Hope for Baby Bennett: Mr. (and Miss) Independent

Friday, July 8, 2011

Mr. (and Miss) Independent

I know this is late for a 4th of July post, but between a battery of thyroid tests for me this week (what used to be a slightly over-reactive thyroid has become a crazy in-your-face overactive thyroid in the past year - big surprise, right? I don't blame it - the same thing has kinda happened to me - ha!) and a stomach bug of unknown origin (my money's on food poisoning, but we don't know for sure) that has hit only me (thankfully), I haven't had much time for blogging this week. So there you have it.

But I wanted to post some pics of our 4th of July. We went out to my parents place in Palm Springs and had some friends out to join us. We had a lot of fun. Well, actually, I should clarify - Janet, Rafael, Natalie, Damien, Dusk, Sierra and I had a lot of fun. Bodie, well, not so much. I'm not sure whether he was teething (thought we'd get a break from that, since the kid already has ALL of this teeth but his last 2 sets of molars), maybe had an ear infection that has since cleared on its own, just highly suspicious of the fact that Natalie happens to be a babysitter or read my previous blogpost and decided he needed to shake things up a bit, but he was a bit of a nightmare this weekend. We had a lot of meltdowns if I wasn't holding him. On more than one occassion, we brought me the Ergo, gesticulating and more or less sobbing until I put him in it. That was pretty cute actually. He spent a lot of time in mama's arms. Sometimes, that was cute. Sometimes, it was a bit much. But, in between the moments of sheer madness, we had a lot of fun as well. Bodie has pretty much given up crawling and is about the cutest little toddler I've seen (and I'm not biased at all).

Anyway, here's pics of the fun:

A gorgeous pool 10 feet away...and my kids would rather play with a baby bathtub filled with water and toys. Go figure.

Too much cuteness

Couldn't you just eat these lips up?

What's the 4th of July without watermelon?

So excited for his "boy boy bowl" that suction cups to his high chair tray, so he can't pick it up and throw it...

er...well...theoretically anyway...

Sierra and her beloved Nana, who was Sierra's first babysitter (Nana used to watch Sierra when I went back to work - Sierra was 4 months at the time)

Man, throw this kid in a highchair with some food and you're sure to get a smile...

Showing off his mad walking skills

Sweetest.face.ever.

One of the only times Bodie was happy to play in the pool

Damien's mad photog skills with my sweet girl

Sierra and mommy with sparklers

One of my favorite pics of the night...when did my little girl get so grown up and independent?

For a little contrast, this was Sierra on her first 4th of July. Man, they do grow up fast, don't they?

Sierra and Nana ending the night

4 comments:

TaraJuly 9, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Love all the pics! Glad you are hopefully feeling better too =) I can't believe Bodie is a walking toddler now!! He is such a cutie! And yes, we have those bowls that supposedly suction too, but Liam always found a way to de-suction them =) Glad yall had a great 4th!
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Na Na and DamoJuly 9, 2011 at 9:59 AM
What a fun weekend! We love the Bennett Four!
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AnonymousJuly 9, 2011 at 12:31 PM
My sweet Bodie... wow, you have grown SO MUCH! I miss you, my baby boy!

Sweet Sierra, you look beautiful as always and seem to have had a lot of fun during your 4th of July weekend...

Amy, my dear... I miss u a lot... especially when I make ribs! :o)

Give my Bodie a biiig hug for me.

We love and pray for you all.

Kisses,

Nairi and family
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StefenieJuly 10, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Go Bodie!! It's great to see him up and walking. What a big boy he is becoming!!

Looks like you had a wonderful 4th of July!
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The Chosen Mothers by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."