Family Tradition

When each of us grandkids were born Grandma & Grandpa Werner gave us a special wooden gift. I got a rocking chair, Patrick got a rocking horse and Matty got a bear rocking chair. I can't remember what my other cousins got but I know they got them! I remember these always being a staple in our living room. I remember rocking in my chair with Mutt and my beek (stuffed dog and lovey) watching Big Bird aka Sesame Street. I remember Patrick flipping his rocking horse upside down and using the rocking part of the horse as a ladder while he played fireman. I remember rocking Matty's for him in his bear rocking chair when he was too little to do it himself. When I was pregnant with Ben Grandma told me to find a special wooden chair or horse for Ben. I was so excited and searched and search and finally found the perfect rocking horse. Ben is still a bit small for it but it is ready for him once he gains a few more inches! When we moved to Philly my mom gave me my chair to take so we could have it for our future babies. A few days ago I pulled mine up from the basement and brought it into the playroom and Ben ran right to it dust and all and climbed on in and sat and watched Sesame Street. I love so much that now my baby is sitting in the same chair as me 32 years ago doing the same thing. Sometimes I will just find him rocking and rocking and rocking in my chair. Love. I can't wait for the day I get to see my grandbabies rock in that chair.

17 Months

17 Months old! Well in the past few weeks Ben has picked up so many new things! It amazes me everyday how much he is absorbing from our normal daily routines. When I ask him if he wants to go bye-bye he runs to where the keyhook is and stands under it saying keys-keys-keys. And then insists on carrying the keys to the car. When we get to the grocery store or Target he must have his own sani-wipe to wipe down the front part of the cart (he is so my child!). His new words as of late are keys, bye, ZZ (as in Zoie my parents dog), school, cheese, bubbles, daddy and a version of thank you. He said Rock Chalk a few times but won't do it on demand. He still is signing a ton for more, please, all done and help. I am really glad we took the time to teach him sign language-it has really come in handy! His new food love is applesauce. He eats cereal sometimes in the morning now in a bowl with a little bit of milk. He seems to really like the fruity cheerios! Thus far he hasn't dumped it out or thrown it across the room(knocking on wood). Fruit is still a big staple. Chicken, turkey, bananas and milk are on the will not eat list. He's been loving fruit snacks (shocker since they are made from fruit)! He thinks they are candy! Something we have not been so thrilled about happens some nights around 2 am...we hear "Hiiiiiii Dogggggy" "Hi Doggy" "Doggy Doggy Doggy". By this point you can hear Miles getting up and Ben just chatters and/or sings to him for a bit. Not sure what caused this new habit but I'm hoping it breaks soon! He loves to clean! GG bought him a vacuum, broom and swiffer and he does all three almost all day! His push around buggy car and cozy coupe he hardly ever get out of. He likes to sit in his car buggy while he watches Sesame Street in the morning. And he loves to fill his cozy coupe with his loveys and blankets. He has yet to figure out he can "drive" the cozy coupe on his own but I think his legs are still just a bit to short. He is starting to be a climber-he loves climbing up on his chairs at his table and the kitchen chairs too. I realized the other day that we have a million nicknames for this kid (Bean, Love Bug, Baby, Little Dude, Bean Sprout, Beanie, Benny Boo just to name a few) and he answers to all of them except for Ben. So we need to work on that since I doubt he wants his friends at school calling him Love Bug! I can't even imagine what the next month will bring!

Easter 2012

What a great Easter Sunday (besides a teething baby who also has a cold)! The morning started off with Ben being very excited to see the Easter Bunny had paid him a visit! The Easter Bunny brought him a basket, a water table and "hid" some eggs! He loves the water table! And was very excited to find out that the eggs contained either a few goldfish, a fruit snack or a jelly bean and that one had a peep in it! He was pretty much full be the time we sat down for breakfast but managed to get some fruit in him before heading off to church. After church we went to my parents where we had a great brunch! And Ben had another Easter basket and egg hunt. He is spoiled rotten! Sadly Matt had to work so we only got to see him as we were leaving but other than that it was a very nice day full of great memories!

Getting Ready For Easter

The past few days we have been getting ready for Easter. I made some chocolate birds nest complete with eggs. And Ben and I made Easter cupcakes for brunch at my parents on Sunday and we also dyed eggs. I will admit that when I say "we" made cupcakes I mean that Ben ate breakfast while I made cupcakes. But he was my official taste tester! When it came to egg dying he was right there with me until he started to crack the eggs and I had to put him in his highchair while we finished which he was so not happy about.

Ben & The Bunny

Thursday we took Ben to go see the Easter Bunny. Vince & I had a feeling that it would be a repeat of seeing Santa but we knew we just had to do it! When Ben saw the Easter Bunny he started waving and saying Hi then went and gave him a high-five. Then we put him on the Easter Bunny's lap and the screaming and tears were out in full force. Once we took him off the Easter Bunny's lap the tears stopped and he started waving and playing with him again-go figure!