Pics and Captions

You know you want a hug.

Isn't this how you sit in a chair?

How needs Gymboree? Just wash the couch cushion covers.

He loves to unfold all my folded laundry, put it on his head and crawl away really fast so I can't catch him. He does this very often!

Oh waiter, I would like some more please.

Tasty spoon.

The following picture was re-created, but he did this totally on his own. We were on the way to the bath and he found a "friend" on the side of the diaper box and stopped to give her kisses. It was so cute. We went on to the bath and he pulled his hand out of mine and went back for some more. With some encouragement he did it enough times for me to catch it on the camera.

Grammy and Papa Tom Visit

Grammy and Papa Tom were here to visit early this week. The weather was gorgeous and we were able to go to the zoo and our for meals a few times. Ben is much more playful and willing to go to other people, so I think they had a good time with him.

We went to a Wichita State baseball game. Ben sat on his own step by Papa Tom.

Then, he got tired and crawled over to mom with the snacks. Cheerios allowed us to make it through quite a few innings.

Tigers are so cool!

Where did you go Mr. Gorilla?

Wanna play with me?

And all the inside attractions too. Daddy loves the zoo as much as I do.

Wanna lick my hand?

Watch out goats, I'm coming in.

I love you Grammy and Papa Tom. Thanks for coming to see me.

1 year old photos

I am so behind.

A fellow missionary (that took our Christmas card picture) took pictures of Ben for us at the Botancial Gardens here. I thought the tulips were supposed to be in bloom, but they weren't yet. Bummer. But, here are some of the pictures we got.

Sliding

I have had these videos on the camera and forgotten to download them. This is when my mom was visiting and Ben was checking out his new castle. He has mastered it now and can climb up the rock wall himself. He doesn't like to slide alone though. He prefers to stand on the top and play with the telescope and wheel.

More Please

Ben has mastered two more signs - more and please. He mostly uses 'more' when he wants to keep playing or wants the toy back that he just dropped or I took away (my cell phone is not a toy, kid!). He barely uses 'more' in reference to food.

He seems to understand that please gets him what he wants. Last night I was putting the dinner plates on the table and he crawled up to me, sat up on his knees and used both hands to sign please. haha. It was terribly cute. Too bad Daddy was working and missed it. I have been reinforcing please when he wants to be picked up, so apparently he understands perfectly and just chooses when it is in his best interest to use his sign.



In other news, World Impact Wichita hosted a 24 hour conference for college students this weekend called Encounter the City. Ben and I were able to enjoy meals with them and chatting with staff and some of the students. Ryan taught one session and led one of the many small groups. For many of these students who are mostly all from a small Kansas town, this was their first experience with the poor and even thinking about God's heart for the poor. We are hopeful that God is working in some of their hearts and maybe we will have some summer or year-long interns from this group.

Also, remember our 100 Hole Golf Tournament is coming up in a week. If you are interested in knowing more or giving financially to this, leave me a comment! We are hoping to use this one-time event to bolster our yearly support. It's too bad all of you readers wont be there to watch Ryan golf. I am guessing it will be quite a funny site :)

He is Risen Indeed

Happy Easter everyone. Last year, Easter Sunday was Ben's second time at church. That is all I could think about this morning as we were getting dressed and ready. My how things have changed. Last year I wouldn't let anyone hold Ben for fear of all their nasty germs. This year, I was in charge of getting everything together for our after-service meal, so I was happy for anyone to hold that squirmy little boy.

Spring has Sprung

I feel like I have not blogged in forever. The weather is finally warming up some here (with bits of cold weather still popping up here and there). The sun is coming through the windows and that makes me happy. I am already planning trips to the zoo with the other moms around.

Ben is lots of fun, but is experimenting with tantrum throwing. Oh the fun. He also seems to have forgotten what the word "no" means. He used to respond well to it and stop doing whatever he was doing, but now he just looks at me and goes right back to doing whatever he was doing. We go through it over and over again. I move him somewhere else attempting the distraction technique and he gives a loud grunt of disapproval and crawls right back to where he was. Oh how it can make my blood boil. My role has certainly moved from need-meeting to actual parenting. And it has just begun. I'm nervous already.

Enough about that. Here are some pictures.

Birthday sweater from Nana that is so handsome.

And the weather changes, so cute summer outfit from Mama D today.

He is so chill in his high chair. The feet up can become a problem when the tray is on.

I love this picture.

Somehow he managed to get this bag on his back like a backpack. He had been playing alone in his room. I heard him 'calling' for me and this is what I found. So, I left him to fuss while I went to get the camera to take a picture of him. Such a good mama!

I couldn't resist. If I let him stand by the tub before putting him in he crawls away to look for Ryan. It is just so cute. He thinks it is a fun game.

The winter beard is gone! Ryan is shedding.

He has rediscovered his rocking chair. He crawls up in there multiple times a day, pulls his legs up a few times and then crawls back out.

I GOT A DISHWASHER. I am so excited. Tonight will be its inagural wash. Woohoo. This was the chaos in my kitchen while it was being installed. I did lose some cabinet space, but I had moved everything out of those cabinets a week ago in anticipation of my dishwasher and I haven't really missed the space.

Ben loved playing with his ball in the empty cabinet while we waited for the World Impact property manager to come install the dishwasher.