Videos!

Last night, I went crazy with the video camera and got three really cute videos of Mr. Benjamin!  Here they are...

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Seventeen months have gone by since the day I held my baby boy in my arms for the first time.  Every single day, he learns and grows and changes.  He's becoming such a fun and amazing little kid!

What has he been up to lately?

• He's going through a "word explosion".  He went from maybe a handful of words at 15 months to now speaking at least 25 or 30 that I can count.  He's even started to put together two word phrases, like "I go" or "I do" or "I know."
• He's started to say "Oh no!" and put his hands on his cheeks.  OMG cute!
• He can follow commands quite well now - when he wants to.  The other day, I asked him to put his push toy away at Nana's house, not thinking he'd remember where he got it from.  To my surprise, he pushed it right over and arranged it EXACTLY how Nana had it!
• Last night, he found his discarded spoon on the floor a few minutes after dinner - and all on his own, he picked it up, walked to the kitchen, and put it on the counter by the dirty dishes!
• He loves bathtime, especially now that we have "bubbles" and his new toy letters!



In general, he just makes life really super enjoyable! 

Branden's still working his second job on the weekends...though we seem to have found a better family rhythm lately, now that he can sleep in on the weekends and get naps sometimes too.  We both look forward to the day when he can quit that second job...especially because that will mean he has a professional planning job!  It will happen...some day. 

In the mean time, we try to make the best of the time we do have together.  Several times, Ben and I have made the trek to Branden's second job with him and had dinner together out there.  And Branden and I are trying to make sure to take time for ourselves too.  On Sunday, we had a "family date".  The three of us went out to dinner, then came home for dessert (frozen yogurt w/blueberries - yum!).  After Ben went to bed, Branden and I snuggled on the couch and watched "The Tourist."  It was a nice way to reconnect, and without having to worry about getting a sitter or anything.  I highly recommend it!

So that's what we've been up to lately!  :o)  How about you?