Happy Birthday to Me (and way to go, Mom!)!

Sunday was my 28th birthday, and yes I can say that without inducing a panic attack. I know I'll step on a few toes saying this, but just a few years ago, late 20's seemed so old! But now I'm smack-dab in the middle of them, and I certainly don't feel old. I'm still me...just married, with a baby, a much earlier bedtime (and waketime), more sensitive ears to really loud, obnoxious music and a lower tolerance for unfamily-friendly activities. Hmm...

Anyhoo...it was a great weekend of no traveling, schedules or anywhere to be, and I took full advantage of it. Tyler occupied Ben while I slept in both days, which I've already mentioned is a gift in itself. Then as I shuffled out to the living room to feed Ben on Sunday morning, my bleary eyes fell on a brand new jogging stroller from him and my parents! Now, to anyone without children, I know you're thinking, "what kind of birthday gift is that?! It's not the baby's birthday!" But it was very exciting and has already created a false sense of security while I eat my bowl of ice cream, knowing that I'll run it off tomorrow. (unfortunately, my stamina and muscles aren't quite able to compensate just yet for this "eating for two" mindset I've still got.)

And I'd like to close with a special shout-out to my mom. After all, if it weren't for her, my birthday wouldn't be possible. Being born is hard work, for mom and baby! And it's definitely something to celebrate. So, thanks Mom, I know you're feeling much better today than you were this time 28 years ago! Love you!

My birthday presents

This one's my favorite :)

"Happy birthday, Mommy!"

Happy Easter(belated)!

We spent Ben's first Easter weekend in Nashville and were surprised to discover that the trip can be made without Ben needing to stop to eat. It cannot be made, however, without Tyler needing to stop for Starbucks! We had a fun, but busy, weekend hanging with my family, showing him off at my parents' church, hitting some good deals at the outlet mall, attending the annual Easter brunch (complete with two dessert tables!) and making it back home in time for the Easter service at church on Sunday night. Whew!

Prentice family and the Easter Bunny!

Couldn't you just munch on those cheeks?!

A teddy-bear sandwich.

Ben's 2-month checkup was this week. As the video says, he weighs 14.3 lbs., and is 24.5 inches long - putting him in the 95% for both! He is a healthy, growing boy who was very, very brave for his FOUR shots (Mommy couldn't look!).

This is from a week or two earlier, when he laughed for the first time! He's still somewhat serious most of the time, but his activity mat, Daddy and Grandma really get him going!

Adventures in Parenthood

So last weekend was interesting... I left Ben at home with Tyler for the first time while I attended an 11 a.m. wedding on Saturday. I'd timed it perfectly to feed Ben right before I left (which is a cute look while wearing a dress and hot rollers), and then as soon as I got home. So I enjoyed the beautiful ceremony and brunch reception, said goodbye to my friends and slipped out to the parking lot. It wasn't until I jammed it into the lock for the second time that I realized I'd taken the wrong key off the key chain and was now locked out of my car! Sure, I could've panicked, but I just took a deep breath, called Tyler to come pick me up and slinked back into the reception for coffee and a piece of wedding cake. My friends comforted me and reassured me that Ben would only need a lifetime of therapy after missing his feeding. Ha ha.

I met Tyler and my screaming child in the parking lot 20 minutes later, and Ben cried himself to sleep about halfway home. I, on the other hand, was still in tears upon pulling into our driveway!

So, after Ben wolfed down a late lunch, and I loosened my white-knuckle grip on him a few hours later, we decided that a little thing like having a 7-week-old infant wasn't going to dampen our Saturday night, and off to the movies we went, Ben in tow! Yes, we were those people who other moviegoers stare at disapprovingly, wondering "what are they thinking, bringing a baby into the theater?!"

He actually did quite well though, and I think if we hadn't chosen a movie with multiple explosions, car chases and gunfire, he may have lasted the whole way through! However, Tyler and I took turns bouncing him in the hallway...not the most relaxing way to take in a flick. I'm pretty sure the next movie Ben sees in the theater will be animated, around 2 p.m., and not for quite a few years!

And we didn't stop there! Maybe we're gluttons for punishment, but we're definitely gluttons for chips and salsa, so we stopped for Mexican on the way home! Fortunately, the food was on the table quickly and in our bellies even faster. Ben did great, but we were all happy to crawl into bed...just as the opening credits for SNL were beginning to roll!

Two tickets for Lilith Fair, please!

I found out yesterday that my boy has a love for quirky female folk songs...or at least off-key renditions of them. After the third round of "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" (complete with captivating hand motions), I was racking my brain for a real song that I actually know all the words to (besides, unfortunately, "Baby Got Back") and Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me" sprung out from the recesses of my mind, circa, what - 1997? Well Ben just lit up for the first verse, and by the time I was yodeling out the last verse, he was fast asleep! I think we'll break out a little Sarah McLaughlin or Dixie Chicks for the next naptime...Tyler will certainly not approve.

"that lunch lady cracks me up!"

I wonder if he's faking so I'd stop singing...

7-week slideshow!

A few things Ben had to say lately...

First laugh for daddy! He's a funny looking guy.

Hello ladies. Welcome to the gun show.

If you can get past the fact that my shorts are buttoned to my shirt and come up to my chest, you'll notice the cool choo-choo smocking and realize I'm quite a cool guy.

Happy Anniversary to us!

On March 7, Tyler and I celebrated four years of marriage! Basically, it turned into a two-day feast...as any proper celebration should. Friday night, Tyler cooked pesto salmon with spinach and rice, which would rival any fancy schmancy restaurant in town. We followed that up with a "chocolate overload" cake with strawberries and a chick flick... because he owed me. Trust me.

After the winter weather in Nashville cleared up on Saturday, my parents drove down to get a "Ben fix." Their anniversary present to us (although it was clearly not a sacrifice for them!) was hanging out with Ben while Tyler and I wined and dined at one of those aforementioned fancy schmancy restaurants - Highlands Bar and Grill. Now before you start thinking we've been crying wolf with the whole "poor dental student family suffocated by student loans" act all these years, let me say that our dining experience was compliments of a generous gift certificate for Dr. Prentice's dental services over the holidays!

It's hard to decide what the best part of dinner was... Was it the warm, buttery sauce melted over grits for our appetizer or the decadent, smooth creaminess of the creme brulee? What about the flavorful, but not too salty Snapper for my entree? Or was it Tyler's entree of succulent, fall-off-the-bone...rabbit!?!?! Yes, that's right kiddos. Don't be surprised if the Easter bunny doesn't fill your basket this year...he filled Tyler's belly instead.

Getting dressed up and going out on the town was really fun for me ("What? Pants without a drawstring? Shoes that aren't fuzzy and that I can wear outside?!), and we had such a fun time talking about our life, and speculating about our plans for the future. And we also realized that a lot has happened in this last year of our marriage:

1. I got a new job.
2. My sister got married and we got a new brother-in-law.
3. We moved from an apartment into our cute little house.
4. We found out I was pregnant!
5. Tyler graduated dental school.
6. Tyler started his orthodontics residency.
7. Tyler's brother and sister-in-law gave us a new niece.
8. Ben was born!!!

Speaking of Ben...as great of a time as we had, I couldn't wait to grab that little peanut as soon as we walked in the door! Here are a couple of pictures from our evening:

All dressed up, with somewhere to go!

Ben's dressed up too! But the only place he's going is to bed!

Happy anniversary Tyler. You're a caring husband and friend and such a sweet and helpful father. What a lucky girl!

Hanging out at home

Before Ben was born, I often wondered what my days at home with him would be like. I wasn't sure how I'd fill my time, if I'd be stir crazy, or if the days would drag on. After all, it would just be me sitting in a small house all day staring at an infant...well him and my friends on daytime TV...

Now that I've been home for a few weeks, I (and other mothers I've marveled about this with) can testify that the days do anything but drag on. Since life is now broken down into three-hour cycles, I'm either feeding or cuddling with Ben or cramming a shower, nap, cleaning, work, errands, a walk, or food in while he sleeps. That's a lot to try to do in one-hour increments!

And yes, I said work. My department at UAB has been flexible enough to let me work from home part time. This allows me to extend my maternity leave by as many days/weeks that I put in at home. It was such an answer to prayer for a number of reasons - mostly that I get more time at home with Ben and also that he'll hopefully have a spot in the UAB childcare center by the time I have to go back full-time.

So, for anyone wondering what stay-at-home moms do all day, I now know it's NOT watching soaps! (TLC, and Ellen are a different story...but something's got to entertain me during feedings!) It's helping me become a better time manager, and it's giving me the priceless gift of soaking up as much of Ben as I possibly can. :)

Some excerpts from a typical day below: