Not my fears are shifting to things like Instagram. The social media site that has taken me and so many people I am friends with by storm! The instant photograph sharing is only fingertips away and it makes capturing and sharing those small moments and random thoughts with friends and family so easy! BUT…JUST WHAT WOULD I DO if it vanished?! Who would tell these little memories to my sweet little loves? Would I remember every year from here on out the details of these photographs that made these moments so special- special enough to share through social media and the crazy internet world? Maybe, but maybe not!
Therefore, I have created yet another solution to my internet fears and Instagram worries! Instabooks… which are turning into blog books but for only my instagram photos and now periodic posts I am choosing to call Instagram Insanity .
Because, if anyone knows me, they know, while I am fearful of burglars and being trapped underwater , up next in my line of fears is forgetting these precious memories of a wonderful life.
I am choosing to focus my first Instagram Insanity Episode on my one and only Ben Ben! The child who is like no other. The child who can melt you with the shake of his wavy curls. The child whose expressions are priceless. The child who is stubborn, hard headed, strongly independent yet the biggest snuggle bug and tender hearted child I know! He is the one and only Ben. Because truly, very little about Ben is like any of the other children we have been blessed with! And I mean that in a wonderful way!
Precious Curls Learning to Potty!
And that concludes Day 1 of Potty Training…
#benconsidersitsuccessful #cookies+potty=success #bringitround2 #wegotthis
Thankfully when this picture was snapped it was during the first Snowpocalypse of 2014 and I had every minute of time to devote to potty training! Sadly, the gains we made over that snow break were short lived! Ben reverted right on back to his pull ups shortly after this photo was snapped!
However, I am happy to report that almost 4 months later, this little love is pretty much a consistent potty user and proud of it! Except for nighttimes and nap times, Ben has learned the art of going to the big potty and doesn't seem to be reverting back.
To what do I owe this success? Reese Cups!
The motivation behind using the potty all revolved around receiving a Reese Cup after it was all said and done! Fine by me! It worked and now with the exception of pull up buying, our diaper days are almost completely coming to an end!
Sleeping through the Circus
Passed out mid circus performance!!!
#howthishappenedbafflesme #snoozingaway #illtakeit #sweetbennieboo
It wasn't like The Greatest Show on Earth is quiet! It wasn't like The Greatest Show on Earth didn't have about a bazillion memorizing acts to watch. It wasn't like The Greatest Show on Earth wasn't captivating and attention grabbing… but clearly my little love thought differently!
After a small icee issue resulting in a cup different from his other siblings, Ben completely lost focus on the dare devil acts and said Sweet Dreams! In the middle of the hoopla, Ben was somehow able to fall completely and totally asleep!
Do you think this momma minded one bit that her little love was zonked out in her arms-- absolutely not!! The poor child must have been exhausted because once he was woken up, the amount of drool on my shirt proved his little afternoon circus snooze was a mighty good one!
Left Unattended...
This is what you get when a mischievous boy finds a bulk jar of peanut butter.... #lifewithbenisneverdull#hisresponsetothemess #butmyshirtisnotdirty#isitnaptimeyet
The Bailey Bunch is a peanut butter family. In fact we love PB so much we now only buy the bulk can of Peter Pan PB on a all too regular occasion! Literally I think the stuff flies off our pantry shelves at lightning speeds! It is not uncommon to see it sitting out on the counter because you just never know when a little one will request a spoonful of the delicious goodness!
On this particular afternoon, the above scenario was just the case! The peanut butter was left unattended and sweet peanut butter-aholic helped himself to HANDFULS of the tasty treat!
I really think I had been gone from his sight only about 30 seconds, I had walked from the kitchen to my bathroom and back. Not like I went to Africa. However, I returned to a massive mess that Ben found himself extremely proud of!!
Sure cleaning up his choice of activities wasn't what I had exactly wanted to do at that moment, but when I saw his little mischievous smile, all the irritation over the peanut butter mess cleaning I was about to do disappeared. In no time at all, my little peanut butter-aholic was back in action, ready to make the next mess!
Can't say that I 100% blame him for this event. Being honest, there are moments of my days when I often just wish I could devour a jar of PB too! With a chocolate brownie of course, but I'd settle for jus the PB if I had too!
"Sear- Us"!!!
Ben's new (and on repeat) phrase of the day "Ahhh Mom! Are you Sear-us?"
#threegoingonthirteen #whydoigiggleeachtime #yeshemakesthisfaceeachtime #wondereherehegotthisfrom
I never know what new expression or phrase Ben is going to come up with. Ironically enough, it always seems that Ben chooses to share his latest and greatest expressions and phrases with us at a moment when our patience is low, or our spirits are tired or our exhaustion seems to be kicking in! In fact, when I stop and think about it, that is a gift of his.
Ben can lighten a mood, room, moment with simply doing a gesture or saying a few words.
Maybe it isn't always what I am in the mood for, but it always seems to work in his favor! Most of the time anyways!
At a very random moment, while sitting at the kitchen table eating snack, Ben felt it necessary to give me his thoughts on his snack eating situation. To be honest, I don't have the beginnings of an idea really what he said except for a few words because once my 3 year old looked at me and said
"Ah Mom! Are you "SEAR US", I pretty much tuned everything else out!
What 3 year old says that? And what momma wouldn't giggle just a bit and find her curly headed toddler a bit humorous at the same time?! Because this one certainly did!
Obessed.. "Sear-us-ly"
Ben...The Inch Worm Hunter
#namesthemallRedCar #wantstokeeptheminhisroom #squishedbyben #"whytheynotmovingmom"
Since he was first introduced to inchworms over Spring Break, this little tike has been literally ALL ABOUT these creatures. I have lost several pieces of tupperware thanks to his recent obsession because clearly Tupperware makes the best Inchworm Home! Ben is very thoughtful when collecting his worms and always remembers to throw a single leaf into the "home" for his inchworms to eat!
While Ben loves to collect these creatures, lately he has decided they simply should not live beside him but rather WITH him to the fullest degree! I am ashamed to say, I honestly can't say for certain how many inchworms my poor child has placed in his drawers in his room! He thinks his shirts are "beds" for the worms! YUCK! I know but the child's heart is so happy and honestly, I have every intention of removing them but then…life starts up again and I simply forget! YIKES!
I have small mouthwash Dixie cups in my car where Ben insists on collecting these worms while we are out and about and then taking them with us to the next location. At first, I was worried they could crawl out of these cups but I have sadly discovered they simply can not. The truth is, I have plenty of evidence of shriveled up worms in Dixie cups to prove this!!
One element to this whole obsession that makes this such a memory for me is that Ben insists on naming each and every worm he collects. Shockingly, they all are named the same thing: Red Car. I have only heard of one worm that was given the name of Mater. Other than that, Red Car is the name they all sport… for their short life that is!
The adventures never seem to cease with my little love Ben!
AND….. He's Out!!
And we will call this Easter a success!!
#sugarcrash #outfitdrenchedincandyandbubbles #preciouspouttylip
Ben woke up Easter morning in a less than enjoyable mood! He was a bit more than grumpy and very hard to please! After his father had to help him get a grips on the morning, Ben turned into a completely different child! In fact, he was a total chatterbox ! Like, he at one point was just talking and talking and talking and I really don't think people were listening! Giggling at him, yes. Listening to his actual words, no!
After a long hard day of Easter lunches, egg hunts, family photos, easter treat bags, birthday cake and of course easter candy, my little love finally gave it up. He finally closed his eyes for 3 seconds and that was it! I think it took the length of the driveway for it to happen! His little power nap was short but mighty! It was just all he needed to rev his engines for his Round 2 once we returned home!
Seeing him like this is just so innocent. He played with every ounce of energy he had and this picture captures that to me. To be so exhausted you fall asleep with candy in your hand before you eat it is TIRED! Especially considering the candy is red… his favorite!
Ben, you are the definition of unique! You can melt a heart quicker than anyone I know thanks to those big blue eyes and gorgeous curls! Your expressions make your daddy and I wonder constantly just what your little body and brain are thinking! You are one of kind for sure! I thank the Lord for your spunk, although some nights I wonder if it will ever run out! I thank the Lord for your spirit, even in the moments when it is stubborn. But mostly, I thank the Lord that our 4th blessing is a child that never ceases to amazes and impress us! You are so loved little man! Lots and Lots!
No comments:
Post a Comment