Benjamin Alexander is 18 months

Taking this opportunity to share all the things I love about my sweet little one and to jot a few things down so I don't forget.  Using this space to help store some memories!!

This sweet little boy continues to be a big blessing and a challenge that God uses to grow me closer to Him.  Benjamin is a big mix of sweetness and craziness all mixed up into one.

He loves to laugh, give hugs and even kisses.  He will be playing across the room, run over give me leg a quick squeeze and then go back to playing.  He loves to play with trains, cars, really anything with wheels.  He can be seen and heard quite often driving a car around.  He likes cars/trains so much, that they are almost the only thing he will stand still long enough to watch!  Thomas asked to watch a Thomas the Train show last week and for the first time, Benjamin sat down and watched.  He will "mowmow" with the train whistles and excitedly point them out.  He also gets excited to see animals on the screen as well, but not as much as trains and cars.

  

It is the best to be seen by Benjamin after he hasn't seen you for awhile.  He'll scream, clap his hands, laugh and even sometimes do a little dance as he is running towards you.  It melts my heart to see him do this everyday when Jared walks in the front door.  Grandma Matlock is often blessed with this reaction as well when we go over to her house on Wednesdays.  He gets to spend the whole morning with her so I can go to Bible Study.  I get the reaction as well, but not nearly as big!

Benjamin is just as cute as can be when he shakes his head "no" with a sweet little smile on his face when you ask him if he needs clean buns, ready for bed or if he wants to go somewhere.  He hasn't quite figured out to say yes, so generally, if he doesn't say no, I know it's a yes.  He can also say "hi" and every so often, we'll get a "peas" out of him for please.  My favorite part of the day is dressing him.  He is quick to put his arm down his long sleeves now and as his hand pops out the end he smiles and gives the hand a big, "Hiiii-eee!" As if he hasn't seen it all day.  It's so funny and so sweet.  He's other funny trick is getting this big cheese smile on his face.  We call it the "cheeseburger" smile and is a favorite to all who know him.

Benjamin is a great eater and loves pretty much everything.  However, it's hard to keep up.  Just because he liked it the day before, doesn't mean he'll like it again today.  The few things that seem to be constant are mac n' cheese, avocados and pears.  I'm so glad he's a healthy boy.  Well, except for the macaroni!!

Benjamin loves his big brother.  He will now follow him all over the house, wanting to do whatever Thomas is doing.  He wants to play cars with him, sit in the chair with him and "help" Thomas with whatever he is doing.  This is the hardest part for me.  Knowing when to make Thomas play with him and when to let Thomas have his space.  They are usually pretty good about sharing, but we've had plenty of good screams!  Thomas can always get him to laugh more than almost anyone else.

Benjamin loves to wrestle, be tickled and play with his "button."  Almost the second I hit the floor, Benjamin is all over me trying to take me down so he can flop on me and climb all over.  He has the best laugh when he is being tickled and it's so easy to get him going.  Benjamin seems to have a thing for his belly button.  It's almost like a nervous habit or a way of self soothing.  You will often find him standing there, holding his shirt up and playing with his "button."  IT's kinda sweet.

Sunday was a day that warmed my heart as his mommy.  A friend who was in the nursery with him, caught me after church.  She wanted me to know just how sweet he was.  She said he's so sweet with the other children, plays well on his own, does what he is asked and doesn't scream when others kids take toys from him.  Things I don't always get to see at home.  I do always see him sit down on his bottom when I ask him if he wants a snack.  He learned that in the nursery!!

Benjamin, you are a sweet-sweet blessing to me.  I am thankful for you everyday.  I love you more everyday.  I pray that you will be gentle with your toys, with your brother and gentle in your words.  That the Lord will fill your heart for a longing for the things of His Word.  That you will love Him and long to serve Him.  I pray that the Lord will show me how to be your mother.

Thomas, Little Brother's Watching You

Oh the power a big brother holds.

 

 He is the example.  The leader.  The cool one to be just like.

He has the eyes and the faith of a little brother watching his every move.  Studying.  Taking it in.  And trying to be just like him.

Yesterday this was made so much more clear to me.  Thomas was jumping up and down in joy over something with the legos.  Benjamin was excited it to.  He stared with a concentrated look at what Thomas was doing.  Then, tried it for himself.

We were puddle jumping, Benjamin wanted to see just what Thomas was doing and then do it.  He followed Thomas wherever he went.  He tried his hardest to keep up.  He ignored my callings, my words and my help.  All he wanted was big brother.

Oh Thomas, please be a good leader.  Please be one that Benjamin can follow.  He will watch what you do and follow that above what I say.  Please know that he is watching and love him enough to do always do what is right.  Be an example that your little brother can follow.

As I write these words, I know Thomas will fail.  I know that the only example we can rightly follow is God.  How often am I like Benjamin.  I get distracted and fascinated by friends or leaders, that I take my eyes off of God, ignore His wisdom and His calling, just to follow the latest and greatest.

Oh Lord, help! Help me to follow you.  Help me to listen to your voice alone.  But for when I fail, please give me godly examples to follow!

Then:

& Now:

About 9 months later, the good old laundry basket it still bringing loads of fun!

My Sweet Little Boy Grew Up a Bit More Yesterday

It's amazing just how a little hair cut can change a person so much.  My sweet Benjamin went from being my sweet baby to a toddler yesterday.  All because he got his hair cut.  I truly feel like I'm mourning the loss of the end of my baby days.  (It actually surprises me how much this affected me!)  His sweet curls representing all things baby are now gone and we move ahead into toddler days.  Nothing really changed in him, it didn't actually make him any older.  It's like it just made me see how he is growing, that he's not a baby.  His hair really was getting to long, passed his shoulders when wet, I knew that, but oh how cute he was!  My husband said it was time, so I lovingly went along with it.  In the end, he does look super cute and I'll embrace the fun that's ahead!!  

I grabbed a few sweet pictures of his curls the night before.  

Here he is with his before shot!  We're at my Auntie Bonnie's shop in Fremont.  The shop where I've been going since I was a little girl.  (It was the day of her 25th anniversary party!!)

He loved the water bottle and being sprayed by Auntie Bon-Bon.  He thought she was pretty funny.  And he sat their quietly and happily holding the bottle.

He did so well.  He loves to have his hair brushed.  It's amazing, he can be throwing a little fit after bath and as soon as I comb his hair, he's instantly quiet. (huh, tells you something about that fit, huh!)  Notice, he's now holding a hair brush, that kept him happy the second half of the hair cut.

Ta-da!  Welcome big boy!!  As soon as Benjamin was done, Thomas asked/told Bonnie, "Now I think he needs something out of the cabinet." pointing to the cabinet where the ring pops and mini m&m's were.  Thomas proudly walked Benjamin over there and was so excited to get one himself.

He really is just so cute!

Thomas' Milestones

I love my friend's view point on her blog, it is written for her and hopefully for other's to enjoy. She's pointed out several times that she gets things written down there so it's in a place for her to simply have it written down. We use to call them baby books, but seriously who ever pulled those off the selves as often as they wished they had. I love her idea and wish I had treated this more like that. I'm sure some of you are thinking, really Katharine, do we need to know more about Thomas. No, you probably don't. But I did. There are so many things he has done and is doing that I don't know when he started. In all reality, other than memory sake and just knowing when he first pointed out a red octagon, we'll all survive without knowing the date. However, I am hoping to take on a little bit about my friend's attitude, that this blog is for me (I so appreciate that attitude and love getting to read all the stories, so thank you, A). To remember, to reflect and to share, that's the goal!

So, that being said, here's what Thomas is doing lately. Of course there are so many things I'm sure I'm forgetting, but I'll just have to get those down later.

* He can identify a circle, an oval, a square/rectangle, a triangle, a diamond, a pentagon and an octagon.

* He knows his colors successfully now and purple is his favorite

* He can count objects up to 9 successfully and a little higher with help

* He can write a T, almost an H and an O

* He loves to tell me when to stop and go at the stoplights. If it were up to him we would drive really fast most of the time

* He would rather go to another store than come home

* He loves to play his drum and make music

* He still love Minnie Mouse and sleeps with her, Baby Buzz, Mama Doggie, Papa Bear, Baby Dog, Little Mickey, Giraffe, the all important Mrs. Cat, Pat-pat, blue blankie and other blue blankie (a very distinct difference) and sometimes Big Buzz and Handy Manny. No, not always at the same time, but yes, most of them.

* He will pee-pee on the toilet all by himself, but hates it when I take off his diaper and shouts, "don't let me poop!"

* Thankfully this weekend he discovered he likes to wear big boy underwear, but still needs to remember when he sits on the toilet to pee, he has to take them off

* He loves to say things just to get a reaction out of me, like stupid (we're working on that one!)

* He loves to play outside and help me water the plants

* He loves to be in charge of Bailey (the dog), tell his Grandma's where to go to play with him and strongly suggest what he and his friends should play (also working on this one!)

* He doesn't like to color, but loves to sit and play play dough

* He loves to play games with anyone that will sit and play

* He loves to read stories, especially Dr. Seuss. Go Dog Go is a favorite and he can "read" most of the pages

* He loves oranges and bananas, but forgot that he loved peaches and strawberries last summer

* He'll try everything that we give him, but will tell us if it isn't so good

* He loves beef, meatballs, sausage, bacon, all the greasy stuff. It kills me to see him eat some of that stuff!!

* He has the most horrible scowl that he'll give you when you've done something he doesn't like. We call them his "angry eyes."

* He also has the best smile and the most contagious belly laugh

* He can take off his own clothes and put them on with only a little bit of help. When it comes to shoes with laces, he can say the bunny rhyme with help, and makes sure you do it correctly.

* He has named his baby brother "Alex" and I'm excited to see if he sticks with it, even if we don't

* When I remind him that he's not in charge, he's shocked!

* I'm more thankful for him everyday, feel more blessed every day and pray for more strength, consistency and patience everyday! He's a boy with a sweet personality, but I pray for help as his personality is shaped and disciplined. I love this little guy and so blessed to have been chosen to be his mommy!!

A Trip to the Dentist

Check out my big boy!!

There he sat just like that for the whole appointment. Jared went the week before and talked about how great it was and Thomas announced that he wanted to go as well. So, the day before his appointment, he went with me for a check up. He crawled up on my belly, laid down and watched the dentist's every move. He was set to go the next morning when it was his turn to go. Thankfully, Jared took him. I think it would've stressed me out. (I hate having mine cleaned and all he had witnessed with me was the dentist's part, so he wasn't scared by my reaction at all.) He did great. He sat there mouth open all by himself!

I was so thankful this went well because last week we had an emergency trip over there. He and his friend collided as they jumped on "big bear." Thomas' two front teeth right into Jake's forehead. He came out crying with gums and lips bleeding. It stopped pretty quickly, but the gum line above looked pretty nasty and his tooth was loose. I was convinced they were going to fall out and he'd be the poor kid going through the next couple of years with no front teeth. I could just see all the goofy pictures between now and then. We waited a couple of hours, but I just had to know if they were going to fall out. We stopped in at the dentist office and all the ladies were so nice to me. One of the assistants came out and took a look. She calmed my fears that the tooth would most likely tighten back up and be just fine. Just don't let him bite with it for a few days and watch for it to turn grey. I'm pleased to say that one week later it's looking good and in place.

Just Like Daddy

It's so much fun to see the little ways that Thomas tries to be just like Jared. He has shown a fascination for tools as he plays with his tool bench. He's curious about how things work. He loves to be outside when Jared is working on things. And he also seems to like "techy"things.

Technology really is ridiculous. Jared just recently got a Droid, it's basically the iPhone for Verizon. He's loving it and so is Thomas. When ever Jared pulls it out, Thomas is quickly at his side asking what he is doing. Jared has some games on the phone for Thomas to play and I was amazed at how quickly Thomas picked them up. It cracks me up to watch him kicking back, holding it and playing the game correctly. It's like it's natural.

Here's Thomas playing with Jared's pants (Jared loves this one!). He announced that he wanted to dress just like daddy, so he put on his pants and his shoes. He cracked himself up as he pulled the pants up and then dropped them. He had me laughing as well.
Can't wait to see what other traits of Jared's he picks up!! (Someday I'll have to write about my traits that he copies, but for now we'll keep them a secret. Of course those would reveal too much about me!!)