18 months

It's COLD here! Very rainy and a high of 60 today, which might not seem chilly to some of you, but it counts as winter weather in Wilmington. Time to add a sweatshirt to the pajamas and boots combo.

I feel like I have been going nonstop. Benjamin officially dropped his morning nap a few weeks ago, and that took a little adjusting. That event coincided with some major separation anxiety (Benjamin), and major overtime at work (Joel), so I haven't had as much downtime lately. I'm not complaining, just stating the facts. For some reason, I also felt like this would be a good time to tackle some home projects. In the past month, Joel and I have installed a new closet system in our master closet, upholstered our own headboard, ripped out our half bathroom and installed a new toilet and light fixture, and done some VERY involved furniture rearranging. We were lucky to received some hand me downs from Joel's parents, so some of our old pieces are going on Craigslist, and others are being repurposed. Don't tell Joel, but I have big plans involving furniture and paint. GASP!! What is it with people FREAKING out about painting wood? I mean, the tree has already died, ok? It's not like I'm running outside and polyurethaning a crepe myrtle or something. Anyhoo...Joel was out of town this weekend and I used the opportunity to stay up until midnight repainting our living room. No tape or drop cloths...just me and a super professional cutting in brush from Lowes. I hate to brag, but it's probably the best painting job I've ever done. I was in the zone! Unfortunately, I have to recommend that no one come to visit for another month or so. We're using our guest bedroom as a catchall for all of our displaced furniture. Right now it contains four side tables, two dressers, bookshelves, a desk, two chairs, Ben's old highchair, a bed, a tv, and about nine pictures/mirrors/paintings stacked against the wall. Make me an offer people!

Joel's parents are here and they've rented a house at Wrightsville Beach for all of us, so I'm off to pack our bags! Staying at the beach is awesome, rain or shine! I'll leave you with these photos of Benjamin, who turned 18 months on Monday. Big boy!

At the park, looking pensive for some reason. He might be thinking about taking someone's snack.

The toothbrush is his favorite thing in the world. And not just his toothbrush, either. I recommend you not leave yours out unless you like toddler slobber and multiple drops on the floor.

During a bath, his favorite activity is filling a cup with ice cold water and pouring it all over himself. This is his "I'm freezing!" face.

After dumping potting soil on his head. He could stay outside all day, just playing in the dirt and searching for lizards.

17 Months

I'm a few days late with this one.  While Ben and I were taking Ladybird for her walk this morning, I had one of those moments where reality just takes your breath away. I have a toddler! A walking, breathing, communicating, 17 month old. Everything about his first few days is still so incredibly vivid for me that it's hard to believe it's been well over a year since his arrival. I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed by this miracle tearing around my house:)

He's still climbing everything non-stop, only now he's moved on to bigger and better challenges. The kitchen chairs and couch are soooo 16 months. Don't freak out grandmas, but Ben has figured out that if you stand on the handle of the warming drawer of the oven, you can just peer over the top and reach all the burners. Also, did you know that if you push a chair or stool over to the dresser, you can climb up and reach all the contraband that mama and daddy put up there to keep out of your reach? He hasn't figured out how to climb OUT of his crib yet, thank God, (I'm not ready for non-containment) but scaling the outside is easy peasy. Also, I guess crawling down the steps is for babies, because Ben thinks he can just walk down them like the big boys. After a few falls, he reached a compromise with himself--the first step is no hands, but on the next two or three he'll hold onto the railing. It's working out so far. He's going through a fussy phase. Everything is heartbreaking for a 17 month old. Sitting down, putting on your shoes, diaper changes, naps, not being allowed to play with mama's makeup, put daddy's toothbrush in your mouth, throw things in the toilet, throw all your Duplos down the stairs just to see what happens, etc... If he weren't so darned cute I'd be pretty mad! 

Here are a few pictures from the last week. I got him these rain boots at Wal-Mart, and they were a great purchase. They're perfect for mucking about in the back yard. He loves to help daddy take Ladybird out and get the paper in the mornings.

A walk in the park

On Tuesday we picked up Joel on his lunch break, and went to Greenfield Lake Park. We saw lots of ducks and one BIG goose.

Benjamin thought they all wanted to be friends, and tried to chase them.

Then he and Daddy went for a little walk around the lake....

....where we saw one of THESE.

Ya'll can still come and visit. We won't let the gators get you, I promise!

Glorious 80 degrees!

Right now it's 80 degrees in Wilmington, and it feels fantastic. Benjamin and I took Ladybird for a nice, long walk this morning, and I have the porch windows open. I think this weather is supposed to stick around for a couple of days. Hallelujah!

I can't believe September is here already. Summer is always so busy for us because of house guests (which we LOVE, by the way) but it's nice to slow down a little bit. Ben and I went to the beach on Friday, and it was empty except for toddlers and retirees. PERFECT! This is the time of year you want to be in Wilmington. All the tourists have gone home, and the older kids are in school. I saw a group of older people just sitting on the beach with their chairs in the circle, talking and watching the waves. How awesome. No kids to run after, no work responsibilities demanding your attention...nothing to do but dig your toes in the sand and enjoy the breeze. I can't wait for retirement!

Here's a transcript of a recent conversation between Joel and Benjamin:

Joel: Ben, what does a cow say?

Ben: MMMMMM!!

Joel: What does a dog say?

Ben: (sticks his tongue out a pants like a dog)

Joel: What does a Benjamin say?

Ben: DUCK

Ben's new word is "hello." He says it like a question, "ah-wo?" Every time he sees a phone he points and says "ah-wo? ah-wo?" I think it's the cutest. What's not particularly cute, however, is the fact that he's decided to attach himself to my leg on a permanent basis. This is a new thing. I alway hate it when people say, "oh, boys do this, girl do that" but I've heard that boys tend to be more clingy. Is this true? I've also had many other moms tell me that girls are more content to play by themselves, and can focus on activities for longer periods of time. I certainly was NOT like that, so I can't really attest to that observation. I will say that sometimes I just have to lie on the couch, close my eyes, and pretend like I don't hear all of the banging and crashing. Mr. B.'s new activity is piling all of his toys in a box or laundry basket, then driving that basket furiously down the hall. BANG! Sometimes he throws the whole thing down the stairs. CRASH! After he's exhausted that game, he likes to find something to climb. I'm afraid a trip to the emergency room might soon be in order. I've left the room for a minute, only to return and find him standing on the arm of the chair, standing on the back of the couch, sitting on top of the kitchen table and trying to put flowers in his mouth. We still have his push toy in the living room, and the other day he climbed on top of it and tried to stand up. On a push toy. With wheels. This boy is going to give me a heart attack! 

16 months (well, almost 17 months)

Last night Ben decided his toys needed some rearranging. Mimi gave him this little play tent, which has become the perfect spot for "displaying" his collection. He spent several minutes walking back and forth from his bookshelves to the tent, placing each item inside separately. 

By the way, have you noticed I finally started putting shirts on the boy? Unfortunately, I keep forgetting about the pants. Darn! I'm always missing something.

Sorry I've been lax about the blog. I haven't had much energy lately, and the blog is definitely taking a backseat. I think it's that end of summer feeling everyone gets. Once it cools off a little I might feel more inspired. Anyway...that means I forgot to write a 16 month update! So, here it goes...

Not to brag or anything, but Joel and I are always amazed at how much Benjamin understands. I think every parent goes through this at some point, but we just can't believe he comprehends the majority of what we are saying. The other night he was pointing to the characters on his pajamas and saying "hm?" so I said, "that's a dinosaur. A dino." His eyes instantly lit up, and he frantically motioned to one of his books. I picked it up, and he turned the pages until he reached the one he wanted, and then pointed to a picture of a rhino. WHAT! I mean, it's not a dinosaur, but I'm impressed that he heard a similar word and knew which book and page to look at. He loves to be read to, and when it's story time he painstakingly looks over every single book. I've actually seen him run his hand over the spines, pause at a book he thinks he wants to read, then change his mind and keep his hand going until he gets to the REAL choice. Just like a mini-adult! 

I've been working with him on talking a little more. Joel and I think he just needs more encouragement about trying new words. His vocabulary has broadened a little bit, and now he says ball, mama, dada, duck, dog, ladybird (bebe!), book (ba), banana (baba), and flower. He also makes "vroom" sounds when he sees a car or truck, and says "MMMMM" when he sees a cow. He has also recently started to use the words "no" (oh joy)) and "mine", which he says like a question--"muh?" I've worked with him on sign language for several months, but he's never really been interested. He does the sign for "all done", and will sometimes sign "more," but that's about it. When he's hungry he just gets his bib and stands next to his high chair, and when he's thirsty he goes to the refrigerator. Works for me! His new "sign" is to very quickly point to an item and then to himself, as in, "give me that." Even thought he's not talking or signing very much, I don't feel too frustrated because I know he understands quite a bit. I can tell him we're going to see daddy, going to the store, changing his diaper, taking a bath, making dinner, taking a nap, etc..and he always knows. 

At this point he's developing so quickly it's difficult to write about everything! I'm personally having a hard time with the switch from babyhood to toddlerhood. I've noticed that Ben has started to run away whenever I say his name, probably because he realizes that I'm going to tell him he can't do something. I need to focus more on what he is allowed to do, rather than instantly saying no. It's a hard habit to break!  I'm such a jumpy and energetic person, and when I'm tired or stressed it's easy for me to start acting anxious or nervous. I don't want Benjamin to feel that way, so I'm focusing more on being calm. I need to realize that messes and accidents are not a big deal. Truthfully, I feel like I'm not a very good mom a lot of the time. But when I look at Benjamin and see how healthy and smart he is, I realize we've had a good start. I'm so lucky to be a mama!

First Haircut

We've been very busy lately. Arrived home from VA yesterday afternoon, and the in-laws are coming to visit sometime this week. Mr. B. is a little under the weather, but I think we're looking at a 48 hour bug so it should be over soon. I'll post pictures from our trip at some point, but for now I have a house to clean and errands to run! 

Ben had his first haircut last week, and I LOVE it! 

The mullet

He didn't cry, but he definitely wasn't happy.

He got to sit in a car chair, which really made the experience palatable. I don't know if he would have been able to sit still in a barber's chair.

Sorry for the action shot. Benjamin is the only child I know who actually runs AWAY from the camera when you point it at him. Doesn't he look like a big boy? 

Teething!

This weekend was not as relaxing as I had hoped. We have a teething Mr. B., and I feel like "teething" does not adequately describe the torture we're all experiencing. One pesky upper molar is turning our house upside down! I must admit that I had several instances of having to stop, take a deep breath, and say to myself, "he's only a baby, he's only a baby." When your 15 month old is insistent on hitting you in the face OVER AND OVER and alternating that activity with CONSTANT WHINING, well....let's just say it's not pleasant.

BUT, here's the funny thing about Ben. When his teeth aren't hurting, he is seriously the best baby. Just the happiest, friendliest, most laid back and loving little boy. Seriously...I'm not just saying that because I'm his mama! After a series of bad incidents this weekend, our little guy switched over to happy mode yesterday evening. Daddy took pictures to prove it!

Exploring 

I know, I know...the hair has to be trimmed at some point.

Splashing

Happy to be here!