All grown up

Ben, you are quite the little boy. You love your cars and dinosaurs. I am amazed how much fun you seem to have at school! You are always smiling! Grama loves when we video chat and you ask me to read you a book, then ask for another, and another, and another! I am going to have to get some new books to have at my house to keep you satisfied. You talk all the time now, but, I still have to ask your Mom to translate. You made a fantastic Thanksgiving music video about how you don't wanna be a turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Grama showed your video to all the teachers at her school and, of course, they all loved it! It has been a year since I have gotten to see you. I had to get a new hip, but now, I am ready to travel. I am coming to spend the holidays with you. We will make many new memories and have a great time. I love you and will see you soon! Love, Grama

anything goes

School seems to be working well for you and you have taken an interest in things other than cars, trucks, and anything else with wheels. You can now recognize all your letters and are drawing more pictures, which are mostly monsters. You have a few good friends at school that are mostly girls. I think having a big sister and playing games like dog family at home are having an effect on you. I've been substituting for your assistant teacher in school and you are fine with me being there as long as no one tries to hold my hand or sit on my lap. You've started doing more puzzles which is a fun thing to do with you.

our little trinocerous

off to school

I worried so much about you starting school and how you would adjust. Silly me. You love school and cry on the days you don't get to go. You talk about your new friends constantly. The two names I hear the most are Harper and Colt, but you seem to just play and get along with everyone. I have been stopped by your teacher and complimented on how fabulous you are in class and what a good listener you are. When a friend is struggling to follow directions you will gently guide them. I laughed aloud hearing this, but I'm glad you have decided to be so helpful. I can't believe how much you've grown up. At least you still really like to snuggle and give hugs.

getting things in order

Since you'll be starting school in a few weeks, we've been working on a few things that should help you with the transition. We'll see how that all pans out once school actually starts. You seem very excited about it and have been enthusiastic about going to summer playgroup with your friends and sister. You aren't a big fan of the heat so prefer to stay in the shade and long walks don't much appeal to you. You've embraced going for rides in the bicycle trailer though which usually means we get to our destination much quicker. You've been enjoying your new birthday presents and are finally getting a little better at sharing them with others. You've been talking so much more and I'll definitely have a few of your quotes compiled for the next post.

who's three

Happy Birthday to my handsome little man!

where does it go?

It doesn't matter how many times you hear time flies, the effects are not felt until you realize how quickly it is passing until something like an upcoming school year to remind you. I had to meet with the principal of your school on Friday to discuss which teacher I thought you would work well with. The meeting went well and we decided who would be your teacher and that was that. I bought you a little T-shirt with the school logo on it to wear on your first day and now I have two months to prepare myself for your first day of school.

You, on the other hand, are willing to sit in Eve's classroom all day on the carpet and doing the activities. You have sat at their lunch table and picnicked with the class as well as used the big boy toilet in the classroom numerous times. You no longer need help getting water from the water fountain and have developed friendships. It almost makes me miss the terrible twos just because I know you have almost outgrown those. You are growing up and it's wonderful to see and you'll do fantastic in school.

At least you are still young enough for me to hang out in your classroom and it is okay.

standing up

You finally decided to try peeing standing up today. We haven't pushed it because frankly it's easier to just have you sit down, but of course we won't discourage you for wanting to do what dad does. I watched from the door as you walked as close to the toilet as you could get and stood on your tiptoes. You giggled a little and were so proud when you turned around with a big grin. I asked if you peed standing up and you said, "Yes, I did." I saw the puddle under your feet and you looked down as well and I told you to come out of the bathroom so I could clean it up. I turned to get a towel and when I returned you told me not to worry because you used your foot to clean it up. I looked down and saw a wet foot and muddy foot smears across the bathroom floor. I smiled and wet my towel and wiped your feet and the floor and told you I would help you clean it up next time. You replied, it's okay mom I can clean it up with my foot. It's just a little slippery, that's all. Ah, learning.

the taco

You've been all consumed with the new family member. He's a small turtle we rescued and you spend the majority of your time at home sitting in front of the new aquarium talking about "the taco." You like to tell the story about rescuing him from the street, stopping at the pet store to pick up a new aquarium, and setting up a new big home that he loves.

Your ability to communicate has come a long way and you are talking more than ever and have developed a habit of overusing the word actually. You will say something and then respond with...well, actually...and continue your thought. I have to admit it's pretty cute for a near three year old and still hasn't got old.

You are officially done with your crib and love having your own big boy bed and all that extra room in your bedroom to do puzzles and keep yourself occupied while you should be sleeping.

mr. social

My little breakdancer has found his voice. You will talk the ear off anyone that will give you a minute of their time. You were bossing around your poppy on their recent trip out here about how to play with your toys. You've been talking about your day when dad gets home from work as well as telling me about what all you've done at home while I'm out doing something. When I picked you up from school today, I heard about how you talked the entire time at playgroup at had a great day socializing with all the kids. We've also been doing more with your friends. We've seen an elephant parade with clowns and shetland ponies and gone to the zoo with your friends and you take off with them and leave me behind. Sniff sniff. I love seeing it and I still get my fair share of hugs and kisses. You've been spending a lot of time at the garden and have discovered worms and how much fun it is to dig in the dirt, which will consume much of our time this spring and summer. You've been doing more drawing and while you attempt to draw shapes you enjoy drawing lines to cover entire sheets. We've recently discovered that Netflix shows Fraggle Rock and you and Eve both love the show and we've been having fun watching them in the evenings. Good times.

talking to strangers

All parents experience those terrifying moments when a child says something honest and innocent to a stranger which usually results in an awkward situation. Today, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the responses you evoked from your statements.

The first was a woman and man in front of us. You looked at her and said, "Mom what does she have on her face?" I told you it was a lip piercing and she turned around and laughed and asked you if you liked it. You looked at her for a moment and shook your head and answered no. She laughed outloud with a few others riding the train so it ended up cute.

Then on the way home you starting singing a little song. I thought you were talking about my red hat, so I asked you about it and you answered that you were singing about the woman in front of us and her red and black hair. That caused some chuckles and she smiled at you. You then starting singing about how she didn't want to take out the red hair or the black hair and many more folks started laughing.

I'm just glad I didn't have to teach you any lessons about what should and should not be said aloud in public.

what a what

Eve gave you the nickname Benz a Wenz quite a while ago and you've now found an appropriate response in "what a what." Every time I hear it, I crack up. You had your first real experience with snow in the last week with about 3-4 feet of it covering the ground. While you enjoyed some of the things that come with having so much snow like being able to eat it, kick it, and throw it, the rest you could go without. We'll have to give sledding a try next year. At least you're a good sport most of the time. We're working on the big boy bed issue, but you can't seem to stay put, so you end up in the crib most of the time. It is pretty cute when you come tiptoeing down the stairs with an innocent look on your face (and usually naked) and you gladly walk back up the stairs to get back into bed.

sneaky sneaky

I just wanted to say that you are officially a kid now. No longer a baby or even a toddler, but a full-blown kid. I say that for a few reasons. The first being that you are out of diapers. It's been a shockingly easy process and while I expect some accidents or possible regression you have been such an easy child to potty-train. You have no qualms about grabbing a book, asking for privacy and doing your business in the bathroom. The second thing that makes you an official big kid is how you snuck one by me today at the grocery store. You gladly pushed your miniature shopping cart around the store singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm at 75% volume and repeating the cow verse over and over. You gladly added items to your cart that you enjoyed eating. The carrots, red pepper, yogurt, strawberries, and cucumbers started filling your cart. When we got home I realized there was a box of cereal in our bags that I had not picked up or even noticed being scanned. You snuck a box of Cookie Crisps with sprinkles into your tiny cart and put it on the conveyor to be scanned without me even noticing. Sneaky sneaky.

2010!!

Ben-
It is another year past that was filled with lots of new adventures. You are growing sooo fast and learning and doing so many new things. You are talking a lot more and I am starting to finally understand you!! You are very vocal! You are always either talking, singing, or screaming! You are interested in everything that Eve does, but also have an independent side. You both seem to be sharing a little bit more. Believe me that takes a lot of work. I think me and your mom and aunt Erin, finally learned to share after high school. You are very into your trucks and cars and you are always willing to show off some awesome wrecks with sound effects when we get to talk on the computer. You also had your first adventure in the snow this Christmas. Your mom said that you and Eve keep going in and out for days to play in the snow! You were also pretty amazed and excited to talk about the icicles! I had my first conversation with you on the phone the other day and that is what you were telling me about!! You are an adventurous little dude and I am proud to be your Aunt! Love and miss you lots.
Aunt Jill