pumpkins

Sunday evening Tante joined us for some pumpkin carving while MeeMee put the finishing touches on Ben's Super WHYatt costume.  It was a fun evening as we chased down Ben for measurements and he ended up half-naked for the pumpkin carving.  The tree-rats had eaten parts of our pumpkins already so they are being safely housed in the garage until tomorrow night.
I know Ben loves having our extended family around for gatherings like this and eats up every bit of extra attention :).

Helping Tante scoop was about all the help he gave besides comic relief.

He just planted himself in my lap and begged for kissies :)

The pups need a party too!

the bite came after this sniff

Tante carved a B for Ben

OOPS! Someone didn't turn their pumpkin around.

SuperWHY

As many parents of wee ones do, Ryan and I struggle with how much TV to let Ben watch.  We are also certainly becoming more aware of our grown-up TV choices and what we let him watch while he plays in the evenings.  One show I love and never mind Ben watching is SuperWHY on PBS.  You can read all about the educational philosophy behind SuperWHY here.  Ben also has a SuperWHY iPad app that is teaching him letters now and will grow with him as he learns.  One morning a couple of weeks ago, I sipped my coffee as Ben watched SuperWHY and the show asked what some letters were.  With a little less than perfect enunciation Ben pointed to the TV and said, "M......A."  What!?! I nearly spit my coffee all over myself and then started crying.  I knew he knew the letter A but to recite when asked and before his friends the Super Readers said the answer caught me WAY off guard.  I'm sure that for many kids his age, this feat was nothing spectacular, but in my observing Ben, it was a first, and I was one proud mama. :)  I mean if I'm crying at a couple letters, what will happen when he shoots the game-winning shot for UNC during March Madness in 2031!?!

Painting with Pride

Last Tuesday when my Dad was here we picked Ben up from school and he was wearing a different shirt than the one I had dropped him off in.  However, this new shirt was far from clean:).  I soon realized the paint wasn't only on Ben's shirt and then Ms. Danae filled us in that Ben had had an absolute blast painting two different pictures and a lot of himself.
I was over-the-moon thrilled and again Ms. Danae was relieved that I wasn't upset about the painted state of my child.  I explained that I had had trouble getting him interested in art and was thrilled he'd had SO much fun.  There is an impending snow storm on the way and I'm thinking some food coloring might be just what mother nature ordered :).

Grandpa Ken Visit

A week ago Monday, my dad, Ben's grandpa Ken, came from Montana for a visit.  He brought his brittany Billy and we had a lovely visit.  He got to see the new house and repeated how he'd always dreamed of one day owning a brick tudor.  We did A LOT of shopping as shopping is very limited in his hometown and he wanted to buy Ben's Christmas gifts with a little help.
We also made it to the park, did some yard work, and ate well.  We took him to Wash Park Grill one night and he repaid the favor at Shanahan's before he left.  
The squirrels, the stairs and our pups proved a little much for Billy and they departed a couple days sooner than expected.  Ben had lots of fun though and was always concerned with "Biw" and "Papa's" whereabouts.  I'm hopeful we can come up with a solution for some of the issues to they can come again.

Baby Boy L

Last Sunday several friends and I hosted a baby shower for the wonderful Mama-to-Be that gave Jelly to Ben when he was a teeny-tiny babe.  It still baffles me how the universe directed Ben to choose and love Jelly most of all the loveys on his shelf.  We hosted a Sunday morning brunch and the weather was spectacular and the company splendid.  Baby Boy L is due November 20th and he is one very lucky little bundle to be welcomed into a family of love like his.  He couldn't ask for better parents and his Mama is one of the most selfless and kind people I know.  I've been invited to snap some pics of BBL when he arrives and I am beyond honored.  With Thanksgiving early this year, we might just get a very special little butterball.  I can hardly wait to meet him!

I could hardly believe how soft the new Jelly was and this pic shows what two years of love looks like :)

Co-Host Amy and her family found these birds this summer that will fit perfectly with the nursery theme of black and white trees and pops of color.

We tried to follow the nursery color scheme with a hint of fall as well.

The Mama-to-be loves aspen leaves.

We requested books in lieu of cards and sent mom home with a bin for the nursery.

This Ikea fabric made a great tablecloth and can be used by mom anywhere in the black and white Ikea nursery :).  The brunch was DELICIOUS!

Nikki led us in a really fun activity decorating bibs and onesies for BBL.

guests :)

a gorgeous grandma-made blanket

She ended up with lots of these-there was a lot of mom experience present.

Jelly II

 

Amy explaining Jill's phone call when the crib we gifted arrived 5.5 weeks earlier than expected.

It also happened to be Mama-to-be's birthday!!

We also completed "wishes for baby" as a gift for BBL and his Mama.

 

Everyone (with the the expecting Mama's in front) 

Observatory Park

Well here I am behind again.  Ben's grandpa Ken (my Dad) left yesterday after a five day visit so prepping for that and a baby shower last weekend took priority over my beloved blogging......

On Friday October 12th, Ben and I headed to nearby and amazing Observatory Park. While it's not in walking distance like Washington Park, we could easily bike there and we will!  The greatest part about this park is the large collection of community toys.  There are wagons and trucks and sand toys and strollers and ride-ons galore.  There are also two large play structures and a full basketball court.  Ben was in heaven pushing things around and enjoying the play houses and then complete euphoria came walking in.
A nearby school and classes of 2nd graders had a field trip.  Ben was in awe and then started dancing and screaming and ran right along with the big kids.  I showed him that some distance was necessary and then he had the best time just walking around and observing them.  A while after playing, the kids were called together for an assignment and Ben went running and ran right into the middle of them, stood stick straight and listened to the teacher as the big kids giggled and asked "whose little brother he was?"  The class invited us to join in their tree identification project and Ben did have fun chasing the kids running from tree to tree. 

a little Blue Steel for Tante

He loved this stroller.  I think Michael Peter needs one :)

 

crinkle-nose!

our assignment

I knew right away this was a honey locust because of the leaves.  

Our locust in Wichita was sans thorns.

 

His red nose here just made me think of a gnome in his home :)

 Watching the other kids was also a great reminder that the thirst for adventure and learning never ends and Monk-a-doodle and I have lots of fun adventures ahead.

bye bye binky!!

 

Yes! Yes! Yes! We have been without the bink for over a week now and we are all still living.  As I've posted before, Ben has only had it while sleeping since he was about 6 months old, but it was certainly a sleep aid.   Lately it seemed the fact that it was only used at night time made it more special and I wanted to get rid of it, stat!  I am thankful we kept it through 2 year molar eruption and although I've noticed the last one is still coming through a bit (with lots of extra gnawing and drooling,) the bink is staying gone!
This all started at one point when Ben threw it and I told him he'd have to go to sleep without it.  I never could find it and thought that rather than find another, we would just be done.  Well, one day late last week Ben came walking out of his room with the "lost bink" in his mouth.  I quickly grabbed it and mentioned we were "all done with binkies," and he didn't protest a bit.
I wouldn't say the transition has been hard, just time-consuming.  Settling to sleep is just taking a bit longer, both at nap time and at bed time, but we are over this hurdle and there is no turning back now!!

ohhhh, when it was as big as his face :)

 

Just before leaving the hospital

At his finalization

 It was hard to find many pics with binks in them, which was good.  So far and with fingers crossed, neither finger nor thumb are replacing it.  Also, with a little prodding that "it really hurts Jelly when you chew his tail," that hasn't been a concern either. :)