2 Incredible Years

Benjamins 2nd Birthday

We woke up on this Thursday morning a little earlier than normal.  I wish it was because of excitement for your birthday, but really, I think you and your sister are both teething!  :(  It was a great morning and you got to watch BOZ (dvd) while mommy and daddy figured out some summer calendar/to do details.

I made your FAVORITE lunch, grilled cheese and tomato soup, (technically the soup was left over from the day before, but you didn't complain).  Your getting great at eating soup and usually ask for "more more more" when we're done.  The last 4 or 5 bites of your sandwich took me by surprise and as I watched from the kitcen, you stuffed all of them in your mouth.  I was kinda mean and made you chew and drink milk until you could swallow them.  :)  

After lunch you were very tired so I asked if you wanted to go to bed and you started walking to your bedroom.  It was a very unusual, and very rough nap experience.  All together, Your sister screaming(happily but loudly), me hearing you rip the pages of your book, and your pesky gums/teeth, it took over an hour to get to sleep.  However you did eventually nod off. (I was panicking that our birthday evening was going to be ruined by a tired little boy!)

After your nap we went grocery shopping.  While bagging the groceries, you saw a itsy bitsy bug, and FREAKED out.  Other than your current obsession and fear of bugs, you were a great shopper.  We went to Flowerama afterwards and bought you four balloons.  They are one of your favorite things right now!  Thankfully the sales woman gave us 4 for the price of 3, because the blue one popped right when we got home!

For supper we went to Hickory Park with some friends.  We should have gone earlier, because after waiting to be seated, and waiting for our food, you and Devon were ready for bed.  Afternoon watching both your eyes get VERY heavy, they perked right up when it was time for ice cream!

You got your very own scoop of ice cream with a candle! (I helped you blow it out after 5 tries)

Benjamin, you are SO fun right now.  Your vocabulary is exploding, with single words, and you are slowly putting two words together.  Your comprehension is so fun to watch develop.  Today, I was explaining to you how and why we stop for cars, thinking how ridiculous I was for waisting my breath when you had no idea what i was saying.  On our trip home from the park, you then tried to stop for EVERY car, stationary or moving.  Then I tried to explain we only stopped for the moving cars, and you tried to stop for every moving car on Lincoln Way.  Too bad you don't have a better teacher!

You continue to love to read, but also love imagining things, especially pretending everything is a phone.  You are so energetic and will run from our front door to the kitchen door for 5 - 30 minutes, yelling "run run run".  You love looking out the window and finding a bug (as long as its outside), a car (or any other vehicle), or birds.  You love to play "chase", to be scared, to be tickled, and to "help" me work out.  Your discovering the  magic of chalk, and love making "snakes".  In fact, thats all you make! :

We still love our ABC's, but are starting to figure out numbers.  You finally acknowledge the #1 (for FOREVER you would repeat any number but #1, and if you counted on your own, it was "2, 6, 9, 2, 6, 9".  Things are starting to click, and I don't think it will be long till you can count using numbers 1-9!  Another favorite thing of ours (at least your mom and dad and Nana,) is singing familiar songs and having you fill in words.  "Jesus Loves ___" is our favorite. :)

So far we aren't horrible at sharing, but don't have a lot of experience with it, so I'm sure that challenge is coming up!  Your whining more than before, but when it gets really bad, and deep breaths don't work, you are usually cured of the whiny disease by two minutes in your crib...Some days are much better than others!  You have gone through a stage the last 3 or 4 months being o.k. with Dad putting you down for bed, and not mom.  I like to think its that you just are too sad to watch me leave your room, but were not sure...This week we had our first success in a very long time, so hopefully its only up from here!

I could keep writing for a very long time, Benjamin, but your little sister has been a pistol the last two nights, and I'm exhausted.  Your daddy and I love you so very much.  We are so thankful God blessed us with you, and pray that He gives us wisdom as we help you "grow in wisdom and stature with God and men!"