Blogging

So I have decided that blogging takes forever to do it the way I would like to so . . . . I just end up not doing it ha ha. But, I love having something "journaled" here and there since I haven't been very good at writing in my real journal. But for pictures Facebook is so much easier so I think I am going to share links to my pictures on facebook so that if you are not a "facebooker" you can still see the pics and they don't take so long to upload! Some of my future blog posts will be more journal-y so I can keep up with my fam so if that bugs ya - Sorry - I guess don't read my blog :) he he he ( I mean that in the nicest way possible-lol)

Link to Pictures on FB

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150348957964810.408167.590809809&l=3f09d5120e

~Journal Time ~

I can't believe my little Beau is 3 years old. Holy Cow. AND Miss Laney Lou is already 10 weeks old - Time flies when you are having fun! Beau went in for his 3 yr check up in july and he is almost off the charts for height - They said he would be average height for a four year old but is a REALLY tall three year old - Just like his daddy! He loves anything to do with sports and loves to play outside. He says "A-M" instead of Amen for the prayer and I love it! I will be sad when he quits saying that. He talks so well for his age but has a few funny little words that crack me up - He says "Last day" for anything in the past like Hey Mom Remember last day when we went to Lagoon - That was fun - This can be for anything in the past even earlier that same day. It is hilarious. The other night we were saying prayers and he said, " In the name of Jesus Christ, Jingle Bells, Amen!" A little random. He calls Pizza Pizz-y and pepperonis are peppyonis. Other fun things - He drew a picture for my dad and pointed to it and said - Grandpa - that is me telling you I love you! It was so tender and sweet - I am not sure Grandpa can tell that story without crying still :) He absolutely LOVES working on projects with dad or grandpa! He is learning his letters really well and doing really good on his colors. We are doing our own little preschool time at home this year and will start real preschool next year. He is totally ready to potty train and has been for a while but this tired mom has been dragging her feet with everything going on so hopefully soon I will get the drive to just do it. He is so tender hearted and will sign I LOVE YOU and gives the best bear hugs in the whole world. We give each other a kiss on our index fingers and put it in our hearts all the time. The other day I was leaving his room for nap time and he said Hey Mom - I need a kiss for my heart - Talk about melt mommy's heart - Three kisses later mom finally let him take his nap :)

Laney has been a great baby. She lost a full pound in the hospital and had only gained an ounce back at her two week mark so we added some bottles in to help supplement a little. Same as Beau she has daddy's metabolism and I was having a hard time keeping up with the demand. Then at 6 weeks she absolutely refused to take a bottle. She had hit the typical fussy stage at 6 weeks and is easing out of it now. My milk has all but dried up and so we are moving to bottles which she is not thrilled with but is finally tolerating it. She started smiling for real at 6 weeks and gives the best smiles EVER! She loves to lay on her tummy time mat as long as she is not on her tummy -lol- and just kick and watch Beau. She has started craning her neck to see where he is in the room - It is so fun and he loves to show her new stuff all the time and is so sweet with her! She is still a cuddle bug and wants to be held to sleep. She likes to stay up late which is a little hard for dad since he gets up so early. I am going to try tonight to keep her awake throughout the evening and see if we can get to sleep before midnight - She is not a huge fan of the binkie and wants to suck on her hands - I am trying to get her to take a binkie and I WILL succeed :) (hopefully) She had her shots at 2 months and was 9 lbs 6 oz. and 22 inches long - Can you imagine an adult growing 2 1/2 inches in 2 months - wow! She is 50th percentile for height and 25th percentile for weight - she is still pretty tiny but Dr. W says all is well and she is growing just fine! She was a trooper with her shots and Beau was sad she didn't get a popsicle like he does when he gets shots :)

We are absolutely loving our new neighborhood and ward - Everyone has been so welcoming and it is so fun to be getting settled finally. There are lots of kids to play with and Beau absolutely loves it - Not that there is anything wrong with apts but I am so glad to be getting settled into a house. Brant is loving being able to work in the yard and projects in the house - and I am loving getting settled period - I don't want to move again for a VERY LONG TIME!!! Ugh - I don't enjoy moving - it is not fun but it is fun knowing I don't have to pack it back up in six months like at the apt - Yay!!!!

Whew!!!

Well the last few months are a big blur! It has been quite the whirlwind! We closed on our house in May and gutted the entire thing and started remodeling! We took hundreds of pics to show before and after and our SD card or camera wigged out and we lost all of them. So sad sniff sniff . . . . I was so bummed cause we had done so much work and had some adorable shots of Mr. Beau helping with everything. I have a few before pics and will get some after pics soon. Then the highlight of the last few months - Our precious little Delaney Mae Bennion arrived on June 9th, 2011 at 10:38 pm. She was 7 lbs 8 oz. and 19 1/2 in. long. She is so wonderful and we absolutely just adore her. Beau is an amazing big brother and just loves holding her and playing with her. We have been going like crazy on the house trying to get it done in time for her baby blessing a couple weeks ago and got pretty far. We have had a ton of help from our family to get it done and we appreciate them all SO much - Thanks everyone! Now that those things are over we can breathe for just a minute before Brant goes back to school next week. We finally were able to go fishing last week and just do something fun which was nice. Hopefully we can fit in a few more fun things this summer before it is over. Sorry it has been so long - Will try to be better! Here are some pics from the last little while!

House

So if all goes as planned we should be closing on this house next Thursday! Cross your fingers! Brant has always wanted to buy a house that needed work so here we go on an adventure - Who knew that it would happen just a month before the baby is coming but hey - we work best under pressure right? So as soon as closing happens then it is time to rip everything out, re-paint, re-carpet, install new cabinets, lights, smoke detectors, appliances, the works! We will be doing as much of the work ourselves as possible but some will have to be hired out so if you know of a good deal - Let us know!!! Then to get settled hopefully before Miss Laney makes her appearance - We will see - Not the best picture of the house - Can't find the better one - More to come later!

Easter etc.

We had a blast for Easter. Beau really understood more what was going on this year and we had such a fun time! Friday Night we went to dinner with Brant's Dad and had a blast. Then Saturday morning Brant got up and did his long 20 mile run in prep for the upcoming Ogden Marathon and we met him at the Clinton Easter Egg Hunt - It was SOOOO cold! We had Beau all wrapped up and he was really quiet and somber while waiting so I was worried he wasn't going to want to go grab eggs but when the alarm went off - He took off. The whole park was clear in about 2 minutes it was hilarious! I loved that the majority of his eggs had toys in them rather than candy. Then that afternoon we went to Aunt Jills for an Easter Party with Brant's side of the family. We had Tony's Pizza - yummers! and had a big easter egg hunt. Each kid had their own color and there were even eggs for the adults! We had a blast. Beau got TONS of candy as well as $18.75 cash. I even scored $15 Brant didn't get any money but lots of candy :) The next day we went to Church and the Easter Bunny came while we were gone :) Beau got lots of fun activity stuff like paper, crayons glue, scissors (what was that crazy bunny thinking- hello?!?!?!?) and toy cars and a special Easter Church Book and clothes from Mom and Dad. He hunted for eggs and that night we went to a traditional Easter Dinner with my side of the fam at Jami's house. Along with one more Easter Egg Hunt - Did I mention all the candy - I think we were drowning in candy at this point. We got to bring our sweet 88 yr. old neighbor Fern to Jami's with us and it was a fun Easter all around.

Other than that we have been a little under the weather here at our house. Brant and I have been struggling with flu/bronchitis-y type symptoms. This has put a bit of a crink in his marathon training and is driving him bonkers! Brant is not one to sit around. I have been going through baby clothes sorting sizes and trying to get the first batch of newborn and 0-3 months ready. Beau is hilarious as usual and always talking to my belly and Laney. He makes these little castles and then holds them up to my belly and says Look Laney - It is your birthday cake. It is so funny! We have been talking about strangers lately and being obedient since he learned how to get the deadbolt open on our apt - Don't want him wandering out there - so far he has done pretty good.

Things are going forward we think on the house - Just waiting for the final word - It is a cute little house in Clinton that is a fixer upper. Brant and I have always wanted to tackle a fixer upper I just didn't think we would do it when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant and trying to get the remodel done and moved in before the baby got here - But hey - Always an adventure right? The dr says all is looking good - she is measuring right on size wise and he has agreed to start me as of June 16th which is coming quickly! Hope all is well with all of you out there!!!!

Freezing at the Clinton Easter Egg Hunt

Ash and Brant on Easter

Beau going through his basket

Drive up the canyon

Last night at 10:45 Brant was teaching Beau how to tie a tie. Don't ask why we were all still awake that late - Craziness but it was definitely a fun family moment and memory - Had to grab the camera!

Such a slacker!

I have been THE biggest slacker in the blogging world lately. I have blogged very little about this pregnancy or Mr. Beau and all that is going on in our lives. First of all the pregnancy.

This pregnancy has been SO different from Beau's in so many ways. First and foremost is probably the lack of bedrest that I experienced with Beau. While the 18 1/2 weeks of bedrest was so hard with Beau it was most definitely worth it to get that precious little man here. I had lots of family and good friends who helped me survive it though! This pregnancy I had a preventive cerclage at 15 ish weeks and have not had to do bedrest. I still am cautious and can tell when I am pushing a little too hard but other than that things are great. The second biggest difference is chasing a 2 1/2 year old around while pregnant. He is great to help and do things but it still makes for one tired momma. We are now 29 weeks and Miss Delaney is moving around like a little banshee :) She is sure a wiggler but I LOVE it! Beau talks about and TO her all the time and even says he will help change her diapers - We will see how long that lasts :) My nausea lasted a LOT longer and I have had more heartburn so maybe this little one will have some hair - I am so exicted to see what she looks like!!! Only 10 more weeks since Dr. W said he will start me at 39 weeks.

As for Mr. Beau he is hilarious and keeps us laughing constantly. He throws out huge words all the time that I didn't know he knew! The other day Brant went to put him in time out and he said, NO Dad - I am fragile. I was laughing so hard I had to leave the room. Anytime he is upset he will also tell me, but MOM, I am Frustrated! He loves nursery and playing and anything sports related. The last week he keeps asking me when his soccer game and practices are - Sure wish I could find a Fall 3 year old league - but can't find anything prior to 4 - Darn it. He is working on potty training and we had our first successful #2 in the potty - For those of you that think that is TMI - I am sorry - but it was a major exciting even in our house!!! I am not being as consistent as I should be so it is probably my fault we are not farther along with this but we are getting there - He is excited to earn a remote control helicopter just like Owen's when he is potty trained! Wish us (me) luck!!

Brant is doing great - He recently ran a half marathon and is training for a couple full marathons this year. He is loving work and trying to figure out what he wants to do as far as going back to school for more training - He has a bachelors in Bus. Mngmt but anyone who knows him knows how much he loves to learn learn learn.

We are enjoying being up close to Brant's work and the lack of commute. We are looking for a house and have a prospect on the horizon that I will blog about as it becomes more of a sure thing!

Life is good - As for me I am just enjoying being a mom and wife and looking forward to the arrival of Laney. I am so excited to hold that little bundle in my arms :) Hope everyone is doing well!!!

Pictures are from Brant's FREEZING cold race at the Riverton Half Marathon

All Things Pink

We found out last week that we are having a baby girl! Needless to say all I can think about is pink pink pink! We would have been happy either way but are excited for our little Delaney Mae or "Laney" to join our family this summer. I am afraid to do any shopping for her for fear I won't want to stop :) Luckily I have lots of cute clothes from family already so we should be pretty close to being set - Maybe just some fun accessory shopping trips are in store! Last week I also had my preventive cerclage. This was a lot more low key from Beau's emergency cerclage at 22 weeks and luckily no embarassing moments in the ER making a fool of myself like last time! I am feeling great and just supposed to take it easy and not lift anything heavy. Easy for them to say when in other news we have decided to move closer to Brant's work. After a lot of thought and prayer and countless miles on the road commuting for Brant we are finally taking the plunge and moving north. We will be moving into a really nice apt in West Haven which is just about 10 minutes from his work. It will be nice to be settled and not living out of boxes. I am a little anxious about being back in an apt setting with two little ones and neighbors - Hopefully things will go well there - Cross your fingers for us! Beau is growing by leaps and bounds and talking up a storm. Grandpa Lon taught him about his "appropriate tools" so he talks about those all the time. It still cracks me up to hear a 2 year old bust out the word appropriate. He is hilarious and loves to run jump play and anything active. He is excited for a baby to join us and talks about teaching her soccer and how to bat all the time. Sorry for the lack of blogging - I will try to be better but no promises :)

New Addition

Baby Bennion # 2 will be joining our family in June.

We were going to wait a little longer to announce but word spreads quickly so here we go! We are just a day or two shy of 8 weeks. I have already seen my new dr since I have to have a cerclage - preventive this time luckily, not an emergency one like with Beau. Hopefully we won't have to do any bed rest this time! Everything looks strong and healthy and surgery will probably be around the first of the year around 15 weeks. I was really nervous to move to a new dr with new insurance but I really like him and the office so that is a huge relief!!!!