Quiz time: What is Ben doing in this picture?
In this picture I am thinking, "I love being a Dad." Ben is thinking, "Please catch me!!"
We took Bennet to Phoenix for my cousins wedding and he was great. No freak outs on the plane, charming in front of family, and a trip to the zoo was fun for all. Every time he saw a new animal, he let out a slow "woahhh" or "woooowww." He saved his best reaction for the wedding however. As one of the bridesmaids began to walk down the aisle, he looked at her and yelled wowwww to the delight of everyone in the room. I think he should have saved it for the bride but Ben said "she's already taken, the bridesmaids are where the action is." Damn he's smooth.
We knew it would happen. Our little prince is starting to get opinions, demands, and desires. That cute little pointing trick he used to do? Now it's a fast point followed with a loud "arghhh" sound (which is cool if he were a pirate, not cool since he isn't). If he doesn't get whatever it is he thinks he needs, it quickly turns into a louder arghh and possibly fake tears. This had made me realize that up until now, we were simply "taking care" of Bennet. Now, it's starting to be true "Parenting." Do you respond to his grunts and yells? Every time I do, it's positive reinforcement to do it again next time. His tamtrums are harder to ignore because rather than lie on the floor and scream, he gets up, walks over to my legs, and holds on while screaming bloody murder. I can't move, can't pick him up (don't want to reinforce the tantrum), and can't spend the next 10 minutes standing still waiting for him to stop. I end up walking in circles so he can't zero in on my pant leg and grab hold. I keep trying to reinforce the good behavior and ignore the bad but it's really hard! I thought "parenting" would be easy...
In this pic, you can cleary see the nicely healed cut on Bennet's left eyebrow. First real injury came and went. The black eye? That's from this weekend. Ben tried skydiving off his chair and didn't leave time for his chute to open (a common rookie mistake). His face hit the other chair cutting his upper lip, making his nose bleed, and evidently causing a nice black eye. The bruise on his forehead above his right eye? He was playing behind the curtain over the back door and walked into the bookcase next to the door. He bounched off the bookcase, fell backward, and hit the back of his head on a stool. It's been a pretty fun week at our house.
Today was the first warm day of 2009 so we took Bennet out into the world. Luckily our neighbor Hailey was also out enjoying the weather. They were so cute walking around together. Ben pointed out every car on the street to her and said "cah cah cah". Hailey told Ben all the animal sounds she knows. I, overcome by overwhelming adorableness, wet my pants twice.
Here is Ben in the Preying Mantis position, one of the many martial arts attacks he has mastered. Actually, Ben has decided now that he is one, he should try to master walking. He can make it across the room. However, he's got his arms up (as shown) and a slightly crooked gait that makes him look like a drunk chimpanzee. To top it off, he's so proud of himself he's usually laughing. Every time I see him do it, it makes me proud. Watching his confidence grow is awesome. Watching his head bounce off tables, stairs, the floor, etc...not so awesome...
This is just a nauseating sea of holiday flannel. Still not sure how Caryn talked me into this but it's definitely blackmail material for when Ben gets older. Actually, the thing that bothered me the most about the pajamas is that mine weren't footie pj's. Ben's toes were safely wrapped in a rubber soled, flannel bootie. I was exposed to the elements.
Bennet, the stranger wants you to sit on his lap...
(lyrics sung to the tune of "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven)
To the company who made this sweater, I want royalties when you use this picture in your ads.
We have a circular coffee table in our TV room. Ben and I spent 10 minutes rolling a ball back and forth to each other yesterday. It was really amazing to see him think about grabbing the ball as it rolled towards him. (even more amazing is the fact that the table was cleared of the usual junk mail and other cluttery crap) Plus, the look on his face when he actually caught the ball was really cute (of course when I got up to get the camera, he felt the game was over and went back to trying to lick the cats tail). Anyway, you can imagine how proud I am now that my son has shown the smallest amount of athletic skill. I can hear the argument now..."Yes you have to go to baseball practice. No you can't take ballet lessons. Stop crying." :)
The kid loves bananas. What baby doesn't? I however hate bananas. It's not just the flavor. The simple sight of someone else eating a banana actually makes me a little nauseous. It was difficult for me just to take these pictures. As Bennet is learning to look at our reaction to a situation, I know it will be important not to let my disgust turn him off of natures most nutritious and arguably most phallic fruit. Nevertheless, the fear that keeps me up at night is the inevitable day when Ben tries to get me to share his banana with him ...must ...not ...vomit ...on ....sons ...face ....arghhhh.
As the weather turns colder, I'm noticing how dry and cracked my hands are getting. After dirty diapers, gas station pumps, and general daily activity, I wash my hands so often they're like sand paper. However, this doesn't bother me quite as much as the obvious question: How often did I wash my hands BEFORE Ben was born?...
Ben's numerous nicknames always seem to have "stink" in them (Stink-Eye, Stinky Pants), so it was only fitting that he was a skunk for Halloween! Notice the resemblance between Ben and the pumpkin? Two bottom teeth and a cute button nose.
Here's Bennet covering himself in spaghetti. He was really pissed we were giving him something that hadn't been through a blender...until some got in his mouth. He then got real excited, shoved a handful in his mouth, and threw the rest on the floor. Somewhere there is a golden retriever puppy looking for a floor to lick clean...
Nine months of pregnancy...check
These pumpkins are actually normal sized, Ben is just freakishly large.
