trail of Lights at some point this weekend, but we'll just have to see...

Happy Winter Solstice! Christmas is so close now!

Hoping for Healing in Newtown

There have been a lot of hurtful, cruel and senseless tragedies lately. Events have occurred since Cameron was born that have me scared for him. Prior to being pregnant I would still have shed a tear, still have prayed and lit a candle but this feeling in the pit of my stomach - that one is new. I didn't run home to hold Cameron when I heard the news on Friday, and yet I know a lot of people that did. I gotta say I don't blame them. This is a judge free zone.

I find my mind trying to wrap itself around stories and motives. I am constantly wondering why these things keep happening and what is going on in our world where people feel that these kinds of tragic events are the answers. I go to the media, but then curse them at the same time for giving the people that committed these acts a sense of "15 minutes of fame".  Fame that the next hurtful person will want more of, I'm sure.

I pray for the little hearts, the brothers and the sisters that have never known loss like they do now. I pray that they grow up always knowing the true meaning of love even though someone tried to shatter the love inside of them. It is my wish that they don't let the darkness win.

After Friday's events, Tim called wanting to know how to keep Cameron home forever. All in the name of protecting him, but yet never wanting to impede his adventurous spirit or his independence we wondered if either one of us had the brains or the patience for home-schooling.

This parenting thing is hard. It doesn't surprise me, I always knew it was an intense battle of wits, it's just that in moments like these I can feel it in my toes. in the pit of my stomach. in the depths of my heart.

Little children are a bright and shiny light in our world as we know it.
Hug. Pray. Hope for healed hearts.
Most of all though, we have to keep believing in the goodness of people and the kindness of the soul.
In the end it's got to help doesn't it?

7 Months

Dear Little B,

S.E.V.E.N   MONTHS!
Man time flies because we're loving life with you!

There's so much happening these days and even though we know what we did before you were in our lives, we wonder how we ever got by without this kind of love.

You're growing like a weed! There's teeth - multiple that is! You have two solid ones on the bottom and then there are 4 working their way on the top. Two little bumps that are waiting to cut for the other two to catch up I think. We'll see when the finally drop. Maybe we should start singing "All I want for Christmas"!

There's lots of scooting and moving going on, but so far no crawling. You love to show off your rolling & tummy time now and when we make eye contact you laugh and grin because you're so proud of  yourself!

My favorite thing, by far, is when we have our secret moments. There's a secret that we share, one that no one knows, it's the best feeling in the world when you come back for more of that special moment. It's like you already know it's special too and that warms my heart instantly.

Your Dad's favorite thing is that you're official first word is "Da-Da" although it's not that you recognize what you're saying, it's more or less your favorite sound put together. I love how excited your Daddy gets when he hears it and he even though I'd love to hear you say Mama, I can wait patiently.

By the way, we decorated your tree and you love it! It's by far the coolest night light I've ever seen and I'm not sure I'll want to take it down after the holidays.

We're gearing up for your First Christmas and as I think about where we've been the past 7 months and where we're going, I continue to remind myself to pay attention. Time is happening in front of my eyes and I'm so proud of who you are already.

We love you to the moon and back punkin'!
Happy 7 months!
Mom & Dad

Santa Auditions

We were all very excited about meeting Santa and the magic that comes with it. Sure Tim and I realized that Cameron wouldn't remember this first introduction, but we still had visions of sugar-plum fairies dancing in our head. This Santa moment begins all of the other Santa moments to come!

Lets just say that Cameron wasn't concerned with who was holding him, until all of a sudden he was. and then he hated it!

We didn't so much mind that he cried, we expected that actually. What bugged us was that Santa didn't act like Santa!! He didn't ask Cameron what he wanted for Christmas or say hello even. He simply told Tim and I where we should stand to try and get Cameron to laugh.  Bottom line: Santa was creepy! So we've already  decided that we'll be holding local Santa auditions next year. Creepy Santa's need not apply. Oh and we are not an equal opportunity employer - we are looking for a warm and loving Santa! If you're not qualified, don't audition!

We'll do better next year, but for now we're still celebrating the moment!

Love & Marriage

They don't always walk together or hold hands even.
It's hard work to find the balance between the two, but hopefully they are always working together.
We're no Peggy & Al from Married with Children, but I find the quirks of different relationships really funny.




I'm sure you can agree that there's a need for balance in everything we do. Not that we're keeping score, that's not what I mean by balance. More like as partners, we are both trying our hardest to give the other person in the relationship everything that they want need; whether that's picking up the dry cleaning, an ear to listen, honest feedback or a night out with friends even.  I was told once that marriage is a percentage game that's constantly fluctuating. Some days it's 90/10 other days it's 60/40.  Sure some of the best days are 50/50, but it doesn't always happen like that.  Marriage's really good friend 'Love' is different though.  Balance in your relationship, balance between work and life...it's all relative.

I find that young people don't seem to strive for Disney fairy tale's anymore, but instead strive for magical youtube video's or fabulous pinterest photos. Sure first dates and proposals can be like that, the wedding can be one fabulous moment in time, but love...real love is a moment you will hold in a secret compartment of your heart and never let go. It's not a picture of you and your partner in a field of wild flowers or a flashmob with all of your friends that's been choreographed by your partner.


I'd like to think that Tim and I have done a pretty good job with our balancing act.  We respect each other and we believe that patience is a huge factor.

I find that this relationship is like a recipe with certain ingredients that are key. When our team of two became a family of three, that recipe changed a quite a bit. However, that partnership of two still needs to be taken care of and loved just as much, if not more, as the family of three does.  It's hard to remember and it can be really difficult finding time to do it all, but when things are feeling a little off in the balance department, I know it's time to add some flavor. We'll do family date nights or a Team Benton date night... get the giggles going, relax and have some fun. Then the balance evens out and the Benton World feels right again.

Twenty Things A Mom Should Tell Her Son

(I'm not sure who actually wrote this and I wish I could give them kudos, but it's been passed from family friend to my Mother, to me. It's got some good reminders that I'll definitely pass along to Little B; and any other boys I know out there.  Can you think of anything that's missing? Maybe a #21?)

TWENTY THINGS A MOM SHOULD TELL HER SON

1. Play a sport. 
It will teach you how to win honorably, 
lose gracefully, respect authority, 

work with others, manage your time
and stay out of trouble.
And maybe even throw or catch.

2. You will set the tone
for the sexual relationship,
so don't take something away from her
that you can't give back.

3. Use careful aim when you pee.
Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young
because you're going to need it someday.

5. Allow me to introduce you
to the dishwasher, oven,
washing machine, iron,
vacuum, mop and broom.
Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully
and don't ever start a fight,
but if some idiot clocks you,
please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something
that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly.
Forever is a long time to live alone
and it's even longer to live with somebody
who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do.
This includes her having a successful career
and you changing diapers at 3 A.M.
Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir"
still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts"
is because they're "private".
Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing.
Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason
is always a good idea.

17. It is better to be kind
than to be right.

18. A sense of humor
goes a long way
in the healing process.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely.
My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me
spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother
because I might be missing you.

Happy Birthday Gobbie (aka Grandma, aka GG)

There's this woman that's been around since I was born. She's my Grandmother, my friend and the heartbeat that moves through my entire family. She's celebrating a birthday today and I just had to say that I can only hope to be traveling in memorable, loving, kind, caring, wise and spiritual shoes like hers some day.

She's extraordinary. One of a kind. I'm lucky to call her Grandma and Cameron is lucky to call her GG. (erg, well at least he'll call her that eventually - haha!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! WE LOVE YOU!

Left: Grandma, Right: My Mom, Center:  My Great-Grandmother & ME (oh gosh is that a bit of Cameron I see?)

We've got some catching up to do

* We went to a fundraiser recently and found ourselves bidding only on children's items in the silent auction. Then we teased ourselves and went to find something else that we could bid on that was for us...we ended up choosing a fishing tournament and then Tim asked, "Can Cameron come too?" (fyi: we didn't win anything, which is good since Christmas is right around the corner.)

* We still do the real deal when it comes to Christmas trees. This year we found the perfect tree IN SHORTS! That's right people, it's been amazing weather, but it's definitely not feeling like winter. or December for that matter.  We've actually gotten our tree at the same place for the last 9 years I think, they loved seeing Cameron and even trimmed a piece of the trunk for us to use to make an ornament for him. I'm excited to do this craft with him next weekend!

*  My youngest Sister got into TCU, her #1 choice! She's got like 8 more applications out there under review, but she's got her #1 in the bag already! We're so proud of her and really excited that she and my other sister will be making memories together.  Plus it's the perfect distance, not too far and not too close. I only wish I could spend a day as a college student with them. Maybe we'll just pretend.

*  People keep asking us what Cameron is getting for Christmas and we keep teasing with answers like:  a box, a college account, diapers.  We know that there will be lots to open, so we're not so focused on getting him something just to get him something.  I'm having fun soaking in all of the holiday moments, we don't need presents -- we got the best possible present 6 and a half months ago!

*  I chopped about 5 inches off of my hair on Saturday. I have spent at least 3 mornings looking at myself in the mirror and saying, "no, it's not a mommy haircut".  I'm getting used to it though.  I wasn't really planning on cutting that much off, but then my Sister-in-law sent me a picture of my niece and I from 6 years ago and I pretty much looked exactly the same. It was time to switch it up a bit.

*  I have to find time to finish my Christmas shopping.

*  I can't wait to work on my Christmas cards.  It's probably one of my favorite things.

*  Family Feud is doing auditions in Austin next month and we think that my family might really have a chance. I think we're going to go for it.

*  Tim knows all the words to Rubber Duckie. You know the song that Ernie sings? It's a-mazing! I mean the guy has real talent. Don't tell him I told you though, he'll only do it for Cameron.

*  We live for moments like these.



*  Oh and did you hear that Kate Middleton is pregnant? Why do I think she seems so normal and down to earth?  More importantly, why do I find this so exciting?