It has been so much fun to watch Benjamin become more like a toddler. He pushes himself up to standing and sometimes just stands there for awhile. He hasn't quite gotten to walking, but he has taken his first step (last weekend, on August 23rd)! So I'm sure it will be anytime now. Every day he amazes me with something new that he does or understand.
Here are his recent activities:
-New words that he understands: penguin, bye-bye (that it means to leave)
-Words that he says: 'ah' for eyes, 'off' for on/off, woof for dog, mama, dada, ba or ball or bottle, 'da' for door, num num num when he is hungry, he clucks his tongue for clock, and he sometimes down the baby sign for 'more'
-He is still on formula, but for toddlers. We tried switching to whole milk, twice, but both times he got diarrhea and he also got a painful diaper rash. This is the first diaper rash he has ever gotten! He also seemed irritable and uncomfortable. Then we tried soy, it got better but he still showed some of the same symptoms. Finally, we switched him back to formula. I still nurse him in the morning, too.
-If he sees a hair band or a bobby pin, he likes to put it on my head. I'm amazed that he knew that that is where they go because I don't think I ever really made a point of showing him this.
-Waves bye-bye and then points to the door and says 'da' (for door). He does this when he wants to go outside
-His hair is getting so long and it gets really curly with humidity. Everyone we meet comments on his curly hair. I love his hair - no plans for a haircut anytime soon! Although we might need to trim the front as I often need to sweep his hair out of his eyes.
-Oftentimes, but not always, he likes to socialize with new people. Yesterday we were at the Sweet Corn Festival in downtown Urbana and Benjamin and I were sitting down to eat corn (delicious, by the way!). He was walking in circles around me while holding on and he started playing peek-a-boo with a woman near us. He would hide behind my back and then peek around and give her a big smile. It was very cute! He also sometimes waves at people or just smiles. At then at other times, he just gives an unsure stare at someone who is trying to talk to him.
-He absolutely loves kids. When we go to the park, he follows them around. We were at a kids consignment store, and he was crawling after two little boys (there is a lot of nice open space to play at this store). And of course his loves his little cousins Colin, Lexi, and Lucy (and his not so little cousins Trever and Zack)! I would say at this point he is not sure of me holding his new little cousin Tessa.
-He seems to be toughening up when he falls or bumps his head. He doesn't seem to be fazed by it much now. There was one time when he was sitting on our patio (which is slightly elevated off the ground) and then fell backwards off of it. Thankfully his inflatable pool was there to cushion his fall (it was empty since I was cleaning it). I thought he would be scared, but he just rolled back over and climbed back onto the patio.
-He loves to push anything and everything. This includes his push toys (the lawnmower, the dump truck, and his hippo that gobbles things as you pass over them), but it also includes anything else that moves. At the hospital while waiting for Tessa, Benjamin started pushing a toddler chair around and then today he started pushing his big stroller. Maybe he can start taking me for a walk!
-For the last 1 1/2 to 2 weeks I have been able to put Benjamin down for a nap or to sleep without him crying or fussing!! Hallelujah!
Some new pictures:
Pushing the ball into his dinosaur toy
His cute little curls
Pushing one of his push toys
He can rock all by himself!
Exploring the park
Benjamin and Vicki in one of the homes we are looking at. In fact, this is where he took his first step!
At the Sweet Corn Festival in downtown Urbana. The building behind him is the courthouse.
Enjoying the beautiful day at the Sweet Corn Festival
