2011 Year in Review: Ben

My baby has really become a big boy this year. Yikes.

At 2.5 years old, Ben is a force to be reckoned with. He is a whirlwind of activity from dawn to dusk (naptime excluded). He loves nothing more than to be going, doing, talking, running, singing, eating, climbing, and oh did I mention, GOING? He’s a pretty good kid, but he’s 2.5 years old. And a boy. His biggest issues are listening and impulse control. Impulse control is better when he’s well-fed and well-rested, but dicey sometimes even then, he can’t quite help himself. He also seems to know he’s charming. And it’s quite hard to not laugh when he gives you his patented cheeky grin before he goes on a spree of defiance/mischief.

When he’s no making mischief, he’s a lover. He doesn’t want to start his day out without a bottle and a snuggle. He loves to tote his lovies from place to place. If he wants to watch TV, he wants to watch it right next to you. In the car, he wants to hold your hand. He wants to sing with you. He wants to dance with you. He is adorable.

Hearing him talk right now is pure joy. He constructs sentences very well when he’s in the mood. Matt and I and some others near him can understand him pretty well, but those outside his inner circle would be hardpressed to get any but the most articulate words. While his sentences can be very complex, they quickly degrade into a few grunts and demands when he is tired or frustrated. “Bad Mommy!” or “It not funny!” never fail to crack me up.

He enjoys our crazy schedule as much as anyone in the family, it seems. He is starting to ask where his friends are, where we’re going, or who’s coming over. It is fun to see him play with the kids, especially the older boys. Several of our friends have boys who are around Tabby’s age and Ben really loves them and looks up to them. We’re lucky that they are really good to include him and play with him and it’s nice to be able to see him keep up with them more or less.

At this point, his eating is pretty hit-or-miss. He will eat some of most of our family favorites, but he would subsist on fruit and milk if we would allow it. And if you ask him what he wants to eat, his answers are invariably toddler food: mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken fingers, noodles. But he is required to take no-thank-you bites same as his sister and sometimes he’ll surprise us and eat a ton of something he hadn’t shown interest in before.

In play he’s getting more and more into drawing. He also constantly talks about writing his name on his birthday which is funny to think about. Cars and trains are his big-deal interest right now – he can usually be found with one or more in his possession. He also likes to play pretend with his sissy and go go go on a trike or plasma car. He is really into books now and for his favorites he will sit still. Getting him into new ones are more of a challenge, but it can be done.

We are coming up on a lot of big changes this year. We’re working on potty training him in the next few weeks. Whether or not it will take this go-around, I don’t know, but I do know he’ll be potty trained within the next few months. This summer, we plan to put him in day-camp with Tabby and then in the fall, he will leave our sitter’s and start full-time preschool. I am sure he will make the adjustment just fine, but it will be a big adjustment nonetheless.

It’s a bit jarring to think of how much he will change in the coming year, but oh so fun to watch. He’s amazing and adorable and a large than life personality that I just love seeing grow and change. The thought of having a boy intimidated me a lot when I first found out, but I am so incredibly happy to have him as part of my life. He’s so unique and wonderful and a true joy to raise. I’m … we’re … so so lucky.