Peace on Earth

Whether you are gathering happily with family today and celebrating Christmas, or your Holiday of this season has come and gone, our family wishes you and yours the Merriest of today's, the Happiest of tomorrow's and Peace on Earth.

16 Months, wait....2 years.....ok.......16 Months

My Pampers.com 16 month update said, 

"Month 16 - Personality Plus
 

Hello Jessica,

Most parents are amazed at how strong their child's personality is at this age. As a toddler takes on new challenges every day, his own style and temperament become more and more distinct. Pay attention to your child's unique characteristics - they're not going anywhere anytime soon. In this issue, discover the importance of letting your child make choices, read up on how to handle control struggles, pick up helpful tips on must-have gear, and more.  and... As your child gains more independence, struggles about control over everything from bedtime to toothbrushing will be common. Don't be afraid to be firm! It's important to support your child's growing confidence, but that doesn't mean he should believe that everything's negotiable. Children feel more secure if they have limits they can count on they become anxious if the rules change or they suddenly have more power than they expected."

Wow! It could not have been more timely. Ben turned 16 months on Tuesday but celebrated by acting like a full blown 2 year old on Monday. He seemed to have found LOTS of independence overnight and a will to get his way I thought I'd have several more months to prepare for. He is quickly learning how strong he is, how to change directions on a dime and to squeeze through nearly any barricade put in his way. He is also showing his anger and frustration in very clear but more animated ways than ever before.  Despite all this, he is SO much fun! He is learning new things so quickly and when he attempts dangerous things with that glimmer in his eye, I can't help but giggle.
In really great news, Ben has started putting his toys away into different bins and also helps move the laundry from the washer to dryer!! Thanks MeeMee for the latter:).

In the last month his walking has come a long way and in the last week he's learned to stand up from sitting adeptly without the aid of furniture or wall.  He loves to carry things around while he walks and throws ball of all shapes and sizes out in front of himself and chase after them.  He is babbling away in the morning with more inflection and different sounds and though he has yet to say, "MeeMee" on command, he does walk around saying, "me...me...me." His favorite books remain the same and though Tante and I had hoped that he'd love Charlie Brown Christmas with sounds as much as the Great Pumpkin, his love of it appears to be slow going.  He got an early Christmas gift of Scout the Dog from the Lineberry's and loves him.  He loves that Scout knows his name and is always happy to oblige with a hug when Scout requests. 

My favorite thing Ben has learned in the last month is to DANCE!! And Yes, I could probably post 50 videos of pre-and post-dancing as I have yet to catch him in the act.  He makes a wide scoop with his right arm from his belly all the way around to his back over and over quickly while turning his head in Stevie Wonder fashion and stepping in place from side to side.  Lately he prefers "walk dancing," so the stepping is lost but I could watch my Monkey dance all day.  I will hope that with more people around over the holidays, I can get a decent video.  

Ben's next well-toddler visit isn't for 2 months so I hope we've narrowed down a house location a bit and can choose a Dr. close to home.  If I wanted to step on the scale I could weigh him, but I do know he's grown taller since we've been here as he is inching up the Heimer Height tracker on the door jamb. 

For your picture pleasure I present, A Lap in Photos.  This is what we do about 300 times a day.  Plus eat, nap and repeat.........

Up the stairs...

Nevermind! down....

Here I come!

Pause to play piano

Touch patterned chair

to the family room...

OOps! back up...

Pause to play (briefly)

Ok, turn around ....

Move bike out of way....

leave this room for real this time....

Lap around the island.....

rare moment of rest....

back in the living room....

touch other chair.....

check out the dining room....

back to the family room.....

whoops-a-daisy....

back up and across the room....

and in a momentary and rare basement visit...

walk from box to desk.....

back to box....

back to desk....

 I'm tired! Are you?

I've been coveting this little Carter's elephant ensem for many months.  I refused to pay $30, but got an amazing after Thanksgiving deal JUST IN TIME.  This collection ends at 18 months and Ben has already nearly outgrown this gray and chartreuse wonder so he wears it lots and my heart delights.  Simple things please this Mama :).

HO HO HOliday Party weekend

After Santa Thursday night, Ben's next stop was Tante's apartment downtown on Friday evening while Mama and Dada enjoyed Ryan's Holiday Work party.  The whole affair was nothing less than extravagant with both fillets and salmon for everyone over a delicious mushroom polenta and 4 to-die-for mini desserts for each guest.  There was lots of photo fun outside the grand hall for entertainment during cocktail hour and through the evening.  The company owners, Governor Hickenlooper, and several highly decorated military officials spoke on behalf of the company and in recognition of the owner's 30th year.  The first musical guest was Kate Voegele of One Tree Hill fame and I must admit that after hearing about previous years' guests, I was a little disappointed.  Kate was a fantastic singer, it was just perhaps not the best band for such an event.  Ryan and I ducked out before midnight as we were anxious for a restful and comfy night's sleep in our downtown hotel.  Our wonderful date even continued with breakfast the next morning before reclaiming our Nugget.  We picked up a very happy Ben and headed to meet Tante at MeeMee's to finally decorate that tree we cut a couple weeks ago.

Photo Booth Phun

We had a lovely but tired afternoon decorating and running errands before leaving Ben with MeeMee and heading to Conifer for a holiday party thrown by friends Eric and Jana.  They have completely remodeled their beautiful mountain home and the party included several couples we had not met before, but thoroughly enjoyed.  We stayed up WAY too late, and enjoyed sleeping in their spa-like guest quarters before enjoying a delicious breakfast and heading back down the hill.  We swept in to again reclaim our Nugget before a quick stop at our temporary home and on to the next party.  Yes, by this point, we were VERY tired.

I was nearly positive I could fit Ben in the giant stocking I had as a wee kiddo.

Ben's great Grandma Virginia, (Ryan's maternal grandmother) came for the weekend from Dighton, KS for a Pre-Christmas get together.  Virginia and Robert have been previously featured in this blog as they used to visit us frequently in Wichita.  Virginia was surprised by her son Dan from Dallas and had all her 4 children and their families present to celebrate!  It was a delicious dinner (lunch if you're not from a small town in KS) followed by a heart-breaking Broncos loss, but lots of laughter and merriment.  I'm almost sure half the house was asleep before Ben, as by Sunday evening, sheer exhaustion had set in.  My lingering cold and tiredness are a small price to pay for all the fun that was had.  

We are very thankful to our dutiful babysitters, Tante, JP and MeeMee, our 4-legged watchers, Nana and Grandpa, and Eric & Jana and Joe & DeDe for hosting all the fun!! 

Ben was quite smitten with his cousin Ian

 

They sized each other up and for 9 months younger, Ian is not far behind in size.

The Heimers and Witherspoons with Great Grandma Lola

Robert and Virgina and DeDe's GORGEOUS tree

Cheering on the Donkeys

Virginia and Robert with newly engaged Payden and Haley :)

Governor's Ranch Santa

Whew! This holiday season is a busy one for us.  It's been absolutely wonderful to get quality time with lots of people rather than one too-short evening with everyone that we used to experience when coming home for the holidays.  I do think there is still newness to our being here which has created a bit of urgency on the parts of many to see and be seen but overall it's been fun.  Amidst the madness, my blogging is behind but I guess that's better than having nothing to blog about.

Last Thursday we took Ben to see Santa at the clubhouse in Nana and Grandpa's neighborhood.  The place was PACKED and of course Ben only wanted to run free.  Little people fit through a lot of spaces that big people don't :).  We took our place in line to see Santa and took turns wrangling the mobile monster.  He was thrilled by all the action and strangers and even tried to crawl up into a couple peoples laps that he had never seen before.

All that exuberance quickly waned when Ben saw Santa.  It started when I set him in his lap and he looked at me like, "Uh, Mom, this guy's is weird.  Did you really just set me in his lap?"  Ben did not scream and tolerated Santa for a few pics.  His unhappiness did escalate quickly and think we "saved" him just in time.  He was back off and running as soon as his feet hit the floor.  We were too as a crazy weekend was about to begin.............

The North Pole

The Heimer Haus was anticipating last Saturday's trip to the North Pole for weeks!!  We were blessed with nearly unheard of (for the North Pole) 50 degree temps and clear roads for the trek south to Canon City.  Canon City is home to the Royal Gorge Railroad and was the starting point for our train trip to the North Pole.  The kiddos aboard were encouraged to dress in their pajamas for stories, hot chocolate and cookies, and of course, a visit from Santa.  We made the trip with friends Cole, Amy, Grace and Sara and the girls were certainly enthralled with the magic of the elves and Santa, and the whole trip.  Grace was a bit skeptical that we made it all the way to the North Pole in less than 15 minutes, but the magic hat of her elf friend soon had her believing.  

While the trip is touted as an hour and a half up and back it is really like 15 minutes up, lots of sitting while Santa makes the rounds into each car, and the same trip back.  We thankfully ate beforehand and did not pay $13 for cheeseburgers, but the $7 "grown-up" hot chocolates were worth every penny:).  Ben loved the roof reaching windows and the bright sun on his face as well as all the hyper kids surrounding him.  Ben's mom, on day three of a horrid sinus headache, especially loved the frequent prodding by the "elves" for the children to scream carols or to chant, "we want Santa," as loud as they could while said carol blasted from a speaker inches from her head.  

We rode in the Vista Dome, glass-topped cabin

The just boarded, "what the heck is going on?" face

kisses from Gracie :)

Sara and I played photo shoot.  She did great with our big camera!

Mama's favorite pic of the trip :)

The LB clan

The Royal Gorge Bridge

Ben kept stealing my cookie after we gave him one small bite of his own.

The girls telling Santa of their wish for American Girl dolls.

Not so sure about this guy or his "gift."

Although the trip was shorter than the adults expected, the kids had a fantastic time.  We might take Ben again in 5 years when he might be more excited to see Santa.  It did also make me want to visit the Royal Gorge Bridge from the top this summer, as I've never been even with all my years in Colorado.  

We ended the day with a short visit to the Cherry Hills Church Christmas concert in Highlands Ranch.  Unfortunately, we arrived a bit late and only got in a few songs before intermission and Ben's bedtime.  The songs we did hear were PHENOMENAL!! At one point the choir had over 300 people and was backed by a full orchestra.  The light show, music, and second row seats had Ben throwing his arms in the air with giddy excitement.  We will certainly try to get tickets again next year as I have a feeling we only got a small taste of an amazing production. 

Many Thanks to Wichita neighbors Bruce and Cheryl for Ben's adorable Christmas duds.  He wore this to the concert but we didn't remember to snap a pic until right before bed.