sweet 16

Thanksgiving was Ben's sweet 16 month bday!  I remember before I was even pregnant some guy I worked with asking "Why do people say their child's age in months until they are like 5? Why say 26 months?? Just say 2!" I remember laughing and totally agreeing... why make people do the math?  HOWEVER, now that I am HERE... I totally get it.  Each month is SO different.  I mean 13 month old Ben was so much smaller and "babier" than 16 month old Ben. Heck, 15 month old Ben is way different than 16 month Ben!  Each month Ben grows up so much and can do so many new and fascinating things.  In just one month his vocabulary has doubled and he litterally looks like he is 8 now :) Well, maybe not really...  but it seems to be going way faster than I thought/would like.  Now, I do think after Ben is 2 I will probably go with just "2" and not 26 months, but for now... we will celebrate each wonderous month and thank God for our little angel boy.

Benjamin, at 16 months you....

• think Buffett is your BFF and torture play with him non stop
• run, throw, kick, walk on your tip toes, slide down the stairs on your tummy, walk backwards, scoot around in your little red car, slam dunk, push toys (lawnmower, train, popper), climb all over the place, stand on the table at school (and get in trouble), and go-go-go non stop ALL DAY LONG!! You are exhausting, but so fun, to keep up with!
• Love the guitar iPop gave you
• LOVE LOVE LOVE to read.... ESPECIALLY "Wheels on the Bus" - you say "round and round?" probably 9,234,643,543,873,346,914 time a day and want me to read and sing it all the way through. It is probably one of the cutest things in the world though, because you do the motions now that we have been teaching you.
• Like to climb up in your rocking chair and go "rock, rock" -- your Moremama taught you that
• She also taught you to "rock, rock" your stuffed animals and it brings tears to my eyes each time you do it... so, so sweet :)
• are starting to mimic everything we say... especially animals sounds (elephant and owl are your favs) and "shoo-wee" when we change your diaper!
• LOVE crackers of all kind - goldfish, ritz bitz, club, popcorn
• call almost any kind of food crackers... including cheerios, suckers, and cookies!
• are a pretty good eater, but you'd rather play!
• love to read before bed... we read approximately 15 books before I put you down. You are so sweet and love to say "bye bye" when I lay you down and the "bye" one more time right before the door closes.
• can say "Grandpa" and "iPop" but not Grandma, Winnie, or Moremama
• are OBSESSED with trucks, cars, and "choo choo"s - You call anything big a "choo choo" and want to go play on our neighbor's big tractor (they are in the middle of a huge home addition) every day when we get home
• LOVE music and bounce your knees when you dance - I want to bottle you up and keep you this little and precious F-O-R-E-V-E-R (sandlot style).