The Future's So Bright...

I gotta wear shades.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

We'll be soaking in the blessings and giving extra loves & kindness to every person we meet.

Love someone today. 

Because the future is bright.

YOLO

I've been reminded of learned a lot in the last 24 hours from a beautiful, petite Chamorran woman who's laughter and spirit could make your heart soar.  We aren't related and I didn't know her all my life, but MLW and her family helped to make Texas home for me.  Today we held her hand, thanked her for being an incredible light in our lives and said goodbye.

There are certain people that come into our lives for specific purposes; it's wild to think of this ride that we're all on and the people that hop on our paths.  A flutter of the thoughts over the last twenty four hours spin through my head as I now sit quietly while my baby sleeps and I say yet another prayer for a woman who meant so much to so many.

It really all comes down to love.
You Only Live Once.
Patience is a virtue.
Strength doesn't always come in muscle.
Everyone has their role, especially in times of struggle.
Faith is Power
Release comes in many forms
Blessed be the family that can hold on together
Support Dreams
Take Time. Make Time.
Talk. Don't Talk. Pray. Meditate.
Make Plans, even those plans that are hard to make


I had more on the list in my head as I drove back from Dallas thinking of this remarkable woman and how much she means to my family, but really it comes down to this:

Dear Mary Lou,
Thank you for welcoming us that cold December day in 1993 as we arrived in the Texas town that I could not yet call home. You raised children that I could immediately call friends, you took me under your wing and you almost instantly became my Mom's Best Friend. The warmth of your love and the sense of family that we were all able to share (not just at holidays) is something that we will all cherish forever.  Easter egg hunts became extra competitive with "golden eggs", every holiday meal included rice and games kept us laughing late into the night.  One of my favorite memories was a Christmas so many years ago where everyone was "home for the holidays" and you and my Mom were beyond excited.  It still makes me smile to think of the twinkle in your eyes that this blended family we'd created had come back together again!   Your faith and passion in your beliefs and your compassion for every human being is not a quality easily found; You are one of a kind.

I pray that Cameron loves me as much as your children love and cherish you.

I am forever grateful to you MLW.  You will be missed dearly.
All my love,
Nicole

Learning, Exploring & Swimming

Cameron is really picking up on things. He's like a sponge! 

At school they brush their teeth after lunch time and now he's much more excited to brush his teeth at home too! He thinks it's hysterical to help us brush our teeth too.

He's also found a new love of money. Imagine that! :) He's a giver, but don't hold your breath - he always comes to take it back. He's been playing this game of putting the money into something, giving each dollar away and then putting it all back. We do this again and again.  Money can be so entertaining!

Don't get me started on the sunglasses. He's such a stud!

I mentioned sponge earlier didn't I? That's what his diaper was like when he sat right down in the water in his clothes -- loving every minute of his freedom in the waves!  This boy loves the water and the sand - I can't wait to get him to the beach...don't worry, it's all in my master plan!

Right Now.

- we're going through a phase. no scratch that, Cameron is going through a phase. Likes and dislikes have changed in the matter of a day and when Cameron doesn't want something, he's very good at communicating that!

- the nights are cooler. well 103 has dropped to like 93 so we're doing some playing outside in the evenings

- this also means that we have made friends with the hose because sand isn't allowed to come inside

- before Cameron's big food strike, he was weighing in at 26.12 lbs., but for almost a week now he's been on a pretty particular diet so maybe the talk that we had with his doctor went all to his head. Yes, they do say kids tend to slim down when they start moving around more (read: walking), but this is a whole other level.

- oh yea, Cameron's particular diet = waffles, yogurt, cheerios, sandwiches & quesadillas

- I know, I know -- those things sound yummy to everyone don't they?

- we just recently finished watching a netflix tv show called "Orange is the New Black". Intense is an understatement y'all. Seriously though, I blushed a bit watching it...there are some really graphic, race-y scenes.  Prepare yourself, it's good and raw and ridiculously addicting, but it will catch you off guard.

- remind me again why we don't have a money tree in our backyard?

- college football season starts in a week and I'm so excited!

- I'm brainstorming a few house projects. I've got ideas for the playroom, but need a free weekend to make it happen.

- Cameron's driving

- why does everything taste better when someone else makes it? oh and what is it about Fridays that make me absolutely not want to cook.  I'm already thinking about what we should pick up for dinner tomorrow night. :)

Toddler-dom

That's right -- we're in the Toddler Class!

Even though at times it felt like the transition into the toddler class was moving so slow, it reminded us that patience is a virtue. We totally lucked out because Ms. Amy, one of Cameron's infant teachers, moved up with him. Having a familiar face (one of his favorites) in his new classroom made it all a breeze!

There are new friends, new toys and lots to learn! It's amazing what a little help from our friends will do! There's more walking and he's even trying some new foods and others that he had balked at.  I'm pretty sure that it has a lot to do with the ladies in the class eating those new things next to him. I can't get over how fast and early ladies can impact a little boys life! :)

baked Tilapia!

After the first day in his new room, I thought for sure he was going to be exhausted and crash in the car on the way home, but instead he came home and marched around showing off his new skills!

Day 2 was a little different (splash day), all he wanted was his "office" and a snack after school. 

Hooray for toddler-dom!

Recognizing Blessings

In this family we recognize blessings. as they are happening.
We capture them. We ride them. We hold on tight and live inside of them.

Sunday morning was filled with those kinds of  moments. I stopped myself and said, "This is it. Right here.  Right now. This is what life is all about. It's why we work hard, it's why we pray."

Sunday morning, early, before there were any other boats on the water or people at the sandbar, we left our dirty breakfast dishes stacked, and took to the water and the sunshine.  We cruised on the smooth water and smiled in the rising sun. At the sandbar, we held our own Sunday-school giving thanks for all that is, all that was and all that will be. Cameron rolled around in a swim diaper filling every crack with sand.  We wrote words to leave our mark, buried feet and built sandcastles. In the back of my mind I told myself to go get my camera to catch that moment forever, but then I talked myself out of it because if I even turned my head away from what was happening for just a second, I was going to ruin the magic of it all.  Instead I stayed right where I was picked up my family and hugged them as we ran for deeper water. (we had to get all that sand washed off right!?)

So I don't have pictures of the three of us at our spot soaking in the magic of it all, but I have the moment in my mind. That memory of goodness will forever be with me.

I do however have a few pictures from the boat. I couldn't take a full break from my camera.

I love this family of mine and I am forever thankful for our blessings. for the goodness. and even for the Benton luck - because sometimes it really is all worthwhile.

Simply Wonderful

The weekend was glorious; we were productive, Cameron was walking, we spent quality time together and we enjoyed every last drop. 

I'm so glad that Cameron is starting to keep his hat on more. It makes such a difference when we're playing outside or in the water. Plus he looks so stinkin' cute. He's such a boy -- and Tim's boy no less! :)

We took a bit of a field trip Sunday night for a project that Tim needed my camera for.  As I was helping Tim, I put Cameron on a blanket to hang out (already fed, bathed & ready for bed). 

I think this is about the point that he started to make a game with the rocks and my purse.

Fast forward to Monday morning when I realized that my purse weighed a ton and proceeded to find a mountain at the bottom of my bag.

"Cameron, what sound does a lion make?"

"ROAAAAR!"

I'll catch a video of one of Cameron's fits soon so that everyone can see that it's not always picture perfect around here.  

But seriously, who cares, look at that face, it definitely makes it all worthwhile.  

Besides, eventually he'll learn right?

Won't he?

(*We're off to a "transition meeting" today at Cameron's school to meet his new teacher and learn all about the toddler ways.  Hopefully they'll give us some good magic tricks on how to get rid of the pacifier to make it easy!*) 

Where Were Your First Steps?

So what if Cameron needs a ball to counterbalance his weight and keep his hands occupied in order to walk.
So what if his first real consecutive steps were at The Container Store.

He's SO CLOSE to just taking off!

Can I get a witness?  Oh wait - I caught it on video! :)

This Mama was laughing with tears in her eyes as the Elfa Experts let us take over their sales floor.

(A big thank you to The Container Store for letting us use your props - er ball.)