Greetings from the world's messiest eater!

I LOVE to eat! What can I say, I am the product of my Mommy and Daddy. Sometimes, though, I find that it is just as much fun to wear my food as it is to eat it. Take today for example... My Mom was making lunch for Trav and Heather and herself and I was STARVING. So I got to sit in the highchair and eat a nana (banana), some cheese and turkey. The nana is sweet, so I get that down, though I did squeeze a few pieces in my hands, and you can't waste good cheese, but the turkey looked great in my hair. By the end of the meal I had about 6 pieces of turkey placed strategically all over my head. Good thing it wasn't too hard to clean up. I did a real number at dinner though. I got ravioli, cottage cheese, beans and cantalope. By the end of the meal I had ravioli and beans mushed into my hair and covering every speck of my face (including my eyelids). I also managed to get cottage cheese and ravioli down my shirt and in my pants. My Dad ended up carrying my high chair into the bathroom so it would be easier for someone to transfer me into the bathtub. Sure, I am messy, but I am so darned cute that I don't get in trouble for my antics. I thought it was funny that my Mom and Grandma were laughing at Zoey. She stands under my high chair during dinner to catch my crumbs - tonight she had chunks of ravioli and beans in her fur and she couldn't reach to eat them off of herself. I like to feed the "gog" (dog).

Can you believe it?

Tomorrow I will be 11 months old!!! Life has been busy lately as my Mom and I get ready for my new little sister and my first birthday party. I am getting more and more comfortable walking and am finding that I need the furniture less and less to get around. I have also found some new toys in the house - mainly toilet paper which I like to take off the roll and play with. I am keeping my Mom busy and we are having a good time. I am also starting to talk more and I like to feed Zoey from my highchair at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I announce "dog", then I throw some food and look down to watch her eat it. If it wasn't so cute I would probably get in trouble for doing it.

I wish there was more to report. Time is sure flying by and I am getting excited for my Tonka Truck birthday party. My Mom and Dad keep talking about a sandbox - I think it would be so fun, and maybe I won't eat all of the sand out of it.

Good Night!
Benjamin

I did it!

The last few weeks have been busy! My Mom and Dad had to return the first video camera because the sound didn't work - so, they have been trying to stop the real progress on walking for a few days, but last night, I did it!!! I was downstairs at Heather and Trav's house and Trav got home from work. I went up to him and stood up holding his leg while everyone talked about how close I was to walking and that I just needed to let go and try, so I did - and I took 2 steps to the toy box. Everyone cheered and was excited for me. I wish my Dad could have been there, but Trav went and got the video camera and using it as a motivator for me (I really wanted to grab it), I walked to my Mom and we have it on tape. Needless to say, Dad ordered the new video camera yesterday. My Dad was sad he missed my steps (by minutes), but thought it was really neat to see it on video. He says it looks like I do the "monster mash." Now everyone wants me to walk everywhere, but I already tried that, and right now crawling is faster.

I've also been working on talking more. I mimic sounds more than words, so I say ma, ma for milk and when I want more. I also started saying ba for bottle and ball. I mostly speak my own language filled with all kinds of weird sounds and versions of yum like n'gum. I love food, so my Mom figures that is why all of my words seem to revolve around eating.

I love peas and carrots and broccoli, green beans aren't my favorite. I liked the baby food version, but the real thing is a little strange. I put the whole bean in my mouth and spit the skin thingy back out. Does anyone know where you can by just the beany insides of green beans??? I pretty much eat people food now, though I do sneak in some cat food every once in a while. My Mom always tells me "yuck." But hey, it is there and it is food, so I will eat it. Maybe I will turn into a cat!

I am my own person!!!

And don't you forget it! My Mom is sad that I am becoming so independent, but I am my own person now. I like being able to explore and see everything, and when I want to be held, I don't mind it, but otherwise, I will let you know when I want things MY WAY. I am a better eater when I can feed myself, I try to dress myself, and I like to explore the house. (Mom is forever grateful that I have not been too interested in the litter box - but we still have 2 cats available for adoption).

This is really my only update. I am days away from walking on my own - I am getting more comfortable standing up and getting down on my own, and I'll walk holding my Mom or Dad or Grandpa's hand. Our new video camera came in the mail today, so my Mom says I am free to walk now if I want to. Moms! Sheesh! But I am becoming a boy so quickly. What can I say? The new baby isn't far away, so I'm becoming big.

Well, good night everyone!

It has been so long...

BUT, it is not my fault. Unfortunately, I rely on a typist (my Mom), who claims that she has been too busy caring for me to type the things I want everyone to know. So, I am sorry it has been so long, but I am back to tell you about all of the neat things I've been doing!

I don't remember much about November except that I really started moving. I could pull myself up on EVERYTHING and I starting trying to navigate the house more. I got to go shopping for Christmas presents for people and picked out things to send to our family and friends who live far away. Mainly my Mom and I got ready for our trip to Hawaii at the beginning of December, which meant lots of errands and catching up to make sure we were ready to leave home for awhile.

I went to my 9 month check-up early, just in case I had a weird reaction to any of my shots. They measured me in at 29 inches tall, and 19 pounds 5 ounces. I am now in about the 75th percentile for height and the 30th percentile for weight - which really make me wonder what that kid who is 100% looks like! I am starting to work towards the goals Dr. N set for me, including 3 meals a day and my vocabulary. So far I only have Dada and Mama down. I make all sorts of sounds, but still no other words. I am not behind, it is just our goal.

I LOVED Thanksgiving. I ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and a crescent roll. I didn't get any brussels sprouts because they had nuts in them, but I did get to try the cranberries. I would have gotten pumpkin pie too if I hadn't been asleep. I think it was the chemical in the turkey - it knocked me out!

Soon after Thanksgiving we were in the final countdown to our trip to Hawaii, which was awesome! We left on December 6th and spent 2 days on Oahu. I did great on the flight. I made friends with the people behind us and tried to give them "fives" all the time. The ladies on the plane gave another passenger a different seat so that I could have my own chair between my Mom and Dad. I didn't cry at all, and honestly, I probably didn't even need the juice my Mom gave me, but I liked it, so I won't complain.

On Oahu we went to the commissary and stocked up on baby food and diapers for our cruise, we visited the Polynesian Cultural Center where I was the main attraction for all of the college girls who work there. My Mom says it is inevitable - you take a cute baby to see a bunch of LDS girls who just left Young Women and they will want to hold the baby. I made LOTS of friends and had girls dance with me and sing me songs. The lady in the Samoa area made me a headband and I got to eat a Coconut dumpling. My Dad learned to play the Ukulele and the lady there held me the whole time my Dad sang and played. I also went to my first Luau where I ate all kinds of fancy things I had never had before, including Jell-O, which made quite a mess. Also on Oahu we went to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. We were going to go on the anniversary, but decided we needed the whole day to go to the PCC so we went the day after. I met a survivor who had been on another ship in Pearl Harbor. It was really neat. After Pearl Harbor we went to the North Shore and I got to eat shaved ice from Matsumoto's - they had a picture of Tom Hanks on the wall eating a shaved ice, and a picture of Hurley from LOST. I guess the place is famous for their shaved ice - I know I really liked it. Then we went to a surf shop and got the scoop on the Pipeline Classic and I got some slippers for the rest of the vacation. Then it was back to Waikiki to board the cruise ship.

On the cruise, I got my first tooth, a rash, and some new friends. My Mom thinks there was something on the sheets and towels that gave me the rash - it went away as soon as we got home. Despite the teeth and the rash though, I was a champ about being a tourist. Our first stop was Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. We went to Volcanoes National Park and saw the steam vents and areas of Mauna Loa that had errupted. We wanted to go to Pua'a and see the lava flow but we were told it was impossible to see the day we were there, so we went to lunch and waited FOREVER for food and then went to a Rainforest Zoo. It was a cool day.

Next we went to Maui for two days where my Dad and Grandpa snorkled and I screamed because I thought the water was WAY too cold. I tried, I just couldn't take it. I did discover sand though, and I like to eat it off of my hands - driftwood tastes pretty good too. On Maui my Dad and Grandpa saw a Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. How is that for vocabulary improvement?? My Mom got to take care of some shopping and got a cute dress for my soon-to-be little sister and I got a stuffed teddy bear made out of Hawaiian fabric. I also have to endorse the ABC stores, because they are pretty cool. On our second day in Hawaii we made the mistake of driving to Hana. A three hour car ride with a baby isn't such a good idea. But Mom and Dad went into a natural pool to see a waterfall - they took a picture and that was it. We went to a black sand beach and saw some pretty flowers and rainbows. Now I can say that I have survived the road to Hana, and I don't think I'll be going back.

After Maui we went to the other side of the big island and spent most of the day in Kona at the beach. Mom, Dad and Grandpa snorkled, I played in the sand and got my picture taken for our Christmas card, then we went to lunch and visited a marketplace. We also found the temple in Kona and got some pictures. It was pretty.

My favorite stop on the cruise was Kauai. It is such a pretty island and the tempo is a bit slower. My Mom says it reminds her more of Grand Bahama Island. There is life, it just moves slower - and that makes it relaxing. On the first day in Kauai we took a boat ride up the Wailoa River. My Mom and Dad were married at the Fern Grotto, they joked it was a shotgun wedding, whatever that is. There are TONS of wild chickens in Kauai and one of them almost jumped into the car with us. After the boat ride we went to the burger place my Grandma likes and got some good grub and a smoothie which I must say I LOVED! We ended the first day with a trip to Wal-Mart where I got to see Pierce Brosnan who is my Mom's favorite James Bond. She says he is really good looking, Dad and I really don't see what all of the fuss is about. After stocking up on all manner of goodies at Wal-Mart we headed back to the cruise ship for the night. Our last day in Kauai was a relaxing day of napping and shopping and driving through a tunnel of trees and seeing the beach one last time before we sailed to the Napali Coast and then headed back for Oahu.

It was fun to go, but I missed home and seeing my friends and having my own bed to sleep in. The recovery has been quick for me, but long for Mom and Dad. We only had about a week before Christmas and we frantically went to see Christmas lights, visit with friends, set up our own Christmas tree and have our family traditions. Christmas morning was so much fun. I tried to eat my stocking - but then I discovered it had good stuff inside - a book, a DVD, a ball, and a lion lovey. My Mom and Dad got me a Leap Pad that I played with, and then we all got ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We had eggs and orange rolls and then opened presents. It was sure a lot of fun, but after awhile I was ready for a nap. Christmas dinner was wonderful, Trav and Heather and Dominik and Jackson came and we ate Prime Rib and Veggies and Potatoes and Rolls. Yum.

Lastly, I celebrated my first New Year's baby style. I went to bed at about 7:30 and my Mom wishes she had joined me. My Dad slept through Pirates of the Caribbean and they ended up making it home at about 11:00. We are not party animals. I have taken my first step in the New Year, I love Elmo and going for walks. I seem to change everyday according to my Mom, but I just know that I am loving life. I promise to update sooner next time. I love you!

Big News!

Life is going great, though I have to admit that it has been a little too eventful (even for me). I LOVED Halloween! I probably tried to eat my costume more than I should have, but I went to SeaWorld on Halloween to go trick-or-treating. I got to feed dolphins, sit in the soak zone at the Shamu show, meet Clyde the sea lion and spend time with my best friends and my Mom and Dad. You'll have to see my third photo album so you can see pictures of the exciting day.

I went up to San Clemente this week to see my Uncle Steve and have lunch for his birthday. We went to Islands. I always like going there. I got to eat the whipped cream off of Stevie's Kona Pie - it was awesome. Mostly I listened while my Mom and Dad talked, but I got my two cents in and even got to play some. We talked about moving to Florida. It was always up in the air but now is definite. It's exciting, but I know it is finally sinking in for my Mom that she will be leaving her hometown and her family and friends.

As if that wasn't enough for the excitement here, we found out today that I am most-likely getting a little sister! (It is hard to be 100% sure with a girl), but the Dr. said he is pretty convinced. I can't wait! My little sister should be born sometime in early April. Then we'll all pack up and head to Florida about this time next year. Now do you see why I said it is almost too exciting, even for me??

Another First!

Yesterday I went to LegoLand for the first time! It was a lot of fun. I went with my Aunt Nuria and Uncle Josh and their kids Fulton, Kiefer and Aragon. I didn't get to go on a lot of rides - I am too small still, but I did get to Trick-or-Treat for the first time. I have to say, I feel really gypped by the whole trick-or-treating thing. Here is a break-down of the things I got in my goodie bag and how I got to enjoy them:

1) A package of Organic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - I didn't get a taste or anything. My Mom and Dad ate them and said something about me choking on them.

2) A Football Card from Upper Deck - I got a peek. Otherwise it has not yet been in my possession. My parents must think I'll try to eat it or something, if it tastes good enough, I just might.

3) Chocolate Laffy Taffy - I got to chew on it in the wrapper. It didn't taste like anything. My Mom and the taffy out of one piece and my Dad ate the other two. It smelled good. I wanted to eat some too. I heard them say something about choking again.

4) A magazine. I haven't gotten to play with it. I'll be honest; If I get it, I will eat it.

5) A fortune cookie. But not just any fortune cookie - the fortune gets me a free kid's meal at Pick Up Stix. I did not get to eat the cookie. It was too hard. Heck, I probably won't get to eat any of the kid's meal either. Maybe I can eat the fortune.

6) An apple. My Mom and Dad ate it. They didn't even share. BUT, I did get to try an apple fry with whipped cream.

7) A coupon for a free messy sundae. That I probably won't get to enjoy.

8) Last but not least, I got an orange Lego with a ghost on it. And I have sucked it and thrown it and it is mine, all mine!

I can't wait to trick-or-treat some more! I get to go to Trunk-or-Treat on the 30th, and I am going to SeaWorld to trick-or-treat on Halloween and I am going to my Grandma's house on Halloween night to scare her with my Nemo costume. It will be so much fun!

Warning - I might start walking soon.

My new hobby seems to be scaring my Mom and Dad. Mostly by pulling myself up on things and crawling faster than they think I should be able to. Jason told my Dad on Sunday that his oldest son started walking at 8 months. I think I can beat him. I am trying really, really hard by pulling myself up on the furniture and on my Mom. I tried to use my Dad's tool case but it wasn't heavy enough. I've also used the crib and the pack and play - hence the tools being out. So my mattress is lowered and Mom and Dad are busy babyproofing the house. We get to go shopping for a gate this weekend so I can't get to the litterbox. Yeah!

I Can Crawl!

I've been scooting for a while. I could never quite figure out how to move my arms and legs at the same time, but yesterday I did it! When properly motivated, it was easy. My cats Ozzy and Harley are quick, but I surprised them when I crawled so fast I caught them. Ozzy doesn't really like it when I catch him because I pull out handfuls of his fur. He's going to have to be quicker next time.

Don't Worry, I'm just busy!

Life is sure busy. My Mom and I have been having lots of fun lately and keeping busy is tiring. I caught another cold and that wasn't any fun. It was hard too because my Dad was is Miami and my Mom was sad that I was all stuffed up and not sleeping well. I'm all better now though!

Last week I went to the doctor for my 6-month check up. I showed off again twisting and moving and scooting around. I also got the ok to eat different foods like yogurt, which I love, and meats. I get to eat table food too, as long as it is soft. I had gelato the other day at Costco - YUM!

My stats are as follows:

Weight: 16 pounds, 12 ounces - 50%
Height: 28 inches - 95%
Head Circumference: 43.5 cm - 50%

I also got more shots, including a flu shot, so Mom and I are keeping our fingers crossed that I stay healthy this winter. But there are more interesting things happening in my life...

1) I can scoot. I kinda crawl, but it is not as coordinated as a crawl. People tell my Mom her life is over now because I can pretty much get anywhere and get into anything.

2) I got pictures taken - and they are really cute. We get them back on the 25th. I can't wait to see them.

3) I am going to be a big brother. Mom is scared, I don't really know what it means, but it is really good news.

I need to eat now, but I will post again really soon!