"So what is he, 4 months old?"

Yep, someone asked me that today while I helped in the church nursery. I was a little surprised but to give her credit there were two of the biggest 4-5 month old boys I'd ever seen in there and they were the same size if not a tad bigger than Bennett. Or maybe my baby sizes and ages has been slightly skewed since having Bennett. So I know he's small for his age but he's almost 21 pounds! 4 months, really??

Anyways, as I watched Bennett next to these other boys, these "typical" boys, for the first time, I saw the differences. I saw how big their hands were compared to Bennett's. I saw their giant feet and how big their ears were, almost looking like old men's ears next to my Bennett's petite ears. But then I saw the differences that I've been sheltered from for some time. I saw that in fact, my son does have Down syndrome and he is delayed. And it hurt. I'm not going to lie. It's not like I started crying or anything but I watched them as they put weight on their legs with ease, as they manipulated the toys and easily mimicked certain actions. They felt sturdy and solid. And it's not like they were doing more things than Bennett, it's just that they were doing things that took so long for Bennett to do and how sturdy they were on their legs really surprised me. They weren't sitting up but I knew it wouldn't be long before they did. And I knew their parents wouldn't think much about it. I know I didn't, with the girls. They hit their milestones and next thing you knew, they were hitting another one. But not with Bennett.

It was just a big reminder I guess. I'm not around other babies too much and if I am, I don't get a solid hour of one on one time with them like I did today. I wonder what the other women in there thought. "So what is he, 4 months old?" the woman asked. "No, actually he just turned a year, he's just little." I replied. Were they dying to ask- "Does he have Down syndrome?" Surely they could see it. I realize it's obvious now. But no one asked if he was crawling or walking to my surprise, they just offered him toys and smiled, treated him like the other boys.

Although I was sad for a little bit, I realized I didn't really wish for Bennett to be like them, the other boys. Bennett is who he is and he just wouldn't be himself without that extra chromosome. So yes, his hands and feet may be smaller. And he has petite ears (although perfectly shaped and proportionate to his head I must add)-lol. He's shorter than babies his age and he's not quite as sturdy and solid. He doesn't do all the things most 1 year olds do but I love him how he is. He's just perfect to me. He's our little buddy, and we just couldn't have him any other way.

Thanks So Much Granddaddy!!

For making me this cool bench that fits me just perfectly! Mommy has tried everything but my legs were just a little too short so she gave you the measurements and you did such a great job! And you even painted it a nice shiny blue! I can do all sorts of things with my new bench like work on my sitting,

Work on kneeling,

and I can even use it as a little table! I just know my therapists will love it!

It also works great as a photo prop for mommy when she wants to take pictures of me in front of Grammy's different hydrangeas!

And I don't mind, I just let mommy do what she wants to do,

as long as I'm on my new bench, I'm happy:)

Our Disney Trip!!

I'll try to make this short and let the pictures tell the story- there are lots! We had a blast at Disney World, it was extremely hot but so much fun!! We did lots of things we've never done before like....

ride on air planes!

{I must add that Harper was THAT child that you don't want your child to be when we first stepped onto the plane "Get me outta here, I want to go home!!!" Very loudly, mind you and quite frankly it was embarrassing and I know the people on there were praying we didn't sit next to them. But the poor thing had never been on a plane and didn't know what to expect. She calmed down fairly quickly but wow, it was bad. Anyways, on to the rest of the pics...

We met beautiful princesses...

And Princes {seriously, how old is this kid??}

And of course Minnie and Mickey

You see Harper was fine with the princesses and Minnie and Mickey,

it was people like this that she did not want any part of-her arch nemesis~Maleficent. Harper does not like Maleficent or Ursula the Octopus in The Little Mermaid and we found out she wasn't a big fan of some others but you'll see for yourself in just a few.

While we were there, Ainsley lost her first tooth! Tinker Bell came to visit her that night:)

We played in the awesome resort pool.

And then it came time for some character breakfasts in which you could find Harper in my arms once a character came close. {Oh and in case you haven't noticed, Harper is going through that bad smile stage, Ainsley was the same way at this age-you tell her to smile and it almost looks evil! -LOL}

We then played "Where's Waldo?" but it was "Where's Harper?"...

I really wanted her to at least be in some of the pictures but she tried her hardest to get as far away as possible...

These pictures just crack me up! Ainsley is all smiles and Harper is flat out mad.

The girls stayed up way past their bed time every night and we did fun things that we never do at home like eat pizza by the pool at 9:30pm {gasp}, sleep in until 10 am {never happens-heavenly}, eat ice cream while watching fire works and of course there was no time for naps so needless to say they were exhausted at night.

We got caught in a few thunderstorms and had fun running through the pouring rain.

We went on a cool safari ride in the pouring rain but we were so hot, we didn't mind at all.

We rode in the giant teacups

and of course on Dumbo!

There were so many other fun rides and shows we saw. It really is a magical place and to see it through the girls eyes was so special. I'm so thankful we were able to give them this opportunity.

While we were in Florida, sweet Bennett stayed nice and cool with his Grammy and Granddaddy! I called every day {of course} and every time he was just perfect. We went to the doctor the day before we left and the ped. said he had an ear infection (along with Harper, great huh?) so naturally I was worried to leave him but he did just fine.

A huge thanks to my mom and dad for offering to watch him because it would have been really hard to take him once I saw what the moms with their little babies were going through in all that heat. So thank you again mom and dad for taking such good care of him!!!

I've got some tips to share-not that I'm a Disney pro by any means but these are some things we learned and some things I think we did right. So stay tuned!

It's Hard To Get Frustrated....

As much as I want Bennett to start crawling,

it's really hard to get frustrated,

when we're both on the floor

and I get cute faces like this and he does his swimmer/superman pose when I tell him to "c'mon Bennett, come here".

I mean, how can I get frustrated when I know he's trying so hard but having fun at the same time?....

and I'm having fun just watching him in all his cuteness.

I just ♥ him.

{And I do believe that brown is Bennett's signature color-brings out his chocolate brown eyes and brown hair-don't ya think?;)}

Getting Ready For Our Big Trip!

Okay, it's probably been about 4 years since we've taken a real vacation and this will be our first one on a plane with both girls (Ainsley went once when she was 6 months so technically this is her first time since she doesn't remember it:)). Where are we going you ask??

Maybe this will give you a clue...

We're going to Disney World!! In just 2 days! I don't feel ready at all but Ainsley has her bag as well as Harper's packed! She cracks me up because she put all their clothes in their little Land's End bags that we take when we go on car trips and she put all their shoes (we have girls so we take several shoes you know:)) in the plastic grocery bag like I always do (that's just how I do it) and was ready to go. I told her we don't take those kind of bags on planes. She said "then what do we use mommy?" I told her a suitcase and her eyes got real big, she's so excited to use a suitcase like daddy does when he goes on business trips-LOL. My children don't get out much I guess.

Anyways, here's some of the things we'll be taking with us for our trip...

First up are these shoes! I don't know if Crocs are dorky for women but I recently got these while getting the girls some and they are so cute and comfortable {at least I think they are}! They are navy blue with red and I love the nautical look right now. So I'll be taking these along with my running shoes of course for all the walking we'll be doing.

I got them at Dick's Sporting Goods and they have really cute, new styles for girls and boys.

Next up are outfits for the kids! I figure this may be the last year I can get them all to wear coordinating things because we probably won't be going back until Bennett is older. Now, you'll notice the little onesie for Bennett, well, we were planning on taking him but my parents offered to watch him for the week so I will miss him TERRIBLY but I think since he's a baby it may be best with the heat and the fact that he won't remember it and I think it will be nice to have some one on one time with our girls. So I'm making my mom promise to take pictures of Bennett in his outfits while we're gone-get that mom?;) Oh and I'll probably call at least 3 times a day to check on him-I've never left him over night and a week is a long time!!!

Here's more. This was Ainsley idea to hang them on the fence by the flowers-I'm always taking pictures of my clothes I sell for Lil' Sis Designs and she's catching on to how they should be displayed- so cute. I don't offer these on my etsy site but if you have a trip planned for Disney and would like some cute outfits email me at lilsisdesigns@gmail.com!

I wanted something for the girls that was small enough to carry on the plan and put their toys, coloring books, snacks etc. in. I got these at Hobby Lobby and let the girls pick out their fabric for their initial once we got home. We got these before we knew Bennett wouldn't be coming and I realize he can't carry a backpack but Ainsley does not like to leave Bennett out so as soon as she saw the blue one she gave it to me and said "For Bennett". So he's got a little backpack now too:)

I've gotten some really great tips from friends about where to stay, where to eat, what shows to see, what character dinners to do, what to pack, etc. so thanks to you all for all your help!! Any last minute tips from you Disney pros out there would be appreciated though too!

3 Recipes you HAVE to try!

Okay, I always have to chuckle a little when I share recipes because you know, I'm such a great cook and all;) But these are not real meals, just yummy recipes that even I can make and I just had to share them!

The first is this Monkey Bread:

I got this recipe from my friend Amy in the mom's group I'm in-This makes a yummy breakfast!

Monkey Bread:

Ingredients
3 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup white sugar

Directions
Mix together 3/4 cup sugar and cinnamon.
Quarter the biscuits with kitchen shears. Dip shears in water after each cut to keep the biscuits from getting too sticky. Dip biscuits into sugar mixture, and place in a greased tube pan. Do this until all biscuits are used.
Melt butter or margarine, and mix in 3/4 cup sugar. Pour mixture over biscuits.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven for 30 to 35 minutes.
Enjoy!!

The next one is from my friend Paige and these are seriously so good!!!! And easy! Both the monkey bread and these muffin cookies are great to make with your kids! Oh and Paige has lots of yummy looking recipes on her blog-notice I said looking because I've only tried these cookies and they're the best! Not to mention the dough before you put them in the oven:)

Chocolate Chip Blondies:

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup milk chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mist a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or line with paper muffin cups. In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; stir with a fork to combine.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar. Let cool slightly, then stir in egg and vanilla until smooth. Stir in flour mixture, then chocolate chips and nuts, if using.

Portion out a little less than 1/4 cup batter into each muffin cup and smooth tops with a small spatula. Bake until just set, 15 to 17 minutes. Let blondies cool completely before removing from pan.

Now, I don't have a picture of this last one because it was gone before I could even take a picture!! If you like crab dip and even if you don't, I bet you'll like this one. This is from my mom's good friend Merlyn (thanks Merlyn!) and she always brings it over when she visits my parents and everyone goes crazy over it. So I decided to serve it at Bennett's birthday party (Mike made it at the last minute!) and everyone loved it! I wanted to try to make it myself and it really was pretty easy- You have to try it!

Oven Baked Crab Dip

2-8oz pkgs. cream cheese, softened

1/3 Cup mayonnaise

1 T powdered sugar

1 T white wine

1/2 tsp. onion juice

1/2 tsp. prepared mustard

1/3 tsp. garlic salt

dash lemon juice

1 tsp. Old Bay

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Parmesan Cheese

1 lb. jumbo lump crap meat, washed carefully so as not to break up anymore than necessary

Mix softened cream cheese and whip slightly with mixer.

Add mayonnaise, sugar, wine, onion juice (you can take a little bit of onion and puree it to make it mushy), prepared mustard, garlic salt and lemon juice and mix very well to distribute all ingredients.

Fold in Old Bay & Worcestershire and then gently fold in lump crap meat.

Mix in about 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Pour into slightly Pam-sprayed baking dish.

Sprinkle a topping of Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 375 oven for about 30 minutes or until it will be warm in center when tested with small spoon.

So it seems involved (it's really not) and the ingredients are kind of strange but it really is the best crab dip I've had. I wasn't sure what to do about the onion juice so I left it out and it tasted fine (I later asked Merlyn about it and she said to just take a little and puree it).

Let me know if you try these!- oh and sorry my font is all over the place-copying and pasting the recipes messes everything up!

Standing In Hot Pink Pants...

So my mom asked me what she should get Bennett for his birthday and I told her I wanted an activity table for him to work on (hopefully) standing. Bennett has never really wanted to bear weight on his legs and the coffee table was too high so I thought an activity table would entice him to want to actually get to the toys and sure enough, with help, he's finally putting weight on this chubby little thighs!

His hot pink hip helpers really work to keep his legs straight up and down so he doesn't go into the split position. I know, he's a boy but the next size up that we have is too big-they are black though so we're getting better with the color:) Boys can wear pink sometimes can't they?;)

Can I just add that trying to support 20 pounds while he practices his standing is a workout for mama too! My arms are sore after we work on this! I'm just glad he's not lifting his feet up like he used to so it's slow and steady progress but it's still progress!!

Good job bub!

Mama's Boy...

Bennett is completely different from how Ainsley and Harper were as babies. I worked full time with them and went back to work once they were 3 months old. They never really got that separation anxiety thing and I remember crying to the girl's babysitter because I couldn't understand why my girls never cried when I dropped them off or how come I wasn't that one person that could make it all better when they were babies?

Well with Bennett it's different-now granted he has been with me and only me since day 1 but this kid adores me quite frankly. And I have to admit it makes me smile a little that he practically throws himself at me if someone else is holding him and he sees me coming. I just never had that with the girls. So he's a mama's boy, through and through.

I plunked him in the grass to see if I could get some cute shots. He wasn't thrilled about the grass.

But he tolerated it.

Just kinda felt weird to him I guess. But I did get some cute shots:)

And then we got the pout (that's usually our warning to pick him up quick before it gets ugly).

Well we didn't get to him quick enough and he let us have it. And the only person that could make it all better...

was his mama.

I've always heard friends that have boys say there was something special between a mother and her son and I never really got it because I had girls and I felt like our relationship was pretty special too.

But now I totally get it. There really is something special and I never thought I'd ever have a son because I had two girls and just assumed our third would be a girl. All I can say is that I'm thrilled to have a mama's boy! I hope he'll always come to me when he needs someone to make it all better.