Sweet Siblings

I should have added these photos along with my last post-they were taken on the same day. I can't believe the friendship that is forming between these two. No one makes Elodie laugh like Bennett does.

Photo Shoot

O.k, I am about to post soooo many pictures of Elodie. I can't help myself! I thought she looked adorable the other day in her girly outfit, and when I started taking pictures, they were capturing her personality so well, and I just couldn't stop. And then I couldn't choose. I keep thinking, "imagine if I was a real photographer with a crazy -great camera!" So, here are a bazillion photos of our sweet, smiley, squirmy, spunky little love bug. It is a glimpse at why we are so completely taken by her!

"Did you see my pig?"

"I LOVE MY PIG!!!"

"Remember my pig?"

"I still love my pig!!!"

"My pig is yummy, and he makes me drool."

"What was that?"

"You crack me up!"

"Ahhhh, Pig."

"See my teeth?"

"I have two of them!"

"Hmm?"

Getting tired of this hat...



"Got it!!"

"...pretty tired out from the photo shoot, think I'll just
relax with one of Mom's magazines..."

"Hey, get your own!"


The end.

This Time Last Year...

Lately I find myself amazed at how much our life has changed this past year. I keep thinking, "I can't believe that was only a year ago." One year ago, we lived in Long Beach, in Southern California-SO different than where we are now. One year ago, my belly was rounding with our "Baby Unkown," I don't think the pregnancy had even sunk in for us yet! One year ago, we were a family of three, Bennett was our tiny toddler, filling our lives up so much we could hardly picture space for anyone else. One year ago, Rob worked for PSAV, step two of three on his career path. Only one year ago!

Little Bennett at the pumpkin patch last year:

(Big) Bennett this year:

With Mommy and the goats in Long Beach last year:

With Daddy and the sheep in Livermore this year:

Baby in my belly last year:

Baby on my belly this year:

Disneyland last year:

Disneyland this year:

(this is a terrible picture, but it's the only one we
took of the whole family)

Elodie this year:

I know I mentioned not being sure how our Elodie would fit into this family. I can say those honest words without feeling bad or guilty, because now-one year later-we cannot imagine our lives without her! She is our little joy. I read somewhere recently that your first baby is your pride, and your second is your joy. So true. I was telling Bennett tonight that he blesses Rob and me. He said, "Oh, I bless you?" "Yes," I said, "very much." "Oh." He responded. "What is bless you?" And I just thought about how I want to try, every day to find ways to tell and show both he and Elodie what blessings they are to us. I am going to have to show them, because it is impossible to put it into words!

Already the best of friends!

Same Sweet Old Bennett

Bennett, 16 months

Bennett, today.

Sweet Visit

JDog (Jenny) and her adorable girls came for a visit last week. They live up in Grant's Pass, OR, and, lucky for us, Jenny's mom is here in the bay area. It was so much fun to catch up, and for our kiddos to play. Here are some photos:

Jenny and Chloe (16 months)

Karrah (3 yrs.) and Elodie

Fake smile, but it's me and my girl :)

Sweet Karrah

Cutie Chloe

Happy little lady

Wearing a fire truck hat, singing a fire truck song,
on his fire truck...life couldn't be better!

Group shots (pay attention to Elle in this sequence)

My favorite pic. of them to date

Thanks for the visit, Borchard ladies! Oh, how we miss you.

This ones for us...

So we won't forget… how he makes us smile, laugh, and melt. A list of quotes from the little man. Many of them are stories we have told, sorry for any repeats. Here goes:

Bennett: Look Daddy, I have an Earwack! (said while holding up a finger covered in earwax).

Sunday School Teacher: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Bennet: Yeah...I have some.

Bennett: Daddy, can we get a Panda?
Rob: Well Bennett, they’re pretty big. Where would we put a Panda?
Bennett: In a tree!"

"Wow, Mommy, you look pretty!" or, "I like your hair." or, "Mommy, you’re the best!"

Waving to the fire truck passing by..."Bye firefighters, be brave!!"

"My Grandpa lives far away. So does my Bumpa. And my Uncle Kevin. All my people’s live far away. (perks up…) Auntie CoCo is gonna be close, though!!"

This is a common one: "I wanna be naked for a bit."

(When Rob works tons) “Can my daddy come to my house?”

We all need our privacy. Grammy, Heather (starts saying names that I had no idea he knew…). Yes, we all do…in fact.

Before he falls asleep, Bennett often suggests we recap the days events by saying: "Should we talk to our day?"

"Barrack OBAMA!!!" (when we see him on the news or on a bumper sticker)

He has always loved looking at books, but lately he looks at the pages and says: "I can’t read the words!” Today he said: “I look at the book, and I see the letters, but I can’t read the words!" And when he is “reading” to himself, he begins by saying the title and author like so: "The Hungry Caterpillar (for example). By San Francisco." Every book.

During nap time, I overheard Bennett singing his version of Amazing Grace from his bed: "I ooonce was lost, but nooow I’m found. Was deeead, but now I see.”

He walks into the kitchen, no pants on, holding Squirts (his stuffed elephant) & a cup of milk, and says, “Have it going?” He meant "how's."

Bennett: I’m gonna be a man. When I grow up. I’m gonna be a man.
Rob: Yes, Bennett, you’ll be a great man. But don’t be a man too soon, there’s lots of fun boy stuff left to do.
Bennett: Yeah, okay.

"Elodie, don't touch my bobbin!!!" He means bottom. "She touched my bobbin!!!" One time Elodie reached over, and, very swiftly, yanked Bennett's pants down. He was very mad. Hilarious.

And lastly:

Rob and I (independent of one another) both saw pooping as an opportunity to teach B. a lesson about lying/telling the truth. We explained to him that if he does a number 2, and we ask him if he has gone, the honest answer is yes (the dishonest answer is no, you get the idea...). So now, we always find out that he has made a poop when he announces, "I tell the truth!!"

Kiss