Benji is a Pothead

Things Benji Says

Sometimes, Benji tried to climb up the cupboards to the kitchen counter. This "climbing" mostly consists of holding the counter top and trying to peer over it. He invariably starts complaining, "Mommy, I need help! I'm STUCK! Mommy, I'm STUCK!"

When he did this, I always respond by saying, "Silly Benji, you're not stuck, you're just short."

A few days ago, he again grabbed the counter top and tried to pull himself up. When he couldn't make it, he said, "Mommy, I'm SHORT!"

I assured him he would grow out of it.

--Victoria

What Hurricane Irene Did To Our Neighbors

Fortunately, no one was injured and there was no property damage other than to a small section of fence, despite the fact that this tree could have: blocked the alley, blocked the street squashed one or more cars, caused major structural damage to our neighbors' house, or knocked down a second tree, causing a domino effect. As it is, even the window air conditioning unit it landed over was barely scratched. My neighbor Carolyn says it was the hand of God.

Benji and I went to survey the damage, and he had a long conversation with the tree, including "let's go around the block" and "no, you can NOT check your email."

--Victoria

"I'm Batman!"

Apparently, anything placed over the eyes is a mask. Also, wearing any sort of mask turns you into Batman. Who knew? --Victoria

Benji with Grandma

Benji with Grandpa

Things Benji Says

"Daddy, I going to to hop in the sky!"

Things Benji Says

Last weekend, I bought some additional track and connectors so that we could make an expanded train track. Benji and I set it up on the floor of his bedroom. The next morning, when he woke up, he looked at it happily and said to me, "what a nice track!" What a nice little boy. :)

--Victoria

He's growing up...

Our friends Sarah and Yousef are out of town for a week, and we're taking care of their garden by watering their tomatoes and other vegetables (and eating any that are ripe -- yum). I'm in charge of watering, and Benji is in charge of monitoring the water pressure... by standing under the hose at every opportunity he can find. The tomatoes were thoroughly watered, and so was Benji. He insisted on carrying the tomatoes home, and was very careful with them. I took this photo on our way home, and I've never seen him looking so much like a little boy instead of a toddler. I am so proud of him and it also breaks my heart, both at the same time. --Victoria

Things Benji Says

At the grocery store, Aaron and Benji were in the cereal aisle when Benji saw a box of cereal in the shape of letters -- something like Alpha-Bits, I assume.

He said: "They're eating LETTERS! Oh NO!"

--Victoria

So Many Friends!

Aaron and I went into Benji's room this morning, wondering why he was being so quiet. He had taken all the soft toys that he insisted on having in his crib before we would go to sleep, lined them up along the side of the crib, and was sitting happily in the lineup.

When we walked in to the room and asked him what he was doing, he said: "So many friends!" and grinned happily. It took a long time to convince him to come out of the crib. --Victoria

First Real Haircut!

Benji's hair was getting shaggy. Really shaggy. Some days, it would look cute -- for example, the final picture in the "Happiness Is a New Bus and Cement Truck" post is adorable. Other days, it would just look crazy. It was getting long enough that it wasn't even a cute mop of curls anymore, because it was long enough to weigh itself down. I thought that if I took him in to the salon, my hairdresser (who had been begging me to bring him in) could clean up the back and sides and he would still have his cute curls on top. Oh well... I guess the curls will grow back. Aaron is not amused. --Victoria


Before





















Before









After

No reading here

Benji: What you doing Mommy?

Victoria: I'm reading.

B: No Mommy, don't read! Come ONNN....

Sleeping Comfortably at Last?

That's more like it.

I feel terrible about doing this . . .

It's silly, but I really do. --Victoria

Trying to Escape a Diaper Change

Things Benji Says (Not Sad)

I took Benji to the grocery store, not realizing that he was really hungry and potentially cranky as a result. He wanted to walk instead of ride in the cart, and the store wasn't busy so I let him do that. He was really good for about five minutes, then he ran away from me twice (the second time, after receiving a warning about not running away). I put him back in the cart and he had a total meltdown -- he cried and sobbed for several minutes. Eventually, I said, "I'm sorry you're sad, sweetie" and he replied (sobbing the whole time): "NO!!! I'M NOT SAD!!! I'M CRYING!!!"

It's so hard not to laugh. And feel sorry for him at the same time. :)

Once we got into the bakery section he asked for a bagel and proceeded to eat half of it without stopping. They say never to shop when you're hungry -- I guess that's true.

Later that evening, we were in the living room and I started to walk away and he said, "NO Mommy! Don't run away!" At least he remembered the message.

--Victoria

Happiness is a new bus and cement mixer

A friend was getting rid of some little cars and trucks now that her sons are older. I asked her if I could have a cement mixer and a yellow bus for Benji. The bus is identical (other than colour) to a green bus that he already has, which made him extremely happy. --Victoria

Gelato Face

I shared some of my gelato with Benji. For a long time after these photos were taken, he insisted: "Mommy, I need chocolate!" --Victoria