Ben at 2.5

And like that, another quarter has passed and I’m doing another update on my cute little guy. Ben has had a big couple of months. He is talking like mad, putting tons of many-word sentences together. They are still adorably baby-talky (a stage we feel like we missed with Tabby, so we’re loving it with Ben).”Where Daddy go now?” “I not know!” “No no, not my house!” – the last said when we were heading home and he wanted to go get lunch. He almost always knows what he wants to say and most of the time we understand him pretty well and those in his more extended circle can now understand him too. The folks he sees infrequently are a mixed bag, but he’s certainly getting more articulate by the day.

He copies his beloved sissy which I think is alternately amusing and irritating to her. But she is overall great with him and it’s wonderful to watch them playing together. He now joins in her make-believe and they have good give and take. Not that there isn’t ever fighting. There is. He will steal things from her just to hear her scream. And they have trouble taking turns talking to us and end up shouting over each other.

His eating has been funny lately. He has had little appetite for the dinners we serve, though once in a while we’ll hit something that captures his fancy and he’ll down a goodly sized portion. But mostly he wants the fruit we serve with dinner and some milk and that’s about it, thank you very much. Dessert is nice if he can get it as well, but we have a full-on fit if an apple isn’t forthcoming when requested.

He is closing the gap on Tabby in size rapidly. Currently less than 4 lbs separate their weight and under 6 inches for height. He is wearing a 2T or 3T sometimes and size 8 shoes. However he is frequently barefoot – he prefers it unless that is he can get some outdoor time and then he will gladly put on his shoes. He is also a fan of his jacket and will ask us to put it on. He shivers visibly when he gets cold and says “Brrr! It’s cold!”

He has a funny sense of humor and likes to laugh with us. He is super mischievous and it is near impossible to issue him a stern enough warning – he just turns around and grins at us and does whatever he wants. We are working on it. He is showing good empathy though. He asks why people and characters on TV and in books are sad. He comforts us and Tabby when we’re hurt or upset. He is a big love bug and loves to snuggle when it suits him.

He is getting more and more social and plays with kids very well. He does seem to understand to be more cautious with kids younger than him and he is more rough and tumble wit the big kids. There are many boys around Tabby’s age in our circle of friends and he loves LOVES to play with them and be one of the big kids and one of the boys. But he has a special interest in the ladies … of all ages. This weekend we were in the “family hot tub” (barely bath tub hot) at the rec center. The guards rotate out about every five minutes and when we arrived there was a teenage boy on duty. He was replaced with another teenage boy about 5 minutes later. But the next guard who came on was a pretty girl around 16 or 17. Ben noticed her immediately and asked Matt what her name was. Matt said he didn’t know and encouraged Ben to ask her himself. After much bashful posturing, Ben made his way over and inquired, “What your name??” With a few repeats she understood and told him her name. He smiled and asked. “What your birthday?” The little flirt.

It is so cool and rewarding to see him becoming his own unique and FUN little person. In less than a year he’ll be heading off to an all-day preschool and I can see that he’ll be ready for it and even in need of it. Of course it breaks my heart a little, but he is growing up so well and you can’t be too sad about that. He’s such a delight and we’re so so lucky to have him.