Giggle Therapy

A few days ago, for some reason, Benji decided that the fridge magnet farm toy was the funniest thing he had ever seen. --Victoria

Developing His Imagination

Occasionally, we run across scenarios that show us that Benji's imagination is growing. I recently found a stuffed toy perched on a train, apparently ready for a journey across the kitchen. --Victoria

An Outfit from Aunt Nancy

Aaron's Aunt Nancy gave Benji this adorable outfit. I love the plaid flannel turn-up at the bottom of the jeans. --Victoria

Benji Loves His Books -- To Pieces

Fortunately, he has mostly moved beyond the "eating books" stage. Many of his books have needed repairs, and some of them are now beyond repair. --Victoria

Big Walk!!!

Every day when I get home, at Benji's request, we go for a "BIG WALK!!!" --Victoria

Benji is learning his manners!

Conversation at breakfast this morning:

Benji: Daddy, pancake. Pancake!! PANCAKE!! PANCAKE!!
Aaron: Okay Benji, here's some pancake for you.
Benji: Tank oo daddy.

HOORAY! --Victoria

P.S. Obviously, the next step involves the word "please". . .

A Real Conversation

This evening, as Benji and I were having dinner, he turned to me and said "I saw airplane." Okay, actually, it sounded like: "I. Saw. AirPLANE!" This is how the conversation went:

Benji: I saw airplane!
Me: You saw an airplane? Did you see a helicopter too? (I knew he had)
Benji: [pause] Yes.

Okay, it was very short, but this felt like a real conversation. Normally, I would have expected him to just repeat what he had originally said (airplane) or parrot back what I had said (helicopter). Instead, he paused thoughtfully and then answered my question.

Wow.

--Victoria

That Can't Be Comfortable (part II)

This one is a yoga pose, aptly named "child's pose." --Victoria

A Very Orderly Little Boy

Unfortunately, the fact that he sometimes stacks jars, or lines up his trucks and trains (see photos 1 and 2), doesn't mean that he doesn't also fling them around with abandon (see photo 3). I do love finding the little lines of trains around the house, though. --Victoria

That Can't Be Comfortable

Who sleeps like that??? --Victoria

What Does That Face Mean?

He looks smug, as if he knows something we don't know. --Victoria

A Day On The Farm

Benji's friend Jack (who is just one day older than Benji) recently moved with his family to a farm about 45 minutes from our house. Now that they don't live four doors away from us, the boys see each other much less frequently. We know they miss each other because Jack wanders around his new house saying "Benji? Benji?" and back on Capitol Hill, Benji says "Jack-Jack? Buddy? Jack-Jack?" multiple times per day. So Andrea, Jack's mom, had Benji for a sleepover last weekend. It was a great success and the boys had a wonderful time playing together and enjoying the country. The baby in the second photo is Jack's little brother Henry, who is six months old. --Victoria

Breakfast with Tigger