Matt, Stacey, and Ben Uhrig

Posted in: on Monday, December 10, 2007 at at Monday, December 10, 2007 1 comments  

The tree is up! (OK, I admit I actually put it up the day before Thanksgiving because we were having a big dinner party that night and there was snow on the ground). We have broken down and put up an artifical tree. In our old home, we always kept the tree outside because we didn't have room in our house for it. It was always nice, on the deck with lights. The other benefit was that our cats didn't eat the needles and get sick. Now that we have room for one, we decided to go artifical. We actually received this one from one of our new neighbors. Can you believe that?!? That's christmas spirit!

Posted in: christmas on Monday, December 03, 2007 at at Monday, December 03, 2007 0 comments  

Our "theme" for xmas this year is "Believe". Its just so humbling to spend a holiday season with a 3 year old. So innocent...so in deep belief of all things christmas, especially Santa. I can only hope that this phase lasts as long as possible...until he is 30?!?! :-)!

Posted in: on at at Monday, December 03, 2007 0 comments  

Hysterical! Loving the holiday spirit ;-)
Braydon and Heather this one is for you !

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9601276182

Posted in: on Sunday, November 25, 2007 at at Sunday, November 25, 2007 1 comments  

Too cute for words!!!
Click below:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9601215669

Posted in: on at at Sunday, November 25, 2007 0 comments  

Posted in: on Monday, November 19, 2007 at at Monday, November 19, 2007 1 comments  

Our boy continues to grow! He had his 3 year old check up today.
Weight: 30.5 lbs
Height: 36.5 inches

Officially over 3 feet tall! He has grown 5 lbs and 3.5 inches in 1 year. Not bad! He wears a size 3 and his feet are a size 9! Matt is happy to state that Ben is now officially half of his (Matt's) height!

Posted in: on Monday, November 12, 2007 at at Monday, November 12, 2007 0 comments  

Posted in: on at at Monday, November 12, 2007 1 comments  

Just a quick note to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our boy!!!!!

With this also comes the subtitle change of our blog. No longer Trials and Tribulations of a 2 year old. Now - Life of 3 at 3!

Pics and more to follow later today or tomorrow!

Posted in: on at at Monday, November 12, 2007 0 comments  

The affair of paint and truck continues as early as 6am! Good thing the paint is "washable"! I don't know what Ben enjoys more...painting the trucks or playing in the water while washing them clean afterwards! So much fun!

Posted in: on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at at Wednesday, November 07, 2007 0 comments  

As of late, Ben has begun a new love of trucks. All things BIG...specifically Monster Trucks! If it has big wheels and can drive over other cars, trucks, its all good for Ben!

Last night his 2 loves met....like a Resses Peanut Butter cup! Trucks and Paint?!? Yes! Why use a brush when you can use Monster Truck wheels?!?

Posted in: on at at Wednesday, November 07, 2007 1 comments  

ooooo so scary!

Ben was Sully monster (aka James P Sullivan from Monsters Inc.). Each year I'll call my sister in law and find out what my nephew Jack was for halloween when he was Ben's age...this year we hit Jack Pot with Sully!

Posted in: Halloween on Thursday, November 01, 2007 at at Thursday, November 01, 2007 0 comments  

We have a number of friends whose families are inter-racial whether by adoption or simply biological. Amongst many of our conversations - HAIR seems to be of importance...especially amongst our friends whose children are black. We've personally never had any issues with hair in our family per se. As a matter of fact, Ben's hair couldn't be more similar to Matt's. Dark dark brown, extremely straight, and somewhat thick.

Ben's hair grows quickly! As a matter of fact when we saw our first picture of Ben he had a ton of hair (at birth). By the time he came home he had a full full head and we definitely cut his hair prior to turning 1. Since that time, Ben has consistently had a hair cut about every 6 weeks. No product, no special shampoo, just wash and dry and we go! I KNOW this is a significantly different scenario from some of our friends.

So - what's the point of all of this? Well, this morning after having a nice breakfast with Ben at the island, we each separated for a few minutes. Ben was doing arts and crafts at the island with colored paper and children's scissors while I was arms length away at the kitchen table looking up recipes for tonights dinner. Every few moments I'd look back and ask Ben how he was doing - "Great!" was always the answer as I watched him snip snip at the colored paper.

Then we had the following conversation
B: Mommy I need a shower.
M: Huh??!?

And then it hit me....look! Look quick!!!

I turn around and I saw it - a mom's worst nightmare - cut hair! Cut hair everywhere! On the island, on the chair, all over Ben, all over the floor!Ok - now I can't get mad because I GAVE him the scissors. So I remained calm and the following convesation occurred:

M: Oh - honey....you cut your hair...
B: I did! Didn't I do a good job?
M: Umm.....well....you cut your hair....

Now granted there are huge clumps of hair - but this kid has sooo much of it - you almost couldn't notice. Is it possible he did a good job?!?! Do I have a hairstylist in the making??!?

So we showered - immediately. Ever tried to get cut hair off of someone in a bath / shower? Not easy. We clean up -and then I go downstairs to clean up the mess. And there is so much of it I'm laughing.

I go in to see Ben playing and I inspect his head. And seriously - he didn't do a bad job - it actually looks...OK?!?!

I tried calling to see if the Barber was open to clean it up but he is closed on Mondays...so we'll wait it out - maybe I won't even taken him later in the week....

I told him:
M: Ben - from now on, no more cutting hair with scissors..
B: OK
M: But I have to say - you did a pretty good job
B: Thanks - am I a hair cutter?
M: Not exactly....but maybe some day!
B: Yea - maybe when i'm an adult.

I have to say - we've been pretty lucky with Ben's hair. Simple to maintain, etc. etc. But one of my FIRST thoughts was - OMG - had this been Kyle and Owen I would have died! My girlfriend Heather and her husband Braydon have spent hundreds of hours over the course of their children's lifetime dealing with hair. They made the decision to dread their hair at the age of 1. The boys hair has never been cut and it looks awesome! Albeit it has been a TON of work for them. Hair products, weekly hair maitenance, etc. My inital reaction was - call heather and tell her - don't let the boys be alone with scissors! Ok - bad idea - what kind of mom leaves her kids with scissors - except for me (remember I was arms length away!). What if K&O cut that beautiful hair?!? What would they do?!?! Would they have to cut the dreads?!?! So Heather this one is for you - read and remember!!!!

Posted in: on Monday, October 08, 2007 at at Monday, October 08, 2007 2 comments  

Saturday it was pumpkin picking, etc....and SUNDAY was Apple Picking!!!!
We went apple picking with Grandpa Mike and Lala....it was so much fun and the apples were delicious! Ben was getting really good at grabbing the apples from the tree - and needed some help with the "apple picker"!

We came home and made some delicious apple pie! Super fun day!!!

Posted in: on Monday, October 01, 2007 at at Monday, October 01, 2007 0 comments  

Our favorite season hands down is Fall. Both Matt and I love love love it! We love the pumpkin picking, apple picking, Halloween, the weather, the colors, everything!

Saturday we went to an amazing farm in Chester. There we went on a hayride, picked pumpkins right off the vine, picked raspberries, and Ben rode a Pony (though we think it was a horse - it was huge!).


Following the farm, we went to Ben's favorite playground in Ralston and finished the night with an awesome fall dinner of chicken pot pie, mac and cheese, and knockworst with sauerkraut at The Black Horse Pub in Mendham. It was a perfect Fall day!


At dinner Matt and I both agreed that though we love the Fall and have always loved experiencng the farm, pumpkin picking, etc - nothing compares to experiencing it with a child. Its always better when we're together!

Posted in: Fall on at at Monday, October 01, 2007 1 comments  

Yesterday was Matt's Birthday. He turned 34. We celebrated all weekend long with a visit from Chris and Sherry and a huge open house / house warming party! Though I work on Tuesdays, I typically work from home that day. Yesterday was not a normal day and I had to work a Microsoft Event. Matt was home for Ben by 3:45 but I didn't get home until 8:30pm....

Long story short - Matt got the short end of the stick...no cake, no candles, no singing! He said he didn't mind but it bugged me...so today Ben and I went and got a cake from Cold Stone Creamery (red velvet cake with cake batter ice cream yum yum!!!). After dinner we surprised Matt with the cake and of course candles and singing!!!

Posted in: on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at at Wednesday, September 26, 2007 1 comments  

Posted in: on at at Wednesday, September 26, 2007 0 comments  

Posted in: on at at Wednesday, September 26, 2007 0 comments  

I find that Ben and I have our most interesting conversations in the car. Perhaps its because its one of the few times during the day that he sits still enough to have a conversation - who knows...but lately our car talks have been cracking me up so I thought I'd share...

Monday
M: Ben I love you
B: Mom I love you too.
I love you from America to South Korea and then back to America...that's alot right?
M: Yes, Ben that IS alot!
B: Yeah - that's how much I love you mommy.

Wednesday
B: Mommy, do you see the horses?!? (note we were passing a horse farm).
M: I do! Do you like horses?
B: Yup! So much it hurts my heart (note - I say this ALL the time...) that's a lot right?
M: Yup -it really is.....

Posted in: on at at Wednesday, September 26, 2007 1 comments  

Ben's top 5 favs....

5. The cup / plate drawer!

4. The snack drawer!

3. His playroom! Note, no - ben is NOT playing trivial pursuit! But he thinks he is ;-)....

2. Our awesome new backyard!

1. Our home is the one with the open gate! We waited for this location for a long time! No neighbors behind us - just tons of land and an awesome bike path! We are loving our new space!

Posted in: on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at at Wednesday, August 22, 2007 2 comments  

Playroom (still being painted - ignore blue tape!)

My favorite space - the kitchen!

Posted in: on Thursday, August 16, 2007 at at Thursday, August 16, 2007 0 comments