Benny Boy

MJ Wannabe

2011-02-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

Benny loves our new Michael Jackson dance game. His favorite -- "Beat Up" -- which is actually Beat it. He's not bad.

o

Sakes alive, he's a boy!

2010-11-09T21:36:00.001-08:00

Benny in his birthday suit before the trim.

The new do.

Only a few people ever called him a girl. And although I'm a little sad that the curls are gone, it had to happen. I mean, I'm not even really good at doing my little girl's hair, so after bath when it was time to brush out Ben's tangly knotted curly fro and he was having fits about it, I realized I didn't even have to be fighting that battle! "Chop off the locks!" I thought. So that's what I did. I put a show on, filled up my spray bottle, and went for it! Don't look too closely. Curls are forgiving, though. I had fun pretending like I knew what I was doing. I kept the scissors out all day and kept fixing pieces that were too long. I imagine I'll be finding pieces of Lucy's hair on the floor now since she watched me cut Ben's hair. That's kind of her thing.

Ben Learned a new trick

2010-09-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of time this summer at our adopted Grandma Nellie's pool. For all his short little life, Ben has tried to keep up with his sibs and actually done pretty darn good at it. I still can't believe what he's willing to try and how he's not really afraid of anything! I wish he had a little fear of drowning or the deep end (I always thought Jaws lived in the deep end of my Grandma's pool) or something, anything. He was afraid of the pool sweep for awhile, but not anymore. So yeah, he's swimming and he's 2 1/2. Swimming is a strong word. He's wriggling around and strategically grabbing edges of the pool. But he can get somewhere. Lucy's learning to swim, but since her bro is 2 years younger, he's stealing the lime light. But when I'm not watching him like a hawk, we get girl practice time too.

Thumbs up!

2010-04-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ben has hit a peak of cuteness lately. He's awesome. And he likes to say awesome, too. And gives thumbs up. Watch and see.

This is what sign Benny gives you when you give him a thumbs up. He hasn't figured out where his thumb is yet. He doesn't just raise up his index finger, either. He lifts it fast and with a purpose, just like when someone gives you a thumbs up. It's darn adorable.

Here's Benny getting to be the center of attention, something he's very good at.

Here's what Benny does when he's being quiet. At least it was lotion and not, oh, I don't know, petroleum jelly. I didn't take pictures of that mess. It wasn't nearly as cute.

I love my Benny Boy.

Wild Child

2009-07-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

I always wonder what it would be like if you could somehow capture a moment in a jar--the feelings you had, the exact sounds, smells, sights you are seeing right in a single moment. I wish I could capture my children's childhood (parts of it--the good parts). I know when Sam was small, my heart would ache thinking that he would grow up and be different than what he was right then. It's almost like anticipating homesickness. But Sam has grown and I have loved him along the way as he has seamlessly become a grown-up boy. I ache a little today for Ben because I he's at a stage where he's bursting with personality, curiosity, and life. He plays with everyone or by himself. He's not at an easy stage, but it's the most fun he's been yet. And the way his brain absorbs everything around him amazes me! We've gone swimming often and when he runs full speed towards the edge I raise my hand and say "Stop!" He almost always does, so I guess he understood it. But yesterday he really showed me a window into his mind. I get nervous when Ben approaches the monkey bars because they are 6 feet off the ground. I know he can hold on to that first bar he can reach, but he just dangles once he's there (and he can dangle for awhile, but still--there's nowhere to go but down from there). He stood on the edge and I stood below him, knowing he would reach and swing. I held his waist to spot him. He stopped and fidgeted and kind of whined, but I didn't know what he wanted. He tried a few more times but didn't ever grab and hang. Finally he looked at me, raised his hand, and said "Ah!" (for those who don't speak Ben, that meant 'stop'). Who knows where's he "supposed" to be developmentally, but I know it's the first time he pulled a word out of a different context and used it to communicate. The brain sure works in wonderful ways.

Ben has this new gait when he feels rambunctious (most of the time). He starts by squating down and swaying back and forth with his arms extended to the sides and then he runs in circles as fast as he can. Or he uses his squat move to sneak up on bugs. He saw a fly on the side of the pool so he squatted down and moved his feet inch by inch. Everytime the fly figured him out and took off, Ben would squeal and run in a circle and do it all over again (the fly kept landing in the same spot--not a very bright fly if there are bright flies).

Words: here go (like when you hand someone something and say "here you go"), where go?, go!, all done, Dada, Mama, gunk (drink), gunkgunk (binki), and you might hear peek-a-boo and stop if you listen with toddler ears.

Current favorites: climbing onto Sam's bed and jumping off into my arms, whacking people with long, hard objects (swords, empty paper towel rolls, etc.), dancing, swimming--he blows bubbles and kicks his legs really well, climbing on anything that gets him higher than he already is, coloring on the walls, eating markers, sticking his tongue out, sticking his finger in other people's noses (or his own), eating popsicles, trying to eat other people's popsicles, binkies and blankets at bed time (his yellow blanket with stars on it seems to be a favorite), Thomas the Train, wrestling.

Dislikes: Getting out of the bath, carseats, Lucy squishing him, Sam poking him in the face, walking through doorways without someone holding the door open--he's really scared it will slam on him.

Cheese or cheesy? You decide!

2009-06-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

The last family picture we took didn't include Ben and Lucy wasn't even walking yet...it was time for another attempt.

80% of the family cooperated--we had to do some work to get Sam on board, though.

Ben, on the other hand, is our little male model and Lucy a budding star. She had a shirt on the other day that said "I'm the prettiest princess." I told her what it said and she smiled her toothy grin at me and said "I am" matter of factly.

He's a Maniac!

2009-05-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

If Ben wonders why he won't have much info about his childhood, I'll tell him it's because he ran me so ragged that it's his own fault! The kids doesn't stop! Here's a list of Ben's favorite things to do:
Running in circles with his head cocked to one side.
Climbing into his high chair to beg for food.
Climbing up anything that gets him a better view of the world.
Climbing up the jungle gym and attempting the monkey bars (he can grab onto the first wrung and hold on and hang for a pretty long time--I just worry at how fearlessly he does it).
Hitting Lucy over the head with Sam's new croquet mallet.
Eating sand by the shovelfull or handfuls of dirt.
Pouring dirt or sand on his bare toes.
Trying to jump into Nellie's pool (he can't get off the ground, but he squats and then swings his arms and then tries and tries and then just steps in--again, with no fear at all). He laughs like crazy watching Sam swim around.
Pretending to be a puppy--crawling around making a squeaky barking noise.
Climbing on the dining room chairs and then up on the table to get food.
Purposely throwing things and then pointing at it with a big "Uh oh!"
Other words: All done, Owie, Mama (spoken clearly but used to mean I want something right now) and he might say "Da" for Dad. He jabbers a lot.
He loves lying down on the ground inside and out.
Sucking a binky makes all of life's problems melt away.
Begging for the sacrament bread loudly! He sees the men disperse and starts howling and reaching and pointing.
Conducting the music when organ music plays at church.
Dancing.
Here's Ben at the turtle pond--all red-cheeked and loving the freedom of running around the paths.

Ben, the young Patowan, is strong in the force and actually knows how to extend the light sabers, even if he carries it upside down sometimes.

Put 'em to work young

2009-05-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

Ben loves being outside. And if he can be outside and either really dirty or really wet, then he's in heaven! Here he is helping me water the garden. He couldn't figure out where that water was coming from and would occasionally drop the hose and run away when he was getting really drenched. But he would come right back to it and do it again.

Earlier that week we were out in the garden again. I was picking some lemons while I allowed the kids one bucket of water to play with in the dirt. I thought that might keep the mud level down. Ben kept reaching in and splashing in the water. I was supervising, don't get worried(I could just see the flash of "don't let the kid fall in the bucket!" go across your brain-screen), but I admit I didn't totally notice when the kids started mudding Ben up. Lucy started with his hair. They stretched his mohawk of blond hair straight in the air, his thin hairs suspended in a claylike combination of dirt and water. Then, since I had taken his shirt off, they painted his whole upped body with mud. At first he didn't mind, but I think some water splashed in his eyes and then it was off to the hosing station to get cleaned up. The kids know that if they get covered in mud, they must face mom with the hose. And I'm not always nice. I felt bad for Ben, though, because it wasn't his fault he had dirt in his nostrils! He forgot all about my high-pressure water torture quickly. And he would do it all over again if you asked him about it.

You've got something on your face

2009-04-13T21:11:00.001-07:00

How do I get my whole head in here?

Ben likes to eat. And lately he has shown a preference for certain foods. The other day he was squaking and begging for food , doing every sign I've taught him frantically (more, water, hungry!!!! Please listen to me!!!!) so I sat him down with something that a month ago would have sufficed (plain bread, cheese, water) and then I cooked for the rest of the family. But when he saw that steaming, crispy grilled cheese sandwich, he started tossing his food and screeching for the good stuff.

The night these pictures were taken I was supposed to go to a Clipper's game and sit in a VIP box and eat really good food with Chris, but I couldn't find a sitter in time (it was short notice at bed time on a week night and I tried a few people then gave up--basketball's boring anyway, right?). Nellie took us out to ice cream instead because she knew I was a little disappointed. What would I do with her! We went to Coldstone and outside the store there's a little plaza with a walk-through water fountain. Well, I don't think it's meant to be walked through often, but my kids think that's what it's for. Everytime we've gone there, they start out by testing their limits. How close can they get to the fountain before it hits them, or which hole can they step on to prevent the water from spraying them. But by the end of the night (once Ben finally stops eating), they're straddling the shooting water laughing like crazy. It could be a lesson in how we allow sin into our lives. But on a lighter note, it makes for a bit of entertainment along with dessert. Next time we go, I'm going to bring extra clothes.

Our Little Reptevya

2009-01-16T20:16:00.000-08:00

I read in some parenting material that early walkers (9-10 months) are usually careless and reckless, wildly attempting their new skills at risk of life and limb. Ben does NOT fit that description. He has perfected the skill of learning to walk. We're talking poster child of the year for walking done right. Am I too proud of his new trick? Maybe, but I'm also seriously baffled by how artfully he has mastered walking. One day we were forcing him to take a few steps between us, the next he was traipsing down the hall! This video takes place after about 5 days of active walking. And you'll have to forgive my singing...

What do you think of this picture? Doesn't it look like Ben is three times bigger than Sam? Or like Sam's clutching a little doughboy, trying to keep him steady. I gotta work on my photography skills.

Stop making me do this, Mom!

2008-11-21T21:58:00.000-08:00

I think the real reason Ben became mobile so early is because he gets so focused on what he wants, obsessive even, that he fixates on it--scaling whatever is in his path, crying if it's taken away. If I'm in the room, the object is me! That's why filming him is tricky. But I got a few seconds of his new tricks. He even stood unsupported for a few seconds a couple of times. Those chunky thighs offer some real support, I think.

That's what you get for feeding me poop!

2008-10-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

I guess when you can't communicate, like in the case of a 7-month old boy, trying to express how you feel can be very frustrating. So frustrating, sometimes, that you just feel like you could spit! I think Ben hit his limits and needed to do just that--a lot of harmless spitting. Not a bad option, really, and something those with anger management issues should consider. It takes him awhile to get going on the video, but once he does, you'll understand what I'm saying here.

My Kitchen

2008-08-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

I took a video of my kitchen so my interior designers (my aunts and mother) could get a better idea of what it looks like. The walls are plaster and there was paint under the wallpaper, but it looks like it was only painted once. We haven't cleaned or done the touch-ups yet, and there is some damage (little cracks, holes from nails). Chris said he can take care of that. The cabinets are flat and smooth to answer your question, Aunt Kathi. They are the original cabinets from '58. They're in good shape, but are very old fashioned. What do I do with a bay window? There's another huge one in the living room. What color paint should I choose? I like sand by Sherman Williams or I would love to try a green color. The linoleum is light (off whitish with a gray-brown marbling pattern) and the counters are white tile. It's pretty new and in good shape (not what I would have chosen, but we're not replacing that yet). We have a lot of eventual plans, but painting the kitchen has moved up to #1 on the list with our recent wallpaper removal hysteria. I have a feeling that's how home projects will progress in this house. We'll get so sick of something that we'll tear it down and spend weeks trying to figure out how to fix it. Crazy house fixing! It's fun though. Thanks for all of your input and help from afar!

National Cheesecake Day

2008-08-06T22:44:00.001-07:00

A lot of really great things happened on National Cheesecake day last Wednesday. First, I got a piece of Cheesecake Factory Godiva Cheesecake for $1.50. That alone would have made my day. But then Ben decided to just go over the top and start sitting up, too! He's the third child, so I haven't been trying to teach him the stages of development like I did with the other two. It's more like "Oh yeah, he might be able to do that. Let's try it." So in my moment alone with Ben, I sat him up and he stayed!

He was probaby thinking--"yeah mom, I totally could have done this last week if you would just spend some time with me!" Those younger kids have to jump through hoops to get attention, I hear, so wait for even MORE exciting tricks from Ben still to come.

Who's Who?

2008-07-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a serious case of sibling look-alikeness. Here are pictures of Ben and Sam at the same exact age (4 months). We have twins born 4 years apart! Ben is the top photo. They are similar in other ways, too. Sam bounced whenever you stood him up. Ben loves the bouncer, too! And Lucy never bounced. It's so fun to see how similar the boys are versus Lucy. We'll never know how much is gender and how much is just personality, but it's fun to see the similarities!

Say Cheese, Ben!

2008-06-15T20:54:00.001-07:00

Sam grabbed the camera while I was on the computer (and holding Ben) and took Ben's picture point blank. It turned out pretty cute, though. And he has blue eyes! Finally, a kid with some of my coloring!