Expressive.

Let's all be honest. You all don't come here just to read about jewelry, or about my camera dilemma, or even cupcakes. We all know the real reason you come. And we all know the real reason I blog. Let's say it all together now: Pictures of Benjamin. Ha!

Okay, but seriously. This child is expressive. But when it comes to eating, we are very serious. In fact, tonight, he just about downed a whole kids' Subway sandwich. That's kind of a lot for a baby! But he happily ate and chattered the whole time.

The child loves to eat. Just look at those cheeks {and these photos were not taken tonight. I think they were taken Saturday}:







And yet at the last check up, Benjamin wasn't even in the 50th percentile for his weight. So he can pack it in, but he works it off with how much he runs around.











I love him and his cuteness. He's learned how to stamp his feet and walk backwards now. He also now says "Hi" all the time. I just love this child. He is so stinkin' cute, and very sweet and loving and affectionate. I love his little voice and the way he waddles around {I think it's the cloth diaper!} and how he swings his arms or throws them up in the air when he runs.

I love the way his mouth makes a little triangle shape.



I could go on and on.

going...

Going...



Going...



Going...



Gone.

Want the recipe? Check it out.

Nikon vs Canon: Your Thoughts?

I'm just looking for your thoughts concerning the Nikon D3000 DSLR vs. the Canon Rebel XS DSLR. I know both are entry level, and right now I don't have the money for the more expensive models. I have been debating this for weeks, and I have read reviews. I have held the Nikon D3000 in Target, and I liked the way it felt in my hands. Generally I do gravitate more toward the Nikon, but I was just wanting to know what you all thought, if you have any thoughts.



the Nikon



the Canon

What camera do you own? Any input is appreciated!

Bling, bling!

Hello friends! I can't believe tomorrow {in 15 minutes} is Saturday. I am dead tired but I wanted to crank out one post before I head off to bed. I have much to do tomorrow but I needed to say this first.

I used to wear jewelry before I had Benjamin, but I'm sure you can guess why I've mostly stopped. However, as Benjamin is older and more 'teachable', I've started slowly incorporating more pieces every now and then. Today I came across this site, ChunkyBling.com. I was looking around and really think a lot of the jewelry -- excuse me, Bling -- is really pretty! I loved the Wild Thing style of the interchangeable beaded watches. Purple is so my color! If you're into chunky jewelry, you should check out the interchangeable charm necklaces. They kind of remind me of a ring I used to own with an interchangeable bead that you snap in and snap out. It matched everything {does anyone else remember these?}! I imagine these charm necklaces would work the same way ... and to me that ultimately means that you're saving money by not going out and buying a ton of different necklaces to match a ton of different outfits. They also offer an Online Jewelry Party that you can throw with your friends - virtual and "real life" alike - and you get a lot of free jewelry with that. I attended something similar before and it was a lot of fun ... if any of you decide to host one of these, do let me know!

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you all! I hope you all have a fantastic Saturday!

_{This is a post written in response to this offer.}

Whatcha got cookin'?

So, what did you have for dinner last night? Want to know what I had? I had this:



Want to know how to make it? Well you're in luck! Head on over to my brand spankin' new recipe blog: Hey Good Lookin'! It's shiny and still has that new-blog smell, so head on over and show it some love!

Do you have a recipe blog? I'd love to see it and add it to my blog roll over there! Or, if you don't have one of your own, do you have any that you really love?

I hope you all have a fantastic Friday! I am about to head into the kitchen to make a cake for our dinner party tomorrow night! Keep an eye on that recipe blog! My cake will surely be seen over there!

Show Us Your Life: Collections

Over at Kelly's Korner, the Show Us Your Life for this week is Collections. I don't collect much, besides photos, laundry, hugs&kisses... but I do collect "I Love Lucy" memorabilia.



I own and have seen every episode. My kitchen is Lucy-themed {or working toward it}. The 3 framed pictures are on the wall between the kitchen and the living room. They are photos from 3 different episodes. The bottom heart-framed picture is a frame my friend Brandyn bought me in Orlando, and the picture is of my mother and me ... years ago. Okay maybe only three years.

Anyway, the top right is a doll my mom got me for I think Valentine's Day when my husband and I lived in Memphis. The middle is a pocket book, and inside that is a matching wallet. And the last frame is a magazine cutout with a quote from Lucille Ball.

I have many other Lucy memorabilia around the house as well. Tote bags, books... and Lucy has also inspired many other things that I own, such as my polka-dotted aprons, and my polka-dotted wallet.

Anyway, that's what I collect! Go over to Kelly's blog and share what you collect, too!

We Love the Animals

Particularly these five.

Really, if you haven't checked out Apologetics Press' Creation Cards, you should! It's a great way to incorporate God and His creation into your baby's day! And they're just $8! Benjamin loves them because he can look at them and hold them as well.

This isn't a paid advertisement or anything. I've talked about these earlier this week. I really think these are great cards!

Also, I believe this is my 300th post! Woop!

And one more thing. I am finally happy with my blog design. What do you think? I'm a minimalist, and the other design was just too busy for me. This is simple enough for my liking!

Bedtime

I love bedtime in our house, both that of Benjamin's and my own. It isn't because I just can't wait to get Benjamin off to sleep {though that sometimes is a perk... we all know we mommies need a break!}. Bedtime is usually very fun and happy. I love when Benjamin lays down with a smile on his {pacified} face. It is very heartwarming to know he is going to bed happy.

Tonight I took pictures of bedtime with Benjamin. First, Benjamin splashed around in the bathtub.






Then he got dressed on Mommy and Daddy's bed.


{And that is a double-stuffed BumGenius diaper, in case any of you CD mommies are wondering. We put a regular insert with a flatfold on top of that in there for nighttime diapers.}

And then...



Benjamin and Daddy played for just a moment more.



And then Daddy helped Benjamin brush his teeth.



After exchanging some kisses, and cuddling up close with his Eyore while snuggling under his Winnie the Pooh blanket, Benjamin was down for the night.

And I can't wait to see his smiling face in the morning.

A Clean Slate

Even though yesterday started out as a Blah kind of day, it turned out pretty good! We went to IHOP to take part in National Pancake Day. Hubby and I got free short stacks plus loaded country potatoes. Oh man, Yum! Benjamin chewed on a straw and looked at his creation flash cards while he waited for his grilled cheese. He ate the whole sandwich and then some french fries!


Chewing on a straw...


Yummm.


Oh yeah, yum!

After that we went to Walmart and bought a bunch of things for our dinner party later this week, plus some weed killer because I am going to be working out in the flower beds, finally! I have some amaryllis bulbs I need to plant! After Walmart, we went to Chris and Kayla's and watched LOST and it was awesome.

_______________

Today, though.

Today was awesome.

And I really didn't have anything to do with it, but here's why it was so awesome. Our kitchen went from this:


Say it with me, everyone: "EEWWWWWWWWWW!"

to this:



Seriously! Doesn't it look brand new?! I love it, I LOVE it, I LOVE IT! And Benjamin has already broken it in with a little puke (apple juice seems to make him puke). But no matter! Not hard to clean up! It's like a fresh start - a clean slate! Oh man. Did I mention that I love it? Because I do. I love it!

Oh, and this article makes me want to rethink my issue with my lovehandles... ... not!

Excited on a Blah Day!

I don't know if it is just the weather or the fact that I just feel super groggy, but so far today has been a sort of blah day. Hubby just got home from being away all morning. And Benjamin had a sort of grumpy morning as well. It's just one of those days, I guess. He's napping now. I'm taking a breather.

Yesterday we received the Goat Milk Soap we had ordered late last week. Benjamin has eczema really bad {especially in the winter} and I have tried so many different things. Lotion, cortizone cream, steroid cream, Aveeno bath, hypoallergenic bath... I finally gave up on all of that and researched Goat milk soap. I saw some testimonials on the website that said it got rid of their infants' bad eczema within a week of using. Last night we bathed Benjamin with it and this morning it doesn't look nearly as bad as it usually does! Hooray!


That's the sweet bag it came in.


And there's the soap itself. It will hopefully last us a while.

They also sent a few samples so I used one of the little samples on some of my dry spots as well. We got Benjamin the Purity bar because it didn't have any fragrance in it. I used the Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey sample. Fantastic!

Tonight we are going to IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day with a free stack of pancakes! I am so excited. We have been planning on this for some time now and it is finally here! Is it sad I'm getting so excited over this? IHOP is one of my favorite places to eat. We celebrated NPD with IHOP last year, too, and I think it was the first restaurant we took Benjamin out too. He would have been just over a month old! Is anyone else going out for some free pancakes?

After that, we are going to Chris and Kayla's for LOST night. Excited! Very!

Oh, and my last bit of excitement for the moment... can you guess? Here's a hint!



This happens tomorrow! Can you guess what I'm totally pumped about?!

Sticks and Cones

Pine cones, that is...


Last Saturday,

Benjamin found some

pinecones.

They were kind of big

So Benjamin decided

that he only needed one.

And then he decided

to lick it.

Pinecones

are not all that they

are cracked up to be.

Moving on...


Benjamin would like to know

if you have ever

licked a stick?

If you have not...

Benjamin highly recommends it.

But if Mommy takes you to a bathroom afterward,

It's not for a drink of water.

Just so you know.