Happy 2nd Birthday Ben!!

It seems like not that long ago this is what we brought home from the hospital.

And now this is what we see everyday.

Ben's first two years have been filled with many ups and downs (mainly lows the first year), but things are certainly interesting.  Everyday he makes us laugh and brings joy to our family even if he isn't feeling well.  For instance, this last weekend over his bday he had over a 102F fever, but with a little motrin he was out and about playing in the garage with all his toys.  I had a garage sale the last few days along with our neighbor so some of these toys have migrated from their garage to ours (the baby doll).  I tried sneaking some of them back across the street and of course he kept asking and insisting to play with the baby doll so it's back at our house now.  Yippee.  I didn't want to get in the way of a boy and his doll although I tried.

He's obsessed with transportation and loves to spot buses, police cars, fire trucks, motorcycles, airplanes, etc when we are out in the yard or driving around.  At any given time he has a bus or truck in his hand or in the car with him.  Our neighbor was generous enough to give us their large fire truck for his birthday and he loves it!  Especially the noises it makes and anything it does is loud.  He also really like his lawnmower (also from the neighbors) which spits out bubbles.  Those are another one of his favorite past times when it's nice out.  He still has fun with his water table that he got last year as well so I'm sure we're in for another full summer of being soaked.

Other than the bug and fever this past weekend his checkup went well and he's doing everything a 2 year old should.  Here are his stats:

Height: 34-1/2" (55%)
Weight: 25.6 lb (20%)
Head Circumference: 19" (40%)

His speaking is really progressing also.  We understand most of what he's saying, but still not everything which frustrates him at times.  He's still really great with Ashley and loves to kiss her and hold her.  And Ashley is definitely fond of him as well as she smiles every time he's around and she sees/hears him.  She is even starting to try and giggle mainly when he's around.

Ashley smiling at Ben's kiss

Here are some more pics of 'fun in the garage' this last weekend.

Our neighbors scooter that he's still learning to use

Waiting for bubbles to come out of his lawnmower

Lining up all his toys - loves to do this with anything

Zoo

We went to the zoo last weekend and Ben had a good time.  I've only been to the KC zoo one other time and this time was just as disappointing.  Maybe I was just spoiled by the St. Louis zoo growing up, but the KC zoo makes no sense in how to view the animals.  I saw more birds and pictures of animals on buildings and such that I did actual zoo animals.  Whoever thought that making one narrow path of travel to walk through each region to view animals was crazy.  You are forced to walk a mile to see one kangaroo and then go through another mile path to see a picture of a cat - I wish I was kidding.  We didn't even attempt the two mile hike to australia this time with Ben and Ashley in tow.  The only neat part is being able to see the polar bear right when you walk in.  Ben even thought so!

And for good measure here's another pic of Ashley.

Ashley is 2 Months Old and Rolling Over!

Since I forgot to start off her one month pics with a stuffed animal as a comparison for growth like Ben, here is her 2 month pic to get the ball rolling.  I'll try to keep up with it each month just like Ben so we can watch her grow.  Here are some recent pics.

"I'm smiling so hard my eyes are closing!"

What are you looking at?!

Ben trying to help although Ashley didn't want the binky.

We went to the doc today and here are her stats:
Weight - 9 lbs 10 oz (25%)
Height - 22-1/2" (55%)
Head Circumfrance - 14" (3%)

So a little bit of a tiny head, but to me it's not noticeable at least.  Ashley is full of smiles and is starting to giggle/coo and make different sounds.  I love talking to her and seeing a huge grin come across her face as she stares in recognition of me.

She's also a little advanced just like her brother.  Last Tuesday she rolled over off her tummy to her back.  Just like with Ben I thought this was a fluke, but it most definitely was not.  I have a hard time getting her adequate tummy time each day since she rolls over when I put her down that way.  Instead I have to hold her up on my chest to try and get her to use her stomach/neck muscles.

Nights are still going really well.  We feed her around our bedtime (10ish) and then she'll sleep til 2-3 and go right back asleep after eating again until about 6:30-7.  I'm defintely not giong to complain about only getting up once in the night.  I think it's a welcome change from our experience with Ben.

Becoming a big boy

Ben definitely has character, that's for sure. Lately he has been talking nonstop. Most of it still just a couple words at a time and repetition of some of his favorites: Mama, Dada, bus, truck, wheels, more, outside, car and yeah. Even at daycare they comment on how he talked all.day.long. Not sure whether they enjoy that or it gets old after a while of hearing the same things I'm sure we hear on a daily basis, but it's good that he's vocalizing (or at least trying to) what he wants. He is also very good about repeating things and trying to get his words right so that just means Bri and I have to start watching what we say around him. Luckily he can't spell so we have that to our advantage.....for now.

Even at the park I can tell he's getting so much older as he manuevers around obstacles and equipment that he couldn't do before. He's climbing a lot more and even hanging from things. Of course he still loves the slide and to run around like any hyper boy would.

He is starting to become a little boy in front of my eyes so quickly that it makes me both happy and a little sad that I know his baby/toddler years are coming to an end too fast.  I'd like to say that even though raising Ben so far has definitely had it's rough patches, I could not ask for a cuter, sweeter boy to be in my life.  With him and Ashley, I feel pretty lucky this mothers day.  Hope you other mom's out there feel the same.

Buses and Smiling

Have I mentioned Ben is fascinated with buses?  He loves buses more than I ever imagined a little kid could and also really like cars, trucks and fire trucks of course.  He spends time laying on the ground or at the table moving his cars, trucks and buses around over and over again.  I have to admit, that I love when he lays on the ground and acts like a little boy pushing his car around and bumping them into each other.  This is now an everyday occurrence and he has to travel with at least one if not more of his buses when we leave the house.  Here is a pic of what our coffee table looks like everyday since he lines up and rearranges his vehicles on it.

Then onto bedtime.  He still is a really good sleeper at night, but his pre-bedtime rituals are quite amusing.  Thanks to our video monitor we get to watch it all unfold and I can't help but laugh almost every time.  He still has a pillow, two blankets, two woobies (security blankets/animals), diapers, a jayhawk and plush football that he sleeps with.  I'm sure I've mentioned this all before, but instead of him just piling everything together and pouncing on it he now gets some exercise and last minute energy out by hanging onto the side rail and jumping for a bit then falling onto his bottom.  He sometimes lets out a giggle at this as well.  I'm sure it's only a matter of time until he climbs out of his crib, but I'm really hoping that day is far, far away as I'm not sure he'll ever sleep if he has his whole room to play with and no confinement within it.  I've seen him play with books and diapers for hours so I'm afraid when he does get out of his crib, his good sleeping nights are over.  Only time will tell.

Next up is Ashley - our princess.  And yes, I'm not ashamed to call her our princess as she is way too sweet and quiet to fit in around Ben.  They truly are polar opposites and in a way I'm glad we have the two extremes.  She's still doing really well at night (majority of the nights) with sleeping after each bottle and going about 4-5 hours in between nighttime feedings.  She's also been smiling on purpose as of this last week and I have to say it's adorable.  I love talking to her and being able to see her light up with a big gummy grin - she's too cute.  I don't have great pictures of it yet, but I'm working on it so this one will have to do until I get the full out grin.

All Clean!



Peaceful