Wagon Rides, Hair Twirling and Gerber Daisies

With the great weather we've been having lately, we've been taking Ivy Kate on lots of wagon rides. She got the wagon for Christmas and absolutely loves it!

Besides sucking her thumb when she is tired, she now started twirling her hair!

I bought some Gerber Daisies...my favorite! I have been watering them and hoping I don't kill them! I don't have a green thumb! Hopefully, they will make it!

Christmas Pajamas in April...almost May

Please excuse the mismatched bow and crazy hair...this is what our angel looks like in the morning! She wore her Christmas pajamas for the first time since Christmas Eve! I guess I need to be doing laundry! :)

Swim Class

Going in!
Singing songs! Daddy was good at it! :)Getting ready to jump in!
Here I go...look at Daddy's face coaching me!

We just got finished with four nights of swim class. Ivy Kate enjoyed every minute of it and was worn out by the time we left. She usually goes to bed at 7 o'clock and the class did not end until 7:15, so by the time we got home, got a bath and went to bed...she was out!

IK's Favorite New Toy

Ivy Kate loves playing with Wilson's leash! It is her favorite thing by far! She also likes taking him outside. If you take Wilson out without her, she gets upset! She was also trying to get the Cokes out of the Coke box...she must be her Mama's girl!

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!