Improvements

You've heard it before.... bad blogger, no time, where did the month go, blah blah blah.

Save the excuses Katy.

In other news, MATT'S BACK! YAY! I have a serious new respect for single parents or anyone who lives alone with a person who has poor motor skills and cannot control their hands, feet, bowels, neck etc. I admit it, I watch 16 and Pregnant (AND Teen Mom 1 & 2 and soon to be 3) and I never thought the word 'respect' would be thrown in their direction but I do have a new found respect for the difficulty in caring for a baby alone (I'm not saying they are good at it, I am just sympathizing with the difficulty of it - and I'm a 28-yr-old employed person, with insurance, an education, a house, a supportive family and a brain).

Anyway, the anticipation of Matt's homecoming was pretty annoying. I called this phone number and a message recording would fill me in... "the window of the arrival of your airman is XXX through XXX." Thanks, let me clear my schedule for an entire week (forget the job, the baby, and the normal everyday happenings of someone trying to run a household), I'll make myself available during your 'window', Uncle Sam. I knew D-day was close though because within a week of the expected window, a bug fell on me while I was laying in bed, I found a silverfish on my bare mattress while I was washing sheets, I stuck my hand in a box to be greeted by a spider (same bathroom as the other spider incidents), and a GIANT spider, the size of my hand, survived a bleach attack outside of my garage door and made a break through a crack and INTO the garage. Oh, and Wally ripped off his pinky toenail and tracked blood all over house. Get. Matt. Home. Now.

Finally the day came and it happened to be the one day in April I could NOT pick Matt up due to a wedding. His 6pm arrival turned into Matt getting to me at 3am but whatever... he made it home, safe and SKINNY! Apparently the Middle East is a good diet. Since his return, I think we have both packed on at least 5 lbs. though. There was a lot of eating out we needed to catch up on.

Benji tried a lemon. Add that to his repertoire. Avocado, summer squash, turnips, green beans, carrots, cauliflower, banana and.... lemons. Delish. Benji has never met a num he hasn't approved of. I know its hard to believe with the genetic makeup of Matt & Me. Our little Banjo loves his high chair!

Matt has been a working machine since he got home. He had about a week off to get readjusted and decided to do some home improvement. After a much appreciated 3 month hiatus, Lowe's, Home Depot & Menards welcomed the Core's back with 42 visits within a week.

Benji tries to make the best of crappy situations (home improvement stores). He thinks Target has much better things for him to look at. He did discover the Promised Land at Lowe's though. Some people turn on the vacuum, some people go for a drive, Benji goes for a stroll in the ceiling fan department. Heaven.

Matt's return has also cost our family about $5,000,000. Aside from a new bathroom, 57 meals out, groceries for 3, hiring a lawn service, getting the garage door fixed, and 6 carwashes for Matt's precious truck (I may exaggerate a little but the car washes are the truth - and FYI, Benji HATES car washes), we also invested in Benji's new whip.

Benji got a BOB and is cleary relaxed in his smooth ride. For those who don't know, a Bob is a ridiculous stroller that is THE stroller for jogging mommies. In our case, it is obviously a jogging daddy (although my 25 minute mile was GREATLY improved over the course of my Afghany training regime). I think Matt has high hopes for this stroller inspiring me to workout with Benji (no more excuses that I can't workout since I'm watching him) but little does Matt know, this girl does NOT play outdoors beyond about June 1. I'll be bobbing loops around our main floor, dining room kitchen and hallway, in the A/C!

Benji is hilarious these days. He vigorously shakes his head no... sort of a lot. In Banjo's world, shaking your head 'no' means yes, no, mommy, pacifier, doggie, daddy, toys, give me something to chew on, i just diddled in my diaper, and leave me alone. He is very advanced. He also babbles 24/7, tries to stand on everything, wants to bounce all the time, and constantly gets onto his tummy in an attempt to scoot. He also has a weird obsession with a hand motion. Its like he is motioning "come here" by clapping his fingers to his palm... over and over and over and over. Sometimes its like hes saying "come here," sometimes its like hes waving, sometimes its like a back scratcher (when he's nursing and his little arm is wrapped around me), sometimes its a picker-upper, sometimes its a hair puller/earring ripper outer, sometimes its a mesmorizing hypnotic device, and sometimes its a lawn mower.

Raking with their hands is a sign of brain development. Google sets our minds at ease again.

What else is new in the month since I've neglected posting.... nothing on the sleeping front. I think we're improving because we are going 2 sometimes 3 hours without waking up which is big news in our world. Last night I revisited the "cry it out" BS and at 20 minutes, again, Benji barfed. I picked him up out of the puke (hair, face, shoulders and back covered) and he proceeded to projectile vomit all over me, twice, at LEAST 6 ounces, while screaming in hysterics. Horrible. Baby got bath and new bedding and I went back to putting him down my way. He was out in minutes and I would rather do that and be up in a few hours than see the pathetic face of the hysterical barf baby.

Recap...
Matt's Back: Improvement
Home: Improvement
Lawn: Improvement
Bank Account: Unimproved
Benji's Wheels: Improvement
Waist: Improved then unimproved
Sleeping habits: Unimproved
Blog post frequency: Improving?