Ben is well into his 20th month. I can not believe it. He is growing up so fast and is learning so quickly. I have one smart little cookie! Here is what has been going on!
~ Ben had his first school assembly yesterday. His Mom arrived way early and helped the teachers escort all the little kids to the assembly area. I was not aware that I was in the wrong classroom. When it came time to sing, all the kids froze and my little guy did not want to be with the rest of his class but rather with his Mom. That was okay by me! The director did inform me that the kids do know the song and hand movements but just not in front of a bunch of parents. The song was in Spanish, but I knew one word, which was eyes!
~ Ben has been a stitch lately. He is well on his way to becoming potty trained. The other day he looked at me, pointed to his butt and then pointed to where the diapers are kept. Apparently he had gone #2 in his pants and wanted the situation fixed. He has done this twice now, but not every time. It was pretty darn cute because he had the most adorable worried expression on his face when he informed me.
~ Ben also twice this week has told his parents that he wants to go to bed. On Monday he pointed to the stairs and whined and on Tuesday he just started going up the stairs to his room. I find this funny because his Dad as a little kid would also tell everyone he is going to sleep now and go to bed. Hopefully this little deal keeps up because the night time routine is EASY!
~Both Ben and Ty have also assumed that every time they go to their Nagypapa and Nagymama's house they MUST have a sink bath. Mostly they can wait until the dinner dishes are cleaned, but on one occasion Ben could not and would not wait. He howled for his little sink bath. The boys love sitting in the water with their green spatula and colorful measuring cups. Ben during his bath times (both at home and at his Nagypapa's house) loves to drink the water, put his face in the water by crouching over and most recently like to lay on his stomach in the water like he is trying to swim. After these sink baths, Nagymama usually has to change her shirt after these baths since both boys like splashing her with water.
~Ben continues to love being read to. I hope this keeps up as reading to him will really help him learn how to read and be a great reader. I love books. However, Mommy is a bit tired of reading B Is For Bear and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She has both books memorized.
~Ben also really loves hockey. His new word is goal. He will put his little arm up in the air, point his finger and say "goal". He mimics Ovechkin. His Dad nor I taught him to do this. Every time he sees a Capitals game on he says "goal" even if the opposing team has the puck. Perhaps that why the Maple Leaf's won yesterday? Ben needs to stop cheering for both teams!
~Ben's favorite food right now still is macaroni and cheese and most recently he really loves blueberry muffins (thanks to part of my Dad's birthday meal). I can already predict what he will want my Mom to cook him for his birthday meal this year. I am happy about it as they are both some of my favorite too. I promise I am not pushing the food on the kid. He truly loves eating it up.
~Ben has also recently won the war of the pacifiers. He was just so miserable without it. He would literally just cry and cry. Finally both his parents broke down and gave in. It just wasn't worth it. Our lives have all been a little easier ever since.
~Ben most recently played at the local mall playground (Dulles). A lot of the kids were a bit too big to play on the playground. I honestly wish some times there was a playground enforcer for these things. However, he didn't care and ran with them like he was a big kid himself. He had no fear. That kid is fearless. I would be scared, but not Ben.
~One bad habit Ben has picked up lately is hitting. He likes to smack his parents and it is so not cool. Hopefully this is a VERY quick phase he is in and it will soon be over with. I am associating this phase with him not being able to express himself with words. I remember his biting phase ended as soon as he could walk, so I figure once he learns a few more words then this will end as well. For now there are many "talks" and time outs when this occurs.
~Ben gave his first (as far as his Mom knows) affectionate hug to a girl over the weekend. His little friend was Julie. They both have had play date ever since they have been born so he feels comfortable with her. Needless to say I was surprised as well as the other Moms in the room. Not that Ben is not a cuddly kind of little boy because he is, but we all have never seen him just go up and hug. It was truly priceless.
~I am already planning on Ben's second birthday party. I can't believe that I am already planning for another birthday. Slow down Ben! I am highly considering a Sesame Street theme birthday. Ben LOVES watching Sesame Street. His favorite characters are Elmo, Big Bird and Bert. Why he loves Bert, I don't know, but he always points to him. I personally think Bert is a little bit grouchy.
~Ben is also comfortably wearing size 2T shirts and some 2T pants. It honestly depends on pant to pant as some are longer then others. He also is wearing a size 4 Kirklands diaper and a size 6 1/2 size shoe.
~Ben's dislikes right now (okay today at this minute because it could change tomorrow to something he likes) is eating meat, not being able to go where ever he likes (he tries to run into the street at his Nagypapa and Nagymama's house), and the tops of broccoli. He actually prefers the stems. Go figure.
~Ben really likes to eat bananas, rice cakes (cheese), any sort of cookie, chocolate pudding, macaroni and cheese, hard and soft shelled tacos, pizza and McDonalds. I promise you he does eat some healthy food, but like most of us he prefers the rotten stuff! He also really loves to be read to, wrestle with his Dad in the evenings, climb into his parents bed, be sung to and go outside.
~Ben will also tell you at the dinner table that when he says "all done" that means you need to take the plate away from him or it will soon go on the floor. At least the kid gives you a warning. He then wants to be put down to go play. This is a tad problematic when we are eating dinner out. His Dad and I have learned to eat quickly and ask for the check as soon as we feel the end is near for Ben.
I think that just about sums up everything that is going on in my little man's world. It is such a big world to him and he really is the most happy little guy that loves just diving head first into everything. He really lights up my life. I love you my little pumpkin little.
