Mobile Uploads.

First and foremost, I want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who commented on my post earlier this week and left me so much encouragement! I tried to get around and comment back, but we have been so busy this week that I haven't been able to remember to do so! So here it is: if you commented and I haven't (or even if I have) said thank you to you:



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Tonight was pretty busy. We went over to our friends' house and ate pizza while watching some of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Have I told you guys about my freakish Johnny Depp obsession during my teenage years? ... well, we will save that for another time.). We had a lot of fun and it was good to visit with our friends - we only see Kayla for a few minutes when she drops Mariah off, and Chris well he stays a bit longer chit chatting when he picks her up.

Well, I really didn't know what I wanted to write about tonight, but I just have to please the masses, don't I, all ... 2 of you (just kidding)! I wanted to share with you guys some of the mobile uploads that I have taken. I've posted most on either my Facebook profile, or Twitter, but just in case you all don't follow me or aren't friends with me (why not!?! I'm not THAT scary!!), here are some of the more recent highlights:

First Off, one from tonight while I was getting ready to go:

Can anyone guess who the last person to use that bathroom is?

Another one from today:

There are the three babes who keep me on my toes a few days a week, except for Benny, who keeps me hopping constantly! Aren't they cute?!

My mom says they could be twins...

What do you think? Similarities?

Reading with Daddy

I love moments like these ...


At Quiznos...

Who said he could be a big boy already?! Because I sure did not!

Give it up, Ben...

You know you wanna!

Eating cookies...

On the floor ... is that "acceptable"?! Hehehe...

Lumberjack is a good look for Ben...

Don't you think?

One last drop!

Daddy won't miss it ...

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And that is about as far back as I think I'll go! Maybe after I rack up a few more I'll do another similar post. But ya know, if you'd just befriend me elsewhere, I wouldn't have to do this! Ha!

Hope y'all have a blessed weekend! I am working on another Spiritual post for y'all, hopefully we will have it up within the next week!

Benjamin, You Are 10 Months Old!

I just can't fathom this milemarker. I mean, in 2 months, you are going to be One Year Old! Really?! Why can't you just be a little bitty baby a little while longer? You have grown so much in this past month - I can scarcely believe it! I wish I had a camera on you at all moments (sometimes it feels like I do) so I could capture every single giggle, smile, even the tears. I must say this a lot, but this has gone by too fast!




You have eight teeth all together now! Wow! You are really great about taking bites of your crackers and chewing your food, but sometimes (like tonight at dinner) you just take a little bit too much and daddy has to get it out of your mouth. You pretty much eat everything that we eat, as long as it doesn't have eggs or purple grapes in it! You love your nightly yogurt and your Winnie the Pooh Animal Crackers that your Nana brings you in big tubs! You are still breastfed but I am afraid you're going to need something more soon - at your rate! But you really don't like the bottle!!




We continue to be interrupted everywhere we go by strangers who just can't help but to comment on your adorableness. We still get "Boy or Girl?" sometimes, but it is happening less and less - thankfully! You always act like you are shy when someone comes to talk to you, but we all know that you are a big fat ham!



You've been standing on your own, little by little, but you're not walking yet (thank goodness!). You will walk if we hold your hands, but that's it! I think you're ready to get up and go any day now, though, which is a really scary thought for mama! You dance all the time now, when you hear music. It is the cutest thing! I love it! You will hold onto the table and just bob away, or your sit down and rock out! You also are learning about the word 'No' and have just about got it down that you're not supposed to climb the stairs. You are such a good little boy (most of the time!). You still love Bathtime, as long as you have all your toys and shampoo bottles!



You love to play peek-a-boo, still, and have even started holding stuff in front of your face and bringing it down really fast to play with us! You have learned how to clap really well and if I start singing "If You're Happy and You Know it", you know where to put the claps in! You are such a smart boy! You've started tucking your bottom lip in all of the time, and while it is super cute, I really don't know where you get it from!



Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and love you more than you can ever know! We are so excited when you learn new things (we just wish you'd learn them slower so we can enjoy you being a baby longer!). We can't wait to see what's in store for this next month! Lots of laughs, lots of cuddles, lots of kisses, and hopefully NO WALKING, ya hear me?

Underestimated.

Everyone, this is

Bella, who lives next door.
We will be watching her as much as her mother can bear to leave her with us! On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays ... Same days that Mariah is here! BUSY! A couple more pictures before I get down to what I am itching to get out of my system.


"All right, Benjamin! I got it up!"


"Hurry, I don't know how much longer I can hold it up!"


"...Nevermind..."

Isn't she adorable? She loved Hubby!



Anyway...

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Down to business.

When Hubby and I announced our very fast engagement, we both caught a lot of flack. So many people told us that we should wait, that we were too young. Yeah, I know there are a bunch of statistics against us. I know there are way too many young couples who dive into marriage and jump out as quick as they jumped in. I know. But Hubby and I have stuck through with it for over two years now. And let me tell you - we have had our fair share of trials already. I know it's just begun. But we're in this together.

You know, we don't get the flack for that anymore.

When I was pregnant, I got the flack for being 19 and pregnant. I was told before "You're having a baby!? But you are a baby!". And you know, when you're pregnant, you can be a tad more sensitive than normal.

Whatever. No more flack.

Now I am being underestimated. And I think it is probably worse than the above two. Please allow me to speak candidly, and please know that I really don't feel bitter toward anyone, I just get a little fed up with the way I, as a young mother, am sometimes treated.

I know that a baby should wear socks. I don't know if you've ever caught on in any of my cleaning posts, but I'm not exactly the most organized of people. A flaw I am working on. Anyway, heaven forbid I should be running late (as I often do) and unable to find a pair of socks, and assume there is a pair somewhere in the car (nope!). One mistake, and I get fifty billion (exaggeration) comments about how Benjamin needs socks. Yes, I know this. This is the first time I had ever gone to church with a sockless baby. That I can remember, anyway. And yet, I get subtle lectures about babies needing socks (lecturing the baby is a 'subtle' way to lecture the mama). And the next time we go to church, and he is wearing socks, I get so many 'relieved' comments.

Perhaps not that big a deal, but seriously ... one mistake, fifty billion (again, exaggeration) comments. I know this.

Another situation. Benjamin is squirmy. He does not like to sit still in mama's lap, and does not always like to be held. So occasionally (okay, frequently) we will let Benjamin crawl on the floor of the building. On one occasion (okay, two), one of the older women took hand sanitizer and slathered it on his hands (and knees on the first occasion - which I had a huge problem with because he had bad rash on his legs, which I am sure did NOT feel good with alcohol being smeared on it). I was not okay with this. Benjamin puts his hands in his mouth. I don't want him ingesting this! I know it was all with good intentions, but I wish sometimes other people would let me be the one who worries about my child.

But see, here's my problem. I'm the preacher's wife. I don't want to say something that could make my family look bad. How do I say "Back off!" nicely? I am just tired of being underestimated, and I am sure it is because of my age. Another girl at church has a son who is 15 months old, and she is about 7 years older than me - does she get the same treatment - nope!

Sigh.

I'm not a bad mommy! I may have forgotten socks once, and I may let him crawl on floors, but I am not dumb!

Have any of you gone through anything like this? I suppose this could just be something that comes along with starting your family earlier than most!

Let me know what you think in the comments - encouragement is so welcome! Just sayin'!

Wordless Wednesday: Mawaige!

For more WW, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

In The Leaves.

Let me tell y'all something!

It is really hard trying to photograph an active baby! It has been hard for me to find photographic opportunities while watching Mariah because she is always so busy. But the other day I saw that the corner of our back yard had a lovely blanket of leaves down, so I thought it would be the perfect place for Mariah - the leaves would keep her busy long enough to sit down for some pictures.

And it worked!











Seriously, y'all, is this child not quite beautiful?!





Shortly after taking about fiftybajillion pictures of Mariah, Benjamin woke up from his nap and I tried to get some of the two of them together, but they wanted to go their separate ways after a couple seconds.



But I did get some of Ben separately.














"Pleh!"







I love those kiddos.

Busted.

Benjamin unsuspectingly was playing upon his Christmas present, which I knowingly only paid $2 for - regularly a $20 toy, and yes, out of the unsuspecting Target store. Little did they know when I purchased a $4 prescription and gained a $10 giftcard, and then used a $5 off coupon for something that was marked down temporarily to $17, that I would get smart and actually redeem myself for the sock incident.

Can you tell I'm a little proud of myself? Although Hubby is the one who did the actual purchasing as Benjamin and I were sick that day.

Anyway. Would you believe that I just got waaaay off track?

I think Benjamin will like his toy.





Or, at least he is going to have fun with the box. I mean, look at them - they aren't even paying attention to that box of AVON books and whatever else is in it!



Oh ... um ...



Ok.



Sigh.



As if he had nothing to do with it ...



Yeah, I know you helped, Benjamin.



And I know you did it while wearing Daddy's shoe...



Busted.

Dearly Beloved,

We are gathered here to mourn the loss of a very dear, very close friend ... one we have all grown to love and cherish ...



That's right, folks. My dear, darling, precious Nikon has taken its last photograph. It's bitten the dust. I am really, really sad.



When I turn it on, all it does is show a bunch of lines on the screen... that's it.



So here's how it happened. Tuesday we had made plans to go retrieve Benjamin's Halloween portraits from Sears, and I had a pretty great coupon for a Holiday package so I went ahead and scheduled another family session. To be honest, I really don't like going to studios like that ... I prefer professional photographers. But like I said, I had a really great coupon. And you know what a sucker I am for coupons, well, besides that one time with the socks ...

Anyway. As I was saying. We had gone to get our photographs taken. I had packed a snack and some juice for Benjamin and had a bit of a brainless moment when I placed my camera at the bottom of the bag as well. You see, my camera goes with me everywhere, even when we are going to get our pictures taken by someone else, such as Benjamin's Halloween session.

You can probably tell where I am going with this.

Most of Benjamin's juice ended up at the bottom of my bag, where my precious Nikon had been tucked "safely" away.

Hubby did open it up and let it dry over night, and that seemed to work for a few shots, but after that - kaput!

But, no worries. I'm not as torn up about it as you may think. We have a back-up camera that has stepped up to the plate. A Panasonic Lumix. It's actually a tad bit better than the Nikon, but it is a bit bulkier as well.

I'm learning that once you have a baby, your stuff isn't safe for as long as it would be without. This camera lasted me a year. I got it for my birthday last year.

So, farewell, friend... farewell.





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Completely unrelated, but I totally forgot to tell you earlier when I posted this! Some of you (all of you?) might be as completely floored as I was when I heard this.

My mom called me tonight and told me she had spent the day with one of the elderly women she attends church with. We have known this woman my whole life and she was telling my mom stories of her family. You will never guess which famous 1930's actor her father was best friends with. Here's a hint that probably won't mean much to you: think my favorite movie.

You will never guess it!



Clark. Gable. Clark Gable!

Yes! It's true! So wild! Apparently they lived very close and like I said, they were best friends. This is before he got into 'showbiz'. When Clark moved to Ohio, her family moved there as well. And she said that Clark Gable was a ladies man, and sadly, his influence rubbed off on her father and he was also a ladies' man - this is the reason she did not like him at all when she was younger. Anyway, when Clark moved to Hollywood to become an actor, her mother said 'No', so they did not move with him.

How wild is that?!

Next time I see Mrs. Ollie, I am going to hopefully hear it from her mouth!!