The Sunglasses

So this past week I took a look at our budget and decided that I needed to do better with impulse buys (as in stop them). With grocery costs rising crazy fast, I determined that I was going to stay within our budget despite higher costs. So I came up with a list of meals that were fairly inexpensive and made my menu plan. Then I decided I would probably save money by only shopping once every two weeks instead of once a week. I set out for the grocery store with determination to stick to my list. I did very well until I saw the sunglasses. They were just too cute and fit Benjamin perfectly. (I know, I know, I shouldn't even have tried them on him.) So I debated whether I should buy them or not. Finally, I rationalized that we had the money in our clothing budget, so I would take them out of there. So, my trip to the grocery store ended with one impulse buy. The sunglasses. But you have to admit, they are adorable. Benjamin won't keep them on for more than 2 seconds, but they are awful cute while he has them on. So, in order to snap these pics, I had to hold his hands down so he would not take them off before I was done. Maybe I will do better with my resolve to not buy impulsively next time. :) For now, we have some super cute baby pictures.

Playing Outside

We have had some super hot days here lately, but Benjamin continues to love being outside. I remember loving to play in the dirt when I was a kid. My mom never seemed to mind my getting dirty - or at least she never said so if she did. She just let me play hard and then I got cleaned up when it was over. So now that Benjamin is crawling around, he wants to play in the dirt too. He will find the only muddy spot in our yard and sit in it to play. The other day I was out planting a flower. Benjamin was happily playing over by our tree (which has dirt at its foot). The next thing I hear is a splash as he crawled over to his pool and climbed right in. So then his dirty shirt was covered in mud. After that, I figured nothing else mattered. He was having fun, so I let him get completely covered in dirt before we went in to clean up. He loved it!

Grandparent Fun

Over Graduation/Mother's Day weekend Benjamin got some good time in with Grandpa and Grandma Davis and with Grandma Anderson. He had fun reading with them, playing bubbles, playing in the pool, and well, mostly just getting almost constant attention.

I have posted several new posts, so be sure to scroll down to read them all. :)

Playing train with Grandma D.
Upside Down with Daddy
Grandma D. giving Benjamin a bath in the sink. As you can see, he loved it!
Swimming with Grandma D.
Waiting for Daddy to graduate
Some one-on-one with Grandma A.
Bubble time!

Get-Away

Matt and I had our first get-away without Benjamin this past week. It was wonderful! We were both so much in need of some time away after he graduated. Matt's parents blessed us by staying with Benjamin for a couple of days, so we were able to relax knowing he was in great hands. We started our time away by going out to breakfast - something we never do with Benjamin. Then we headed for the hill country and did some hiking at Lost Maples State Park. It was a perfect day that never got much above 80 and we had a cool breeze throughout our hike. Since we went on a Monday, there were very few people in the park, so we enjoyed more peace and quiet than we have had in a long time.
Later that afternoon we headed to our cabin. We Stayed at Lost Maples Cabins and once again since it was a Monday, we enjoyed having the grounds to ourselves. When we arrived we promptly headed for the double hammock in the yard and took a nap. It was amazingly peaceful with only the sounds of the birds and the wind in the trees. The rest of our time was spent just relaxing, going for walks, enjoying a fire in the fireplace, relaxing in the Jacuzzi, reading, and playing games. We almost felt like newlyweds again! We were so thankful for our time away and felt rejuvenated and excited about having the summer together as a family with no school.
On our way home we stopped in Bandera for lunch and ate at one of the best restaurants we've ever tried. It was called The Grotto Grill and Coffee House. They had some fun and unique food that was super tasty! Too bad it's almost an hour away. After lunch we were ready to head home to our little boy. We fully enjoyed our time away, but we were missing Benjamin by the end and were happy to see him again.

Posing in the jacuzzi. :)
Relaxing in the hammock
Our 2nd floor cabin
A view of the hills that were everywhere around us (and of our smiling faces)

Mother's Day

My first Mother's day was a special day. I was blessed to have both my mom and my mother-in-law here, as well as Benjamin's birthmother. Matt and I participated in our church's baby dedication, where we made a public commitment to raise Benjamin up in the Lord. I am so often overwhelmed by that responsibility and it's wonderful to know that we have a church that supports us in every aspect of raising Benjamin. After church we had fun going out to eat with every one and then we came home and took pictures. Below is a picture of all of the moms together with Benjamin, as well as one of his dedication.

We Have a Graduate!!!

After 3 1/2 years, we have finally come to the end of Matt's journey of getting his master's degree in Accounting. We are loving the freedom of no more classes! Matt graduated on May 10th. His parents and my mom were able to make it down here for the graduation ceremony and we were all so proud of him and his hard work. Benjamin even sat for almost 3 hours and did very well. He loved it every time people would clap because he thought they were clapping for him. :) This past week we have so much enjoyed having time to spend together as a family without the pressure to study. We are so looking forward to this summer and some much needed family time.

Mother's Day

This week the anticipation of celebrating Mother's Day for the first time (for me) has me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I'm thrilled to be a mommy and to celebrate that this year! God has blessed me so much with my precious son. But as I look with excitement at this coming Sunday, I am reminded that so many women are still in that place of yearning. So many women will go to church this Sunday with tears just beneath the surface, hoping no one says anything to them about the day so that the floodgate of tears doesn't open up completely. That was me last year. I almost didn't even want to go to church. I had cried through church the three years prior, and I was determined to be stoic last year. I thought I had it together, and then someone asked if we had heard anything on our adoption and told me that maybe next year I would be a mommy. Next year didn't seem good enough, so I cried through the entire service. The lady sitting next to me was visiting and she must have thought I was a mess. As it turned out, next year is now and I am a mommy. But my heart goes out to the women who are in that unknown desert of longing. So if you think of it this Sunday, please pray for those women you may know who desire so desperately to be mothers.

"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion -to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." ~Isaiah 61:2-3


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

When the House is too Quiet...

Benjamin's new favorite hang out is the bathroom. There are just so many entertaining things in there. His most recent entertainment being the toilet paper. At first he was content to bang on the side of the tub and the top of the toilet, but now he has moved on to more exciting things like rolling out half a roll of toilet paper. Not only is it entertaining, but it is apparently a delicacy as well. Sometimes he rolls a bunch out and stuffs his mouth full of it. I was telling my mom about this the other day and she asked if I had taken any pictures. Sadly I have not taken any pictures of the mouth full of toilet paper, but here are a few I got yesterday when I caught him in the act of rolling out the roll. :)
Of course, when he saw the flash, he thought he was doing something wonderful and came toward me with a great big grin!