Father's Day 2008

This is what I'm most thankful for on Father's Day.

We interupt this blog for something really important.

I'm sorry, I'm a marketing guy, so I have to get the word out to everyone all ways possible.
Daybreak is opening it's third village North Shore with an eclectic mix of new homes from the $100's-$600's. I've been working with my web developer on a really cool microsite to help boost awareness about the new village and get people out to the Grand Opening on June 28th. If you've never been to Daybreak, this is a great time to come and see what it's all about and there are some really cool prizes including free tickets to see Wall-E, a drawing for an iphone, and many more. Click Here to access the micro site and get more info. There is a really funny pass along card you can send to people with a talking fish, dog, or zucchini. I'd be interested in anyone's feedback on the micro site if you have any.

Thanks!

-Cameron

It's a walk off . . . it's a walk off . . .

Ben is (finally) walking. That only took 15 months.

Ladybugs

In the early summer daybreak releases thousands of ladybugs to help keep the gardens pretty and they invite the kids to come "help." Since the party was taking place right by our house, Cam and I decided to mosey over with Ben tonight so he could watch. There was actually quite a turnout.


They open the bags of lady bugs and let kids take them and set them into garden plots and onto the ground. Of course Ben is way too little to really get the concept, but Cam picked up a couple of lady bugs so Ben could enjoy them. They're tricky little bugs, but we finally got one of them into Ben's pudgy little palm and Ben promptly popped it into his mouth. Cam and I swatted his hand away and I think the little lady bug probably survived the experience, but it very nearly became a snack for Ben. Maybe we'll try again next year.


Here's our dirty, tired, ladybug-eating little guy.

In the cat house

Benny loves crawling in the kitty house at Laura's. He really loves the cat even though she doesn't return his affection and has clawed him quite a few times. In fact "ditty" is one of his few words. He uses it to reference anything small and furry. A while ago there was a commercial for Dirty Jobs on TV and Ben excitedly pointed to a dead sewer rat yelling, "ditty, ditty!" So sweet.

Congrats Mom!

I've been a bad husband lately, especially given that Leslie's Birthday, Law-School Graduation, and Mothers day have converged in a perfect storm of events worthy of recognition all within about a 2 week period. I've tried to take her shopping, to dinner, and a number of other things to celebrate her recent accomplishments and special days and they've all been thwarted by the classic "(sigh), it's OK, we don't have to do anything...."
So since she's such a blog freak, I decided that I should at least acknowledge these things here.
So first Happy 29th babe! it always comes during finals week, so we never get to celebrate it properly. But alas that problem is now over because the second item is...
HAPPY freakin' GRADUATION!!!!!!! Finally!!!!! It's been three long years, and even if you are not excited about it, I am. You've accomplished a lot during this time and to try to do it while giving birth to and then taking care of a kid is an accomplishment in and of itself. I love you and appreciate your hard work and the sacrifices you have made for our little family.
I Love you so much, and I'm so proud of you!
Lastly, Happy mothers day! You are very busy but still find time to be such a good mom to our little roo. I know he loves you too!

If you're reading this (even if you are blerking) please leave Leslie a note of congratulations on her trifecta of things to be recognized for.
-Cameron

Busy little Ben

I have a lot of things I should be doing right now. I've got a final to get ready for, a house that needs cleaning--heck, I've got a house that needs painting and flooring installed so we can move into it in this lifetime. But I'm feeling the need to reflect and I don't keep a journal (I know, I know) other than this blog. Basically, feel free to skip over this post.

Ben is just growing up so fast and is turning into such a big, able little boy. Well, he still refuses to stand on his own or walk; however, he has demonstrated that he has the ability to do so. He's lacking the desire I suppose. It's so fun to watch him become aware of his little world. He babbles constantly, although his vocabulary of "real" words consists only of "hi" at this point. He has proven that he can maneuver the stairs--both up and down. He's just a lot of fun and I love him so much.

I guess I've been feeling particularly grateful for my healthy little guy recently. I've been faithfully reading (okay, blurking) Charlie Cooper's blog for weeks now. He's a little boy who is just a little younger than Ben and he's been in PCMC for months now. He got very sick after contracting pneumococcal meningitis. This sickness took a serious toll on his little body. He has brain damage, hearing loss, and is likely blind. I look at pictures of this perfect little boy who was a healthy little child just a few months ago and I think about how quickly things can change.

We've been to PCMC with Ben a couple of times for testing. Each time we've been sent home with a clean bill of health. I can't imagine spending months there and I certainly can't imagine seeing my sweet little boy affected by a disease the way that poor Charlie has been. My heart aches for his parents. Before Ben was born I would have thought Charlie's story was sad and probably not given it much more thought. But after having a kid I'm so much more affected by things like this. It makes me a little more patient when he yells, rummages through cupboards, and paws through the baskets of laundry I just folded.