How Benjamin is doing

I've been thinking a lot about how Benjamin's been doing, in view of how he was doing a year ago.  Last December, he got his orthotics on his feet to increase his core strength and help him develop arches, among other things.  I believe they helped, but he only needed to wear them for about six months.  Our main concern a year ago was his speech delay.  His therapist wanted him to put together two words to form a "sentence," which is a typical two-year-old milestone, and he just couldn't do it.

As you probably know, shortly after he turned two, his speech abilities began to grow by leaps and bounds…and there was much rejoicing!  For the past several months, he has been getting comments from strangers or from people who are getting to know him that he speaks so well for his age.  He can say pretty much anything now.  He doesn't have all his consonant blends, but they are coming.  He is an unstoppable conversationalist.  It's so much fun.  Oh, and he's very loud.  We're working on the loud part.  He could hold that part back a bit and we wouldn't mind!

His therapists also wanted him to be able to draw vertical and horizontal lines as well as in a circular motion.  I hadn't worked on that with him since his therapy sessions ended in May, but on November 21, he started drawing little people on his own.  This is the first one he drew.  He says it is an astronaut with stickers all over its arms.  He pointed out the eyes, nose, cheeks, and chin.  The little people he draws now also have eyeballs.  Lots of kids in other families draw people when they are this young, but he's the first kid in our family to draw a person at the age of two, so I'm pretty proud…and so thankful that he is continuing to develop by leaps and bounds.

The Butterfly Blanket

I mentioned awhile back that there was sickness in the house.  The kids and I all ended up sharing it.  I sure am thankful that we don't often pass something around like that, and that we don't get sick often, or for that long, in general.  Here's Jonathan taking his turn being sick on the butterfly blanket, which we traditionally pull out when somebody is sick.  The blanket was my comforter on my bed when I was a very little girl, and then it became the getting-sick blanket when I got a little older.  It's still doing its job of comforting!

Drawing

Here are some people Grace was working on.  She told me that for a couple of them, she started the body and then didn't have room for the head.

Here's a popup card that Jonathan made for a friend's birthday.  He doesn't often draw for fun, but he enjoys making birthday cards, diagrams, and little reference books.  I am not joking.

Mr. Morning Hair

(This is from more than a month ago…but still funny.)

Interview with the Nine-Year-Old

Our boy is nine today!  We had a little party for him on Saturday with a few friends from our new and old towns.  Hopefully I'll share some pictures soon…it was super fun!  The party had a Lego Chima theme (but mostly Lego) as you can see here.  We are wearing our Lego name tags that we, and all the kids, made at the party.  Big thanks to everyone who has made, and still is making, his birthday special.  We love you so much, Jonathan!

Here are some little glimpses into his world at nine - and not too many surprises, if any:

Favorite color:  Red
Favorite food:  Macaroni & Cheese, or Lego pizza that we made at his party
Favorite book:  Redwall #1
Favorite movie:  Planes
Favorite song:  Chima theme song
Favorite thing to play:  Legos
When he grows up, he wants to be:  Lego model designer or master builder or an engineer
His perfect day would be:  Going to Legofest and playing there all day

Shout Out to Ben and Christin

This one's for Christin, since I know she reads my blog.  :)  Christin, I meant to take and post this weeks ago, but obviously I'm behind!

Christin and her husband Ben had a new baby this fall - their first - and boy, were we excited!  When I was getting ready to mail the card to them, Grace had to get in on the action and draw a picture for Baby Ellie.  If you haven't spoken four-year-old lately, I'll translate for you.  The picture is full of hearts and kittens, as well as a butterfly and a ladybug, and it says, "Baby Ellie, meow meow, lady bug."  She thought the baby would like it.  Big hugs to your family, Ben and Christin!

Nine years ago

I get really sappy at this time of year, partly because of the Christmas season, but partly because it's when we became parents and had both of our boys.  Instead of being productive and getting ready for Jonathan's party this afternoon, I got distracted and started looking through some pictures from December 2004.  These are the last ones we took before Jonathan was born.  The pictures are from December 3, right before Jeff's Christmas party for work, and Jonathan was born December 10.  I miss his little nursery with the animals I painted to match his bumper pads.  It seems like a long time ago.

That's My Boy

Rereading my Chronicles of Narnia treasury…again.  I hope he never gets tired of it.  I never have!

And This Gem's from Jonathan

Jonathan's most recent visit to the orthodontist included one of those stretchy rubber chain things across his top brackets.  It's there, of course, to bring his top teeth together and close the gap between them.  Tonight I noticed that the significant gap between his teeth was closed!  He looks very handsome.  When I told him the good news, he went to look in the mirror, and exclaimed in a disappointed voice, "Awwww!  No more Mater teeth!"

Another Gem from Benjamin

B:  Mama, will you read to me?
Me:  First, you need a fresh diaper.
B:  I suppose I'll take zat as a "no!"