Water Table, Sandbox, Slide....Oh My!

Too much backyard fun this afternoon!  We loved introducing Bennett to the water table, sandbox and slide all in one day!  It was a beautiful afternoon, and we had so much fun together!

 Bennett loved standing and holding on to the table, but didn't quite know what to think of the water inside the table.

 Then, he found the balls and had the best time fishing them out of the water and dropping them onto the ground.

 Trenton liked to scoop cupfulls of water up and dump it in random places throughout the yard.

 Bennett would later gather all his dropped balls to play with again. 

 The water table was once again a big hit in 2013.....I know we will get our money out of this purchase from last year!

 Once wet, Bennett was a little more cautious of the splashing he was creating.

 I love how this summer Trenton climbs right into the toy box to get the toy he wants.  Such a lifesaver for Mommy!

 Then he is out and ready to play.  This is going to come in handy this summer!

 The boys also enjoyed the sandbox.  Bennett pretty much stayed in one place a little disturbed by the sand on his hands. 

Bennett's favorite toy were the ladder golf balls.  Trenton loved the digging tools.

 This box is the perfect size for a 3 year old and baby!  We'll be in this sand often, especially since it is positioned in the shade of our tree.

 Trenton likes to climb into the lid of the sandbox and pretend he is in a boat. 

 You think Bennett is going after another toy.  Nope the ladder golf boys were just out of reach from tossing. 

 The slide catches Bennett's attention later in the afternoon.

 And the 10 month old daredevil begins the climb upward.  I think he's been watching his brother a little too much! 

 Trenton was sweet as he patiently waited for his brother to move out of the way (with a little help of his Mommy!)

 Then Bennett would slide down and Trenton catch him at the bottom.  Both boys were excited to get to do this.

Our little backyard is so much fun! 

Staycation Day 1-Zoo

Spring break this year was treated as a staycation.  It is much easier this way since it's Daddy's busy time at the office.  We went to the zoo with Granna and Opa and had a wonderful time!

 We can't pass up the train ride around the zoo!

 We let Bennett pet the animals this time.  He could have cared less.

However, Trenton absolutely loves it!

 He has never been afraid of character mascots.  In fact, he runs to them whenever he spots them in a crowd for a picture.

Trenton and Opa as lions.

G-Day Game

To any Georgia fan, I would recommend the G-Day game.  First, it's usually beautiful in the spring and not too hot yet.  Second, the game is child-friendly so bring the family.  Third, it is free and you don't have specific seats.  Because of all of this, we were able to enjoy North Campus prior to the spring game, bring our kids to watch some Georgia football, and have good seats in the shade.  

I have a little game for you to play.  It's called Which Child? (Answers are at the bottom of the post.)

1.  Which child slept from kickoff until back in the car for the ride home?

2.  Which child would not fall asleep with all the activity around him?

3.  Which child got his picture taken with a football player who has the same name?

4.  Which child was most fascinated with the band members as we walked down to the hedges?

5.  Which child wished for a dog in the fountain on North Campus?

6.  Which child had lunch in Samford Stadium?

This is Trenton's version of tailgating.

North Campus was the best place!  It was shady and Trenton could run around.

It might not be a football, but both boys are obsessed with balls.

Classic Trenton hug.  Bennett is used to these by now.

Such a special picture of my future bulldogs.  Sorry, Daddy!

Trenton is our little jokester!

Bennett is our little blondie.....for the time being.  He'll grow out of it I'm sure.

Bennett wishes he could get in on the tackling.  He sees his Daddy and brother in the distance.  Soon baby boy.

Trenton wished for a dog in this fountain. LOL!

Go Dawgs!  Let's go scout out the team for the upcoming season!

The boys are ready for the game, too.

Bennett especially enjoys stroller rides.

Bennett and Opa about to enter Samford Stadium.

We took the boys down by the hedges. 

Michael Bennett is in the background.

We loved our seats in the shade and Bennett loved everyone playing with him.

Look at him staring at his Opa!

Granna sure knows her Trenton.  He slept the game away on her lap.  He's her boy!

It was a gorgeous day for the football nation!

Two exhausted boys on the walk back to the car.  Bennett finally fell asleep (on first push probably!) and Trenton never woke. 

That is, until we were back at the car.  We had to keep him rather entertained on the drive home.  The binoculars helped.

Child Trivia Answers: (if you weren't able to learn them as you read through the post)

1.  Trenton needs his sleep.  He fell asleep and slept in our laps for the entire game.  He didn't even wake up on the walk back to the car from the stadium.  However, was bright eyed and bushy tailed for the car ride home.  We felt bad because he was so excited about the football game that we couldn't break the news to him that he slept through the entire thing.  All the activity leading up to the game was enough to exhaust him (and a 1:00 kickoff--nap time--didn't help!)

2.  Bennett would not fall asleep.  This happy baby played in our laps for the whole game.  He had a 45 min power nap on the drive to Athens. 

3.  Bennett had a picture taken with Michael Bennett in the background.  If Michael didn't have to rush off for the start the game, we would have asked to have a better one.  This will do.

4.  Trenton grinned so big as we walked through the band section to go down to the field side.  He loves music and seeing their instruments was a big deal to him.  He waved in excitement.  That was probably the highlight out of everything down there.  Haha!

5.  Trenton is obsessed with coins and wishes.  No fountain can be passed.  Now where did he come up with that wish for a dog! 

6.  Bennett, in an attempt to help him fall asleep, was nursed through 2nd quarter.  (Love those hooter hiders!)  I never thought I'd one day do that inside Samford Stadium!  Lunch was served.

Bennett 10 Months

It might be annoying but I'm going to include all pictures from this 10 month photo session.  I usually just pick a few, but they are hilarious to me and show the eventful camera moment rather well.

Before we get going on the photo sequencing pics, here are some Bennett facts from the last month.  There seems to be a lot......
1.  He stands all the time now and he doesn't know how to get down.
2.  Due to the above, this has been the worse month of sleep!  He wakes 4-6 times a night because he wakes, thinks it is time to play, stands himself up and cannot get back down to go to sleep.  The hollering starts.  It can go on hours unless you go in there and lay him back down.  Often I have to nurse him because otherwise he'll stand right back up and it is an endless cycle.  (I have to tell myself it is just a phase!)
3.  Luckily, he still naps morning (8:30-10) and afternoon (1-3) then goes to bed at 6.
4.  He might have a texture issue with food.  He still does not like to eat (or try) food.  He thrusts it out of his mouth with his tongue and/or gags to the point of throwing up.  It really doesn't seem like a concern now because he eats plenty of baby food, but it's just why we haven't been able to successfully advance to adult food like puffs, cheerios, peas, eggs, etc.
5.  He crawls from room to room now that the baby gate is up, and his curiosity grows as he explores.
6.  He does not like the church nursery.  He often cries when we get near the door and other times can hold the outburst until he is handed over to the worker.  Breaks my heart!  It's been 4 Sundays in a row of it! :(
7.  His smile just gets better as he gets older!  He is such a charmer!  Everyone comments on his toothed grin!
8.  He coos and grunts when there is something he wants.  For example, he'll be on my hip and see Trenton and Daddy out kicking the soccer ball.  As I turn to go another way, he starts his noises and if I turn back around to them he'll try to lunge out of my arms towards the action.  It's Bennett talk.
9.  He seems to be an "Opa's boy" and reaches out to him all the time.  Whether it is from my arms or if he bolts across the room crawling, he always reaches out for Opa to hold him.  Then, he nonchalantly puts one arm around him.  They're good buds.
10.  Glasses beware.  He likes to grab facial features and glasses especially catch his attention if you are wearing them.

Now, here is the play-by-play description from our photo session.

Our first picture may have been our best.  I should have stopped there.  When I say "our" I am talking about Trenton and myself because I certainly needed his help this go round!  Bennett's wiggling starts.

 He tries to get down.  Hates it (and lets us know!) when he try to keep him on the chair.

 So, we move to the floor where the sticker becomes the big distraction.

 My assistance, Trenton, gives him a toy and turns his head in the direction of the camera.

 This could be our second best pic.  Should have stopped here.

 A deer caught in the headlights but decent enough.

Again, the sticker comes off.

 And he wants it to stay off as he tosses it aside.

 We try chair pictures again, hoping to get one really good picture.  Then, Bennett is ready climb down again.

Session over.  He's diving for the floor now, and Trenton and I are exhausted.  That's enough.

Almost

Bennett likes to stand now.  He pulls up on anything, sturdy or not, and sometimes crashes.  He's pretty tough.  Everything is a learning experience now so we try to let him figure it out as best as possible.