On the wild side

NOT interested in horse kisses

Ben and I had an incredible, animal-filled week with his Auntie N ("Nic"), who was visiting from Ohio. Then his Uncle Matt ("Unk") and Aunt Sandy ("AnSan") joined us from Houston for the weekend. I don't think Ben has ever seen as many animals up close as he did this week. We all visited the San Antonio zoo, Fiesta Farms (a farm animal petting zoo), and the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (a drive-thru hill country safari). It's going to be hard for Little Bit and I to go back to hum-drum every day life after last week!

first carousel ride

"elfint!"

In other Benito news, Ben said his first sentence last weekend: "dog go woof" he also now says "truck go noise." He is getting better about telling us when he is done with his meals; instead of throwing his plate/food on the floor when he's done, lately he hands me his plate and says "all done." This is a pretty fantastic skill! We've been trying to work on manners, too. Having him say "please," "thank you," "excuse me," and "you're welcome." All of these, except "you're welcome" have worked out pretty well. He's gotten "thank you" and "you're welcome" mixed up, so that when we ask him to say "thank you," he now proudly says "welcome." Ahh well, Ben's development is definitely a wonderful, long-term work in progress.

safari kisses

petting zoo action

I will probably jinx his sleeping habits just by saying this, but Ben has now slept two whole weeks without needing a night-time bottle. This means, that for the first time since before I was pregnant (and having to wake up and go to the bathroom all the time), I have gotten some solid sleep. INCREDIBLE!

best way to view animals

"Unk" swing!!!!

backyard dance party with "AnSan"

watching the fishes with his best bud, Audie

trying to escape the park

& some mornings we all just lay around

... and his sense of humor is developing a bit more too :)

I wanna hold your hand

Ben is developing all sorts of interesting and slightly frightening talents lately. His newest favorite words are "elfint" (elephant), "arpane" (airplane), "cumber" (cucumber), and "move" (which he tells to our cats all the time). He no longer uses a high chair at home, and at restaurants he can use a booster seat just fine (especially if the food doesn't take too long to arrive!) He is FINALLY getting compliant with holding my hand when we are out and about, so now he walks (very proudly) from the house to the car, the car to the store, etc. I keep having to adjust how fast and where I walk with him though because "obstacles" like curbs are exciting challenges he wants to stop and conquer with joyful zest. 

Speaking of challenges, Ben loves climbing play equipment ladders and often wants to climb much higher than I am comfortable with (for example, the other day he climbed to the top of the red ladder in the playground picture below--with me standing underneath and trying not to have a heart attack). Another not-so-happy talent he's developed is often refusing to nap during the day and then being very cranky when when Clay gets home from work. I'm hoping that is just a phase! However, over all he's such a pleasant, happy little guy these days.

the scary red ladder Ben climbed

artful madness

first time sitting in a booster seat

dapper Ben

wanted his "baby" to eat breakfast too

floor nap