We've moved!

Well, he's in for a rude awakening, but Benton is no longer the only star of the Paul and Andee Show as young Nathaniel has officially joined the cast. Therefore, our blog address has moved. From now on, please visit www.thepaulandandeeshow.blogspot.com for the latest on the boys. Don't worry. Starring Benton won't be going anywhere for a while, but we won't be updating it either. You can stop in here to link to the new blog for as long as they let me leave it up.

The baby is coming in a days—presumably—and one worry consumes my mind. Not true. A million worries consume my mind. Will the kitchen be finished? Will I get all of his stuff ready before he gets here? What if Benton doesn’t like him? Will he be healthy? And the kicker—will he be ugly?
Read more on Life Forms at The Attic

Compartmentalizing

I've been furiously unpacking, washing, folding, and putting away baby clothes this week, and Benton's been helping out in his own way. He played inside this box for about half an hour. What you can't see in this picture it that he is sharing the box with every single one of his Little People Noah's Ark animals and a couple of Veggie Tales pirates. Apparently, they were in the boat on the the way to the city to see [Curious] George at the zoo.

My Favorite Benton

The Game Evolves...

Emmaleigh came over on Wednesday, and she and Benton converted Benton's book case to a bunk bed. I decided, after taking quite a lot of pictures, that I probably shouldn't be encouraging this sort of behavior.


They distracted themselves by riding Larry Boy. (One of the many things to do with a giant, inflatable cucumber). Sheerluck, there in the background, got in on the action a little later and turned Emma into a cucumber sandwich.

All Quiet

It's too quiet, I thought to myself. What could that Benton be up too? The bathroom door is closed, so he can't be flushing bath toys again. Our bedroom door is closed, so he's probably not tossing Kleenex around the room. Things appear intact in the kitchen. Now what is that mysterious lump on the bookshelf? Good thing Grandad built it sturdy!

A New Friend

I'd like you all to meet our new friend Karis Faith.

Vital stats
Born: Today! March 24 (on her due date) at 7:33am
Length: 19.5 inches
Weight: 6lbs 13oz
Congratulations, Vance and Alicia!

The Punster

My parents came down for a quick visit on Saturday. Benton played outside while Paul did some work on cabinet doors and Dad supervised. Mom and I were in the kitchen waiting for the pizza to cook, when Benton came bounding into the house followed by my father, beaming. Positively beaming. In his hand, Benton clutched two triangular pieces of wood. "What do you have?" I asked him. He held them out to me. "Pizza wood!" He exclaimed. We interrogated my dad thoroughly and determined there was no coaching involved. It seems our Benton is a natural in the pun department. His grandfather is very very proud.
Note: There's a new post on Did I Just Say That?

Visiting

My friend Christiana and her husband live in Houston, and they came up to visit last week. Christi and I spent the afternoon visiting, and Benton loved playing with little Keralee. It was great big brother practice!

A New Feature

Since I've been feeling a tad overcooked lately, I thought I'd add a countdown to Nathaniel on the blog. Now you can keep track along with me of exactly how much longer until life descends into the vortex of chaos that two boys will bring. I'm so excited! (I stole the countdown idea from Solomon and Malachi's blog. They are anxiously awaiting a cousin).

Bed Head

Benton is a morning person--he certainly didn't get that from his mother. He also thouroughly enjoys his breakfast. In fact he just brought me some. This morning, we are having chocolate, candy canes, popcorn and gravy. (I made the mistake of trying to eat without a fork and got in pretty big trouble). "It's very hot, mama," he told me. "Blow on it first. We pray." So we folded our hands and closed our eyes, and Benton said "Jesus, bless a body gramma grampa. Amen." It takes quite the imagination to eat Noah's ark for breakfast.

Updates

With only five weeks before our new arrival arrives--April 11, 9:00am for those of you who want to put it on the calendar. (I'd put in in pencil though, because you just never know)--we have been busy preparing. It all started when we changed the baby's name. He's been Westley since we brought Benton home from the hospital, then one day, we said his first name and last name together, and we both flinched. So now he's Nathaniel (ie Hawthorne) Keith (Paul's dad's middle name) Night (because what's a name without a sturdy noun to anchor it). Many are relieved at the change, but we were sad to see Westley go. I still call him Westley from time to time, but I'm sure we'll get over that too.

Unfortunately for my husband, I have been nesting uncontrollably--hence the bathroom remodelation. Since I don't have a nursery to decorate this time around, the rest of the house is baring the brunt of my obsession. Tuesday night, on not much more than a whim, I stood back and supervised as my husband rearranged the furniture in our room to make sure there was room for the new baby and all the gear that comes with him for the first few months. Then we went and bought hinges and knobs for the kitchen cabinets.

Besides that, I have been tirelessly researching strollers for two. Talk about a challenge. I think we found a suitable option, since my dream stroller (Phil and Teds E3) is priced a little outside even the realm of fantasy. The Baby Trend Sit and Stand will hopefully accommodate our needs, though it's just not as cool.


My current obsession is the bedding. Since Benton's was custom made by my sister, I figure Nathaniel deserves the same. And Benton can't just be expected to give up his blanket after all this time. So the plan is to tweak with the underwater theme. We'll leave the fish for Benton, and we'll do a sort of hybrid surfer/turtle baby thing for the baby. Tonight, I'm dragging my husband to the Joann Fabrics Superstore in Portland and Fabric Depot. My husband is a saint, just so you know.


In other news, I am about to be published. Now hold onto your party hats. I don't think the March edition of the Dallas MOPs newsletter probably counts, but it will be fun anyway. I wonder if I get a copy or if I will have to steal my sister's. She's the one who hooked me up, by the way. She knows the editor--wink, wink. Anyway, the article is titled ARE PARASITES MAKING YOU FAT? and you can read it on The Attic--unless you want to wait for the March issue of the Dallas MOPs newsletter to hit the stands.

And that's all for now. Benton and I are off to take our naps, so we can be well rested for our fabric excursion this evening.

Red Vest From Jessi

Benton doesn't like to wear a jacket. Gnashing of teeth occurs every time we have to brave the elements to go somewhere. This charming red vest is one of the few outerwear garments he will put on without a fight, and then only if I remind him it's from Jessi.

Remodelation

Phase II of our 14 stage bathroom project is finished! This phase was purely cosmetic, but oh the difference cosmetics make (right, ladies?). If you recall, the walls used to be "amethyst" (purple). For some reason, I can never remember to take before pictures. The green cabinets you see in the background are part of the during phase. We (Paul) peeled and stripped and sanded and routed until they look just like new. He even built the shelf with towel hooks on it from scratch. I picked out the shelf over the toilet and provided the accessories. I love phase II. I do not look forward to phase III, which involves a window therefore more dust and chaos, but once it is done, I'm sure I will love it as well. Until then, we're moving on to phase I of kitchen cosmetics.
PS for an explanation of the term "Remodelation," please see "What is wrong with this picture under previous posts on The Attic.

Balloons

Nothing's more fun than a balloon (except a whole bunch of 'em)!

Throwing

Some things are just born into the nature of a boy. Sucking cups onto faces; not wanting to wash up; a love for things that roar, zoom, or crash; laughing at farts; and throwing things. This last week on our exciting vacation in Blaine, Washington, Benton's very favorite thing was throwing rocks into the ocean. What he lacks in distance, he makes up for in enthusiasm. The next day, he got to throw food to the seagulls. For his parents, the vacation was pretty low on the adventure scale, but to a little boy with rocks and water, bread and seagulls, life doesn't get much better.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sorry I'm late, but that goes with the territory when I'm concerned.
Benton is feeling a bit under the weather today, so he can use all the hugs he can get!

Good Morning

Just a picture of the happiest toddler on the block--as long as things are going his way. He's in the most delightful argumentative phase right now. Do you want some crayons? No. I want a pencil. Ok here's a pencil. I want a crayon! It is just a phase, right? Please tell me it's just a phase!

Tricks

Benton is not only catching on to the whole drinking out of a cup thing, but also the sucking the cup onto his face thing.

Another Blog for you to frequent

My cousin Phil is not one to stay in one place so long, so it's really no surprise that he is packing up for his next adventure. This time he is going to South Sudan to "locate and verify the history of destroyed churches." He has a blog that is full of fascinating information on the situation in the Sudan as well as the Samaritan's Purse project Phil will be working on. Please visit Phil's Travelogue often and pray for him and his work.

Now and Then

Once upon a time, Benton enjoyed napping on a nice warm pile of laundry. The laundry basket is still one of his favorite places. But now, he helps me load the laundry in the washer first. He hands me each item and tells me what it is: "blue sock. Two blue sock. Another one blue sock. Sisore (Dinosaur) jammies! Put it on. Benton will do it..." Every now and then, I find things that do not belong in the washing machine. Darth Mal, a milk jug, things of that nature. So I'm learning to double check the washing machine before I put anything in and learning to do things a little slower so my little guy can "help." Growing up is such an adventure. I get a little whistful looking back at skinny, wrinkly baby pictures, but I love watching the person he's becoming.

Big Helper

A few days ago, I decided I couldn't make it thorugh the afternoon without Snickerdoodles. I enlisted my willing accomplice. He put in all the dry ingredients and even did a little stirring. His favorite part, of course, was licking off the spatula. And in spite of his help, the cookies turned out perfect. Thank you, ATK.

Technical Befuddlement

OK, about that blog. It's ready to go now. I had a link posted, but when you clicked on it, it sent you to a blog devoted to "all things gay-related." And though I'm as big a fan of happiness as the rest of you, it was the wrong site. So I had to hang up and try again. We're good to go now at isaidwhat.blogspot.com or you can click on the link to your right.

A New Blog

As if I didn't have enough to do, I started a new blog. Did I Just Say That? is dedicated to all the strange things we mothers find ourself saying. So far, it's not very exciting, but stop in often. I expect to invite others to contribute, and over the weeks ahead, I hope you will all be amused by the results.

Snow Day

Here are some pictures from our snow day. We took along the stoller, but Benton tromped through the snow on his own in his fancy boots most of the way. On the way home, he was so tired, we put him in the stroller, adn he dozed off. Apparently, he got a little too relaxed, because he flopped right out of his seat like a sack of potatoes on the snowy sidewalk. I sort of ran over him a little with the front wheel, and he just layed there, snow falling in his eyes, mumbling, "Benton fall down. Benton fall down." I tried to be sympathetic though we were laughing pretty hard. We all seem to have recovered. The sun is supposed to come out a little bit later, so we'll go for a walk to visit Paul on his route.

A Real Bang-Up Job

Here is a photo of his mother's handywork. Since he never holds still, on an average day, the hack job is not noticable--thank goodness. At least he can see, right? Menawhile, does this kid's hair grow fast, or what? The last picture posted was taken only three months ago.

Darth Toddler

Benton is sporting the latest in parent-instigated toddler fashion. The shirt, which is a tad fuzzy, says "Vader." With hands in his pockets, Benton gives the impression the force is with him, but in reality, he is indeed plotting to join the Dark Side.

Quote of the Day

"Never ask directions from a two headed banana."

-Big Bird

Remembering Sunny days Gone By

It looks as though Picasa is working again. Yay! But since all my current pictures are on the other computer, you'll just have to hang in there a little while longer. This is a leftover from Ben's 2 year photo shoot--ever the diplomat, this one.Paul had yesturday off, and we enjoyed our snow day. We went for a nice long walk in the snow, had yummy soup for dinner, and last night, we watched Cars. Benton loved the movie. His favorites were Mack (a Mack truck, in case there was any doubt) and the "Green WaggonBus" (A green VW "The sixties were not kind to you, man").
P.S. The Attic has been updated. Shocking news indeed.

An Update

Benton is missing...strictly in the photographic sense. You see, I updated to the "new and Improved" blogger, and have managed to lose the ability to post pictures--as far as I can figure. Hopefully someone out there can help me figure it out before I throw the computer out a second story window. Meanwhile, keep checking back. Benny will turn up one way or another.

In other news, we have commenced potty training. So far, no luck--but no messes either. Benton likes sitting on the potty like a "big kid," but I think he has ulterior motives. All he has to do is sit there, and his mommy reads him stories and sings him songs. Also he gets to wear those cool pull-ups instead of baby diapers. I got him some Finding Nemo underpants for when the process succeeds. I'm being way too optimistic, I know.

I butchered Benton's hair this morning. He got to the point he could no longer see through his bangs, so I chased after him with a pair of scissors. The results were not surprising considering the combination of bad scissors, a squirming two year old, and a mom who can't even cut paper in a straight line. Thank goodness his hair grows fast...