Jake's First Snow

We had a dusting the other week but we woke up to the REAL thing on Saturday. Jacob stared and stared, banged on the window and finally convinced me to let him touch it...I forget about these magical moments sometimes, you know, until they remind me!

A Good Old Fashioned Christmas Tradition!

I have always wanted a real Christmas tree! This year I got my wish...our house smells wonderful!

Remember Him?

You can read more about him here and watch a video of little bitty Ben and Mr. Beebs here just after Ben turned 2. Then of course there is the breastfeeding phase...when Ben did not receive the breasts he requested for his third birthday...here

Ben's beloved tiger, "Mr. Beebs" has made various blog appearances over the years...he is still a fixture in Ben's life and I like to tell "Mr. Beebs"stories to him to relate real life experiences to him...our currant favorites are "Mr. Beebs forgets to be gentle to Jacob" Mr. Beebs likes to try new vegetables" and "Mr Beebs uses the toilet"... Of course he also remains a loyal bedmate.

A few nights ago Ben woke up with a nightmare (owls...of course) and was crying for me to come lay down with him. I did and as I got up to sneak out when I was sure he was asleep again he pulled me close again suddenly and whispered "Mommy, find Mr. Beebs!" He could sense his absence as sure enough he had fallen off the end of the bed. Ben thanked me and held the tiger tight.
"Are you going to be okay now Ben?"
"Oh yes". He assured me. "Mr. Beebs eats scary things for breakfast".

Good to know.

"

His Thing

Here is Jacob...where you will find him most nights. Still eating, long after everyone, two, five and ten times his size are done. Where does it go???

10/12

Ten months old!

(weren't you just born?)

1- You love going up the stairs...you pound the step and laugh maniacally at your achomplishemt.

2- You have the most heartbreaking cry...sob. When something doesn't go your way you collapse in disappointment at the closed dishwasher that you NEEDED to climb into or the stair gate that Mommy shut just as you almost got away with your daring adventure. You pop your lip out and put your bum in the air with your head burried in the floor and sob and sob with big fat tears until Mommy tickles you until your laughing again.

3- You radiate happiness. I can only dream that you retain this most wonderful quality. You are always smiling and it takes only a grin or a poke to have you collapsing in giggles.

4- You have started snorting when you laugh really hard, which makes Mommy laugh and you, in turn laugh harder.

5- You can "sniff", wave, give high fives, and give awesome hugs and open mouth kisses.

6- You say "Mama" very clearly and appropriately only to me. It makes my heart blow up and wrap itself around you, I love to hear it sooooo much! I love when you call me when I am in the shower from your crib; " Maaaaaama...Maaaaaaaa Maa!" When come and get you, you collapse in your bed laughing and wiggling.

7- I think you say Ben and Daddy too but they just sound like "Bah" and "Deh".

8- You hate to get dressed or in any way manipulated into clothes. You arch your back in ways I didn't know possible.

9- You love to play with cars now and make the appropriate noises...until Ben usually snatches them from you... I am sorry about that... we are working on it.

10- We are debating entering you into an eating contest. The other night for dinner alone you ate half a chicken breast, potatoes, avocado, corn, carrots, toast, applesauce and some cantaloupe. Then we stopped even though you wanted more because we thought you might actually blow out your stomach! We could not believe you were still shoveling food in your mouth. So far there is no food you refuse.

We love you Jacob!!!! You are such an amazing little boy, you glow with spirit, charm and spunk. You delight me everyday.

To Nap or Not to Nap, That is the Question.

Ben is pretty consistently not napping any longer. He went from three hours a day with an 8 o clock bedtime followed by 12 more hours of wake less sleep I thought maybe he could use perhaps a shorter nap. He has started arguing with me more and more however when I try to encourage this and so recently we had a talk about it.

"Why don't you want a nap anymore Ben? Aren't you a little bit too sleepy in the afternoon when you don't have one?"

"No Mommy. I have too many things to do"?

"Uh huh. Like what?"

"All my jobs. Colouring, play dough, trucks, my movie. Alllllll those jobs".

Well who was I to hold him back from his important work?! Not I... so napless we are. It is the end of an era.

I thought I would dread this day but I don't. Ben really does work hard during this time. He moves from one activity to another and impresses me with his independence and his ability to self regulate from painting, to clean up, shoes on to the sandbox, hands washed and self made toast. This boy of mine. He's growin' up and it doesn't look like I have a whole lotta say in the matter.

Lessons From a Boy

Yesterday, like most days, we walked up the street to our box to see what mail it held for us.
When we got there however we were saddened to see there was nothing. Ben tried our key on all 29 other boxes to see if perhaps there must have been a mistake. Unfortunately we had to give up and go home empty handed.

When we went back today, we found an arm full waiting for us. With delight Ben took it all out piece by piece and put it in the stroller basket as usual. Today, however, he careful took a brightly coloured envelope and placed it back in the box, shut the door and locked it.

Confussed I asked him, "Ben why did you leave a letter behind"?

"So I will know there will be mail tomorrow and I will be happy".

Way to make your own happiness Ben!