There's a 4 year old in the house!

Today, my firstborn turns 4! It seems like just yesterday that I was 10 days overdue, heading into the hospital for the doctor's to coax him into the world. 36 hours later, he arrived. Thankfully, his stubborn arrival was not indicative of his personality. Yes, he can be particular about his routines and habits, but with a solid explanation of why we need to do something differently he casually says, "oh, okay."

He's almost constantly talking, whether playing by himself with his toys, playing with his brother, or sitting at the dinner table. He's got an explanation for everything and we think he could be preparing himself for a career as a lawyer!

He still loves trains and Thomas, but he's really expanded his interests in the last year. Cars and trucks are played with even more than the trains and we have at least 100 matchbox cars scattered throughout the house. He still adores books. And he loves learning about animals, whether it's watching Planet Earth or reading about them in books. And he's always full of questions. His most recent obsession is ocean animals. The other day Rich came downstairs after reading bedtime stories and went straight to the internet to find the answer to Hayden's most recent questions: do fish pee? and do sea snakes have lungs or gills?

He loves preschool! He loves letters and we spend most of his bathtime spelling words on the tub wall with those little foam toy letters. I think he's on the verge of starting to read. Writing and drawing, however, not so interested in.

Favorite foods include pancakes, cheese, milk, graham crackers, and noodles. His favorite tv shows include Dinosaur Train, WordWorld, Thomas, and Curious George (and the Planet Earth series).

He's really started to embrace his role as big brother, especially since Benjamin can actually play with him rather than just "messing with his stuff!" Whenever Hayden gets something nice (a treat, a book, a toy, etc) he always makes sure Ben gets something, too.

A few days ago, he humored me with a photo shoot and I love that I got this picture, reminiscent of a similar one on his 2nd birthday. . .

Looking at them side-by-side makes me so proud of the boy my baby has become. The 4-year-old boy he's become! Happy Birthday, Hayden! We love you more each day!

Lub you!

Oh my heck--Benjamin is just so dang cute these days! I know I just mentioned in my last post how he's talking so much, but really, it just gets better every day. My favorite is at bedtime. . . after bath I get him in his jammies and then he runs over to Hayden's room and says "nigh, nigh! Lub youuuuu!" to Rich and Hayden. Then after reading stories for 15 or 20 minutes with him, I get several "lub youuuuu's!" Right when we're done with stories and I turn out the light I tell him I love him and he replies "lub you" and then I sing his song (You are my Sunshine) and he says "lub you!" again after I sing the line that says it and then I get a third round of "lub youuuuu!" when I say him down in his crib. He just has the sweetest voice!

I got a few snapshots of him after dinner the other day, telling me he was "all done." Nothing really special, but I love that I captured his little expressions just so.

Lub youuuuu, Benjamin!

Ten on Tuesday: 50/50 Mommy

Last week, I spent 4 1/2 days in San Antonio with several thousand other professional photographers at PPA's annual conference. My amazing hubby is deserving of many props for being on kid duty and handling it so amazingly--I'm a lucky woman to have him! I thought I'd devote my ten today to 50% fun trip (non-mom) and 50% mommy stuff. . .

1. I was lucky to have some very good friends among those thousands of photographers, who made great roommates for the week! Marla Laramie, Erin Cobb, and Kelly Kuntz -- a fun and fabulous bunch!

2. I think it was the first morning we were in San Antonio and Erin's hair was long and flowing and had really nice body and I commented that she looked like an 80's movie star. I meant it in a good way, like a modern Farrah Fawcett, but of course it came out completely the wrong way. Trust me, she looked pulled together and flawless as always. Fast forward to the day these pictures were taken and now I'm the one looking like an 80's movie star, but in a very, very bad way. Ich! My hair and humidity do not agree. Add in a little breeze and it was really out of control!

Still way out of control a minute later when we set the self-timer and got a shot of all 4 of us.

3. Another highlight among the thousands of photographer's was meeting up with Lyndsay Stadtner, who is an amazing photographer and has been an on-line (but had never met in person) friend of Erin's for years. I'm still sporting the poofy, bad-80's hair but at least was spared the breeze in this photo!

4. I had been to San Antonio once before back in 1999. I spent a month at Lackland Air Force Base for an acquisition training course and mostly spent my days in class and on the base. We did manage to get downtown a few times to visit the Alamo and the Riverwalk, but I didn't have much memory of it. I don't know why, because it really is beautiful! I've got some pictures posted on my business blog, but just had to share one here that makes me smile. I won't see color like this in Montana until July, yet it was all over San Antonio. It was a welcome break from winter for me!

5. And now, I've saved the best for last. . . the decidedly most un-mommy moment of the trip! One of the print labs sponsored a great party at Howl at the Moon--a dueling piano bar!--with live music, free food, and free drinks. We enjoyed all three and of course I had to get a picture to document the evening on the way back to the hotel. No trees were harmed in the taking of this photograph. . .

6. After a fun, educational, and busy 4 1/2 days away, I returned home and was back on "mom duty," which leads me to the second half of my list--the mommy part. So I'll start by sharing a tidbit about my sweet baby. His vocabulary is exploding and he's a constant chatterbox. One phrase that we hear frequently (I give it points for being equal parts annoying and adorable) is, "hab-it" as in, "have it".

7. We have this book called First 100 Words and Ben knows all of the words in the book. He's probably up to 300 words or so by now. I have to admit that I had a super-mom moment the other day when I got them both involved with this fabulous book--I'd point to a picture and Ben would say what it was and then Hayden would tell us how to spell it (the words are printed below the pictures, so he just read the letters).

8. Another super-mom moment happened this morning when I got both boys playing with stickers. They delightedly dug through the sticker box to find some favorites and then diligently went to work arranging them on their papers. I love the sideways glance Hayden is giving Ben, just making sure none of his stickers end up on little brother's paper!

9. And super-mom moment #3 was playdate snacktime--smoothies (with a super secret ingredient--frozen spinach). The boys loved them and were never the wiser to my mom tricks!

10. Okay, now that I've filled my super-mom quota for 2011, we'll resume life as normal which typically involves a few too many tv shows, too many high carbohydrate kid snacks (a.k.a. crackers of all variety and the occasional marshmallow), and me trying to squeeze in some sort of business on the computer between running to the kitchen to get those crackers.

It's a Jungle

Sorry for my hiatus from blogging! I was in San Antonio, Texas for a photography conference for 4 days. I posted some of pictures on my business blog and I'll share a few more here in a few days. Rich was on Dad-duty and he was going to do a Daddy Post, but he took no photographs and he decided it wasn't worth blogging without pictures. (No pictures for 5 days straight?!?! I can't imagine!). Anyhow, these were taken before my trip and I thought I'd share.

We have this small, fake plant on the side table in our family room. A few weeks ago, I looked at it and something caught my eye. . .

I got a little closer. . .

And a little closer. . .

And discovered that some animals had found themselves a new home. Or rather, a certain 3-year-old assigned them a new home. They must be enjoying it, because they've been there for weeks. As long as they aren't on the floor, I really don't mind.

I guess it really is a jungle in here, afterall.

Lone Mountain Ranch Overload

Fair warning: there are a lot of picture in this post. But, another fair warning: they are all extremely cute and you won't want to miss any (in my humble opinion)! When Rich's parents were here last week we did quite a bit of skiing, including a day at Lone Mountain Ranch.

It was Winter Trails Day and for $5, you got a trail pass, rental equipment, and lessons. We didn't need the equipment or lessons, but it was still a great deal. Hayden is becoming quite the nordic skier this year, but Ben is usually more content to just ride along in the Chariot. This day, however, he wanted to be skiing just like Mom, Dad, Hayden, Grammy, and Grandpa. And boy was he adorable!

Hayden was more than happy to show him how it's done!

And when Ben couldn't quite keep up with his big brother, Daddy took over "helping" duties.

Hayden lead the way, taking note that no walking was allowed on the trail (only skiing!).

And after tiring both of the boys out, they climbed in for a ride while Daddy (and me, too--just not photographic evidence of it) did the work, with Grammy and Grandpa bringing up the rear.

We had a rather mild day, and although some clouds did roll in and give us a dusting of snow, it was nothing compared with the recent piles that were dumped.

Before heading home, we said hello to the horses on site. Several were more than happy to pose for me!