Moving...

is definitely not the fun part of this adventure we are on....but it's definitely better in May rather than December! (Not that I did any of the heavy lifting or moving stuff in the snow and freezing temperatures....:) I have learned so much more now than ever before that things are just things and the more you have...the more you have to move!! So needless to say we are downsizing again hoping to sell our Yukon (again) and our washer and dryer (know anyone who needs front loaders?? They're real nice!!!....) And I am going through my stuff again and again trying to just get rid of stuff. My internal "I need that or I think I'm going to need that" radar keeps going off when I look at stuff (shoes are big problem for me) and then I end up keeping it just "a little bit longer"....I need someone like that cleaning show to come over and make me separate it all into piles entitled "keep", "give away", "sell", or "throw away" in 30 minutes or something crazy that they do on the show. That would be helpful. :) I guess I could do that myself but then that would be very "overachiever-ish" of me and I'm just not into making myself look that good at this point in my life ;-)....okay onto the important stuff of this week since we are so busy moving .....

1. Benjamin is pulling up to standing, eating food off of my plate (that makes him sound like a little piggy doesn't it!! I am actually "giving" him food off of my plate :) ie; bits of chicken, rice, veggies, fruit, etc. etc....little tastes of yogurt etc...and to no one's surprise he likes it all!! and isn't allergic to anything so far - thank You Lord :)....I actually prayed that he wouldn't have allergies to any food etc...b/c I know how hard it is for parents and kids alike)....

2. Benjamin stood up at his toy today and let go STANDING by himself for like um...10 seconds before he sat down with a "thump"!!! He is also "cruising" around the coffee table and going from coffee table to couch (letting go of one, grabbing the other while taking a couple of steps to the other etc.)

3. Benjamin signed "more" like 9 times yesterday during lunch!!! :) I don't remember Caleb signing back until 10 mths?? He sure is trying to catch up to Caleb!! I need to look that up...I would if I had the baby books here...

4. Caleb can count to 10 for sure (has been able to verbally for a while but he just did it counting objects tonight!)...he also knows "t" for tractor, "C" for Caleb, "B" for Benjamin, "R" for Ryan and Rosie, "P" for papa, and some others...he sees letters all over the place and shouts out "LOOK MOM!!! T FOR TRACTOR!!!"..it's hilarious! Until he's in the children's section of the library and is shouting all over the place and I'm like "SHHHHH, we're in the library!!!" :)

5. Hmm...my brains kinda fried right now from all this moving craziness going on so I think I'll sign off. It's getting to be a long post anyhow. If I think of anymore I'll post again. Oh yes, (thought I was done huh!!!) Caleb likes to skip rocks on the river with Ryan...Ryan got 5 skips today and Caleb got all singles as he just pretty much lobs them up in the air and watches them PLOP in the water :) And LOVES every second of "skipping rocks with Papa"....:)

oh yes, the picture above is from my cousin's son's first birthday party this past weekend. Thank you Ann and Eric we had a great time and Happy Birthday little M!!!