Weekend Shenanigans, Winter in Austin and A Moment

As usual, Life has been happening around these parts and we're trying to squeeze in as much fun as we can! This family of 3 is putting down the computer/tablet/smartphone/camera a little more while it takes all this goodness in and awaits the 4th member for our life-long-hit-n-giggle (sorry for the golf reference)!

We took the metro-rail choo-choo downtown a week or so ago. It was just long enough that Cameron got the idea that we were on a train, but short enough that we arrived just as he started to get tired of it.

Looking at Austin life as the train slides by can be pretty interesting...

and Family selfies can entertain even the oldest kids!

We got off at the downtown stop and hit the convention center for our annual trip to the boat show.

After dancing between boats and playing hide and go seek around all the normal folks, we ventured to the platform and waited on our train home. I wish I would have gotten a better picture of this. Watching them walk back and forth looking for the train was pretty fun, but teaching Cameron not to walk off the ledge was a bit challenging.

The past week has been a roller-coaster of weather around here. While we had absolutely no winter last year, this year has been all over the place. We're on a second day of school closings, which means that Cameron gets to play the Mom/Dad work shuffle. We're both super lucky to be able to take him to work with us as needed, and thankfully he does really well (even though we know he'd much rather be at school playing with friends).

Now he knows a little bit of how we feel at the end of a long day though, working really does take the wind out of our sails some days.

It's crazy how we can go from freezing for a couple days to gorgeous for another two and then back down again. While we had the chance: 

We cheered on friends in some crazy fitness competitions (Cameron is covering Nugget -- sorry),

Played outside as much as we possibly could when the weather was warm

And the latest report from Cameron's teacher.... a sighting of a first moment: HOLDING HANDS!!

We've decided that Cameron is a bit shy during this capture and (hopefully) isn't the one instigating it. Either way, we know where he gets this from. I'll let you be the judge on where the flirting begins in our Benton World...

This Time Around: Volume 4

Size of baby:  cabbage

Baby's size & weight:  15.7", 2.75lbs

Baby's development:

Nugget has the hiccups a lot, it's skin is getting smoother and is likely able to grasp a finger.

Maternity Clothes:  What do you think? :)

Gender:  Surprise!

Movement: along with hiccup twitches! There's constant movement in our world these days for everyone, so it's no surprise that Nugget feels the need to move around too.

Sleep: isn't going so well. I sleep well when I first crash, but then there's lots of tossing and turning to get comfortable once my body gets tired of that original position.  Not to mention that it seems Nugget is an early riser... we're going to have to make some adjustments with this kid!

What I miss: wine. beer. fun cocktails. my clothes. oh and shopping for the good online sales.

Food cravings: anything I don't have to cook!

Symptoms:  really dry skin, cramps in my legs, my hair is shedding and I was recently told that my eyebrow hair was growing back wavy. Sounds exciting doesn't it! bahaha!

Cameron is:  saying "nugget" as he touches my belly but still has no idea that there's a baby inside of me. I try to point out babies a lot as we're out and about. I keep waiting for him to realize that he's feeling the baby move, but he just continues to keep his head on my belly. He has no clue.

Tim is: the best! He's been very patient and helpful, especially with my crazy pregnancy ways! :)

What I'm looking forward to: life! spring! and meeting Nugget finally!

Best moments:  All of the family moments that we've been having lately, really good ones too!  Trips to the park, walks around the neighborhood and games of chase.  Dance parties and watching Cameron copy our own movements: when we dance, how we move our hands when we talk and even the way we sit at the dinner table.  He's watching and soaking up every second, just like we're watching and soaking him up.

Organizing, Preparing & Mission "Baba"

It's beginning to look like crunch time around here... crunch time for spending as much one on one time with Cameron as possible, crunch time before Nugget's arrival (finally) and crunch time to get the house organized before it becomes a little more chaotic. Tim's "honey-do list" has new stuff added daily and my laundry room looks like a tornado zone. Is this what they call nesting?

We recently "revamped" the playroom a little to add some more storage and to give Cameron a table to play on with his cars and trains. 

We're hanging stuff on our walls (about time) and this one is my favorite -- a one of a kind from Santa!

We're painting rooms and organizing like mad (room makeover posts coming soon).

We've even taken on "MISSION BABA" and compromised Cameron's pacifier. 

*Can you see the hole?

So far we're on day 5 and things are getting there. The hole will get a bit bigger this weekend and then it will be taken away for good if he hasn't lost all interest on his own.  He's not going to sleep as easily as he used to, but we'll get there.

There's lots of changes going on and I wonder how much Cameron is taking in and realizing. As long as he's laughing and having fun, I think he'll survive this crunch time just fine!

These Are The Days

I'll get to our regularly scheduled programming later. For now, a post full of pictures and a video to make you smile.

These days are magic.

"C'mon Mama!"

Catching shadows of that belly and wowing myself.

Playing with reflections and realizing all that you can see!

Hide & Go Seek while the Aunts are home

Figuring out how to do play "ring around the rosey" and loving the fall down part the best.

Surprise! It's a fire truck -- that makes for an extra special breakfast!

Climbing every "mountain" with Daddy just to say that we can.

And finally a bowl full of goodness to make you laugh. This truly is the best medicine!

New Beginnings, Fresh Starts & Old Fun!

Another year! Can it really be?

So long 2013; Hello & Welcome to 2014!

We rang it all in, celebrated & danced. We grasped moments and we thanked the heavens for the blessings of another year. We thought about loved ones, about pressures and strife, but mostly we turned to what is on the horizon.  Where we'd like to grow from here and how we'd like to continue to learn from all that life has to teach us.

Yes Nugget celebrated too!

New Year's and 4th of July are my favorite holidays. I actually wanted to get married on New Year's Eve, but Tim told me it was kind of selfish...and then I felt bad.  What can I say, I like sparkle and fireworks twice a year. I like a good reason to celebrate and those two holidays give me lots of those reasons!

A very special thank you to friends who came along with us in our New Year's Eve adventure this year, and snapped photos too!

There is so much in store for 2014, new adventures around every corner! 

Here's hoping that there's plenty of bubbly and fireworks in your New Year...but only the good kind of course!

Also, a special acknowledgement to my Grandfather who not only celebrates the New Year with a birthday celebration each year, but who also holds this time as an anniversary to something very special for all of us -- his sobriety! We're so proud of you Papa! You continue to grow and learn no matter how far you come in this life and it truly amazes me. Thank you for being one of my best teachers, what a legacy you give us - past, present & future! 

Ain't No Mountain High Enough!