Handy Manny at it again!

We have been wanting to spruce up our playroom upstairs for a while now. We don't go up there all that much, but we would like to start using it more. It's just hard because it's the only room upstairs and so when you're up there that's all there is to do. I think it will get more use as the kids get older. Ryan decided to take on a project today and build a window seat up there. It's the perfect little place for one and I am going to use the storage underneath for wrapping paper and stuff like that. Random, I know, but I have been needing a storage place for all of that type stuff and this is just the spot! Below are pics of the buidling process!

All finished! And yes, that is Ben laying on the floor right there. He looks tiny like he could be one of Addyson's dolls on the floor!

Now I'll need a cushion made (Hi Cheryl!! :)) and some little curtains for the windows. I am going to look for some pillows to put up there as well and we'll be done with that little area! I have a few more projects for Ryan for up there but today we checked this one off the list!

Happy first Birthday Clayton!

Saturday was Clayton's first birthday party. Jennifer and Nick did a great job and everything was so cute!! They had a bounce house, which Addyson loved, bubbles, and a pinata. The kids had a great time! Here's the cake! It was yummy!

Jennifer and the birthday boy!
Addyson giving Clayton a hug when we got to the party

This was at our house before we left. I was trying to get a cute pic of the kiddos and I had Addyson hold Ben. He was crying (I wonder why- she doesn't quite hold him right!) and she was trying to make him stop/laugh by making faces at him. Ha! Wasn't quite working! He didn't think it was too funny!

My sweet little girl! She got nailed in the eye by Brooks in the swing on Saturday morning. Brooks weighs about 50 pounds and the swing hit her full force right in the face and threw her back about 2 feet in the air. I was right there (pushing Brooks in the swing) and saw the whole thing and freaked out. She is tough though and only cried for a little while and then she was back at it. I thought it would for sure be a black eye, but it looked about the same today.

I was feeding Ben while Clayton dug into his cake so I don't have any pictures of that event! He did a great job and I'm sure Jennifer will post lots of cute pics of that! We had a great time and can't believe he is already one!

Ben's first golf tournament!

We had a pretty busy weekend! On Friday Ryan played in a golf tournament benefiting our friend Justin Ruffenach's dad. He had a great time! Ben and I went out to the tournament in the afternoon and only stayed for a little while because it was pretty windy. Here are a few pics:

This was a few days ago- thought it was a cute pic!

Ben all dressed for the golf course!

Jennifer and Liz

3 weeks old!

My how time flies! Ben was 3 weeks old last Thursday and he is still being a little sweetie! He has his moments here and there (mostly at 4 am!), but overall he is still a great baby and we are just so in love with him! I started swaddling him last week and he loves it! He looks like a little burrito all bundled up! I weighed him yesterday (by holding him on the scale and then without him- so not official, but close!) and I think he is between 10 and 10 1/2 pounds. Pretty good for 3 weeks old! We have been getting out daily and I would definitely say that baby #2 is a lot easier! This week I met up with some friends for a play date at Nicole's house (no pics!) and I also met Chelsea and her mom for lunch one day. Speaking of Chelsea, I cannot stop smiling at the great news they found out this week. Her husband, Nick, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in November and they just found out this week that he is cancer free. Chelsea and Nick's story is so inspiring and I love both of them so much! Here's a pic from lunch:

Here are some pics of the little burrito! He sleeps in this newborn sleeper/rocker that Grams got us- it is great! He loves it!

2 weeks old!

Mr. Ben is 2 weeks toold today! We went to see Dr. Sampson today and she said he looked really good! He has gained 1 lb and 2 oz over the last 10 days (his last appt. he was 8 lbs 6 oz), so that brings him up to 9 lbs 8 oz and 21 1/4 inches. I think when you breastfeed you always wonder if your baby is getting enough food, and I would say that Ben definitely is! He is still being super sweet! Ben is holding his head up really well and he has the cutest little features! My mom took this week off and we have been having a good time running around with him and just hanging out! I have some more pics on her camera but I couldn't get them to download on my computer, so I'll have to get them another way. Here are a few I took over the past few days!

This and That

Things are going really well with little Ben! He is being SUCH a sweet little baby and we are so thankful that he doesn't seem to have the problems that Addyson had at first (milk allergy). He is the cutest, sweetest little thing and I am so in love with my little man!

My c-section recovery is another story. I have been going in to get the incision checked because in the hospital I had a slight infection. Well, it doesn't seem to be infected anymore, but it's not 100% better. It keeps draining "stuff" (sorry if this is TMI... might want to stop reading if so!). I went back in today and it seems that there is a little opening in the middle of my incision and a pocket has formed under the skin. This fills up with fluid and then leaks out. Lovely I know. So today she stuck a sterile Q-tip looking thing in my incision and put peroxide in there and said I needed to have Ryan do this 3 times a day for a week. I had to bring him back up to the Dr. office so she could show him what to do. It doesn't really hurt all that bad, it's just more the thought of what he is doing and it feels a little weird and uncomfortable. I have to go back in a week to get it checked again. Fun times!

Addyson is being pretty good with the whole transition, but she has been testing her limits a little. She has been a little mouthy lately and saying "No" and "Poo" a lot.... Any time she doesn't like something or doesn't like an answer you give her she'll say "Poo" really loud and give a little look. This doesn't last long with Ryan. Tonight she was sent to bed early with no TV, no play time in the bath tub, no games, etc. I am a little more of a softie, but I do know that we can't let her get away with her acting out. It hasn't been anything terrible and she definitely loves her little brother, so that 's good!

One last lovely moment today. I got a call at about 4:00 from our alarm company saying our alarm was going off. I knew Ryan had just left the house to go pick up Addyson and I was at my mom's house so no one was home. They said it was the master bedroom door and this has blown open before if it isn't locked. Well, turns out that is what happened (door blew open) but the icing on the cake is that our 2 lovely dogs were outside and were covered in mud from the rain and when the door opened they of course ran inside and got mud all over the ENTIRE house. Ryan and I both are pretty much over the dogs and this did not help their case. We just don't have time for them (as awful as that sounds) and I feel really bad about that. It took a while to mop, vacuum, give the dogs baths, etc. on top of getting Addyson to bed, Ben fed, dishes done, etc. Having two big dogs is a lot with 2 kids. Any takers??? :)

Pictures!!!

I'm finally getting around to posting pics! Here they are!

Me getting wheeled upstairs to a delivery room! 12:00 AM Thursday

Ryan all ready to go!

Benjamin Ryan is here! 1:27 AM via C-section
Me and my precious baby boy!

Addyson meeting her brother for the first time! She was up at the hospital in the middle of the night with us- we really wanted her to be there and she was so super excited! I had even put her in her "Big Sister" jammies that night thinking I might go into labor!

Proud Big Sister!

Ben weighed 8 lbs 11 oz at 37 weeks 6 days. 20" long

He is so sweet- we love him so much!

Kiley and Ben

Grams and Ben- this is Gram's 8th great grandbaby! She is such a trooper too-she was up at the hospital when he was born! We love you Grams!

Nana with her 5th grandbaby!

MiMi with her 3rd grandbaby! First boy though.... :)

Aunt Brittany! She was also there when he was born!

Last pic as a family of three! This was before I had him- Addyson was so excited!

Addyson and her brother- she's been great with him so far!

We had surprises waiting for her when Ben arrived. Since she is so into princess dresses, we had a sleeping beauty dress waiting for her from Ben. Here she is waiting for it....

In the dress! Not a great pic, but it's all I had!

First family pic! I'm looking a little rough, but oh well!

LeeAnn and Ben

Hallie holding BenPops and Ben

Rusty was in town and he came up to see BenKiley found a "Belle" dress for Addyson. It is so pretty! Good job Buggy!

Uncle Dusty being silly! Addyson thought this was so funny!

Jennifer and Nick coming to visit

Chelsea coming to visit!

One last pic of Addyson and Ben!

Kim and Marcy came up to the hospital as well- sorry I didn't get a picture of them! I was doing so good!! Ben is being SUCH a good baby so far and we are so thankful and happy about that! He just eats and sleeps and he is the sweetest little thing ever! I am feeling good. My C-section incision got a little infected, but not too bad. I have been going in to get it checked every couple of days. I got out today and got a pedi and that was nice to get out! All in all, things are going great and we are beyond blessed with our sweet little boy!