Little Helper

Ben has become a little helper over the past week or two and just LOVES helping out with any task you assign him - cleaning, organizing, helping with Barney - you name it, he does it! He has become excellent at following directions and just toddles around acting so important and busy when he is in the middle of one of his tasks.

Today we organized the spice cabinet since it was in dire need of sorting and Ben likes anything with lots of pieces so I knew that he would love helping out. Before I knew it, I was ousted from the scene and Ben took over the task!

Here, Mr. Busy is lining everything back up in the cabinet.

Hmmm...so what next? I guess it depends on what I can reach!

Ah-ha, I know the perfect place for this Karo syrup!

So are you just going to stand there and take pictures all day, Mom, or are you going to help me out?

CHL Systems Company Picnic

Today we had Andrew's company's annual picnic and what a beautiful day it was - sunny, high 70s, no humidity. They hold the event every year at family-owned Hemlock Springs Farm, towards the Poconos and about 75 minutes away from us. It's a drive but it is always worth it since they do a really nice job planning a fun day. There is always great food and activities and the kids all love running around the 300 acre farm and swimming in the lake.

They had a moonbounce for the kids to go on and Ben was enthralled with it...until we tried to put him inside of it! Lately, he thinks he is about 6 or 7 years old and is always following the "big kids" around, trying to be included in their games. We've had people in the church nursery tell us that he likes to hang with the older kids and I have noticed it on the playground. Yesterday at the playground he decided to just join himself into a game of tag that a group of 5-8 year olds were playing. Nobody excluded him and I honestly think Ben thought he was part of the action! The same thing happened at the moonbounce today. He was laughing and running around the outside as the big kids jumped in and out of it. But he chickened out when we tried to put him inside (even with only one other baby in there!). Next year...

Watching the kids playing through the opening.


Checking out the slide.

Ben had the greatest time running around with the other kids playing with colored toy balls.


Here he is watching Andrew enter the frisbee throwing contest. Andrew ended up winning some cash for being the best frisbee thrower of the day!


This year they had hot air balloon rides for anyone who was daring enough to take one. We didn't end up going on because (1) the line was long by the time we got there, (2) it seemed a very rough landing and I concluded that this activity might be on the list of no-no's for pregnant women and (3) Ben was terrified of it (as most of the babies were). It was neat to watch, though.

What the HECK is that loud noise?!?! (as the balloon is fired up...it is louder than you'd think!)

Get me outta here before that thing gets me!!
Alright, it's not so bad when the daddy is there to protect you...

Coming Soon!

Yes, we will have another March baby next year and Ben could have a brother or sister for a birthday present since I am due on March 24th. Very exciting! We saw the doctor for the first time this morning and everything looks great. We saw the heartbeat and things are progressing as they should be. Ben was a little perplexed at the strange "show" we were watching, being the pensive child that he is. He was very seriously staring at the ultrasound machine wondering what it was...


As far as my health, I am feeling pretty under-the-weather right now but nothing that isn't manageable. I am pretty nauseous all day long but as long as I eat something every hour and a half or so, I can deal with it. Just the usual early pregnancy symptoms - fatigue, nausea, food aversions. I am also showing much faster this time - as expected - and started wearing maternity pants this week so that I am more comfortable. If I can avoid it, I'll stay out of photos for the next 7 months :) (sorry, everyone, pregnancy photos are my nemesis).

And now for the important question - will we be finding out what we are having? The answer is...OF COURSE! This will probably be the end of October/beginning of November. We will tell everyone once we know but may decide to keep everyone is suspense with the name we choose again :).

Table Manners

We have diligently been working on table manners with our little barricuda for the past few months and just recently has Ben started to really want to use his utensils most of the time when eating. He sometimes has to be reminded to "use his fork or spoon" but he seems to enjoy the praise he gets when he does. Of course this is a big step in Ben's table manners but it also means we have reverted to messier and slower mealtimes again until he really gets the hang of it!

Yum, yogurt!

Big Trucks

This morning at the park, Ben was in for a special surprise - a crew with a dump truck and a backhoe were doing work right near the picnic area where we stopped for our snack so we had front row seats for the action. He was so intent on watching the big trucks that he barely wanted his animal crackers (unusual for Ben!).

Michele's Wedding

On July 22nd I was in my friend Michele's wedding in NJ. She and I have been friends since 1994 so it was so nice to be able to be part of her special day. She and Gary were married at St. Elizabeth's Church in Wyckoff, NJ and had the reception at Nanina's on the Park in Belleville, NJ. The whole day was beautiful! Of course we forgot our camera for the wedding (oops...) so I only was able to get the photos that the other bridesmaids took.

Here are the girls in the limo on the way to the church.


Here are Michele and Gary outside of the church after the ceremony.

And here they are at the reception:
One photo of Andrew and me at the reception.

Finally, the parents of the bride - Bob and Gilda - getting down to the band!