Books!

I love to read, and lately I have been having a little more time to do it, either while Arch is asleep in my lap, or on his own. I also love to write, but that will come later, I might be brave enough to post a short story or two, but for now I just want to write about the books I read!

Marley and Me
Has anyone else read this book? I loved it. It was so simple and loving; the way the author writes about his life and his family made me feel like I could relate and therefore I wanted to be more invested in their life. I cried and actually laughed out loud, I love it when something you read makes you laugh out loud- it is as if the words are enhanced by the laughter, connecting something private in your brain to something other people around you can hear, then they wonder what was so funny, why did she laugh? That is a great quality in a book.
I have always wanted to get a dog, and of course reading this book made me want one even more, but the book wasn't just about a dog, it was about a family, about children, and jobs, coping with loss and the blessings of true joy. It was wonderful. I highly recommend it, and it is a pretty fast read, so check it out!

Sunday fun

Awkward family photo, but at least all three of us are in it...

I weighed him today-- a tiny bit over 16 lbs.....

I am an owner!

So here is an attempt at a family photo, I was showing off my boots, and Archie was showing off his muscles, but at the last second Ben lost his hold on the child hence the surprised/scared look on his face.

Happy early birthday to me. Ben and I, along with Archie, went for a long shopping extravaganza on Saturday. We thought it was time to get out of the house, all three of us. We made quite a few stops, even played soccer for a while with our friend Brandon, oh and the wii fitness, super fun. But our last stop of the day, when we were all tuckered out was R.E.I. land of all things outdoors; it was glorious. I have been in need and want of some new snow boots- so that was our goal, but our main reason for shopping there was to get a membership, which we did and now we are part owners of the REI co-op! The guy that signed us up explained the whole thing, how they are not a corporation, but a co-op and so we basically bought into the company and we can get discounts at garage sales, and pay less for rentals and return items no questions asked (sometimes), and it was AWESOME.

Anyhoo, I bought some boots, on clearance, and the next purchase will be snowshoes, our ultimate goal! Oh, and tying this back into my first sentence, this was my birthday present. I wore my boots yesterday for the first time in the snow, loved it. I walked to church in them, it was slushy and snowy, what better time could there be for new boots? I am pretty exctied about them...

Family Fun Fotos

I can't help it, I love alliteration, so I had to misspell one word....
Here is what we have been up to lately, lots of the same, but captured in fotos:)

Takin' a break after a bubbly bath.

Not so happy about his picture...

Nap time. Sunday Snuggle Snooze.

Ben and Archie got up before I did, and ate breakfast before I did, hence the pancake on the head.

Archie loves to laugh at his Dad.

His new dino hat.

The men working hard; Archie learned to read early so he could help his dad with his homework.

President Obama

Well today really was an historic day; Barack Obama is our President and I think there really is a sense of hope and new vitality in our country. I pray that great changes are made for the better. Ben didn't have classes today so we watched the inauguration this morning, Archie was napping, otherwise he would have loved it too. I took some pictures of us to document the occasion, they aren't great pictures, but I figured we needed to have some type of commemorative proof of our patriotism especially on this day.
I know this picture of us makes it seem like we weren't watching the t.v., we were, it just so happens that I am making sure that Ben isn't pulling any faces while I am taking the picture, so I am looking at him at the last second, and of course he was pulling a face, and the camera took the shot and we weren't ready... this is the best we could do.
Well, I think no matter who is the President of our country things are bound to change, good and bad, but I don't want that opinion to take away from the good things that President Obama can do while in office. Our world is changing, it is ever evolving, and we have to allow that change to embrace and and to accept it in order to grow. It seems like the times are calling all of us to check and double check our values, who we are, who we want to be; because sitting on the fence with a mild conviction isn't going to get us anywhere, it isn't going to help us stand up for what we believe in with confidence, it will only give us second thoughts, shrink in the face of a challenge and inspire doubt instead of faith. I hope we all can stand for what we believe in with strength and passion.

Just a Happy day

Post bath contentment. I wish you could smell that clean, fresh baby-ness.

Well, despite having a cold Archie is loving life. Ben is sick and has been for a while, Archie got his cold, so far I have been able to fight it off. So little Arch hasn't been in the best mood, but we still did our tummy time today, and I decided as a little treat I would take off all of his clothes ( he really likes to be naked, I didn't risk taking the diaper off!). He lasted quite a bit longer than he usually does on his tummy, and I had to take some pictures becuase he is lifting his head, turning it all around and growing up so fast!

This is his new favorite thing to do, which I love because he can occupy himself for a few minutes at least while he sucks on his hands!

Hello and Thank you

Kate is great with the pictures, which is not to say I am consequently great with words, only that I have only words to offer.

This is my 'Hello' to everyone who stays in touch with Kate. This, obviously, is mostly her blog, her voice, her music and her life she is sharing with all you folks. Since she has been home, taking care of Archie, blogging has become a bigger part of her life if not a bigger part of her sanity. For this, I wanted to thank you all for your blogs, your emails and your comments. If Kate hasn't said so herself, I know that you and what you share mean a lot to her. They come to mean as much to me as well, particulalry as it is I who gets up and leaves Kate at home every morning as I am off to work and school. I am not shy to say I look forward to when Arch will be a bit bigger and Kate can be out of the house more often.

Happy New Years again. I hope that this year is great for us all. Any by great, I don't mean without incident, only that like my smart, four year old nephew Nicholas has taught me, when we do get pine needles in underpants, we need only to reach in, pull them out and keep living. It may be less helpful to sit around wondering how in the world pine needles arrived in our underwear anyway!

Best,

Benjamin

Baby Archie and Ryder

Family

So, I am realizing that our blog makes it seem sometimes that Archie is all consuming and he is our every moment of every day. Although, that does seem accurate... Ben and I are still kicking around leading pretty great lives too, so the three of us all together are lovin' life. Ben returned to school on Tuesday, yes classes started on Monday but in order to save some money we booked our flight from Michigan to Salt Lake on a Monday, so Ben sacrificed the first day of his classes, what a trooper. We spent about 10 days in Michigan and it was so great to see our family. Zach was able to be there, home from Oman for a few days, Alex and Christy were there and Ben and Laura, and of course Mom and Dad. We also spent some time with our good friends the Jones', where Salem, Burke and Ryder spent Christmas. It was so much fun to see them and see how much Ryder has grown! He was so cute with Archie, he calls him 'baby Archie', and he loved to hold him and tickle him and play. On the way back to SLC Ben and I stayed with the Morins, and the first thing Ryder asked when we arrived was if he could hold baby Archie. I thought 'oh how cute, he wants to hold him!', so we sat down on the couch, I put baby Archie in Ryders lap, and it was pure preciousness for about 5 seconds, then Ryder got distracted and wanted to do something else, and just started to get up and push Archie off of his lap! I lauged as I watched little Arch slowly roll off of Ryder's lap (of course I was holding him too, but secretly so as to give Ryder the illusion that he was doing it by himself, so there was no danger). But it made me ponder on the joy that children bring and the joy they feel around other children. It was great, thanks so much Burke, Salem and Ryder for letting us stay with you!

I am feeling like Archie is getting a little older and that I can spend more time away from him without feeling preoccupied that he needs me so much. So on Tuesday it snowed and snowed and snowed, so I went out with my father-in-law on Tuesday night and shoveled and shoveled and shoveled- it was wonderful. Not only was it great exercise, but it was fun to be outside doing something active, and to spend time with Pat which we otherwise might not get to spend time together.

It is great to be home, but I miss everyone that we visited with over the break. I love you all- can't wait for the summer!

Michigan and Archie's 2 month Check up

This is what Mister Manker (Grandpa) taught us, a new way to hold Archie, and he loves it, the only problem is that he keeps getting heavier so I need to go work out my arms!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Manker with Archie in his fuzzy pants which he grew out of pretty much after this picture was taken. They visited us in Michigan and it was great to spend some time with them. My Grandma walked in the door when they arrived, saw me and saw that I was holding Arch, gave me a quick hug then took him out of my arms and cuddled with him!

Archie and Ben playing; he giggles when his head is tickled or scratched- actually they both giggle when Archie's head is tickled or scratched!

I just loved this face on Archie. He has a double chin, but it looks like he could have three or four.

Mr. Archie in his overalls and boots. He loved them, or I loved them for him!

Happy 2 months Arch! We went to the doctor yesterday and besides a handful of sick little babies nothing out of the ordinary really happened, it was just a pleasent check up. Archie is 13 lbs. and 7 oz., he is 24 inches long and both of those measurments put him in the 85th percentile for his age. His head is 39 cm which is about the 20th percentile. He learned so much over the break! He found his tongue and sucks on it quite a lot, he also found his hands and slobbers all over those just as much! He is more alert and loves to giggle and play. He especially loves it when he is a naked boy, nothing hindering his body and the air tickling his tummy. He grabs onto fingers and can hold his silver rattle (uncle Zach, he really does love it), he is just a growing boy.