Starting Young

Ben has to learn to earn his keep around here. Vacuuming and off to work.

Sprinkle Park FUN

Last year we bought a Sprinkle Park at Target for 80% off or something crazy like that at the end of summer. I have been patiently waiting for a whole year almost to get it out of the box once the weather warmed up. Today it was warm enough outside - the water was still freezing. Ben's friends Jackson and Bree came over to play. Bree had a blast. Jackson screamed when his mom put his toes in. Ben just sat in the water, full face shivering and laughing and having a great time. Yeah for outside fun.

Bree arrived first and was thrilled to have the place to herself. Ben actually look a longer nap than I thought so he was still inside while his party began :)

Please don't do this to me mommy.

Checking it out. He had to get a nudge from me to get in.

Oops, sat in the mud. He was desperately trying to get to the grapes that he saw me bring out.

Vacation Picture Overload

We went to our favorite vacation spot, the Eagle's Nest cabin at the state park in Toronto, Kansas. We had some very generous friends watch Ben Sunday night while we unloaded everything and enjoyed our first evening without Ben since his birth. It was weird and very different, but fun. Then, we picked him up Monday afternoon and began family vacation. He likes being outdoors so much that he just loved everything about it. We took him there last Thanksgiving, but of course he doesn't remember it. It was fun to see how he has changed and what he enjoyed and got into this trip. I have posted tons of pictures below, taken with my new camera that Ben and Ryan got me for Mother's Day. I love it.

Definitely my new favorite. I love this kid!

Out for a walk.

He loved the loose gravel - played in it for hours.

We tried the playground, but he is too small for anything.

This was the only thing he could really reach. He kept going back to it.

Oops - do you see that bump? We were both watching him as he slid down the slide and somehow he still bumped his head and got a nice goose egg.

Nothing like a sink style bath.

Sink bath last Thanksgiving!

The view from our deck as the fog began to lift over the lake.

Hiking...

...is tiring.

A mommy and me shot.

What you lookin at?

Something obviously wasn't going his way.

Cheerios snack in Daddy's chair. Now that is livin' the life.

13-14 month update

I totally quit doing the monthly updates after Ben turned one. I didn't really plan to quit, I just forgot. So, no more pictures in the rocking chair since I have missed months 13 and 14. Oops. I have probably told you most of what's going on in random posts, but here is a list of all the new things he is doing that I can think of at the moment.

• He wants his plate or bowl on his high chair tray, not a bite or two at a time.
  
• He likes to use his spoon although he only hits his mouth half of the time.
• Some days he can't get enough green peas, the next day he refuses them completely - same thing with all kinds of food.
  
• He takes directions very well. I told him we could go outside, but he had to get his shoes and he went straight to his room and got them!
• We have had to start mouthing words or spelling things like o-u-t-s-i-d-e and g-o because he knows exactly what we are talking about and is greatly distressed if we do not follow through.
  
• He is up to five signs: more, please, hungry, thank you, all done. We are working on outside and clean-up.
  
• He walks everywhere now. Crawling is for babies. Sometimes he thinks he can run, but then falls. Thankfully, we haven't had any injuries. He mostly falls back on his bum which is a huge blessing.
• He has decided to walk with both hands behind his back. And he plays with his fingers while he does it. Hilarious!
  
• He would play outside all day every day if I would let him.
  
• He can climb up on the couch by himself now which he thinks is the best thing ever.
• He waves to everyone he sees, especially other children. Thankfully, most people wave or say hi back.
  
• Words - We are pretty sure he says "what's that." He points to everything and says the exact same sounds that sounds like what's that. He has said "ni ni" once for nite nite, but I am not counting it officially yet because he hasn't said it again. Other than those, he just babbles and says mama and dada all the time.
• He can't make up his mind if he likes mama or dada better. One day he will prefer Ryan and leap from my arms to get to him. The next day it will be the opposite and he wont let me put him down.
  
• It seems like he knows something is about to dramatically change his world. He has been especially clingy lately, but also especially excited every time he seems another kid.

Now some cute pictures:

Plumber Ben

I still love towel pictures.

My 2 crazy blue-eyed boys.

Walking with his hands behind his back...everywhere he goes!

Working hard for mommy. Somebody has to.

I love this boy!

And I LOVE this picture.

What can I find in here?

He loves these shoes. He begs to put them on, tries to do it himself but can't and resorts to our help. They are 1.5 sizes too big. He flops around in them like a clown.

In pregnancy new, this baby is affecting me differently so far than Ben did. I am tired some days, lots of energy other days. I am hungry all day some days, don't need a snack other days. I am nauseous almost all day most days, but am not actually throwing up any. It is totally different now that I have a 14 month old to keep up with all day. Mornings are especially hard because Ben likes to eat breakfast the moment he wakes up. He signs hungry before we even make it from the crib to the kitchen. Ryan has been a tremendous help. I love that he works from home right now because I can beg for his help and he comes to my rescue!

Ben's News

Ben has something very important to share. Please watch his short video!

My Mother's Day

What a great Mother's Day I have had so far. It began with me sitting under a blanket on the couch and watching GMA while my breakfast and coffee was brought to me. So wonderful. Then we had a wonderful time at church with our church's first ever baby dedication. Ben was one of five babies dedicated this morning. Since we have no family in town to be our fan section we did not take any pictures ourselves, but hopefully someone else will be kind enough to share with me and I will post them when I get them.

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful moms that follow my blog because you love my handsome son (and me and Ryan too). I have gained so much wisdom and sympathy and laughs from so many of you. Thank you for your constant encouragement in my motherhood journey!

I can't get enough of that sweet boy!

These aren't exactly learning-to-walk shoes, but doesn't he look so handsome and silly trying to walk in them?!

The two greatest guys in my life! I wouldn't be me without them. (Ugh that darn head tilt thing I do :)

Videos

Ben has his own little chair when we sit outside on the porch. He is hilarious when trying to sit in it. He almost never falls, but it sure it funny to watch him. He goes through this same routine every time he wants to sit it in. (Video is just 1.30)



And here are just a couple of little cute moments tonight that I had to share. (Video is just 30 sec)

Grocery Shopping Solo

Today I spent two hours grocery shopping without Ben. That rarely happens. I did a lot of last minute computer stuff for our co-missionary friend Matt and he returned the favor by watching Ben this afternoon. Ben loves and adores the whole Penner family, but today he hung out with Uncle Matt and Bree. When I got home from picking him up I had the following email and pictures in my inbox. I love it so much I just had to share it.


Hi Mommy,

I hope you had a good time without me.

I had so much fun with Uncle Matt and miss Bree. I didn't know how cool Uncle Matt was. It was so much fun being alone with him.

Here our some of the pictures of things that we did.

At first I wanted to be a lot with Bree. She was playing this game that made noises. I had fun watching her.

Then we went outside to the sandbox. I had a lot of fun playing in the sand. I kept dumping sand everywhere. Most of it came off but I am sure some of it is in my diaper.

After that I just walked around in the back yard holding balls and chasing Bree.

When we came inside, Uncle Matt was talking about a smoothie and I was all excited.

He pulled out an apple, a banana, and then some green lettuce. I watched him blend it all up and it made a green smoothie. I tried it and actually liked it. I drank about 6 oz. But Uncle Matt told me that this might make my diaper turn green. But he said just to let daddy take care of it :) Boy that Uncle Matt drinks some weird stuff. But he told me it was really healthy.

Then we listened to music and waited for you to come. They told me that I get to spend the night here for a night. That will be so much fun.

The only bad part of the time is that my older buddy Ethan wasn't here. But next time I come back, I will get to play with him.

Ben

Thank You Sign

This is for you Ray. And, if you ever try out your newly learned signs, don't blame Ben when they aren't exactly right. He adapts them a bit. ha.

Ben has thank you and blowing kisses combined as one thing. If you ask him to say Thank You he signs correctly, but makes the kissing noise with it too. Super cute!

Can't Get Enough Outside

Ah, we love this weather and love our new fenced-in yard. We spend lots and lots of time outside. Have I mentioned this in previous posts? Oh well, more outside pictures are coming your way! This weekend Ryan and I both picked the chair we wanted to lounge in on the patio and got a little table and some chairs if we ever want to eat out there (thanks Mama-D). I think the difference in our preference of chair is kinda funny.

I can not keep anything alive, but I have some perennials all around the front and back yard and they are gorgeous. Thank you previous missionaries that lived in our house.


As a kid my sisters and I had a dirt box, as opposed to a sand box. We spent hours out there making all kinds of things. So naturally, Ben needed a dirt box. Ryan cut some scrap wood and ta-da! We have a dirt box. Now, we just need some dirt :) Ben loves it already.

Don't ya just love the Charlie Brown onesie? haha

He found my water bottle. It was great fun to try to drink and spill down his front. Then he realized he could shake it and the water would go everywhere. Just about 10 more degrees and we are busting out the sprinkle park I got on clearance at Target last year. woohoo.