So much to say...

Recently Benjamin has realized that he can chime in on conversations now that his vocabulary is really expanding. I just wanted to share a few of the things that we are hearing a lot of these days.

"Bye-bye biiiiiiiiiiig truck"
"bye bye airpane"
"biiiiiiiig truck"
"papa tractor"
"papa boat"
" no no no no touch"
"twinkle twinkle star"
" poop potty"
"bye bye nana.... wuv you" (you can insert a lot of names in where nana is" )
"no no no why" (this is when Benjamin doesn't think wyatt should be doing something) He also thinks wyatt and finn are both one person so he calls them both wyatt or why)

When he knows he is not supposed to have something he picks it up (just so he can hold it) brings it to us while saying "no no no" and gives it to us.

Every morning when I go in to get him he stands up in his crib saying "sunshine" until I open the curtains and say "good morning sunshine"

When we read books now, he takes over and points out everything he knows. We have this one book that is all pictures of different things and his favorite page has trucks, tractors, airplanes etc... Well there is a picture of a bus and he has started saying "bus... round round... town!" this is Benjamin's version of the wheels on the bus go round and round... all through the town.
It is so fun to have him talking and learning new words so quickly.

The Potty Continued...

So as my previous post stated that Benjamin was pretty interested in the potty, well we have made quite the progress. The day after he first peed in the potty, he was at my moms house with me and he kept grabbing his diaper saying "poop." I thought he was telling me he was already going... Anyway we went into the bathroom and he sat on the potty and sure enough he pooped in the potty! We got so excited and we were cheering and giving him high fives. Then he got to flush the potty which is so far his reward.. It seems to be working well. Today he once again pooped and peed in the potty. I am so proud of him but deep down it makes me a little sad that he is growing up so fast.

The Potty...

Today is the start of something big in our house. My little boy is growing up too fast and it makes me sad. Benjamin has been very curious about the potty lately... He has walked in on many occasions to watch us use the bathroom (there is no privacy once you have children.) Recently he has picked up on the words "pee pee" and "poop" but he tends to often use them in context. He will grab at his diaper and say "pee pee" or if he has soiled his diaper will say the other. Well today he decided he didn't want to wear any pants and he didn't want to wear a diaper. I thought well I will just see if he is interested in the potty. So we went into the bathroom and he sat on the potty and......... just a little gas, which he got really excited about. Well later on he was grabbing at his diaper saying "pee pee" so I took him in and put him on the potty and sure enough he peed in the potty. We got all excited and cheered, daddy and Caleb came in and joined in the excitement. Then we gave him high fives. Benjamin was just so proud of his accomplishment. After that we went and called the grandparents to share the news. This might be the start of something big in the Buczkowski household.

Now on a side note.. I haven't really thought about potty training, but maybe he will be easy to potty train. I figured we would just wait until he was about two, but he just has seemed so interested in the "potty" that maybe we will give it a trial run and just see what happens. I am not going to push it or anything.. if he is ready GREAT.. if not that is fine too. I am just glad he is not afraid of the potty.

The Ants Go Marching...

Recently my mom got a sandbox for Benjamin and the other boys when they are older. Day one in the sand Benjamin stepped out right into a fire ant hill. Mom paniked and put Caleb down immediately and got right to Benjamin brushing off all the ants and undressing him completely to make sure they were not on him. Well in the few seconds they got on him, they got him pretty good.. I would say he got a good 60 or so bites on his feet and a few on his legs. Mom felt like the worst grandparent, to which I assured her that this situation could happen to any of us when we were with Benjamin and that things like that are bound to happen. Anyway here are the pictures the best you can see them... the top one is of all the bites just after they happened. The bottom picture was taken one week after it happened. They didnt' ever seem to bother him. For a few nights we did baking soda socks for him to wear. We just coated his feet in a baking soda paste and put socks on and let him sleep like that. It was suppoed to soothe it. My mom did this for me when I got chicken pox as a child. I had them the worst on my feet. Anyway he is fine and healing well, I just wanted to post it for memory sake.

Danielle's Baby Shower

We had a baby shower for Danielle to welcome little "J" Gibbs. We don't know her name just her initial. My friend Joanna and I threw the shower and had a lot of fun making the food and decorating. I had a lot of fun making the invitations and the diaper cake.

Paw Paw's Property

My dad owns around 500 acres in Waterloo south carolina and on the property is an old jail that was used for the chain gang to transport criminals to columbia, sc. Supposedly it was used until a prisoner escaped and killed the guard. Anyway my dad has turned it into a nice hunting cabin and brad and I decided to take the boys and spend the night and next day there. We had so much fun. Benjamin spent endless time exploring and he loved it. He climbed on bunk beds and ran around. He had a hard time going to sleep because it is all one room and he could see and hear us. We brought a bunch of food and cooked bratwurst and mac and cheese for dinner the first night. The next morning we awoke to someone's chickens and rooster crowing outside our door. I cooked breakfast (eggs and bacon) and then we waited for my brother Brent, Anne, and the two boys to get there. We spent the day picking blueberries and then made a really nice dinner that we ate on the front porch while it poured rain. It was a wonderful, relaxing excape from everyday life here at home. We are going to go back soon to pick more blueberries. Oh... Benjamin LOVED the blueberries and threw a fit because I made him stop eating them. He also got so tired from being outside but refused a nap, so I put him in the car and didn't even drive 2 miles before he was OUT like a light. I brought him back and laid him in his pack-n-play to sleep. For a few days after we got back I would say Benjamin are you ready to go to bed.. He would run to the back door and say "car, car." He also got to take a bath in the big deep sink and thought that was pretty fun. Then he had a little naked time running around the front porch with no clothes on. Here are some pictures from our fun time at the property.

Playing Downtown

My mom, Sister-in-law and I took all 4 boys downtown for an afternoon a few weeks ago. We let Benjamin play in the water area they have for kids. He had so much fun. There are these water things that randomly shoot up water at different times. He thought it was so funny and he didn't want to stop playing in the water. He also thought the train built into the wall was pretty neat.

Happy Birthday Brad...

I am late in posting this, because I was out of town on Brad's birthday. (sad). I have had the absolute privlidge of celebrating 7 birthday's with Brad! I used to have time to really make them special for him and take time to really plan them out and be creative. I really want to still do this for him, but with two little boys it is so hard to do. This year I went out of town on his big day and we will be celebrating this weekend instead. Brad was able to have all the guys over for a cookout on his birthday.

Brad... The past seven years with you have been amazing! I can't believe we are already here together at your 28th birthday~ We have so much ahead of us to be thankful for and to look forward to. You are such an amazing husband and I can't wait to celebrat many many more birthday's with you. (Hopefully I won't be out of town again). The day you were born is definately a day to celebrate and make a big deal out of. So happy birthday to my wonderful, loving, and HOT husband. I love you so much!

Baby Birds..

I have baby birds on both my porches. They have hatched at different times and are at different stages. It is fun to watch them. My plants don't look great because of them, but I dont mind. It is neat how God created birds. They care for their young all day long. Keeping them warm, searching all day for food and just going back and fourth feeding them. It is amazing. Anyway here are our little birds.

Playing Catch Up...

Once again I am late in catching up on my children's lives. I try to stay on top of it so we have this blog to look back on and have records of their lives.

What's new with Benjamin...
* He is learning new words daily and this is almost scary. He picks up on everything. New word right now.... "Poop" I think this one came from me asking if he had a poopy diaper and me not even thinking about it. OOPS! The one good thing is that he is starting to associate the word with a messy diaper and somewhat lets me know when he has gone to the bathroom. Maybe this will make potty training easier.

* Today Benjamin choked on watermelon and I had to turn him upside down and beat his back. One of the worst moments in my life. I think my heart stopped.

* Benjamin is going to be a fish. He LOVES the pool and being in water.

* Last night Brad was playing with Benjamin.. chasing him around the house. Brad sat down for a few minutes on the floor Benjamin walked up to him tapped him on the shoulder and said "hey, hey, blah, blah, blah, blabber blabber blabber, and then he took off running for Brad to chase him. It was like he was saying hey... come chase me daddy!

* I had to take Benjamin to the doctor yesterday because on Saturday we went to my dads hunting cabin and spent the night and he woke up on saturday rubbing his ear and saying bug. So I didn't think anything of it and then he kept saying it on sunday and woke up at 2am monday morning rubbing his ear and saying bug. I figured this was out of the ordinary and he hadn't forgotten about the "bug" so I took him to the doctor "feeling a little crazy that my child thinks he has a bug in his ear" but it turns out he just has some inflammation from the pool in his ear canal. Oh kids... this is only the beginning!

Caleb...

* Caleb is changing so much. He smiles and laughs more than any child I know. First thing in the morning when he sees me he gives me the biggest smile and starts cooing. It is like it has already made his day just seeing me.

* Caleb loves when Benjamin comes in and plays peek-a-boo with him.

* he is starting to scoot on the floor and spin himself in a little circle as he moves.

* he wants to sit up so bad and tries when he is in his bouncy seat or propped up on the couch.

* He is going through a growth spurt right now.. yesterday he ate around 8 times. Usually he eats 3 times a day and occasionally 4.

Baby Fat Be Gone..

Progress!!! Finally I am losing some more weight. I am down to 171.5 lbs! I have lost 5 1/2 lbs total and I can tell the inches are falling off. I was able to get back into another pair of pants yesterday for church that I was not able to wear a few weeks ago. Progress is slightly slow, but going well. I am pleased. Only 41.5 lbs to go to reach my ultimate weight goal of 130!

The Bumbo...

Caleb got to experience the bumbo seat for the first time. He wasn't sure about it either. He is still a little young for it, but I wanted to try him out in it just for fun. He looks so chunky in these pictures, but he really isn't that chunky at all.

Caleb goes to the Pool

Yesterday was Caleb's first time going to the pool. I got him a little bathing suit and off we went... Caleb, Mommy, Nanna, Aunt Anne, Wyatt and Finn.. and later uncle Brent. Benjamin was with his other grandmother for the afternoon. We had so much fun. Caleb wasn't sure at first about the water and got more comfortable. He liked being held close though. I would bounce him up and down and he would start to laugh. I think he will like the water more and more.

Baby Fat Be Gone...

I am doing really well these days. Weight watchers is slightly on hold due to Brad's surgery, I just have not had time to really be cooking, but I have been watching what I am eating for the most part. So far there is no change in weight, but there has been a change in the inches. I am definately seeing a difference as my stomach is continuing to shrink. I actually got into my pre-caleb bathing suit yesterday. Today I am wearing my pre-caleb jeans. This makes me feel pretty good!!

I am doing a boot camp at my parents gym (THIS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)!! It is $5.00 per session and is every saturday from 9am to 10am. I am loving it! It is for anyone who wants to come. We have older people and young people and people of all levels of ability. If you can't run the whole time we do running things, it is ok to walk it. No one is there to judge anyone's ability. It is hard work, but is really paying off. After the 4th of july Tuesday nights, there will also be boot camp. If ANYONE is interested it is at Premier Physical Fitness on Garlington Road. 9am on Saturdays! $5.00 per session! Come out and get a jump start on excercise. If someone needs more details e-mail me at dealsfromthesouth@yahoo.com

My Husband...

My Husband, My dear Brad,
I fell in love with you before I even knew I was in love with you. There was something about you that was different and I made sure I hung on to you. Now after 7 years together, a wedding, and two children later I am more in love with you then ever. You are an amazing and devoted husband, but you are also an amazing and devoted father. I couldn't wait to have children with you. I knew from day one that you would be a wonderful father. That you would show our children love and guide them in a path that leads to the Lord. I love watching you light up when you walk in the door from work and see benjamin and caleb, and almost even more, I love watching how excited Benjamin gets when he knows his Daddy is home. I am so thankful for the time and devotion you give to benjamin and caleb. Making sure each evening that you spend time with your boys. I know as they get older they will want to be just like their daddy. I am so glad that their example will be in you. You are slow to anger which is a quality that I hope both our boys get. You don't snap and you are always calm and composed on the outside even when you don't feel it on the inside. Our boys will want to one day walk in their daddy's shoes, and I hope that you will always remember that you are their example. I know they will always feel your love and support as their father and that they will also feel your discipline but encouragement. I pray that you will continue to pull your strength for our family from the Lord and that you will always rely on him to be your source of wisdom and strength. Thank you Brad, for being so willing to walk through life with me and to go through this process of being parents together. It is not always easy and there are days ahead that won't be easy either, but as we work together as a family we will get through it all. I am thankful for each and every moment with you, I am thankful for each and every glimpse of Christ I see in you and feel in your love not only for me, but for our boys as well. Fatherhood came naturally to you Brad, and from that first moment when Benjamin was born and that switched flipped and you were instantly a father you took the role on with grace and strength and pride. You are a proud daddy of your two boys. I love the way you talk about your boys, but also the way to talk to them. I love how you want them to know the love of the Lord in a real way and not something from a felt board in sunday school. Thank you for being a leader in our family. It is a big responsibility when you have to be the man in a household and though you have so much to learn, you have done a great job. I am proud to be your wife and the mother of your children. I love you so much!

I wanted to share a prayer I have prayed many times for you (from the book "the power of a praying wife")
Lord teach Brad to be a good father. Where it was not modeled to him according to Your ways, heal those areas and hep him to forgive his dad. Give him revelation of You and a hunger in his heart to really know You as his heavenly Father. Draw him close to spend time in Your presence so he can become more like You, and fully understand Your Father's heart of compassion and love toward him. Grow that same heart in him for his children. Help him to balance mercy, judgement, and instruction the way You do. Though You require obedience, You are quick to acknowledge a repentant heart. Make him that way, too. show him when to discipline and how. Help him to see that he who loves his child disciplines him promptly (Proverbs 13:24). May he never provoke his "children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). I pray we will be united in the rules we set for our children and be in full agreement as to how they are raised. I pray that there will be no strife or argument over how to handle them and the issues that surround their lives.
Give him skills of communication with his children. I pray he will not be stern, hard, cruel , cold, abusive, noncommunicative, passive, critical, weak, uninterested, neglectful, undependable, or uninvolved. Help him instead to be kind, loving, soft hearted, warm ,interested, affirming, affectionate, involved, strong, consistent, dependable, verbally communicative, understanding and patient. May he require and inspire his children to honor him as their father so that their lives will be long and blessed. Lord I know we pass a spiritual inheritance to our children, Let the heritage he passes on be one rich in the fullness of your Holy Spirit. Enable him to model clearly a walk of submission to your Laws. May he delight in his children and long to grow them up Your way. Being a good father is something he wants very much. I pray that You would give him the desire of his heart. Amen

I love you Brad!

My Dad...

Father's Day is a wonderful day to celebrate our dads. Today I want to tell you about my dad. He is such a wonderful man. He brings laughter wherever he seems to go and people always think he is just wonderful. I have to agree with them. My dad is one of the hardest working men I have ever met. He has always been driven to be successful and provide for his family. My dad is very proud of his children and has never been afraid to tell us so. He has always showed his love and support, but at the same time has always been firm and disciplined where needed. My dad has never been afraid to tell us that he loves us and it is something that I have always known from the day I was born. I have seen my dad in a new light as Benjamin arrived in our lives and later the other three grandchildren. My dad lights up when his grandsons are around. He loves every moment with them. He makes sure they too know how much he loves them. I am so glad that my children will know my dad so well. In fact Benjamin is pretty in love with his PawPaw as well... He talks about him at home all the time and gets so excited when he sees a picture of him or if he gets to talk to him on the phone.
One thing I have always loved about my dad is that he is a softy! He can't go to a wedding or even see one on television without getting all teary about it. Today when Benjamin walked in with his little gift for pawpaw (something he colored) my dad got all teary. He is just a sentimental man and I think that is such a wonderful quality to have. Dad has also never been to prideful to tell us he is sorry when he has messed up. He made sure that we knew that he was not perfect, and that dads can be wrong too.
My dad is known among our friends for always being a wonderful host for events (such as my wedding). He wants it to be a fun event that everyone will enjoy. I still have people who talk about my wedding reception and how great it was that once Brad and I left that everyone was welcome to come back in because the party was not over.
I have thousands of memories with my dad... dove hunting when I was really little (i am an animal lover so this was a one time thing), deep sea fishing, birthday's, graduations, recitals upon recitals, gymnastic competitions, etc. My dad has always believed in me and always enforced confidence in me. He always gave me the opportunity to try different things and never held me back from being the person I am. I have a lot of my dads characteristics... I get my ability to wake up early and get my day going in the morning from him. I am most productive first thing in the morning. My dad is the same way. He gets up way before I would ever think of getting up though. I am the type of person who has to always be doing something and don't really like to just be sitting still. This is completely from my dad. I get a large portion of my kind heart from him as well. He also loves animals (even though he is a hunter) but he is softening about that over the years as well ( sometimes just watching the deer from his tree stand instead). He will always help someone in need. One of my favorite things to do growing up was on Saturday's to get up in the morning (knowing that dad would be the only one up) and going down stairs and having coffee with him. I always loved this. I miss being able to do that now that I have my own home.
If I wanted to use 10 words to describe my dad I would say he is loving, honest, hardworking, determined, ambitious, adventurous, kind, forgiving, fun, and best of all he is MY DAD.

Dad... Thank you for always loving me, thank you for never being afraid to show how much you care about your children. You are so much of the reason I am the person I am today. Thank you for giving me so many opportunities in life and for teaching me so much about life. Thank you so much for being there for me and keeping me in line. Thank you for loving my children as much as you love me. It makes me so happy how excited Benjamin gets to see you. You brighten his little world! I am so glad that you are such a big part of my kids lives and that they will know you so well. Dad I hope you know that today is a day to truly celebrate YOU.. You deserve to be celebrated for all the years of hard work for us. If God had given me the choice to pick my dad I would have wanted no other person but you! Thanks for being my boot camp partner... I have fun doing that with you. I love you so much and just wanted to say Thank You for being the best father.