Mobility Matters

Bentley adjusting to the ability to flail her legs aimlessly and the obstructions in her path.

I had a dream....

Last night I had a dream. I very vivid dream that had me awake in a panic, sweating and breathing heavily!
I gave birth to baby no. 2! I had to argue for quite some time with the doctors about giving me a c-section. They would not beleive me and told me I would have to "go home and work it out!"
Everything turned out ok and SHE was beautiful!

My name is Lindsey Ketcham and I....am overly obsessed!

I have a confession. I need to write about this mainly because I want to look back in a few years and realize how incredibly ridiculous I must sound!

A Typical Morning at the Ketcham Residence

It actually starts the night before: I lay in bed contemplating and envisioning outfit ideas for Bentley to wear the next day. I obsess over her shoes, her shade of tights, her hair bows, her jeans, the stitching on her jeans, the "fit" of her top, the color and look of her bracelet....EVERYTHING!

I can not sleep soundly until I have figured out what she is going to wear to the sitter the next day. Keep in mind, she will not see anyone, but the sitter and the other careless children.

Our morning starts out around 7:00. Bent has a bottle and wakes up slowly while I begin getting ready. I then go into her room and coddle her because if I don't she may spend the rest of the day believing I don't' love her enough to spend the time wishing her good morning.

I then painstakingly iron each item she will be wearing that day, including knit sweaters and hats. I lay out her tights and run the sweater shaver over them. I usually thread ribbon through the holes in her knit hats according to the color scheme if it fits in. If she does not have a hat to match, I get out the "hair bag"-a large plastic bag with gel, hairspray, three different combs, elastics and every color ribbon imaginable. I try and coordinate the hairstyle to the look of the outfit. I lay out all items in order of how they should be layered to make the perfect outfit.

Brade is my hero and dresses and chats with her while I finish getting ready. I then go in and "inspect" her outfit to make sure it looks exactly how I envisioned it in my head. (this makes me wince to even say this out loud. WHY?)

If the colors are off or the shoes don't match the "look and style" of the outfit, I change it all! I then pick out a blanket that matches and off we go--WOW, just writing this and saying out loud makes me want to cry and join a therapy group.

New Year, New Attitude

We have all had them. Those days when you wake up and think the world is out to get you, only to realize, "it is not that bad!"
Nearly one ago as Brade and I were very heavily contemplating a name for our new little girl, we decided her name had to mean something, something very important and dear to our hearts. Something she could reflect on for the rest of her life.
Bentley J. Ketcham, is what we came up with. The "J" has several very important meanings, but most of all she is named after our heroin, Jodi.

(Christmas Eve, 2007)

You may recall a post about my very humble and very courageous cousin, Jodi Carlson. Three weeks after delivering a beautiful little girl, her life changed forever. She had a major stroke and nearly died. She quickly became a heroin to everyone around her. She has persevered and struggled through the last year with a testimony and attitude unlike anyone I have ever seen.
I want Bentley to know that life is going to throw her some curve balls throughout all her years. She is going to be down at times and on top of the world at others, but through it all she has the example of many people around her and especially Jodi and her family to guide her. There are people that come into your life that leave you breathless and in awe. I have met many, many people along the way. Last year, there were two: our beautiful daughter and Jodi.
Brade and I decided in 2008 and forever, those two people would be linked. They are two people that made us better, made us live a little stronger, stand a little taller and be the people that would make others proud.
New Year, New Attitude!

I have added a link to Jodi's Blog on my sidebar. I have had several people ask me how she is doing.

Happy New Year to Me!

We had such a FABULOUS Christmas,I really need to post some photos and such, but I wanted to share these darling pictures Veronica took of Bentley and Amy's Charlie. I don't think anyone can appreciate these as much as us, her parents. Bentley's personality is so vivid in all of them. She can be so sassy and spunky sometimes. Veronica manages to make every shot perfect every time! I love her and I am so glad I have a close friend with such an amazing talent!

A few of my favorite things...

Watching Brade and Bent spend quality time together.

He is the cutest dad to "his girl."

This morning as I listened to his morning routine with Bentley, it brought me to tears. Every morning he walks into her room, nearly shouts (in a very high pitched voice):

"Good morning my sweetheart!" She immediately starts to giggle and vigorously wave her arms and legs and reaches up for him. He gives her a long hug and kisses her head. He proceeds to get her changed and gives her a run down of what to expect in the upcoming day.

"Mommy is going to take you to Cely's and you get to see all your friends and play with them. Mommy will pick you up and you guys can hang out and have some girl time until Dad gets home tonight. Hey, what do you say we work on crawling tonight? You and I will spend some time on the floor and get those muscles built up so you can start cruising around the house like a big girl!"

I love them both and I am so glad Bent has the dad she does!

You Asked For It and Your Gonna Get It!!

I have to do something to take my mind off the pain throbbing in my finger(sewed it in a sewing machine last night) and the anticipation of Christmas....why not update my blog a little!!
I will do one post a day until Christmas to get all caught up!

Lets see, let's start with OCTOBER! That is the magical month when I stopped blogging!

We took a little trip down to the St. George with my cousins and their kids! We had such a blast and so many FUNNY memories!! Anytime you stay in a house with three couples and three kids 2 and under, there is bound to be some laughter and chaos!!

For instance:

Trying to get three kids in bed when their rooms are all next to each other and they choose to "talk loudly" through the walls.

Do they look calm and ready for bed?

Again, trying to all three kids bathed and ready for the day!

Trying to get all of them to get along at the park.

We had such a great time, memories forever and moments that would melt your heart!

Bentley and Mason are five weeks apart and the best of friends. They often console one another after a hard day!

Enough said, who could resist that look of desperation?

Bent and Brade enjoying some quiet daddy daughter time at the duck pond!