bubby's birthday

Okay, enough with how amazingly adorable my little man is and let us get to the details. 

The party.

Every mom does this, I know!  We stress about wanting every aspect and every detail perfect for our little perfect children.  This was no different. 

I never felt as stressed as I did with Madison {I mean, I had been through a first birthday and gave up the preconceived notion that every minute was going to go exactly as I had planned}.  With Madison, I felt the more I willed something, then that would come to life {HAHA}.  This time around, I lived and learned.

I would let what was going to be, just be.

The test began the morning we were setting up.

Ben had arrived early to reserve the pavilion with table clothes and his perfectly penmanship sign, "1st Birthday Party, 11:00, 9/28."  I mean, wouldn't you feel terrible ruining a child's first birthday?  The sign worked and we began setting up all the décor and arranging the food at 10:00.  As Ben was going back and forth between the pavilion and our house, the wind started blowing.  The table clothes were coming up, my beautiful "Happy 1st Birthday" banner and cute blue pom poms were being tossed.  I was feeling my heart beat faster and faster and faster. 

Then the sprinkles came.

I must breath, I should not stress, what will be will be.....But a few extra prayers may not hurt.

The Lord heard my call for peace and by 11:00 the wind turned into a relieving breeze, the sun was shining and all the kids were having fun on the play ground.  A long sigh of relief and a few thankful prayers were said.

We started with some delicious chicken sandwiches and all things "golf."  Wedge, slice, club, chip shot, all have golfing connotations.

The favors were a Bubble Guppy coloring book, twistable crayons, a mini fruit loop and a slinky.  The banner across the barbeque said "Happy 1st Birthday."  Shout out to my mom for designing all the amazing banners and food name plates.  She truly brought to life what I was not so good at explaining.  Thanks Mom!

Mary {thank you!} made cute cheese and peanut butter sandwiches cut out to look like a golf ball for the kids.

The kids had a community table.  The rule was, no one eat off their own plate, and instead lick an item of food and pass that to your left.

On to a few presents.

And then of course the delicious and very anticipated cake smashing.  Carson never took a bite of the cake.  NEVER!  I could not believe my sweet tooth baby would not even try a small crumb.  A few chunks of frosting slipped in but most of the time he just enjoyed playing in the slipperiness.

The rest of the kids ate their chocolate brownie parfaits too.  Carson instead found this much more enjoyable {maybe because I wanted him to eat the cake he chose just the opposite}.

I quickly realized this was the BEST party to date.  I was able to enjoy each moment {a huge thanks to my husband on that, he took control of the camera and video camera. And also all the clean up was done by the time I realized nap time was looming.  Such an amazing man!  Thanks my honey!}

Watching Carson grow, walk and conquer these mile stones astounds me.  I remember the moment I held him.  I thought to myself, I know this will go fast but right now I can not imagine you even smiling, intentionally, at me.  And look, 1 year later I feel the same.  How are you walking to me and how are you shoveling chocolate brownie in your mouth?!?!

Moments.  These moments are our memories.  And this party was memorable!

happy birthday handsome man

Happy Birthday sweet boy.

Just even typing this has caused a faucet of tears to stream down my face.

We have been blessed with this beautiful, sweet boy in our lives.  I feel forever grateful that God chose us, the imperfect parents, to raise two of the most adorable babies.

Carson Benjamin makes me laugh on a daily basis.  He is completely okay with being ran over, stepped on and pushed around by his bigger sister, even laughing while she is giving him an abdominal Heimlich. 

Eating is his favorite part of the day. Enjoying almost anything.  His favorites are eggs, turkey sausage and ANY fruit, especially watermelon and oranges.  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with a few snacks remain the routine and do not even try to forget that afternoon snack, everyone will know!  We tried to start him on whole milk but was unsuccessful.  The poor buddy had the worst diaper rash from all his watery poops.  Right now he tolerates a mix of half whole milk and half formula, and still working our way up.  We hope to talk with the doctor about this at his 1 year appointment.

Carson loves snuggling with any blanket on the ground.  He crawls as fast as he can, lays his head on the blanket and smiles.  The cutest thing.  Even when he sees Ben or I, he will do the same thing, only laying his head on our feet, like "okay, I am here, you are allowed to hold me now." 

Temper tantrums unfortunately have also started.  When he gets frustrated or his feelings get hurt {such as closing any door leading outside without him being able to go outside} he throws his head back and rolls around the floor, all while crying/screaming.  If Madison is not the guilty party {which she usually has something to do it, pushing, taking toys, hurting him accidentally} she will sing to him or give him the toy she is playing with.  The sweetness melts my heart.  She often runs to me, "Mommy, Carson crying" {as if the piercing sound was not enough}. 

Playing in sister's room is a favorite of them both.  Many times they will both go in her room and play for over an hour.  Carson is crawling up onto her bed and then falls off head first, loving every minute while Madison is playing in the corner with her babies.  Although the actual playing together {toys are too often stolen, from both sides} has started to increase more and more.  Today, I was tucking Madison in for nap time and you had a complete melt down leaving her room.  I know you wanted to hop into that bed with her and cuddle with the blankets.  You two light up our lives.

Walking has begun!  Every day the progression continues.  Right before your birthday you felt the need to complete the last major baby step and now, you are getting more independent.

To my sweet boy,

You are my heart.  You are the reason I smile a little bigger.  You are my little man.

Mommy and Daddy love you.

life at the beach

The sun is hot here, super, 'I can't even open my eyes due to the intensity', hot.  Most of our summer {and what I used to consider "Fall"} has been associated with some sort of water activity.  Even the beach is hot and the "cold" ocean water is not cold, I would call it luke warm {aka not that relieving to the hot sun}.  With all that considered we have not been to the beach that much.  Carson is still little {well I can still call him "little" in the baby sense but maybe not so much in the weight category}. He gets hot quick and enjoys eating the sand WAY too much.

Our last venture only lasted a couple of hours but honestly, the amount of time was perfect.  Carson slept on the way up there and both of them slept on the way home.  Just the right amount of time.

Carson is FEARLESS!  Every day he amazes me.  Either he is trying to go head first in the vast body of water or climbing off a large folding chair, head first.  He knows no boundaries and pushes and pushes until someone {himself} gets hurt.  On this occasion he decided he knew how to swim.  Constantly, he would crawl as fast as he could straight into the waves and guess what happened, he would be plummeted with water.  He would cry for about 30 seconds and do the same thing over again.  Quite frankly I was exhausted after this go around. 

Madison understands her limits and has such a great time.  Running away from the waves is her very favorite.  Up and down and back and forth she ran for the entire 3 hours.  She would laugh at Carson getting drowned {yes, I was present so maybe not entirely drowned, she may have laughed harder, sisterly love}.

When we move away from the ocean {someday} I think I will miss the fun of watching the children but honestly, vacations are just enough of the sand in everything and the sun's heat radiating. 

Here he goes {for the umpteenth time}

And this happens, every time

Trying to recover

Being mad at the ocean for doing that!

the last few pictures from rapid city

 

Please look at the photobook below.  I feel like there are just no words for all the special moments we had during that vacation!

 



Cousin Summer Time Fun

Click here to view this photo book larger

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minnesota visit

Our trip to Rapid City was a great one.  A trip filled with too many laughs to count and endless conversations about how blessed we are.  As the young kids say nowadays, "It was EPIC!"

We arrived Saturday and began all the fun on the same day.  Before leaving for Minnesota we had a blast at the Nash Finch Company picnic at the Ranch Amusement Park.  Madison loved all the rides, especially the little pink.

Aunt Keila drove like a crazy woman while Madison held on tight.  Every time she finished, M would say, "One More Time?"

Carson enjoyed some grandpa time.  Most of the time you could find the two hanging out in a grassy area while Carson grunted for more water.

The next day we were off to Minnesota, about a 7 hour drive.

To allow the kids and adults to have a break we stopped half way in Chamberlain, SD.  As many times as I have gone over this river, I have never stopped to enjoy the sites.  Luckily the kids forced that break and we had a great time running around and getting our "sillies out."

Can you tell how much fun we are having?!?!

The river, the bridge and a great looking family.

This is usually how pictures go

 

Sister, myself and a little creeper on the ground

 

The reason for our visit to Minnesota was to see my Grandpa Schoenenberger.  Unfortunately after a long fight with cancer he was recently diagnosed with Leukemia.  We feel blessed to be able to see him again and he was able to meet Carson.  We love you grandpa and pray for you every night.

We stopped by Great Grandma Benson's house too.

Four Generations

Across the street was a nice school playground that Madison could not get enough of.

I think he fits perfect

Great Grandma Schoenenberger

Our last day and good byes.  Never easy.