Several random thoughts and a video

Well, my springtime allergies are acting up today, so my writing skills are reduced to a quick list of thoughts which seemed witty and well-tied together when I was up feeding Benjamin at 4:30 this morning, but now seem rather random and somewhat mundane ... but then, you're all used to that by now, right?

- I love Daylight Savings Time! Everyone was complaining about the time change in Facebook statuses at the time, but there is just no happiness like eating dinner when its still light outside!

- I miss my college roommies ... roomies ... room-ys - anyone know how to spell that word? The only alternative in the spell-checker is "roommates" but the formality of spelling the whole thing out just doesn't fit our friendships! Anyway, I miss my E31 girls today - such sweet times and hilarious memories.

- I've been cooking A LOT lately, but how can you blame me, when this cuteness is going on in the kitchen?



- Ok, listen to that video again, because I need help - do you hear the tune that the bouncer plays at the beginning? WHAT IS THAT?!?!?! I know I know it, but we can't figure out what it is! Plus, its continually stuck in my head these days - I find myself humming it in the grocery store, in the shower, etc., but I have not a clue what song it is I'm singing - please help!

- Also, on a video related note, I was clearing off the memory in our video camera today so a friend could borrow it, when I realized that we have all sorts of 60 second clips where we were obviously trying to catch Benjamin doing something cute, but when we got out the camera he just sat there and looked at it. But I can't bring myself to delete them, because, my gracious goodness, he's too stinkin' cute even when he's just sitting there breathing!

And with that, I say goodnight. I'm going to go blow my nose, and you need to go read some of the millions of more interesting things that are available out there on the crazy internets.

The Mom Stamp

Where's the Adult Stamp?

This is one of my family's favorite sayings, coined by dear Dad when I was in college.  As memory serves, I was home for a summer or winter break, and when reflecting at family dinner on how much better I had been feeling of late, I made the comment that getting adequate sleep really does make a difference in how one feels the next day. Dad replied to my revelation with his now-famous quip, "Where's the Adult Stamp?"

(An aside: the fact that I used to willingly, even carelessly, deprive myself of sleep is a fact that grieves me now that motherhood requires that deprivation of me regularly.)

Anyway, lately, I've been wondering, "Where's the Mom Stamp?"

I've caught myself recently conversing freely about my baby's bodily functions in public scenarios in which such topics are clearly taboo.  When noting the tentative expression on the other person's face, I pause only briefly before plunging on with the tale, figuring 1) if they're not a parent yet, they need to prepared 2) if they are a parent, this is not surprising them 3) I have little else to talk about  ... Where's the Mom Stamp?

Since I now have Little Bit hanging out with me all day, I often narrate my daily tasks to him as we go ... Mommy's washing the yucky lasagna pan, scrape, scrape, scrape that dried gunk off!  Mommy's folding the laundry!  Who's tiny shirt is this? ... and so on and so on as we keep the house (moderately) clean and orderly.  So, the other day, I cracked myself up when, with Benjamin downstairs hanging out with Daddy, I said out loud, "Putting away Daddy's sockies!" while completely alone upstairs!  Where's the Mom Stamp?

In getting read to go to a friend's house for dinner and a movie last weekend, I started "packing" three whole hours before our intended departure time.  When we finally arrived, we had the three of us, plus about fifty pounds of assorted baby paraphernalia that took several trips back and forth to the car getting it all in their house.  All this and we weren't even spending the night or anything!!  Where's the Mom Stamp?

And with that, we'll say Happy Weekend, everybody!  Hope your weather is lovely, wherever you are!

A Respite

Sweet Benjamin has been fiercely fighting the good fight of teething for the past 24 hours. Today, it seems, we have been granted a bit of a respite, and therefore, we decided to put on the "My 1st Tooth" shirt! No matter that you can't see any teeth in his precious grin, he deserves it after such a rough time. And Mommy is just soaking up that smile and those twinkling eyes after missing them so much yesterday!

Rubber Ducky

Bathtime is becoming one of our favorite activities around ye ole Trautman house.  Benjamin is discovering how to splash in the water and eat the washcloth and all sorts of fun things!  So, last night, we decided it was high time to introduce Rubber Ducky to our bathtime routine...

It's a hit!  Plus, he makes a handy bathtime teether, since we're cutting several teeth right now (poor baby!)

or should we say "Poor Ducky?"  Anyway, Benjamin is actually about to outgrow his little infant tub that fits in our sink!  crazy!  We love it for lots of reasons, not the least of which is how it shows up his big, blue eyes :)

I would type more, but my poor teething baby is needing me to give him a freshly frozen pacifier :)

The week flew by...

I can't believe it's Friday already! I guess the warmer, sunny weather just made time fly this week! So, in honor of the soon coming Spring (we hope!), Benjamin wore his "sunshine hat" today (even though today was actually cloudy and cool).

I can't decide if we should call this picture "Mr. Sunshine" or "Little Squash Baby" ... it kinda makes him look like a Veggie Tales character! :)

Five Months!

I can't believe my little boy is five months old today!  To celebrate, he's had several tricks up his sleeve lately...

Yesterday, as Mommy and Daddy were getting ready for church, he dozed off all by himself as he waited so patiently to get his church clothes on...

Then, last night, there was a whole new surprise in his little mouth...

oh, wait...

almost got it! 

stop wiggling!

there, did you see it?

yup!  his very first tooth is poking through!

(A note to our future children:  you should be grateful that by the time you come along, Mommy and Daddy will not have the time to play with you for 15 minutes trying to get a picture of the tiny bit of tooth poking through your gums.  Go give your big brother a hug for having to endure this embarrassment.)

Then today, in a five-minute time span, he managed to soil every piece of clothing he had on in some way or another.  So, when I put him in his crib to hang out until I got the changing table cleaned up, the mischievous look on his face said, "Just see how fast I can get this blanket off of me!"

Thankfully, I was able to grab the camera in time!

 

 

Happy Birthday, Precious Benjamin!  Though it seems impossible, I love you more every single day!

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

After enjoying a morning full of challenging reflection at our church's late-winter retreat, the balmy 38 degree temperatures drew us outdoors to enjoy the glorious sunshine. Benjamin napped cozily while tucked away in his stroller, and Daddy and I savored some time just to chat and breathe deeply the crisp air blowing off the frozen lake. Happy Saturday to all!