Enough time has gone by, and I think I'm due for another post to document our life. We heard today about an awful tragedy that has happened to some friends of ours down in Vermillion. Their 16-year old daughter, Madison, and another brave bystander died after jumping in the Sioux River to rescue Madison's 6-year old brother, who had fallen in. The young boy, Garrett, survived and climbed out, but his two rescuers were swept away in the freezing current. Madison's body has been recovered, but the other is still missing. Our hearts are broken for this sweet family in this awful time and we pray for them to find comfort, peace and love from their family, friends and neighbors, and especially our Heavenly Father.It's days like this when most people tend to reflect on their own lives and the blessings we have that aren't often enough acknowledged. I know that I certainly feel a sting in my heart knowing that there's one family out there that I know and love who are suffering life's worst possible nightmare, and I am here at home clutching my own baby like there's no tomorrow. There's a feeling of grief for the family, guilt for myself, and gratitude for my son.
So I feel inspired to share some thoughts and pictures, lest I ever forget Benjamin's sweet face and funny sayings at age (almost) 2 and 1/2! (Can it be?!)
Benjamin will be the first to tell you that he is no longer a baby. He is a "big boy," and don't you forget it. So big in fact, that he's more than willing to carry his empty plate around the house after mealtimes to prove to everyone that he did, in fact, finish eating and is ready to play again, people!
His eating has gotten better over the months and (gulp) years. He's still hit or miss about most things, which I know is normal for his age, but I have had a few proud moments. He does love salmon and couscous, feta and queso fresco, capers and olives, and most all fruit and vegetables. (Except broccoli. Don't even think about those green trees.) Number one on his list continues to be spaghetti and meat sauce. Like mother, like son.
Benjamin does love to spend time with me in the kitchen. He gets on his "up-stool" and helps me measure, pour and stir. We watch things sizzle in skillets and boil in pots. We listen for the timer and pull cookies out of the oven. He has a blast, and he's consistently more willing to eat food that he's helped to make, so he has officially become the sous chef of the family.
(Don't mind us... We just rolled out of bed:)
Are you noticing something different in that most unflattering picture above? Little boy undies, perhaps?! Benjamin is potty-trained. Yahoo!!! It's been almost a month now, and while I was skeptical at first, I'll admit that it's a ton easier than diapers - especially when we're out of the house. I ended up using a 3-day method, but he pretty much had it down in about 6 hours. I made a sticker chart for both poopy and potty, which also worked out great. He came down with the flu on day 4 post-training which threw a wrench into things, though. The accompanying diarrhea didn't help matters and we had a few accidents. His self-esteem took a little hit and he spent about a week terrified to poop again, but luckily we've worked through that. You guys don't even KNOW how fabulous and exciting poop is! I've never had to talk something up so much in my life! Haha. Anyway, things are humming along nicely and besides a few accidents here and there, we've had no issues. The only bad part is that he is not night-trained. I know that stupid book I read said it would happen along in the process, but we haven't been so lucky. Problem #1 is that Benjamin is his mother's son, aka the world's deepest sleeper. We started out with undies at night, and he soaked right through them 2-3 times a night without even waking up. Thank goodness I got up to check! After a week of changing sheets multiple times a night, I finally gave up and bought a package of nighttime Pull-ups. I have also been getting up him throughout the night to use the potty, and he does go, but I swear to you that he doesn't wake up for it. He is a zombie. Doesn't even open his eyes. You should see me try to wake him up for school on Wed/Thursdays. He is like a 16-year old teenager on a Saturday morning.
Anyway, he loves his froggy toilet. He loves to flush. He loves his new big boy undies. He loves other people's bathrooms. He loves telling people he goes potty from his penis. I love not having stinky diapers to deal with!!! Overall we've been killing this potty business!
Benjamin continues his obsession with any vehicle imaginable. High up on his list lately are firetrucks and rockets. (He's gotten into the show "Little Einsteins", which has a rocket.) He spends most of his time at home driving his vehicles around, making them crash and then saying "sorry, car." What a life, when a 99-cent Matchbox car can light up your day!
Here are a few more pictures of Benjamin with his favorite toys: (notice the blocks are supposed to be a dinosaur. A T-Rex, specifically. Dad helped.)
For fun, I started Benjamin with some early piano lessons this month, just to see how he would do. I made a very simple color-coded system of note-reading and he's taken to it well so far. I draw a big staff on a sheet of paper and compose a simple song using colored notes which correspond to the keys on the piano that I have colored with dry-erase markers. He follows my finger from beginning to end of the phrase and matches the color on his music to the corresponding piano key. He loves it, and has now started calling it the "color song." It's been fun to watch!
This winter has been so bitterly cold that we've hardly spent any time outside. We did get out once or twice to check out the snow, but each time was short-lived. (Can't say I blame him. Brrr!) PLEASE hurry, Spring! Benjamin just wants to get out and ride his firetruck!!! It's too hard in the snow!!!
("Mom, this is awful. This snow is in my way of having fun.")
We've been busy trying to fill our days with lots of projects and activities. We recently made some St. Patrick's Day gifts for our friends, which required me to buy a huge bag of Skittles (oh darn), and separate them into colors. I enlisted my amazing son for the job and he did very well. For every Skittle that was sorted, at least two were eaten. It was a good day.
Benjamin is quite the conversationalist these days. I have GOT to start writing down more of the funny and sweet things he says, but I did get a picture snapped of this moment when he said, "Daddy, I want to be a doctor..... just like you.":
My sweet little boy is very affectionate and is always saying, "Mommy, I love you." I've got to get that recorded, so I never forget what it sounds like.
Today we had a Dr. appointment to check out a cyst on his cheek. While the PA was listening to his heart, this conversation happened:
Benjamin, pulling down his shirt: "Look. I have nipples."
PA: "Yes, you do! You have two nipples."
Benjamin: "I have nipples, like Mommy."
PA: "Yes, and your nipples are very little. Mommy has bigger nipples."
Benjamin: "Yep."
Hahahahaha.
While I'm on the subject, here are his stats from today:
Height: 2ft, 10inch (Tenth percentile)
Weight: 23lb 6.4oz (First percentile - yeah, baby! We're on the charts!)
Benjamin is LOVING, LOVING, LOVING school. He's obsessed with his teachers and talks about them all week long until he goes back every Wed/Thur. He does great playing with the other kids and is the top of his class, I'm pretty sure! ;) His teacher just recently told me that he and another little girl (Jazzy), are a little married couple. They follow each other around and take care of each other. Last week Benjamin complained that he was too hot and took off his sweater, only to hand it to Jazzy, who walked across the room and hung it up for him. Miss Katie says that stuff happens all the time, and she gets the biggest kick out of it. So cute!
We spend a lot of time with our neighbors and good friends, the Lewises, and I'm grateful to have such a good friend nearby! We also have a bi-monthly craft club/playgroup with some friends in our ward and have enjoyed that. We do a lot of outings at the community center for toddler time and the Washington Pavillion, where we get in for free (thanks Aunt Becky), and always bring friends along to enjoy the Science Center. Benjamin's favorite places to go these days are the public library (we spend HOURS there - they have a train in the kid section), and the Butterfly House. That place is awesome. Benjamin goes to touch the starfish and stingrays in the touch pool at the aquarium portion, and I go because they have a giant greenhouse that they keep at 80 degrees, dressed it up like a legit rainforest, and filled the place with hundreds of butterflies. On the coldest and snowiest day, that is where you'll find us. Benjamin also started his very first day of gymnastics this morning! They have a parent-toddler session a couple times a week and they let the kids utilize all the equipment (trampolines, foam pits, bars, beams, ropes and one GIANT bounce house.) He had a BALL, so I'm pretty excited about that.
Well, I've written a TON about our boy. He's amazing. A dream. Smart, handsome, funny. He is his father. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.
As for Joel, medical school is humming along. Just don't ask us what we're doing with our future. Haha. (sob.) It turns out that Joel is (over)-qualified for anything and everything, and he just so happens to want to do everything. So, we've got that decision to make. It was Match Day for the 4th years today. It's hard to believe that'll be us in a year! I'm super excited, though. I'm sure things will work out just the way they're supposed to and we'll be very happy. I'll keep the blog updated as our future unfolds.
Until next time, I'll be living it up here in Tea, SD, doing my very best to enjoy every moment.
