15 things you didn't know about me...the mommy version

So, in some of the magazines I read they have these articles about 15 things you didn't know about me and they have celebrities give 15 facts about them that people wouldn't know. So, I thought I'd do a mommy version of it. I'm going to try to stick to stuff MOST people wouldn't know.... here goes...

1. I'm absolutely obsessed with how much Legree sleeps.
2. I love that Legree looks just like Ben.
3. I love that he has a Ballentine personality through and through!
4. I hope Legree is left handed like Ben and I (it's not looking that way)
5. I like to see Legree with a pacifier in his mouth, I think it's cute!
6. I read three pregnancy books and two breastfeeding books while I was pregnant with Legree.
7. I only let Legree watch one (occasionally two) TV shows a day. He often yells at me about this!
8. I am obsessed with milestones and his development. He's way past most kids his age, but I'm still constantly analyzing it.
9. I taught Legree how to spit. Probably not a good idea this young, but it's funny.
10. I buy a lot of Legree's clothes 2nd hand, and I was them 2 or 3 times before I let him wear them.
11. I'm obsessed with his clothes and what he wears (much to Ben's dismay).
12. I make sure his PJs and socks match before he goes to bed.
13. I love when Legree goes down for a nap so I can get stuff done, but am usually dying for him to wake up and play with me by the time nap time is over.
14. I avoid taking Legree out to a restaurant at ALL costs... he's a holy terror! He thinks everyone is there to see him and he much talk to each person.
15. I feel more and more blessed everyday for my little family!! I'm not quite sure why God blessed me with Legree or Ben... I certainly don't deserve them... but I am so thankful and happy to have both of them!

Muppets and Milk

All we need in life is muppets (from Sesame Street) and some milk!!

15 months

15 minutes old



15 Months old


Ben and I's little boy is 15 months old tomorrow! Well, really in 3 and half hours he'll officially be 15 months old. It seems like yesterday to me, but yet still so far away. I wonder if I'll ever forget every little detail of that day. I don't see how! It all seems so clear and I remember so much about that day. You know how most memories kind of get hazy or unclear after so much time, not that day! Probably because it was the most special and wonderful day of our lives! Our little Boo was born! I can't describe what a blessing he is in our lives and how thankful we are that God blessed us with him!! He is amazing!

Anyways, enough mushiness... in honor of Legree's 15 month "Birthday" I thought I'd write down 15 memories from that day...

1) Stopping at Publix after church and getting Gatorade and sub sandwhich. I inhaled it as soon as I got home!

2) Ben left for work and I changed into PJs and layed on the couch and my water broke as soon as I layed down.

3) Ben had already taken the medicine for a clonoscopy that was scheduled for the next day, GREAT!

4) Calling Ben to come home and his HYSTERIA and my absolute calmness...

5) Getting to the hospital and them questioning weather my water broke or not (I knew it had, they didn't want to believe me since it was 16 days early).

6) My grade school teacher Mrs. Long coming in on her day off to be my nurse (She also was the one to make Ben and I's wedding cake)

7) I wasn't dialiating or contracting much on my own, even with my water broke so they started me on petocin.

8) Pastor coming to give a brief prayer and share God's word with us. The pitocen started to kick in around the time he came and by the time he left I was pretty sure I was dying (HAHA).

9) GETTING THE EPIDURAL! What a beautiful beautiful thing!!

10) Telling Legree to wait to come AFTER "The Next Food Network Star" because I didn't want to miss it.

11) Starting to feel pressure and wanting to push... I knew it was almost time! I finally started begging to push.

12) How hard it was to push!! No one warns you how hard that REALLY is... I knew it'd be painful I didn't know it'd be like running a marathon on top of the pain. And they turned my epidural off (BOO)

13) Ben looking up to tell me Legree's head was out!! He was so excited... I deffinately already knew!!

14) Legree finally coming out and all I could see was his privates and legs at first. Ben went to cut the umblical cord and I told him to be careful not to cut Legree's pee-pee.

15) The dr. laying Legree on me for the first time. I remember his face, what he felt like, what the room looked like.. it's like a video I can see in my head. Unreal, amazing and miraculous!

Splish Splash..

He REALLY needs a bath!

This recipe changed my life!

Okay, maybe that's just a LITTLE dramatic, but it kind of did! I mean everytime we have a party or gathering I'm ALWAYS asked to make this dip... .and throughout the party people ask me for the recipe. So, I always have a super easy dip to make for all parties AND a conversation starter!

My sister in law turned me on to this dip. I instantly fell in love and got the recipe from her. It sounds like the oddest mixture of things, but it REALLY works!! Give it a try, maybe it'll change your life too!

Ingredients:

One onion, chopped

1 box of cream cheese (room temp)

1 cup of mayo

3 cups Parmesan Cheese

1 bag of Fritos chips or Tortilla Chips

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl (except the chips). Transfer to a 13 X 9 baking dish. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with the chips for dipping. The Most delicious thing EVER!! And SOO healthy too, haha!

Math Equation

I've never been very good at math... it's just not my thing! But this is one baby math equation I think I've got the answer for!

2 teething/cranky/sleepy babys

+ X amonth of teeth coming in

+ 1 messy living room!


+ 2 hour long nap for the babies

+ 1 good clean up of the LR by mommy/Aunt Beth

x Lots of thought and work to build a cool little fort to keep their minds off of the teeth

+ Lunch

+ 6 teething tabs (for anyone with kids, Hyland Teething Tabs are a God send, get some, now!)

/2 babies

- ANY interest whatsoever in this cool fort...

+ 14 pillows

- The sheet and chairs making the cool tent

+ Lots of fun crawling all over the pillows (Ian is an EXTREMELY fast crawler, so all the ones of him crawling over the pillows are blurry, but he was right there with Legree!)

+ 30 pictures taken by Mommy/Aunt Beth

EQUALS:

TWO HAPPY BABYS!!

WHEW, thank goodness!

There will be a test tomorrow, study up kids!!

Farm Days

Legree Len Lewis

Triple L Farms Display

Dacusville Farm Days Tractor Show

(I think John Deere could use this as a commercial!)

We went to Dacusville, SC this weekend for a big tractor show! Now, if you've ever been around Legree and a tractor, well you know his absolute love for them! He's obsessed really!! I don't know if it's just a boy thing or if it's born in his blood or what... be he sees one and he has to get on it! He especially likes the tractors that have gear shifts so he can shift gears and steer! HAHA!

Ben's parents went up in their camper and spent most of the week. Ben, Legree, and I went up on Saturday. As did Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Keri and Ava. It's always fun to see Legree and Ava play together!

I must say the weather was perfect, the company was great and we had a blast!! It was fun to mingle with all those laid back country folk (HAHA).

Legree driving his pretty little cousin around...

This is the life!

He would sit there all day if we let him!

The little ol' couple... haha