What's Happening at Our House...

So for the past few days, we've been a little busy. Ivy Kate has gotten walking down pretty good. And I have been chasing her everywhere. She is driving Wilson NUTS! Here are few pics:I love this one...it looks like she is concentrating really hard!We are still hunting Easter eggs!

This face reminds me of a Gremlin!

Happy Easter!

Caught her being still for one second!
She is getting three to four new teeth on the top, so she is trying to show you! :)
Trying to get her with the basket was hard to do!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter too!

Big Spoon

I bought a big fork and spoon to hang in our kitchen for decoration. John picked it up and put one of Ivy Kate's puffs on it to see if she would open her mouth. Poor baby!

10 Months Old, Snow, Birthday Party and Steps

Ivy Kate turned 10 months old on Friday and got to see her first sighting of snow. On Saturday, we went to our cousin Reece's 4th birthday party. Ivy Kate and John had a great time on all the inflatables.

Yesterday was a very eventful day at our house. Ivy Kate has been being brave and taking steps. At lunch yesterday, she hit her mouth on the coffee table. At first, I thought she was okay, but then I saw blood. She had hit her gums. After I got her settled down, she was okay. Luckily, John was already coming home for lunch because I was just as upset as she was. Last night, she was walking to John and took 7 steps! (Wilson is not liking that she is beginning to walk!)

Funny Daddy Story

So last night, I asked John if he minded if I ran to the grocery while he gave Ivy Kate her bath and bottle. After a run down of instructions, he assured me he could do it. (He has given her a bath before!)

Anyways, as we are unpacking the groceries, John begins to tell me his bath tale. He fixed the water and proceeded to put her in. And she pooped in the bathtub! I know that is not that strange, but being almost 10 months old, she has never done it before. So he had to drain and clean the tub and start all over. Luckily, I missed the whole adventure because when I got home she was already fast asleep.

I bet next time he volunteers to go to the store! I thought it was hilarious!

Ivy Kate's First Girl Scout Cookie

I gave Ivy Kate her first Girl Scout cookie...it was a Lemonade. She was making a terrible mess, so about halfway through I took it away from her, but she threw a fit, so I had to give it back!Definite clothes change when she was finished!

9 Month Dr. Appt.

We had our 9 month doctor's appointment last week. While waiting on the doctor, Ivy Kate decided she would try her teeth out on Mama's arm. I had two little teeth marks on there for a couple of hours!

Her stats are:

Weight: 17 pounds, 12 ounces

Height: 27 inches

This picture is of her favorite new food...Fruit Loops! She loves them! Wilson waits on the floor for any that fall!

Busy

I was trying to get some new pics for the blog, but it is hard to get her to be still for a second. I got one of her looking at the camera...the rest are of her on the move!

The other night after her bath, I stood her up on the floor and she stood there and started clapping for about thirty seconds! I am not ready for her to start walking, but I know it is coming!

The Things You Do for Your Children...

Okay, this story starts when we found out we were moving. I looked around for day schools in the area and called and put our name on a list last September/October. I thought I was ahead of the game. One day in January, I had John go by the school to see where we were on the list and was told that registration was last Tuesday. I knew through the grapevine that for registration you needed to be there early. It started at 7 a.m., so I assumed that being there at 3 a.m. I would be good.

The week before registration, I found out there was only ONE spot in her classroom, so I needed to be there first. I thought this sounded like a challenge, so I wanted to be there first.

On Monday, I met John at his work and I wanted to run by the school, so I could see in the daylight where I was suppose to wait in line the next morning. As we pulled up, I noticed some people sitting outside in chairs. I thought it was a fluke, so we drove off on our way to Lowe's and to get something to eat. As we were leaving, I told John to pull back up because curiosity had me and I had to know why they were sitting there.

Low and behold, they were sitting there for registration the next morning. It was 5:30 in the afternoon! I began to freak! As I talked with them, I realized someone in front of me had already taken the last spot. I thought I was going to cry, so I went to the car to tell John the news.

We made a quick decision that he would get out and stand in line, so we would be first on the waiting list. He had no chair, no food, but luckily, he had a jacket. I quickly scrambled and got him a chair and some food and fed the baby. He sat from 5:30 until 10 p.m. and I changed spots with him and sat until 7 a.m.

Fast forward many hours, a few cold toes, and no sleep later...registration begins. At this point, I think I am crazy for sitting all night to not even have a spot. I was number 6 in line. As I approach the table and tell them the age group, there is miracle...there is ONE spot left!

We were so excited! She will be starting in June! I am not sure how I am going to do after being home with her for a year, but I am sure she will make lots of friends!

There is a moral to this story...prayer works. We've been praying about this since we found out we were moving. Before moving, we had just made it to the top of the list in Gulfport. We're thankful! And yes, we are crazy! I've never waited in line for anything like this before!

Quick Look Back

Sorry, Heather, that I do not update quickly enough for you! :) I am going to back track to catch you up! Ivy Kate as a lobster!
Wilson as a lobster! Doesn't he look happy!
Ivy Kate's first rocking horse on Christmas morning!
The fam at the Liberty Bowl!
Before the Liberty Bowl! Notice her grip on her cowbell! :)

We're Back...

Well, to my two or three blog readers, we have not fallen off the planet! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas! Holidays are much more fun with a lil' one!

Ivy Kate has gotten so big! She has been crawling since November and has been pulling up for a while now (I know I am a bad mother since I don't know when)! So needless to say, she is everywhere!



We got to see so many of our family and friends over the holidays!



The newest development in our lives is that we have finally closed on a house and are now painting and doing, so hopefully we will be in soon!



This picture of Ivy Kate is the newest one I have...still looks like her daddy! Hope everyone has a good week!

6 Month Doctor's Visit

Sorry it has been SO long. We've been super busy and Ivy Kate is keeping us super busy...going everywhere now!

She is army crawling and getting where she wants to go. It is driving me crazy because I like for her to stay on her blanket.

We went to the doctor yesterday and everything went fine, expect for the shots part! She is getting so big! The doctor said we can start trying with a sippy cup. John doesn't think this is going to work because she won't even hold her own bottle! :)

Her stats:

15 pounds 4 ounces

26 inches long

I have our pictures from Halloween that I will try to post soon! Ivy Kate and Wilson were both LOBSTERS! Ivy Kate tried to eat her costume and Wilson hated his!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Pumpkin Patch on the Beach

On Saturday, the Benjamin clan, plus JuJu, ventured out to a pumpkin patch on the beach. I kid you not! It was an ironic experience. We took a picture with the beach in the background, so people would believe us.

It was hot and the sun was bright, so it was difficult trying to get Ivy Kate to look up for pictures.

There was also a sign warning of fire ants and stickers, so we were very careful before sitting her down for pictures.

I am sure Ivy Kate will look back on her first trip to the pumpkin patch for years to come! :)

My Two Loves

Last night when John got home from work, he was playing with Ivy Kate and she was squealing with laughter. It was priceless!

I realized how lucky I am to have a great husband and daughter.

Lord, thank you for blessing me with such a sweet family!

Hurry up Thanksgiving...

because I love me some sweet potatoes!

Happy Birthday to Wilson!

Today is Wilson's 3rd birthday (or 21st birthday)! I don't think he is going out partying tonight though! :)

Wilson is on a mini-vacation at my parents' house while we are trying to sell the house. It has not been the same around here without him.

Wilson, we miss you and hope you have a great birthday!

Love- Mama, Daddy, and Ivy Kate

(This picture is from when we first got him! Look how little!)

Where is Ivy Kate?

Last week, I laid a blanket down for Ivy Kate to play on while I took a shower. When I got out of the shower, she was not on her blanket...she had rolled under our bed. She was not crying, but was not to sure about being under the bed and she could not get out! The last picture of her smiling is when I rescued her!

So Much to Do/Say...So Little Time

We've been busy as bees in the last couple of weeks.

Big news (and kinda old news) is we're moving to Tupelo. We're very excited! We're trying to sell our house and keep it squeaky clean without baby stuff everywhere...hard to do!

John's parents came this weekend to help us get the house ready and we are so thankful. There is no way we could have gotten everything together without them!

Ivy Kate had her second haircut last week by her Gran/ JuJu! Her hair just keeps growing in all directions!

My parents celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary this past Saturday! Happy Anniversary to them!

Ivy Kate is doing great and growing like a weed! She will be five months old on Sunday...even harder to believe!

Here are some new pictures:

I love my new do, Gran/JuJu! Thank you for my new bows!

Daddy, come here...I know you want a kiss!

This cereal tastes better with my thumb!

First Cereal Experience

When we got home from our trip to Starkville to see the Dawgs play, we gave Ivy Kate her first taste of rice cereal. She didn't seem to sure. After the cereal experience, it was straight to the bath!

"They said cereal...I was hoping for Fruit Loops!"

Birth Announcement

I've been meaning to post this, but just now got around to scanning it in. This is Ivy Kate's birth announcement.

My aunt and uncle have a photography business, Blending Memories. They took her pictures and created the announcement. They take all kinds of pictures and make birth announcements, birthday invitations, etc.

If you are interested in their work, contact them at blendingmemories@gmail.com! They do a great job!

Things I love...

Thanks, Heather, for tagging me! Here it goes:

1. Family- I am so thankful for my sweet husband for putting up with me! (I know it is a hard job!) I love our beautiful daughter, who smiles at me every morning when I get her out of bed and smiles until I put her to bed at night. I am thankful for my whole family: parents, brother, in laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They all mean so much to both me! I love them all!

2. Friends- I love all of my friends! I am very blessed to have all of them in my life!

3. Wilson- I love our Yorkie, Wilson. He was our first baby and is having a little bit of difficulty with being the big brother, but he is getting better by the day.

4. Babies- Not only do I love my baby, but I love all babies. I love the babies I see in Wal-Mart! Before we had Ivy Kate, I would just talk to all the babies in the stores we were in and John would tell me to stop. After having Ivy Kate, I have quit this habit because I now know how it feels to have crazy people talking and making baby faces at YOUR baby.

5. Coca-Cola- I love Coca-Cola Classic! I quit this habit while pregnant, but have since started back to one or two a day.

6. Reality TV- I am a reality TV guru! Some of my favorites are: The Hills, LA Ink, Little People, Big World, etc.

7. Chick-fil-A- I love everything about it! I make John go at least once a week!

8. Pictures- I have always loved pictures, but after having a baby...I am addicted. I take pictures all day long.

9. Cooking Out- Although I do not do the cooking, I love anything grilled! I love having people over to cook out too! Thankfully, John is a great cook!

10. Football season- I love football season. I love how excited John gets...he wakes up at the crack of dawn and puts Wilson's jersey on telling him it is Game Day! I love tailgating and getting to see friends and family! The one thing I do not like about football season...is having to watch ESPN all weekend long!

Shots and Smiles

We went to Ivy Kate's 4 month check-up this morning. She did great and I did a little better with the second set of shots. John was able to go with us again...what a relief!

I took this picture when we got home, so the shots weren't that bad! (Ivy Kate is probably saying, "Speak for yourself!")

4 Month Stats:

Weight: 12 pounds 3 ounces

Height: 24 inches

Go Dawgs Go!

Ivy Kate went to her first football game yesterday and we WON! Yea! We had a great time! She decided that is how you do football...in the air conditioning!

The pic of the fam is after the game. We had all been drooled on and it was about an hour past her bedtime, but we didn't care because our Dawgs won!

Happy Birthday, JuJu!

Dearest JuJu-

I just wanted to let you know that I knew today was your birthday and not tomorrow. My Mama is just crazy! She is always a day late!

You are the greatest JuJu! Thanks for always surprising me with cute outfits, changing my diapers, and getting up with me before my Mama gets out of bed! You're the best!

You know how they keep saying I am trying to talk, well this morning I was trying to tell her today is the 6th and not the 5th, but she just didn't get it.

Oh, well! See you tomorrow! Gotta go, watch Baby Einstein...my favorite...NOT!

Love you-

Ivy Kate

P.S. My bikini onesie is finally filled out since I am fatting up!

One Year Later

On September 4, 2006, we found out I was pregnant. We were so excited! And also a little nervous!

I never could have imagined how our lives would change once our little angel arrived. She is growing so much and changing every day.

I can't believe she will be four months old on Friday!

We are so thankful that the Lord chose us to be the parents of such a special little girl!

What an exciting and memorable year!