Dirt Digging

I am not sure which of us likes being outside more, but we have spent a few hours in the backyard every day since we got the fence and we still love it. I even talked Ryan into grilling and eating at Ben's tiny picnic table last night. Ryan told me it was my way of trying to get some patio furniture sooner rather than later. Maybe?!

Evidence of some good dirty fun!

Never too early to start.

Ben can climb in these chairs by himself. He was doing all kinds of crazy acrobatics in them, all without dropping the baseball.

More Video by Demand

My mother is demanding a video of Ben signing more and hungry. I didn't get hungry, but he signed more for the camera at breakfast this morning. Enjoy mom!

And, he is such a little helper. Thanks Ben.

Our blue jay is eating the bird seed. So pretty. Now if I can only teach Ben not to bang on the glass in excitement and scare him away.

The Great Outdoors

This past weekend we received (we only had to pay for the supplies) a new backyard fence. It is fantastic. Now we no longer have to look into our neighbors yard when we are outside. Ben absolutely loves being outdoors and has loved that I will take him out there now. Yesterday, he and I were looking out his bedroom window into the backyard and he began signing please over and over. I asked if he wanted to go outside and he about knocked me over jumping into my lap.


This afternoon I took him out after lunch and after some good playing he ate his first snack on a picnic table we bought last fall at a World Impact yard sale.


His signing has really taken off lately. He uses them very well. He has a runny nose right now and hasn't been eating as well at meals which means he is hungry at times I am not usually expecting him to be hungry. He has been able to sign hungry so I know what he wants. He also knows the signs for please, thank you (newest one), all done and more. Whenever he wants something he uses a sign. The hard part is trying to decide what that sign means. Sometimes more means he wants more to eat or more play time or more _____ (who knows!).

He's Walking

Today, Ben finally proved the theory that Ryan and I have had for a few weeks now. He has the developmental skills to walk, but is too lazy to do it.

I babysat an adorable little 3 year old girl today and suddenly Ben decided it was time to show his skills. He can stand up in the middle of the floor, holding nothing, and take off. He is very slow and deliberate, but very steady. We will see if he reverts to crawling now that the fun little friend is gone.

(All videos are 1 minute or less)

Walking Video - Charlotte and I were highly encouraging him to walk. Sorry about the bright sunshine in our living room, but I am loving it!


Weak: He is stronger than I ever give him credit for, but he does this every time he wants one of the bags of blocks out of his toy box. Total faker!

Lemonade Please: He knows how to use his signs when they most benefit him. I should have never introduced him to pink lemonade.


Gymboree - He loved playing all over the couch cushions, but the best part of this video is all his gibber-gabber (how do you spell that?). I really think he has full conversations, but nothing is intelligible.

Vitamin D

Ryan spent 6 hours golfing 100 holes today! He said he had a fantastic time. He even got a bogey on one hole. Thank you to everyone that made pledges and sent money for this fundraiser! There is still time if anyone wants to give a tax deductible gift!

Ben and I got a little Vitamin D while waiting for Ryan to come home.
Yes, there is a busy street there, but he isn't walking yet and is scared of the grass so I can keep him close.

Up and down the step to get more weeds and pieces of dirt.

Bad idea. I gave him a sip of pink lemonade and he signed more over and over again. I couldn't catch the signing with the camera, but it was super cute.

Something caught his attention UNDER the bench, so he crawled right under there. And then got stuck. This pic is very blurry, but it is still cute.

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.