Benjamin, you absolutely make me smile and so often laugh out loud!
I am in a little bit of denial that Benjamin is actually 18 months old! I would be in more denial except in the last 2 weeks he has fully made the switch from baby to toddler. He is all toddler! He walks. He says, "no," and means it. He takes toys from his sister. He looks at me, laughs, and then runs away. He communicates what he wants to eat and expects that. Full toddler, but also full of cuddles and smiles!
Anybody curious why we needed that hair cut two weeks ago. Whoa Benjamin! Sorry about that, hehe!
This also shows that Benjamin loves to take things apart. He takes the lids off and puts them back on the markers. He does that at least once a day (normally at the kitchen table!). He studies things to figure out how they work, acts like he prefers to figure it out on his own. He is his daddy's son (sadly I can't claim that figure-it-out personality trait)! I am already thinking this Christmas we need to find something that allows him to pull, twist, push, take apart, put back together kinda toy....otherwise he will continue to play inside cabinets!
His eating habits are becoming more toddler-like in that he communicates what he wants and refuses if it is not that item. His favorites are bananas, crackers, raisins, grapes. He eats meat really well too. He has started to refuse his [almond or rice] milk. He loves water! We laugh at the amount he eats for breakfast. The other day, he ate two sausage links, a banana, and a piece of toast. An hour later he was ready for his snack! Twice last week, I told Will that I would be ready for a snack when the kids went to bed; Benjamin had eaten half my supper along with his own!
We have not had any major or really any minor allergic reactions lately. But, just to remind us that his allergy really does exist, this hive on his chin came up while the rest of us ate frozen yogurt.
At 14 months, Benjamin took his first steps. At 15 months, he took 2 steps at a time. At 16 months, he was walking. Now he only walks! He gets upset when Anna-Kate and Natalie are running around and he can't keep up. Climbing the stairs is a game. Not a fun one to his mommy, but to him it's great! He hasn't understood how to go down stairs yet.
Benjamin spends more time in cabinets or climbing stairs or... than playing with his toys it feels like! This particular day he just climbed in the pantry and started peeling an onion, as well as pulling other things out! But, this is also why he carries things to the trash can to throw away. He has tried to put his own shoe on, to no success, but he tried. Seems like he is going to be our go-getter!
His words have taken off this month. He says help, again, mommy, no, ball, dog, cracker, hiss, woof, [monkey sound], book, cheeeese (like for pictures), water, up ... am I forgetting any? He repeats back a lot more and he jabbers often. Love this age of quick learning and discovery! And love that his communication is becoming more clear!
He sleeps a full 12 hours at night and naps about 2 hours in the afternoon. He has still not finished cutting his two-year molars and his eye-teeth have started coming in as well. Not the most comfortable season for our little man!
He "runs" excitedly to the door when he hears Daddy coming home. He l.o.v.e.s dogs! He really enjoys books. He is a cuddler! My favorite is when he lays his head on my shoulder, then tucks his knees in, and snuggles his hands in between us. He has cuddled in that same position since he was a baby! He loves to be outside.
And, he just got his first black eye! We were visiting my neighbor. Benjamin climbed up his breakfast nook bench to follow the dog (like he does every time we visit). This time, he played with the dog and then fell off the bench, under the table, and hit his head on the table leg. This picture shows off the handsome bruise he has been sporting and those cute little lips!
Benjamin, you are our easy-grinning, wave to anybody, I'll-do-it, snuggling, handsome little man! Love you our Benjamite!
