His pants from last year aren't as small as I thought they would be (it helps that everything started out too big). Most are too short, but two pair are still wearable, as long as he has disposable diapers on. We can do 18mth pants until we put on cloth diapers, and then we get bumped up to 24mnth. Shirts we wear anywhere from long 18-24 - 3 T. I think he fits best in 2T, but sometimes I buy 3T because I don't want to grow out of it anytime soon. I bought a couple 4 T the other day at the consignment store...I can't pass up good deals. Oh, and his feet are big. I didn't think so for a very long time, but they are wide, and a little long, and overall - big. however I don't think they look super ducky.
Benjamin is also super verbal...not understandable, but verbal non-the-less. He gets pretty quiet around peers, but around momma and daddy, and sometimes other adults he doesn't stop jabbering. Our clear words are still limited to: Ball, Uh-oh, and animal noises (which he has a TON of!). I am convinced that he also says, "whats that?" when he points to pictures in books. Its debatable. He talks enough with his eyebrows I guess to make up for his lack of vocab.
I'm doing cloth diapers over half the time. He sleeps in disposables, and anytime that I leave him with Joel, or we go out. He eats pretty much anything. Veggies go down much better if they are fresh, and if they are offered before any other food is seen. But if Benjamin had his way, carbs and desserts would be his sole diet. Pizza, corn on the cob, chicken or cheese tortillas, and oatmeal are some of our other favorites.
Bedtimes are typically going great. There is the occasional exception when we're sick, or in a foreign place...but those occasions are getting better...not flawless, but better. Benjamin lets us know that he's tired, more often than not, by finding our couch pillows and laying his head down. He sleeps about 2 + hrs in the afternoon (1 - 3), and 11 hrs at night (8-7).
We still spend a lot of our day reading, being tickled, wrestling Daddy, unloading moms dishwasher - clean or not, being frustrated that he cant tell me what he wants, running from the living room to the kitchen, driving our bus from aunt Anna?, dancing, eating, making ourselves dizzy, or building with legos. His creations keep getting more and more creative! Ive been saving these stacking blocks (that Benjamin got from Aunt Auburn for his birthday) in the closet so that on a day that we're super bored with our toys we have an exciting surprise. I think he's going to love it!
Mondays: Benjamin gets stuck in his room most the morning to allow for a Nav Staff Mtg in the living room. He generally reads books for a while, plays, sometimes takes a nap, and last week, momma brought in his DVD player which was a special treat! the mtgs last 2.5 hrs, so we get creative. From 4-6 we hang out with Daddy while momma has cheer practice and we don't have a very regular Monday night routine right now: football, small group, mommas girl night, etc
Tuesday: Benjamin and Momma just started going to an event called Wee Worship. Its just a half hour in the a.m. and is great to interact with kids and sing, dance and hear bible verses. Daddy watches Benjamin during the rest of the day, while Momma cuts hair. Then we switch and Momma and Benjamin hang out in the evening while Daddy has a couple bible studies on campus. Sometimes momma has college girls over after Benjamin's bed time.
Wednesday: Every other Wednesday is Nanna day. On the off weeks, Momma and Benjamin are going to try to make it to Caffeine and Chaos in the church gym. Wednesday night is family night. This is momma's favorite day/night of the week.
Thursday: Thursday a.m. is currently our only completely free morning. Momma's trying to keep it that way. Usually it involves groceries. Benjamin loves "helping" by holding items Momma picks off the shelf. I end up spending at least 15 minutes of the trip bending down to pick stuff off the floor, but its not so bad. We make treats for Nav Nite in the afternoon, and Daddy is gone all night with college students. Thursday is the day we sometimes have some college students come over in the afternoon, or sometimes have play dates come over in the morning, but usually we're just trying to keep our heads on straight!
Friday: This is another day without a real schedule. A lot of times Momma and Daddy go to a baby dr. apt - and they like to get a sitter and treat it kinda like a date - not always, but sometimes. Usually the rest of the day is spent getting ready for the weekends events: Nav stuff, mens and womens events, traveling, etc. And sometimes we just get a movie at night and sit on the couch!
Saturday and Sunday: These days are also both unpredictable. There is always something going on on Saturday, and Church and Upwards Cheerleading/Vikings Football on Sunday. Daddy has Leadership team on Sunday night and then we start the week all over again!
And that is a sneak peak in the the wonderful 17 month old life of Mr. Benjamin. I love him so much more than I knew possible, and can't wait to see what exciting stage of life is next!
