It's been 4 months!

Really, I thought I posted about the infamous trip to New Mexico when my Grandma broke her leg, but Sofia must have done it. Life just never seems to slow down. I am 2 now! I had the best birthday party - it had a ball theme. We played giant sports games and jumped in the bouncer and ate cupcakes decorated like all kinds of balls. I am still a sports enthusiast. Both of my Grandpa's are feeding my hockey addiction and I like it when Stitch plays goalie for me. When I do well I say "nice." When I mess up I say "oh man," or "I missed." My Mom thinks I am cute but is over the fact that our living room looks like a sporting goods store that was desimated by a tornado.

In other news, we are getting ready to move - which adds to the tornado effect. My Grandma and Papa Mac left on Monday for a temple service mission in Nauvoo. We are moving to their house to take care of Zoey. I tell my Mom all the time that Zoey will be on my team when we live at Papa's house. My Mom has been over there the past few days helping finish with the packing and trying to get things ready for us to move in. I am excited to have my basketball hoop in the backyard and some space for golfing and playing baseball and soccer. Plus, my Uncle Brian's hockey stick is there and the tennis courts are nearby.

Hopefully I'll get to post more soon.

Benji

My parents are crazy.

Fun, but crazy.

Today was a busy Saturday filled with a trip to the zoo and the coolest dinner I have had in a long time. It wasn't the food that was so great, it was that I got to eat picnic style in the living room and watch a movie with my Mom and Dad and Sofia. We had fun eating and then building forts with our picnic blanket.

It's been a busy few weeks. I caught a cold that scared my Mom. One night she thought I might have had croup because my cough sounded like a barking dog. Luckily though, it was just a bad cough and the humidifier helped.

I've been happy taking lots of field trips... who ever would have thought that we would have 90 degree weather in mid-November, but it makes it nice at the beach. I had a fun time Friday playing soccer at the beach, playing with rocks and getting wet. Hey, these are my favorite things after all.

Good Night, and wish me luck at church tomorrow. I am going to try to get through sacrament meeting without having to get taken out. I hope Mom packs the M&Ms.

Benjamin


Me as "Lighting McQueen" on Halloween


My best shot from our attempted Christmas card photo shoot. We are making an appointment next week so we have more hands to help.

A Few of my Favorite Things... Cool.

My Mom keeps saying it is fun to watch me grow up. It seems to me sometimes that everyone around me is staying the same and except for Sofia, I am the only one changing. My Mom doesn't really do anything new, neither does my Dad, but everyday I make someone laugh or look confused because they didn't think I could do something I managed to do. So here is a list of the things that are new in my life, including my new favorite things.

1) Balls. This isn't really NEW, but it has gotten worse. I love balls. And really, not just balls. I am obsessed with ALL sports equipment. I like the special shoes, boots, cleats, racquets, bats, mitts, helmets, sticks, clubs and balls that go with every sport. My newest obsession is "boards." I LOVE surfboards and point them out whenever I see them. This apparently got old at the beach yesterday.

2) Cool. I say that cool all the time. Whenever I see one of my favorite things I say cool at the end. "A board... cool." "Birds... cool." I also point at the TV and say cool. Well, there is cool stuff on it, like...

3) Mickey Mouse. I LOVE Mickey Mouse. I call him "Mouse." Everyday I get to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV. Mickey is also on my diapers, so it has made it a little easier for Mom to change me because I get distracted by the mouse.

4) Music and musical instruments. I like to dance and my other favorite TV show has lots of music and guitars. (It's Imagination Movers for anyone who is interested) Last night at the ward trunk or treat I had a great time hanging out at the car with all of my young women friends because they were playing music and dancing. They laughed because I just stood in the center and bounced and danced. My favorite musical instrument is a guitar. I can play air guitar now and like to use a drum stick or a tennis racquet to really get into it. I had a hard time leaving Sam's Club the other day because Mom was letting me play a Fender electric guitar. Yes, I cried. I cried a lot.

5) Dairy products. I once ate 4 yogurts in one day. And for anyone who pays attention, Yoplait can be really expensive. My Mom caved and bought the Costco pack. She has also put her foot down and I am allowed 2 a day, max.

6) The fridge. I like to get into the fridge and pick out snacks. All day long. I like yogurt, cheese, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, celery, yogurt, carrots, whatever dish of fruit my Mom has, yogurt, hot sauce, yogurt and juice - leftover from my birthday party, so you know I don't get it very often. I am a snack-a-holic.

7) The Wii. My favorites are baseball and tennis. But I am starting to get the timing down and that makes it fun for my Mom.

8) Anything soft. I still am a sucker for soft fabrics and stuffed animals. THANK YOU AUNT KATHY for my new Woobie. (And thanks to the movie Mr. Mom that still has my Mom calling blankets woobies.) I love to snuggle my new quilt. And it matches my bed perfectly!

9) Being nude. And I will close with this one. I love to be naked. All the time, anytime. And this is what my Mom thinks makes bath time such a hit. My Mom has been wanting to get cute pictures of me, but I won't leave my clothes on long enough for her to get a good one.

And that is what is new in my life. I am going trick-or-treating tomorrow at Sea World. I am really excited because it was SO much fun last year. I am going to keep my fingers crossed that I get lots of M&Ms. The mini ones are my favorite. OK, so there is one more favorite for you!

Love and Kisses,
Benjamin

Nate's Butt Farm!

Well, we made our way to Nate's Butt Farm for our annual pumpkin trek. My Mom insisted we visit the far away pumpkin patch because they have pony rides, and I am SO glad that she did. I was in heaven riding the pony. As soon as I got on I was petting her and smiling so big. Because I was the only rider and there wasn't a line, I think I got to go around more than usual and I was so glad for the circumstances.



I also got to visit the petting zoo, which wasn't as cool as the pony ride. And I found the pumpkin I wanted - it probably weighed 50 pounds. I had to get a more reasonable sized pumpkin, so I picked one that weighs less than a pound - just like a ball! We managed to leave with two jack-o-lantern pumpkins, two minis and a squash. Not bad for a days haul.

My Mom has spent the last few days reminiscing over the photos and seeing what a difference a year can make. Here are pics from last year and this year so that you too can see how much I have grown!





Good Night Everyone!
Benjamin

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.