The Things I Want to Remember...

There are moments that I pray I always remember. Sure, the big stuff is great - but all too quickly forgotten sometimes.  Tim and I keep trying to rack our brains trying to remember when Cameron did certain things. (I'm not that Mom that kept a minute-by-minute log.)  When did Cameron start eating cereal? I dunno.  When did Cameron get his first tooth?  I dunno. When are they supposed to start sleeping on their tummy?  I dunno. 
When the stars align.  

What I do remember and what I hope to always remember are the flashes of love, laughter and togetherness. The time:  the seconds, minutes, years and lifetimes.  

I want to remember that when Payton was a baby his big brother loved to make him laugh.  I want to remember that one time when Cameron insisted on Payton laying in his bed with him and then laughing so hard when Payton "tooted".  I want to remember how both of their eyes sparkle when Cameron and I tickle Payton or how Cameron will hold Payton's hand and dance "with" him.  I want to remember how every morning Cameron picks a toy for Payton to play with when he gets to school.  I want to remember that at a "family-style dinner party" full of people that I didn't know I stopped to let Cameron play airplane on my legs in the middle of the floor. 

I hope that I remember Cameron reading books to Payton and giggles by the pool EVERY TIME Cameron jumps into the water.

I want to remember the lazy river that we create in our backyard on Sunday afternoons.

I want to remember that even though Cameron cries through his haircuts, he's learning and still remembers to say thank you to the stylist when they're done (even when he's still catching his breath).  I want to remember trying to teach Cameron what a lollipop is and how to lick it.  I want to remember the look on his face when I taught him the lollipop song.

I want to remember the sound of little feet that run circles around my kitchen and not the fact that there are cups stacked in my sink that have remnants of milk crusted in the bottom.  

I want to remember hanging a bird feeder in our backyard and then sitting there for an hour telling the birds to come and get their breakfast and not the fact that I can't remember the last time I picked up dog poop.

I want to remember the noises that Payton makes when he's looking at himself in the mirror or how he stretches his arms out and kicks his legs in the water when he's in the bath and not that my clothes are covered in stains and that I smell like spit up.

I want to remember the goodness, the laughter and warmth I feel in this family that I call home.

Our Favorite Things. For now.

Summer life is moving along fabulously and I thought I'd share some of our favorite things right now.

Cameron:

               

Favorite phrases:
"__________ made a mess!" (insert one of the following: a) Cameron b) Mama c) Daddy d) Payton

"Going to ________" (insert one of the following: a) Grandma's house b) lake house c) get bananas

"Mommy & Daddy go to work. Cameron see his friends."

"Oh my goodness"

*Cameron loves to copy just about anything and everything Mom, Dad or his teachers say these days*


Favorite foods:
carbs:  pizza, hot dogs, tacos, sandwiches and snacks!
fruit!
(someday we'll get veggies in there. I can't complain too much since he doesn't really like candy or sweets.)

Payton:

loves the bumbo

    

Payton Also loves:

hanging toys to grab on

Rolling over!
his fingers - EEK!
his big brother!

Tim & Nicole:

           

We Also Love:
Sleep
Our pool
The lake
Family dance parties
Day dreaming about trips and vacations
Friends and Family that like our kids and our #Bentoncrazy

Confessions of a Tired Mama: Episode 2

I confess:  that if you talk to me while I'm sleeping, you will most definitely confuse me.  (Tim thought it was hysterical the other night to talk to me about the timer on the oven. I kept going in and out of sleep so flippin' confused.)

I confess:  that when all else fails, ground turkey/bison/beef can be "doctored" into a meatball, meatloaf or a taco.

I confess: that those three items can usually be found rotated in our weekly meals.

I confess:  that I bought a gargantuan bottle of bubbles at the grocery store yesterday for $3!

I confess:  that I went for my first run last week, BY MYSELF. No for reals, like all alone -- I didn't even take a phone. I had no music, no children, no husband -- just me, my feet hitting the pavement and my gasps for air. It was weird.

I confess:  that I need to run more.

I confess:  that I introduced Cameron to Barney the other morning and he loved it. (I also confess that I still new every song, even though the children were different from 20 years ago when I watched it with my sisters.)

I confess: that I had to bite my tongue last night when Tim tried to help with dinner by putting a pot on the stove and turned on the wrong burner, thus melting our bottle sanitizer.  If he hadn't been so preoccupied it probably wouldn't have happened, but we all make mistakes. The downfall of said mistake is that our house smelled like burnt plastic for the evening and I didn't have the easy sanitizer to do Payton's bottles. Like the good wife I am though, we laughed it off and I told him I would just order another one.  Had the situation been reversed, do you think it would have gone over so smoothly?

I confess:  No scratch that, he should confess that he may or may not have been preoccupied with his phone. Remember how I said it might be time to unplug a bit more in our household?

I confess: that when I was working out last night I said a mini-plea with God telling him that he should consider letting women's bodies go back to normal right after they give birth. I mean it's a miracle and a blessing, but it sure would be nice if he incorporated some miracle-like assistance in the post-baby-body. Does that make me sound vain? I'll keep working out and being active, but it'd be nice if for all that work you got a little personal reward too.  OK, ok -- I know he's got bigger miracles to work on. Psh - it was just a thought.

I confess:  that I'm heading out for a little girls night action this week and Tim is going to wrangle the boys for the night. This includes picking up from school. I know he'll be great at it and that they will all be just fine, but in the back of my head I wonder if he'll call his Mom for back up.

I confess: that girls night means so much more when you're in a house full of boys.

The Thinkery: Austin Children's Museum

Not all that long ago (ok a month) my sister and I took Cameron to the newly upgraded Thinkery; aka The Austin Children's Museum.  It moved to a new side of town and was completely redone and I was pumped to go, but also holding back a bit so that the crowds would die down a bit.  Being the boy that he is, the outside jungle-gym-ish thing is where he spent most of our time and needless to say we didn't even make it upstairs.  I was actually ok with this though because that means that there will be a whole new world for him to explore the next time we go.

Lexie & Cameron even started a band!

I don't remember ever going to the "old" Children's museum, but I have to tell you that this place is pretty amazing. There's new things to explore and learn around every corner. The parking is way better and I like the idea that if we're ever looking for something to do we have it as an option in our back pocket. Growing up in Northern California, we ventured to the Imaginarium in San Francisco a few times and it was always my favorite field trip; The Thinkery is very similar.  

I can't wait to take Tim there with us next time.  I will definitely be keeping my eyes open on their monthly newsletter since they're super smart and do adult (21+) nights every so often.  I mean what a great idea, everyone loves the chance to be a kid right?!

I"ll let you know how the second floor on our next trip!

ABC's

Cameron can sing his ABC's -- he does it all the time. In fact, it's one of our many morning rituals when I drop him off at school.
Yet -YET - he refuses to let me catch him on camera!

ReCap in Pictures: Father's Day, Fourth of July & Family Visits

Boy is life full these days! There's been lots going on and instead of adding my blah, blah, blah fluff - I'm just going to share in pictures.

You know your Dad is a rock-star when he'll push you and throw you for hours and hours while you giggle and squeal with glee.  It doesn't matter how tired his arms are or how prune-y his fingers have gotten. The point is that you're doing something together that makes you both laugh. I cherish the these times that I get to simply sit back and watch their relationship grow.

Uncle Dan & Aunt Caroline came to visit! Hooray! It's been a long year since we went to see them get hitched! It's nice to have them "home" and to see everyone together. It's even better to know that my sibling love isn't the only one that gets pretty, stinkin', hilarious when everyone is together.

Plus, when family comes in town -- good things happen.

Speaking of good things:  Holidays that include fireworks and 3-day weekends are the BEST!

This one is for my family -- imagine that, Cameron found a stage!
Hmm, do you think he belongs to me?

*extra photo kudos to good friends that help me catch myself in the moments*

Hope you all have been basking in the sunshine, dipping your toes and living up all the goodness of summer!

Dear Nugget

Three months? Can it be?

I literally thought it was magic that you weren't spitting up nearly as much on both July 4th and 5th. I thought we had hit the mile-marker and that your digestive track had figured it all out, and then yesterday I changed my shirt 3 times. Let's just blame it on the summer sun shall we?

You're a doll. You continue to amaze people at just how "chill" you are. You're the second child and you take everything in stride. Unless of course you're hungry or you need to poop and then, well then you are anything BUT chill! You voice your concerns and you expect feedback, like pronto!

You're trying so hard to hold your head up.
You coo and tell stories.
You laugh at your big brother and it makes me melt.
You are noticing colors and movement.
You try to grab for things and baby, do you have a grip!  Cameron never went after my hair, you on the other hand are hanging on for dear life.
You kick your feet as if you were playing in the world cup.
You are long and you are lean.
You have started sucking on your fingers. I try and catch you and tell you the pacifier tastes better. (It's much harder to take away finger sucking than it is the pacifier.)
Your brother loves you. He helps with your bath, sings you songs and picks out your "jammas".
We always drop you off at "school" first so that he can tell you goodbye properly.
You love to sit up and see the world, especially if it's outside.
You love the boat, like the lake but if the sun is too bright, it can make you a bit grumpy.

Thank you for continuing to round out our #BentonCrazy.  I am starting to see your own personality shine through and it makes me smile knowing that there's so much more ahead! I know that someday soon you'll be giving that brother a run for his money. He hates it when he has to share me with you, but soon - oh so very soon - you two are going to be bickering over so much more.

Happy 3 Months Nugget!
We love you to the moon & back,
Mama