First Trip for Wade!

We spent Memorial Day weekend at Lake Oconee's Ritz Carlton Lodge with Beau's parents. It was a great little getaway for 2 nights and a good test of our travelling skills with our newest addition. Wade did great and seemed to enjoy being spoiled at the Ritz. I think he knew we couldn't really let him cry at night in a hotel room, so he always found a way to end up right between us in bed. Without Orwell hogging the bed, it seemed to work just fine!

We all lounged by the pool, took very expensive naps at the spa (aka: massages), drank pina coladas, Beau joined the rest of the 10 years olds in a pie eating contest, and the guys played golf. I'm ready to go back!! I love my daddy!!!

Lounging by the pool
Ron and Barb Jones (longtime friends of the Benich's) live on the lake and met us for lunch

Beau trying to beat all the other "kids" in a pie eating contest. I thought for sure there would be a age limit to enter, but no. So of course Beau had to join in.
It turned into a complete food fight. Guess who started it......that's right - Beau. Wade, your father has a lot to teach you! He can't wait until you're big enough to play. You may have heard me say that I now have 4 kids (Wade, Cali, Orwell, and Beau). I'd like to submit the above pictures as evidence.

Nonna Donna's Birthday

We celebrated my mom's birthday on May 23rd. All the nephews were here and Wade spent some quality time with the fam (in Karen's arms mostly). HAPPY BIRTHDAY NONNA!!!! The boy's "playing pool". Wyatt laid down and started doing the worm.

Nonna gets a special gift.....

Nathan and Michelle revealed they are having a.......

GIRL!!! This will be the first granddaughter on my side. So far it's all boys! Nonna's has a little girl's dress just sitting in her closet waiting for this day. She loves her grandsons, but this girl will be SPOILED!!!
Caleb & Shawn
Beau teaching Shawn how to play guitar hero

Even the birthday girl gave it a try

Wyatt dancing to the tunes

Shawn rockin out!

2 MONTHS

Wade turned 2 months on Wednesday!!
It seems like just yesterday he was born, yet I can barely remember life without my little sidekick. At 2 months, he's finally rewarding our efforts with smiles. My favorite part of the day is watching him wake-up and give that first big smile of the day. He's sleeping much better and can go for a 7 hour stretch at night. I feel like a new woman!
We had to go to the pediatrician for a check-up and shots. He weighs 12lb 3oz (75th percentile) and is 23 inches long (50th percentile). Everything looked good! He even peed on the doctor to show how well hydrated he was! The shots were not so fun. He let out this gut wrenching scream and it took all my strenghth not to cry in front of the nurses. Then as soon as they left the room I cried too. I told Beau he has to take him next time :)
Here are some pictures of the fat kid at 2 months.... Look at that grin!! It melts your heart

This is his best Elvis impression. "Thank you, thank you very much"

I'm naked!!!

Look how big I am!

Is it just me or does he look old enough for preschool in this picture?

Finn and Wade's DAY OF FUN!

Yes, another TV reference (my all time favorite)....Friends. Fellow Friends junkies will remember the episode of "Joey and Janice's day of fun!". Well, this past weekend it was Finn and Wade's day of fun. Not to mention that the moms (me and Robin) had a pretty good time too.

Robin made a quick trip to Atlanta for less than 24 hours with her husband Mark who was presenting at a conference. So while Mark worked - we played!! Finn just couldn't wait to meet Wade (outside the womb). Their first actual meeting was back in February when I was still pregnant and Finn was 7 weeks old (see pic below). And as you can see in the other pictures, they make quite a pair. The scrubs were of course planned. But ironically it was just a coincidence that they each had the other matching outfits - I PROMISE! I'm ridiculous, but I'm not that ridiculous. Every time Finn changed clothes I'd laugh and say, "Wade has that outfit too. Let's dress them alike and take a picture".
We had a great day and Wade is already asking when he can play with his friend Finn again. He just asks that we limit the costume changes next time...
Finn (7wks) and Wade (in the belly) meet for the first time in February In matching Turtle outfits....

Finn is very happy about situation. Wade isn't sure what to think

Okay, we pressed our luck with this one. Obviously they are not thrilled to look so gay.

Another scrubs shot...

Finn: "Mom, what time is our flight? Can we leave any earlier?"

Wade: "I'm so embarrassed I can't even show my face"

Finn and Robin at the Fickle PickleThe four of us....with Wade screaming!

Guy Love

Scrubs anyone??

The series just ended :( and Beau and I are so sad. It was such a quirky stupid show, but we liked it. One of our favorite episodes was "My Musical" and if you're a Scrubs fan I'm sure you know it. Basically, the entire episode was written like a musical so that all the conversations are sung. It's right up my alley!

Anyway, this song "Guy Love" is very funny. If you haven't seen it, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL4L4Uv5rf0

But there's another reason it's on the blog....
I don't know how to make this long story short, so bear with me. My good friend Robin had a little boy, Finn, 3 months before Wade was born. The whole time we were pregnant we joked that our little boys would be best friends like Turk and JD. She delivered Finn (bald as he could be) and he became Turk. I delivered Wade (ready for a haircut) and he became JD. It's just a stupid joke that's stuck. Well, Turk and JD met for the first time this past weekend and they hit it off. Guy Love is in full effect. Watch out Clay Aiken, Finn and Wade may give you a run for your money on Broadway one day. With a doctor and dentist for dads, it only seemed fitting that the boys should have their own scrubs!
On the show, Turk and JD have their dog Rowdy stuffed instead of buried. So we had to include our version of Rowdy in the pictures. Please notice Wade's spiked hair like JD. We had to make it authentic :)

The Corrs and Caroline

Wade had a playdate with his friends Kate and Harry Corr and Caroline Polhill. Their moms, Carolyn and Melanie, are two of my sorority sisters and good friends from college. Kate and Harry live in Virginia and were in town visiting family. It's not often that we all get to see each other, so it was fun to get all the kids together. As you can tell from the pictures Kate held her brother Harry while Caroline held Wade. I've never seen Caroline so excited! She handled the job like a very big girl!!!

I found a cheap babysitter....

She only charges 2 tennis balls and a biscuit for Wade, but an extra belly rub if I leave her with Orwell too.... Cali standing guard while Wade plays on his mat

"Will someone please tell my mother to wash my greasy hair??" - Wade

So I tried to take one too many pictures, but Orwell wanted in on the fun. Shhh....don't tell Orwell Cali's actually babysitting him. He thinks he's in charge.

Guess who slept through the night!!

That's right ladies and gentlemen - Wade slept through the night for the first time last night!! He went to bed around 11:00pm and didn't wake up until 7:00am! I was so excited I didn't know what to do. I'm praying this is forward progress and not just a one night thing. I'm trying to not get my hopes up, but maybe we're close to getting sleep like human beings are supposed to get (multiple hours at one time)???? Keep your fingers crossed for us tonight!

Mother's Day

We celebrated my first Mother's Day with lots of quality family time. First, we somehow made it to church (getting all 3 of us clean, dressed and out of the house before 12noon is a tough job!). Our minister is known for his "preference" of babies in the nursery during his service. But it was Mother's Day and I wasn't about to put my 7 week old in the nursery on my first Mother's Day! So we took a chance, sat in close proximity to an immediate exit, and said extra prayers for Wade to sleep through it. Mission accomplished! We had some touch and go moments, but Wade didn't make a peep - unlike some other babies in our vicinity. For the record Randy - my son was silent and reverent throughout your entire sermon :). Mt. Bethel has a tradition of honoring mothers making special milestones (travelled the farthest, most children, fosters parents, etc) and I received a flower for being the mother there with the youngest child :)
After church, Beau and I treated our moms to brunch. Beau had ordered corsages for all of us from Publix. As it turned out, the florist messed up the order and only made one corsage. But instead of giving up, Beau had to get Paul the Publix produce man (no joke) to help him. The 2 of them made the remaining corsages!! I have to say they turned out beautiful and made for a pretty good story!

Brunch was just the beginning of our day of eating. Later that afternoon, my family gathered at my mom's house for a BBQ. All of my nephews were there causing all sorts of trouble. It was a great day and the first of many happy mother's days!!

Notice my florist made corsage...
Notice Dede's Beau made corsage - not bad! He attributes his floral skills to his days at Case De Bambini Montessori school.

Mom and I showing off our lovely flowers

The Mamas (and Wade)Wyatt and the big beach ball

Wade gets a double dose of loving..."It takes two to make a thing right...it takes two to make it out of sight"

Wyatt handing out roses to all the mommies

Is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen?

The boys at their special table

I had to include this picture. If you're ever wondering where Wade gets his hair from...ask his daddy!

Uncle Tardo playing "sword" fight with Caleb and Wyatt

Watch out Nanny! That ball could knock you over!