One More Update

I knew I would forget something.

Ben now does the sign for "all done" after a meal or snack. It doesn't look exactly like what we do, but he does the same thing every time we ask if he is all done! Yeah. How fun.

Random Updates

I have a few fun updates to share with you just because he seems to be doing so many new things lately.


Lately, Ben has been a total Daddy's boy. Ryan's home office is the second living room in our house. There isn't a door to close, so anytime I have to take Ben into his room or I'm putting up laundry or something, we can see Daddy. Ben also knows when he is working at home and will try to bolt down the hallway before I notice or just stand at the baby gate and fuss. He lights up more than ever when he sees Ryan and will try to jump out of my arms. Today, I have been happy about that because he has been refusing naps which means lots of fussing. But, he's supposed to like me best, right? Ha!

Ben is getting louder and louder. I remember saying to Ryan about a week ago, "he doesn't really bang his toys together." It was the very next day and he had turned all the tupperware into drums and was banging like a rock star. And he hasn't stopped. He also exercises his lungs regularly. He isn't being mean (at least not all the time) but he just lets out these very loud hollers. I don't even know how to describe it. Our women's bible study is full of young children and last week I was leading and Ben was so loud that I could barely keep my voice loud enough to be heard over him. He was just playing with the other kids, but whew.

I had no idea he would be cruising this long. I thought he would have taken his first steps already. But, it is so fun to watch him traverse all the furniture and to have him hold our fingers and let him take off. He also loves getting his walker toy out himself and walking all over the place. If we let go of one of his hands, he will stop dead in his tracks and sit down. He likes to have both hands at all times. However, when he is standing on furniture or a toy, he will easily just use one hand and switch back and forth or even lean against it and use both hands to get something. I have become addicted to soft-bottomed baby shoes. Oh my gracious they are just the cutest. I only put them on him when we go out of the house since the pediatrician said it is best for him to learn barefoot, but I just love them!

He is drinking from a straw now like a pro. It took him a few seconds to figure it out, but once he did, he hasn't let up. Yeah. He got the hang of this much faster than the sippy cup which he still hasn't mastered. Oh well. He is getting more water now since I am not near as good at drinking water in the colder months.


Ryan almost never splurges for a more expensive item if there is something comparable for a lesser price (and neither do I), but he thought Ben just needed this $9 cup from Babies R Us. So, of course I made the trek across town to get it for my only son! Isn't he so cute? Now, we have to protect it with our lives though and not leave it somewhere like I already have with two other sippy cups.


This is a new trick in the last few days. He carries his toys and our rubber coasters around in his mouth. Seriously, ruff ruff, Ben!

He is also becoming more and more of a joy lately since he is so much more independent and has such a sweet personality. I find myself just laughing at him sometimes (like when I first saw him carrying the coaster in his mouth) and just marveling at how brilliant he is. When we ask him "where are your toys" or "are you hungry" he goes straight to his toys or highchair (respectively). All these things are fun, but they make me miss that little bundle that would snuggle with me.

My little baby isn't a baby anymore. He is heavy and hard on the back and super mobile and wearing big boy clothes and on and on. I don't really miss that crying newborn that was so difficult to figure out at times, but my big boy doesn't need me so much anymore. There is still one thing that reminds me of when he was little. Whenever he is sleeping, he will tuck his legs up and his arms in while I settle him before putting him in his crib. I just love it.

Christmas Picts, NC trip picts and more...

Biggest update - Ben has a new tooth on the top. I totally missed that it was coming in. I heard him grinding his teeth and wondered how that was possible since he only has two bottom teeth. I stuck my finger in and quickly learned that he has a top tooth almost half way through. Oh my! Anyone have suggestions for stopping the teeth grinding or is it a phase that will pass?

My son has gorgeous, long locks. He was so cute in the tub tonight. And, I realized I hadn't gotten a picture of him in his towel in a long time. Ah...


I recently learned that Ben and Ryan have a tradition in the morning. Ben eats breakfast earlier with me. Then, he gets to sneak some Cherrios when Ryan eats his breakfast. Maybe it would have been better had I never known.

We took a trip to North Carolina over the MLK holiday to visit Uncle Randy, Aunt Becca, and cousins Wesley, Jeremy, Avery, Olivia, Justin and Valerie. Yes, Ben met his 6 cousins! I was a little nervous about how he would respond to all the activity, but he jumped in with both feet and had a blast. Olivia is 4 and played little momma the whole time. They all loved "baby Ben" but Olivia was like his shadow. We are so glad we were able to go.

Snuggling with Jeremy.

I got to relive my childhood and use an Easy Bake oven with Avery and Olivia watched hoping to sneak a lick of icing.

Olivia, little Momma.

Jumping for the camera.

Jump like this, Ben. He wasn't too thrilled with his first experience in a Johnny Jump Up.

More love from Olivia and Jeremy jumping in. Ben giggled like crazy every time Jeremy let him rub his head. It was fun.

Here are some pictures that I promised from Christmas in Texas with Grammy and Papa Tom.

He got his first new toy box and it was full of toys!

But he chose to carry this around for an hour.

Grammy has the biggest tub in the world. Can you see Ben's head?

Ben had never had an opportunity to climb stairs. He found them and immediately proceeded straight up to the top without missing a beat! With me very very close behind of course.

Saying Bye Bye to Grammy and Papa Tom.

This was Ben's first time meeting Great Grandad Bud and Great Grandma Dot (Ryan's mom's parents). We are thrilled they were able to meet. While Ben is squirming for the picture, he loved pulling up on Great Grandad's legs and Great Grandma's blanket the whole time we were there. And they loved every second of it too!

Happy 10 Months

This month in review:

• He dances to his own beat that only he can hear. We find him dancing sometimes when we don't hear any music.
• He has a distinct 'singing' voice that he only uses when we are singing corporately at work or church.
  
• He continues to pull up on everything. He quickly cruises all along everything, but still prefers to crawl at lightening speed.
• He loves to destroy everything. If something is in its place, it must be removed. He clears off tables and empties his kitchen cabinet as fast as he can.
• We continue to do sign language at meal times, but he still hasn't caught on. He grunts for more, a polite grunt though.
• He added uh oh to his vocabulary. We are up to dada, mama, and uh oh.
• He can turn the pages in his books when we read to him, but he usually tries to close the front cover instead.
• He has a very laid back personality. He gets quiet in new places, but is slowly trying to edge Ryan out as head of the household when he is comfortable in his own environment.
• He loves clicking his tongue. I am constantly amazed at all the sounds that come from his mouth.
• He is a show-stopper. We get multiple stops by our table at our weekly date lunch out. Everyone has something to say :)
  

Randomness

I had a few pictures on my camera I thought I would share.

He did this tonight. It took a lot more work for him to get out than it did for him to get in this position.

Wearing his mittens since we have barely gotten out of the teens this week.

This is what I found one day. After seeing me, he smiled real big and went right back to it. He acted like it was very serious work.

I just thought he looked so manly in this outfit. He loves his Christmas toy from Maw Maw and Paw Paw.


Aunt Kelly (Ryan's sis) and Uncle Michael got Ben Penguin Bowling for Christmas. This is how it went.

Bowling with Daddy

I can do it myself Daddy.
He does throw a ball (and anything else for that matter) often.

Forget the ball. He proceeded to distribute the penguins all over the floor, one by one.

The End.

Cute Video

Here is 1.5 minutes of a typical Carter evening.

It was only about 10 degrees today, so Ben wore his thermal underwear under his clothes today. So cute!

Tour de Texas

Last year we said we would never travel that many miles through Texas again (1900 total miles). This year, we didn't go quite as many miles (1400 total miles), but whew, are we glad to be back home.

We had a fantastic time seeing all our family and some wonderful friends, but all three of us are such homebodies that we were glad to be back in snowy Kansas. We left Houston at a balmy 55 degrees and returned to see the same snow with a little more still on our driveway and yard.

Thank you again to all our family and friends that gave us SO many gifts. Ben does not need any more toys! I may put a limit on how much he can be given for his birthday :) Just kidding - I know those of you that just gasped at reading that. Seriously though, we all three were just amazed at how generously you all gave and are tremendously blessed by it. When visiting my youngest sister Trisha, she told me that she and my other sister Candice have decided that "blessed" is the word to describe our little family. She said that every time we have need of something or maybe don't even need it, it seems to appear for us. We definitely feel that way. We have never gone without and we are so thankful for that. The Lord uses so many of you to bless our lives - from the diapers that mysteriously appeared on our doorstep month after month to the homes that have offered us a place to stay to the baby clothes from people we have never met. It is all so humbling.

Now to the pictures that you really want to see.

Our church had a tacky sweater Christmas party. Ryan won honorable mention. Ben isn't really tacky, but he is wearing a jingle bell belt that I thought was pretty tacky.

Before leaving Kansas, Ryan and I dropped Ben off with the Penner family so we could go see A Christmas Carol in 3D. Ben loves playing with Ethan and Bree and it was reported that a fabulous time was had by all. We call Bree "Ben's biggest fan" because she loves Ben to death! And he loves her too. He lights up and giggles and plays when he sees her.

I love Ben's face here :)

Couldn't they be siblings?

As we were getting ready to leave when we picked Ben up, Ethan brought out his Chiefs helmet. Ben was not too sure about it!

First stop on the Tour de Texas was the Chamness home of Miss Hayden. We were able to have dinner with some friends and see 2 pregnant bellies that we hadn't seen yet and meet another new baby, Campbell, that we hadn't met yet.
Ben was thrilled with Hayden's toy box and took as many things out as he could. She was kind enough to let him. Sorry H, but I know this isn't your best picture ever.

Next stop was Ryan's mom's house, but I don't have the pictures for that yet. More to come later.

Then on to my sister Trisha's house. This was my first time seeing her home so that was fun. She has two little puppies and Ben thought they were the best toys in the world. The feelings were not mutual. He tried to chase them around, but they were too fast. He even cornered them and wouldn't let them back into the house when they had gone out to use the potty. I forget how warm it stays in Houston!

Poor Marley's heart was probably beating our of her chest, but Ben was obviously thrilled.

Ben and Mama D reading a book while Ben stood inside his new toy box from Grammy and Papa Tom.

Go Midland Rockhounds!

Ben has reached a new milestone - teeth brushing. I should have already started this, but I had been 'brushing' his teeth with the washcloth when I cleaned his face after meals. We noticed that wasn't getting the job done, so he has his very own spinny toothbrush and he loves it.

He leans down for it like it will get away from him.

Ryan told me I was making a funny face in a different picture, so I really gave him a face! Lovely, I know.