SEVEN months?

I know that I really haven't posted in a long time when Doug (he reads the blog? Who knew.) said to me in the middle of the day, "you haven't done a blog post...just in case you're bored." To which I responded with a bored? hah! here's my long to-do list. I've thankfully completed that list, but you know how lists are, they just keep multiplying. So basically what I'm saying is I don't know how anyone blogs anymore. Especially with a broken dishwasher.

I would love to tell you about our delightfully long vacation to NY. Essentially, Benjamin was adorable, got sick and developed some naughty night-time habits (fortunately he's back on track now!), learned that wrapping paper is really fun to play with, was loved on by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and went sledding! Did I miss anything? It's hard to remember without pictures and it's hard to take pictures when you leave your camera in NC... So much for adorable first Christmas pictures.

I can't get enough of him! 

• Ben is loving real food. Absolutely loving it. He coos and hmmms while eating or when he sees it coming. I gave him a taste of ice cream last night... he loved it, of course. Other than that we feed him healthy food, I promise! I think his favorite foods are grains, no seriously, this kid loves his carbs. If he doesn't like a food (ahem-carrots!), I mix in some barley or rice and he's game. Or I'll top off a meal with some cereal and he's the happiest kid on earth.
• His preferred toys are that triangle toy pictured above, baby spoons, and pacifiers. Go figure.
• Ben's new name is Kicking Legs. He kicks his legs when he's excited (happy or upset). i.e.: I sat him down next to Elsie Wilson and he couldn't stay upright for his excited kicking legs! He'd fall over every time we tried to sit him back up. Apparently she's the cutest girl around :).
• We have a pterodactyl in the house. Hopefully this phase doesn't last too long.
• Ben is still sleeping 4 to 5 hours during the day and 11-12 hours at night - L.O.V.E. Hopefully this phase lasts forever.

He is the most pleasant child. Maybe we'll have another? Maria's just eaten up all the deductible so why not. Doug, what do you think?

Oh yes, and Doug sprained his ankle. We have pictures of that, but not Ben on his first Christmas morning. Something's wrong here.

Lovely, honey.

Southern Hospitality

This morning, I went to the CVS minute clinic to get a shot, and this is what my medical papers looked like when I walked out the door:

Yes, covered in sticky notes. Sticky notes with restaurants ("if you want authentic southern cuisine, go to Ma Ma Dipps!"), grocery stores, a family practitioner, a doctor for Doug, the best (and honest) dentist around, the preschool to send my kids to, and the best private school in the area ("don't go to the public schools!"). My visit ended up lasting 40 minutes because she kept slapping sticky notes onto my papers. I loved it. She was the sweetest woman and told me to come back when I was pregnant so she could tell me which OB to go to and to please come back if I had any questions about doctors, or resources, or anything.

Yes, I think I'm going to like it here.

Arrived

We are finally here!! Well, we got here on Saturday, so I'm obviously a little behind. But I have an excuse.. we don't have internet yet. Fortunately, that will be remedied next week. So, things I love about our place. 

• It's in a "good" area. The surrounding neighborhood is lower income, older, smaller houses built on cul de sacs (I had to look up how to spell that!). So, I see that as a good thing.
• nice carpet
• washer and dryer
• dishwasher (other than me!)
• pool and gym in the complex
• the apartment complex is gated
• helpful maintenance workers
• we're a 10 minute drive from Duke
• washer and dryer... again
• we have a piano!
• church is like Utah church

Things I don't like quite as much.

• the smell that currently resides in our kitchen and living area
• our friends are all over the world instead of next door
  
• we don't have internet yet
• NC has hurricanes
• and earthquakes
• and is hot hot hot
• church is like Utah church

Do you know what I mean about Utah church? Let me tell you. And keep in mind that it's in both categories, so it's more of a thing I noticed. Our ward is huge. There are lots of University students, young couples, and BABIES. The Sunday school president introduces the Sunday school teacher (I've only ever seen that in Utah). They have lots of callings, and a variety of callings - probably because there are so many active and willing members. There is an advertising committee - again, going with lots of talented people - and this means that we have cute, decorated billboards. Actually, cute billboards are something I'm seeing all around nowadays, but I'll probably always connect it to Utah because I saw it there first.
 

Fun, random fact: yesterday, every single car (5) in our row had a license plate from a different state. I see NY license plates everywhere!! Weird, right?

Oh, and Maria's at college now. Weirder...

yup, her...good luck!!!

I can't wait to show you pictures of our apartment! Once I get things organized, I'll post some. :) Then you can compare with wymount. haha. hahaha...