Say No to "Crack"

Well, my Mom says I have officially outgrown another diaper size. And boy did this happen all of a sudden. We are having something of a heat wave here, so I was allowed to parade around naked after my bath tonight. About an hour later my Mom noticed my diaper seemed REALLY stretched around my middle... then I turned around. Needless to say, laughs ensued and then my Mom got the camera. I have a feeling this is going to follow me around for my whole life.



As for the rest of my life, my Mom and Grandma solved the problem with my height. I measured in at 35 and a half inches tall - and that was using a much more precise measuring style than they use at the doctor's office. So it's back to the usual nicknames for now. Phew, "shrinky dink" was getting old.

I have been enjoying the heat spending time at the beach and Sea World and going to the park a bunch. My Mom and Dad are going to buy me a soccer ball after an unsuccessful attempt to take me to play basketball - I ONLY wanted to soccer balls. I have been told that it will be my special "treat" for trick-or-treating, but I hope I really don't have to wait that long.

Otherwise there isn't much to report. Here is another picture - this time of my face.



Hugs and Kisses,
Benjamin

Not a happy camper!

Life in general has been great - except for these last few days. Monday, I got shots. Yesterday my Mom started to get sick, and today, I am sick - oh, and I have two new teeth coming in. If it weren't for the runny nose, I think my Mom and Dad would say my crabbiness is from teething, but if the shoe fits...

Otherwise I have been busy running around, making trips to the beach and enjoying "sandal weather." Though if you saw my parents and their sandal wardrobes you would know that almost any day in San Diego has "sandal weather."

My sister moved into my room last week and so far it hasn't been that bad. We woke each other up the first night, but since then we are great roomates. We'll see how we do now that I have a cold.

The doctor gave me my checkup on Monday and the weirdest thing happened! I shrunk a half inch in the last three months. Which probably means someone measured me wrong, but my Mom has been joking and calling me "shrinky dink" since then. Sigh. What will I ever do about my Mom.

Bye, Have Fun!

So today, my Mommy went to the bathroom and when she told me she was going potty, I told her, "bye, have fun!" She laughed, hard - but I think she made it to the bathroom ok. Today was a fun day. I got my haircut again because I am having my picture taken on Monday and I was starting to look a little like a hippie. After dinner we went down to La Jolla to check out the children's pool and see the harbor seals and birds. We were going to go to Haggen Dazs, but there was a Bentley parked illegally out front and so the traffic around there was crazy. We ended up going on a trip to the grocery store where we toured the produce section and I learned lots of colors and saw TONS of balls. But really, everything round is a ball, right?

Tomorrow I am going to the Greek Festival where hopefully I will get to eat saginaki and ride a pony. I am SO excited!!!

I will post a picture of my new haircut as soon as my Mom takes one.

Good night!
Benjamin

Full of Surprises...

I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted. I have been keeping busy, surprising my unsuspecting parents and being too clever for my own good.

I have discovered the universal answer to EVERY question. No. About 95% of the time, this answer will suffice. Just to be safe, once a week or so I will answer with an, "uh huh," which could be No, or it could mean yes. That simple change insures that the questions continue. This is what my Mom says is being to clever for my own good. She told me something along those lines last week and my response was, "No, don't say that." Which led my Mom to believe I am capable of much more intelligent speech. I'm getting really good at getting adults to put on a show for me.

Other than talking a lot more, most of what I say sounds like "ball," I am busy climbing and coloring and reading and throwing balls and trying to learn how to catch. Mostly I let the ball hit me in the chest and then I laugh because it tickles. I like to be tickled and to say, "tickle, tickle, tickle." It makes my Grandma laugh.

I know a lot of animal sounds, Meow, Ruff Ruff, Moo, Baa, Ooh Ooh Aah Aah(a monkey), hiss for snake, Grrr for bear, I snarl at lions and tigers, and I know that a rabbit goes hop hop.

I am going to be busy these next few weeks getting my 18 month pictures taken, shoe shopping, swimming and helping my Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Jeff move back into Cardiff - I am SO excited to finally meet them!

I hope everyone is doing well. I love you all!
Benjamin

Here is a new photo - check out all my teeth!

Five Days Down. I am still alive.

So today is my 5th day without a binky. I only get them for sleeping. Overall, I've been doing really well. I have moments of misery, and I really don't like "checking out" of the crib. I have to surrender the binky to get out in the morning and after naps. My Mom was convinced she was crazy trying to take me to the zoo on Wednesday - only my second day sans binky. But I did great. Today at church I did remarkably well too. I usually have a hard time because sacrament meeting is during my morning nap time, and we are usually still at church when I should be having my afternoon nap. I even had a bit of a cold this last weekend and I did better than expected. All in all, I think I will hit that two-week mark and be a champ without the binky.

Rescue Me! I am being Tortured!

Who thought it would be a good idea to take away my binky??? I wanna know who told my Mom that this was a good thing to do. OK, truth be told, I think my Mom just did it. I think she was tired of trying to get me to give it up, so today, she took it away. I am only allowed to have it in my crib, she says. So I got it for my nap this morning, and then had to give it back to get out of the crib. Same thing this afternoon, except I didn't take a very good nap. By 4:00 my Mom said she wanted to cave - but that she is going to be strong. She thinks that in 2 weeks I'll be a pro at no binks. But I am strong too. Strong and stubborn. Have you ever met my parents? MUTINY! That's all I have to say about that.

I'm Stuck, Help Me & a Haircut

I wanted to show off some new pictures...

My new phrase is "I'm stuck, hep me!" Which means, I'm stuck, help me.



This is me. Stuck in the swing, pleading for help. Cute, no?



This is me with a new haircut. I wouldn't sit still long enough to get the front finished. But it looks AWESOME from the back!

Kisses and Cuddles

My Mom just adores that I am in an affectionate phase. The Tuesday before she went to camp I finally puckered up for a kiss. Something that until now I turned away from; I was only too happy to oblige with my cheek, but never the lips. Tonight, I just let loose though. Since Tuesday kisses had only been for my Mom, but I gave kisses to Grandma, Grandpa and Daddy tonight. Also, I've been generous with hugs lately too. Grandpa was at our building today for church because he had to give a high council talk and I greeted him with a hug. This is all new for me, but I get lots of encouragement and people seem happy when I do it, so perhaps I'll keep it up. Good night!

O-Wunge

It's a funny thing. I am starting to talk more and more, and everyday my Mom is trying to teach me new words. Today I REALLY wanted a "ball" off of the kitchen counter. My Mom told me it was called an "Orange." We went back and forth - "ball," "orange." That must have lasted five minutes. Then I said it, O-wunge. But not just orange, "owunge ball!" I threw it around the living room and then decided I should try to eat it. The peel sure was yummy!

Future Rock Star

Yesterday Mom and Sofia and I were dancing around the house and singing waiting for Daddy to get home from work. My hair is getting LONG, and since I was wearing my new t-shirt that says "future rock star" on it, Mom decided I needed a rock star hairdo. A little bit of water, some hurried styling and I am rocking the mohawk. The best part was Mom trying to teach me to do air guitar. I was strumming my shoulder and patting my belly. Mom was cracking up!