Because I can't resist!

The following video will show you what Bennett sounds like these days. He is babbling pretty much non-stop, which is super cute!

Cute story about nightime . . .

We're in the process of trying to wean Bennett from a bottle at night (and naptime, but we're starting with the pre-bed feed-fest). To do this, Brian has started joining us and will read Bennett a book while he's chowing down and entering his milk coma. It is lots of fun to watch Bennett fall asleep to the sound of Brian's voice. I don't get to watch him fall asleep at night because it is usually pitch black in Bennett's room.

Anyway - after Brian has finished reading and before Bennett has finished eating, Brian will leave. He whispers, "Goodnight Bean, I love you." or something to that effect. Then, he closes the door and turns off the hallway lights.

The last couple of nights, Bennett has reached over his head with his left hand and waved at Brian as he's leaving. It is so very sweet, because Bennett is almost asleep, like just on the edge of the cliff and he musters the energy to essentially say, "Back atcha, dad." And then, kerplunk. His eyelids lose their battle to stay awake.

A few new photos

So, I thought I'd post my favorite photos from the last few months. We can see how awesome Bennett's hair has become!

October - birthday!

October - pumpkin patch

November - packing revealed some old friends!

November - Dad's leiderhosen (sp?) fit!

November - night time with Oma!

November (?) - the slide at Rolly Pollies

December - Christmas with Bert

January - these are the only photos we have from January. It's sad, isn't it?

February - our little indentured servant!

February - hard at work, again.

This one is out of order - from December.

And now - a fun video from our day in the snowy driveway!

Quick note . . .

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've been flipping through pictures from the last few months and there are some super cute ones! I'll be posting photos and videos very soon, I promise!

Today - we went to Winterfest, a celebration of winter (and snow, ugh) in a small suburb of Buffalo. Bennett got to go sledding for the first time ever. He seemed to like it after about the third trip down. I think he'll be a real fan by the time next winter rolls around. We also built a snowman. Well, Brian and I did some building, Bennett supervised.

Bennett really seems to like the snow. I think he's truly a Buffalonian. Not me. I have had enough of this snow. Really - spring better arrive soon!!

Thanks for checking in! Pics and videos to follow.

Vocabulary Update!!

If there's one great thing about having Bennett in daycare for the last two months, it's the rate at which his vocabulary has increased! Just today he started saying, "bubbles"!!! Can you hear the pride in my voice? A fairly complete list of words that nearly anyone could understand if Bennett said them is below:
Dad
Mama
Bwyfe (that's ME!)
bubbles
cracker
dat (that)
more
Jada (a child in his class)
bye
uh-oh
mick (milk)
no (duh)
yah (yes)
hi
down
up
done

and he's getting very close to "Manda". One of his teachers is named Amanda, and all the kids call her Manda. He really likes Amanda!

He's also using some sign language. We haven't taught him a lot, but he uses them correctly:
More (he also signs more when he wants milk)
All Done
and we're working on Milk

He waves hi and bye and also - he gives the greatest hugs. Seriously.

We're working on getting him to say all of your names - we'll try to catch them on video when we're successful!