My Boy Ben

Today was the Mother's Spring Party at Ben's preschool. The little kids came out singing, "I love mom, I love mom, I love mom" waving streamers. Then they sang a couple more songs before we ate cupcakes together on our homemade place mats. We were given personalized potholders and magnets. It was fun to sit back and have some time with Ben and think about how fast he has grown up into my little boy. These are my 10 favorite things about my Ben:

1. He is one social butterfly! From the moment he wakes up, "What are we going to do today?" Where are we going? Who is going to be there?" When I pick him up from school he never tells me what he learned, but rather who had to go to time out or who was sick that day. He has never once had a problem with us leaving him at someone's house, nursery or school. I can't tell him what is happening until the very last minute or he will drive me crazy wanting to start ASAP. Its a wonder he wasn't born before 35 weeks!

2. He is a mommas boy! From day one he has loved to be by my side. There are days when he literally follows me from room to room like a little puppy dog. He can't stand to be alone. He even brings his toys to the bathroom door while I take a shower. There are times when David just won't cut it for him, and he never hesitates to let him know it. Some days it has to be mom that does almost EVERYTHING!

3. He has an ever sensitive side! He can start or stop real tears at the drop of a hat and notices when others are having a hard time as well. When I had my second miscarriage I was home alone with Ben in tears. At the young age of 22 months he noticed I was sad and sat by me on my bed for over an hour hugging me, playing with my hair, and patting my back, not saying a word. When one of his cousins is mean to the other he gets very vocal until they apologize to each other. If David or I even raise our voice in the slightest he lets us know to stop immediately.

4. He has an abundance of energy! From the moment he wakes up in the morning until we can get him to go to sleep, he is on the go, go, go! As uncle Mike puts it best, "If only the world could figure out how Ben functions the energy crisis would be solved." It would put an end to high gas prices! I am confident that coupled with his genes this is why Ben is so small. He burns off every single calorie that enters his body.

5. He says whatever he is thinking! It doesn't matter who is in the room or where we are. This has created lots of laughter in our home. If you think my "life according to Ben" section is funny, you should know I am only brave enough to blog a fraction of his comments.

6. He loves "loves and kisses." No one in our family can leave the home without giving everyone else a hug and a kiss before we leave and sometimes two or three. He gets very sad if his friends are not willing to share their parting loves as well. We can not leave Aunt Di's house without his fair share there from Nat and Kat.

7. His imagination is soaring! His dinosaurs traveled to California yesterday, but first stopped in the state of Episota.

8. He loves his baby. From day one he has loved Kate. He was not happy with me when we first brought her home, but he sure loved her. He is very protective of her. If he notices any other kids touching her, especially at church, he will literally yell, "Don't touch my baby!" Oftentimes I am awakened to Ben's laughter. When I follow the sounds it usually leads me to Kate's crib. He loves to climb in and play with her. I can only hope she was already awake. Either way she gets excited when he joins her.

9. He is very particular about certain things. His slippers must be by his bed at night, he has to exit the car through Kate's side, his bed time story must stay under his pillow during the night, the DVDs must be placed a certain way when he starts a movie, his hair has to be fixed a certain way depending on the day, and he notices EVERYTHING. Now David doesn't seem to understand where this trait comes from, but if you know David you won't have to search any farther for your answer!

10. He can be very determined and down right fiesty! He unexpectedly growls at opponents on the soccer field, sits by the door until I take him out to play, or often pleads "just 5 more minutes," or "just give me a chance." I am betting my mother would say the determined part comes straight from me.

Sometimes I can't even remember life without Ben. He was born with a unique personality and it hasn't changed a beat from that first moment we captured it on film. He was naked and screaming on the hospital scale moments after entering this world. His expression is still one he makes today. A true Ben face. Then I watch a short video of him laughing hysterically for several minutes in the bouncer when he seemed to young to even smile. He was known as the baby who laughed ALL the time. This same contagious laughter still fills our home today. I love my boy, Ben.