June 16th 2007

Zoo 6-10-07

Our trip to the zoo - one of many this summer already ...

http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u44/ciammartino/?action=view&current=MVI_0025.flv

Memorial Day 2007

Ben enjoyed the River Forest Memorial Day Parade with his cousins Grace and Ruthie. When the bands went by he danced and clapped his hands. After the parade Ben played t-ball with Grandpa Al and Grace. We wrapped up the day by going to Brown Cow ice cream on the way home - yum! It was a great day.

Recovered with a vengance

Ben recovered from his surgery like a trooper -- in fact, he seems to have more energy NOW then he did before the surgery! He was such a good little guy.

little old man

Ben snores. Loudly. He's snored for almost as long as his nose has been running -- about 8 months. We didn't really think anything of it until we got tired of constantly wiping his nose (he's gotten really good at letting people do it, and even doing it himself) and brought him to the doctor to inquire about allergies. Nope, not allergies. It's his adenoids (the little things behind - sorta - your tonsils). His adenoids have grown to the point where they are pretty much blocking his entire nasal passage, which is what causes the snoring like a 60-year-old man, constant running nose, and sleep apnea. So Tuesday the 15th Steve and I are bringing out little old man to have his adenoids removed. Poor little Benners first surgery. Let's hope it's the last for a long time!

just for fun ...

Ben wouldn't share these flowers with his mommy - he wanted them all for himself.

Ben loves rocks.

Grandpa Al would tease Ben

about going into the hospitality industry

if he saw this picture.

zoo

bubbles

a few NEW favorite things ...

1) Elmo (pronounced Melmo - oh yes, that's Beans in his crocs watching Elmo!!)


2) Blue crocs from Grandma Joyce


3) Sausage (yes, Ben can eat almost an entire link of sausage by himself)

Grandma Schultz reminded me that I haven't updated the blog in a while, so here I am.

Ben cracks Steve and I up. He's got quite a personality and has also learned the art of the temper tantrum. When he gets really upset he stomps on one foot and then the other and does a fake cry and starts rubbing his eyes. It's actually hard not to laugh at him when he does this little dance, but I try to explain to him that if he's frustrated he needs to say why, not just get upset. Hard to tell a not-quite-2 year old how to do that though!

A few of Ben's favorite words: choo-choo (he refuses to say train), cat, tree, book, truck, airplane, blocks, please, thank you ... most of the time his words are still jiber-jaber, but he thinks he's saying something really important.

It's been a while, so here are some new photos of Beans. He's started to ham it up for the cameras ... notice the goofy grins.

Growing UP

Ben got his first haircut this past weekend ... where has my baby gone? It seems like he changed overnight, and I want my little BenBear back. Anyway, he does have a cute haircut, so check it out ...
Ben right before his cut:

Ben after his cut:

More pictures

Pictures

First Birthday

Ben's first birthday experience:

Birthday boy ...


Birthday cake (made by mommy -- daddy helped with the smoke stack) ...


Playing with cousins Anne and Grace ...


Blowing out the candle and first bite of cake ...


Aftermath ...


A very special THANK YOU to everyone who helped us celebrate Ben's first birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN