Not much going on...

Or so it seems to the on lookers.  We have been very busy here at the L house.  Ben is doing great with his potty training.  He is having some accidents, but mommy is being very patient and knows that when he is ready, it will be smooth sailing.  He is doing so well in preschool.  He has started to read and can recognize all the kids names in his class as well as other words such as daddy, dog and most Star Wars terms.  His class has been very busy with their shapes and important phone numbers.  His teachers are great this year and I know we will miss them next year.  

We are gearing up for Ben's 3rd Birthday party.  It is going to be low key this year, but lots of fun!!!  Ben keeps informing me that certain Star Wars guys are sure to visit him on this special day, but latest word from them is that it is not going to happen this year.  Keep your fingers crossed, though.  

I will be starting a new job soon.  I will be with the same company, but have a different position. For the last 2 years, I have served as a Case Manager for unemployed and underskilled job seekers.  It is a fun, and stressful, job but has WAY too much paperwork, thanks to state audits.  I have had as many as 125 people on my case load and I work exclusively with them to prepare them for job and new careers.  It is rewarding, and I get to counsel them on many subjects.  In a few weeks, I will be moving into my new role as Resource Center Coordinator.  I will be supervising the Customer Service team (Employment Resource Specialists), working with our partners and managing the resource center where anyone can come in and look for work.  I will no longer have a case load, but will work with everyone who comes in on a short time basis.  I will miss my private office, where I dictated my time, but this position will be great!!!

We are still working on finalizing house plans.  I will be meeting with a few builders in the next few weeks to get the plans I have found all put together and hopefully get started early summer.  It is already so stressful, but the more I stay in this "way too small place with a very active 3 year old", the more ready and committed I am.  

I am still, successfully, doing Weight Watchers.  I admit that I did not start with my first declaration of needing to lose weight, but started back on Feb 20.  I have lost 10 pounds so far, and hope to lose 20 more for the summer.  I am doing the online program, and entering my food really makes me accountable.  

I have not posted any recent pictures because I have not taken many lately.  I desperately need a new camera and really need to look into getting one.  

I am ready for SPRING!!!

Potty Training and Batman Training

Ben and I recently had a heart to heart about his need to use the potty.  He is so advanced in so many areas, and I blame myself for not really working hard on it.  He is at preschool in the mornings and at his grandparents in the afternoon and both have been working with him.  I decided that I am not buying anymore pull ups and we will just see what happens.  He did so good today!! He was so excited to wear his Spiderman undies!  There were lots of high fives and hugs for rewards and I told him we could get a surprise this evening.  It has made me sad how fast he has grown up and it is hard to believe that he will be 3 next month, but I am excited to see him learn something and feel like a big boy.  

**TMI,TMI**

Ben was looking for the "big brown worm"-Honestly, it was one of the funniest things he has said in a while

We ventured out tonight and after picking up and putting back about 10 things, Ben finally decided that he needed to add to his Batman collection.  

His new pajamas

New cape, shield, belt and batarangs

Happy 60th Birthday to my daddy...Papa Randy!

Ben was 6 months old here

The 2 enjoying a nap!

This picture was made in 2007 at Tweetsie Railroad 2 days before daddy's stroke.  I have some more recent ones but...

Anyway, I just wanted to tell my Daddy Happy Birthday and that we all love him very much!!!!

It won't be like this for long...

Ok, so I have never really been overly emotional and sappy, but man having a child totally changes that.  Sometimes I get teary eyed just looking at him or watching him sleep and so many times I am reminded how fast the last 3 years have gone by.  Maybe it is PMS or maybe it because I have had some bad days, but whatever it is, I can not get through this song without crying.  

I know it is about his daughter, but change the words to him/his/son whatever and it is the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6JHXHWZLpU

Ben's Plate Face

While studying "All About Me" at school, the kids were asked to design their face on plates using limited resources, including a plate, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, yarn and straws.  I honestly wish I was artistic, but thank goodness Benji is.  Here are some pictures of our craft night and final portrait.  

Helping put on the glue

Paper Ben

Ben helped at first, but then decided the pom-poms were more fun as snow balls.  We had to have a few snow ball fights before finishing.

The bag of "snow balls"

I asked Ben to smile!

Snow eyes

Little things that make me smile...

So, Ben's imagination as really come to life in the last few months. He will sit by himself and play and it is so cute to watch. One minute he is Batman trying to get the Joker, the next minute he is a cowboy shooting at the indians, and the next he is Anakin Skywalker and is going after the robots. It is so cute to hear him talk about all his toys.
He is finally getting better with going to bed. He still wants me to lay down with him, but I no longer have to stay there half the night, and he does not fuss when I get up. Why should I ever complain when he wants to prolong sleeping to snuggle and laugh with his mommy?? My sleep time is way overrated! He loves to play shadow puppets while we are laying on his bed. My hand becomes the big bird who is looking for some food. The bird talks to Ben about random things and Ben thinks it is the funniest thing. Ben also likes to tell me about his day while we are laying there in his bed and usually will sing the new song that he learned. He apparently has learned a new song at school about building a house, because he was pretend hammering and sawing a house last night. He talked about his tools on his seat belt (aka took belt) and actually held his hands together like a book and pretented to "read a map" for intructions (instructions) on how to build it. I swear that boy makes me laugh!

Here are some recent conversations with Ben:

Ben ran into the living room from the kitchen and suddenly said "Ouch, my running knee hurts"
Me: "Your what?"
Ben: "My running knee"
Me: "What exactly is your running knee"
Ben: Pointing to his knee, "the knee that makes me run"
Carly: "Oh, well, are you ok?
Ben: "Yes, but you need to kiss it"

Most of you know my love of the Young and the Restless. It is about the only thing that I watch on TV and thank goodness, I can catch it on Soapnet each night at 7:00. Ben usually is playing while it is on, but apprently has been paying more attention than I thought!
A few nights ago, Ben asked to watch Spongebob (it comes on afterwards). I turned on Y&R and told him that Spongebob would be on later.
Ben: " I do not want to watch the Young and Restless, mommy"
Me: "Please, Ben. let mommy relax for a few minutes until daddy gets home.
Ben: "I am tired of Victor, he is not a good guy"

and my favorite...
Ben: "mommy, I love you past the moon. You are my best friend."

Life is pretty slow right now...

I have some new pictures to post, but am too lazy to wait for them all to unload from the camera, so I will do that later.  Not much has been going on lately.  I went away for a few days last week.  I attended a statewide conference in Charleston with some fun co-workers.  It was really more play than work and was a nice get a way.  I missed Benji and Ben, but they were in good hands at Nana and Big B's house.  We stayed here www.embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/CHSESES-Embassy-Suites-Charleston-Historic-Charleston-South-Carolina/index.do.  Thank goodness the company is not cheap and it was fabulous.  Within walking distance to downtown, free made to order breakfast, free manager's reception each night (aka free drinks and snacks), 2-room suites, and beds made of pillowy goodness.  Granted I did not sleep well because I had the room to myself and it was too quite and snuggling by yourself is just not the same, but great anyway.  We ate here http://www.coastbarandgrill.com/ and like every tourist, here www.hymanseafood.com/. They were both yummy, maybe because I was not paying, but Hymans had the best crab cakes.  My boss (from the north) never understood why someone would name the place that.  It was funny hearing her talk about it.  The owner (Eli, I believe) bought us ladies free appetizers and a few free drinks, so that was great.  We then went here for a night cap www.kaminskys.com. Apparently, Bill Murray had just left about 5 minutes before we got there.  He lost his cell phone and called back to the restaraunt to look for.  He had sat at our tables and the waitresses made a big deal of informing us that we would need to "really look" for the phone around our table.  They said that he has a place in town.  Anyway, their drinks were great!  

I came home to boys who have been super duper sweet to me.  

As you can see, there is not much happening, but fun nonetheless.  I am trying to find a fun place to have Ben's birthday in April.  Any suggestions or information on hiring Star Wars people, please let me know.