Happy Birthday to My Nana

 

Dear Nana,

 

I miss you so much.  I hope you are enjoying the Florida sunshine.  Its very cold and snowy here.  I wish we could be together.  I would turn all the lights ON for you and make all the fans go 'rou and rou' (round and round).  Its still one of my favorite things to do.  I'd like to show you my bath toy---an 'octa' (octupus).  I also wish we could share a bowl of ice cream for your birthday.  Make sure you eat some and think of me!

 

 

XOXOXO,

 

Benny

Benny's Hairdo

During the month of December, Kevin kept insisting that it was embarrassing that he thought Benny looked like a girl because of his hair which had very cute curls.  We were at the mall and some crazy lady came up and asked if Benny was a boy or a girl and it almost pushed Kevin over the edge.  The lady was crazy.  Benny was dressed in blue from head to toe.  (I personally think Kevin was simply jealous because he doesn't have much hair.  Don't take it out on the kid Kevin.)

At any rate, after Benny's birthday I caved and let Benny get a hair cut.  We hired the very best barber.  His name was Papa.

Pre-hair cut fun with Nana.  Benny got this cute 'tuxedo-shirt' from Marian for Christmas.  Isn't he handsome?

Then they stripped me down to my diaper and started chopping.

Post-hair cut.  Still my handsome little guy.

Happy Birthday--Down on the Farm

Somebody had a birthday.  How old? Let him tell you himself.  (I think he was about to fall asleep in this video)

http://youtu.be/ZtSJkGU2MOE

Poor Benny was sick for his birthday.  In fact, the poor guy really didn't feel good for most of December.  He had an upper respiratory infection.  I took him to the doctor but they didn't give an antibiotic.  He had a nasty cough for weeks.  Then we ended up taking him to the urgent care on new year's eve, and he had an ear infection.  FINALLY, he is back to his usual jolly self.

Despite the illness, he had a measure of fun at his birthday party on New Year's Day.  Here are some pics:

 Kevin and I made Benny a chicken cake for his birthday.

 Benny in his overalls and mommy and daddy in their plaid.

Granny Lindy made Benny his very own little cake.  Of course, she marked it with a 'B.'  Also, she gave him the cute little stuffed chicken named Henley to go along with the chicken theme.

Benny and Granny Lindy.

My new clothes from Aunt Katie!

Benny is like his Mommy and usually makes dessert a sort of priority.  Sadly, since he wasn't feeling so great, he didn't want to eat any cake at his party.  We tried again on Jan.2--his actual birthday.  Still didn't want to eat it.  But, here is a cute video.  At the end of the video, he says that he is 'all done' with the cake.  Some of Benny's first words!  That's right folks.  Benny can TALK.  What was his first word??  ON.  I hear him say ON about 50 times a day now I think.  He points to all lights, fans, and electrical devices and insists that they be turned ON.  (Benny decided not to 'go green' for the new year).

http://youtu.be/8Y7rLe-bNak

Christmas!

This Christmas morning we were at our house during the morning and then went over to Nana and Papa's house in the afternoon and evening.  Here are the highlights:

Christmas morning with Mommy.

Christmas morning with Daddy.

Santa brought me a football!

 

Gentry wore these reindeer over to N & P's house.  I put them on Benny and surprisingly he didn't mind at all.  He wore them around the house for quite a long time!

 

One of the best parts about Christmas day was that Aunt Katie came all the way from Minnesota to see us!

 

Christmas Gathering #1 and Christmas Eve

Our Christmas festivities began last weekend when we went to Granny Lindy and Stevie's house on Friday night.  We went to Aron and Annie's house on Saturday for a yummy Christmas lunch and gift exchange.

Snuggles on the couch

 



One of Benny's neatest gifts was this chair that Aron fixed up for him.

Lindy got the three grandkids jammies.  Luke and Benny's matched.

Yeah Uncle Aron, can I have this ornament?

 

 

On Christmas Eve, I had 3 services to play for at 3:00, 5:00, and 9:00.  Kevin and Benny came out to the 5:00 service.  Then we ate some dinner at Friendly's before Kevin took Benny home.  So, unfortunately I missed getting to put Benny to bed.  Daddy was instructed to make sure he didn't forget to have Benny put out cookies and milk for Santa.  Benny decided that Santa really didn't need all of the cookies or all of the milk.

Gotta make sure these cookies meet quality standards for Santa.

 



The milk too...

 

Increased Mobility + Mama's Boy + Curls

I also realized I never posted a video of Benny climbing our stairs.  I figure it must seem like Mount Everest to the little guy.

http://youtu.be/HBd7D8r5XVU

Benny's a little cruiser these days.  He does this cute super shuffle up and down our couch.  He likes to walk behind his motorcycle (a toy Grammy and Grampie got him.)  Also, his balance is getting pretty good.  Hey.  This sounds like a recipe for him walking soon.  YIKES!  Watching them gain new skills is exciting, but sometimes I long for the pre-crawling days...  It was much simpler for this mommy to keep track of him then.

Also, somebody has become a Mama's Boy.  He still likes other people to play with him.  But, if he isn't feeling well or is tired, he needs his mommy.  What can I say?  I'm awesome.

Benny has the cutest curly hair.  And, he's got lots of it---perhaps its getting a little out of control.  Daddy wants to cut it!  He says he looks like a girl.  I think he looks handsome.  If I get all that hair cut, he'll look too old.  I think we've compromised that Papa will cut it sometime after his first birthday.

Curls!

 



Lots of hair!

 

 

 

Also, its fun to see how he responds to language.  If you tell him 'arms up' he puts up his arms.  If you tell him to 'dance' he rocks back and forth.  Also, more non-verbal communication has developed recently.  For example, the other day I put him in the high chair to feed him breakfast but the light was still off in the room.  He looked up at the light and then over to the light switch on the wall and did it again a couple of times.  He's like "Hey lady.  Are you going to turn on the light or make me eat in the dark?"

 

BTW, we had a lovely Christmas.  I'll post about it soon!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

The first weekend in December Benny, Grammy, and I went to breakfast with Santa.  It was an event sponsored by Kevin's employer.  Unfortunately, Kevin had school all weekend.  Boo.  Turns out that Benny and Santa are very good friends.

 

 Benny is such a sweet snuggly little guy.  Full of lots of love for everyone.  I am getting ready for a hectic busy week.  Next Sunday is our Christmas music Sunday for church, Christmas caroling, and a wedding.  Certainly more challenging to prepare for such things with Benny as my side-kick.  I'll be putting my multi-tasking skills to good use this week!

 

Also, Benny seems to be on a growth spurt yet again.  His size 18 month pajamas are none too big anymore.  Hard to believe he will need 24 month clothes soon.