Another Hair Cut for Benjamin

We finally got Benjamin's hair cut again. He really needed it- we really couldn't do anything to style it or make it look cute. We actually decided to cut it short- it will be cooler for summer and we won't HAVE to go get another one anytime soon. I think it makes him look older and it makes his cheeks look a lot bigger! I've missed his chubby cheeks, and now they look more chubby since his wild hair isn't a distraction anymore. (Look at the pictures from yesterday's post to see the difference)

Benjamin did so much better at this haircut than he did at the last one. He didn't cry and it was a lot easier to distract him while the lady was cutting his hair. He actually let her finish completely this time!

By the way- did you notice that yellow green bruise on his forehead and the scratch above his eye? Those are what's left of his horrible fall last Friday night at Jonathan's brother's house. He tumbled walking out the back door and hit the concrete outside. We're actually very lucky he didn't go tumbling down the stairs after that. The goose egg where the bruise is was HUGE- it really scared me. And his eye was all swollen too. I felt so bad for my little guy! He was so upset. Before Benjamin went to bed Jonathan gave him a Father's Blessing. By the time he woke up in the morning (less than 12 hours later) his goose egg was completely gone and all that was left was the bruise! His eye was a little swollen, but by early afternoon it looked great too. All that's left now is the bruise and scrape that you see in the pictures. I am so grateful for this small reminder that Blessings do have such power and we need to utilize them so much more than we do!

Benjamin has been waiting a long time for this...

Since we only have 2 bedrooms right now (that is changing in 3 weeks!) Benjamin shares his bedroom with Jonathan's fishing poles. About 2 or 3 months ago Benjamin finally noticed they were there in the corner, but blocked off by his exersaucer (that big red and blue thing in the pictures) that he no longer plays with. When I go in to get Benjamin in the morning or after a nap he is often standing in his crib pointing at the fishing poles and saying "mom...mom...mom" Now, before you get confused- Benjamin uses the word "mom" for everything but me. I basically interpret it as "Mom, I want that." At least that is what I tell myself to make me feel better. But anyway, today Jonathan was going through his poles and decided to give an old broken one to Benjamin to let him play with it. Well, Benjamin loved it- but not as much as Jonathan loved that Benjamin loved it :) Here are some fun pictures of Benjamin playing with Jonathan's pole...

Look how tall the pole is compared to Benjamin, and he was waving that thing around. Both Jonathan and I got hit in the face more than once.

Yes, I know his outfit doesn't match, but it was right before bedtime and all his pajamas are in the dirty clothes hamper. So he is now sleeping in the shirt he wore today and a pair of sweats. At least I get points for getting him dressed today... right?

These pictures don't really show how big his smile was when he first got a hold of that pole. Trust me, it was so cute! But his big smiles wore off by the time I got the camera and was back in his room to take pictures. Sigh...

We did manage to get some video of Benjamin with the fishing pole, so enjoy this instead...

Pictures...

So I don't really have much to say, but I had some cute pictures of Benjamin just being a sweet little boy that I wanted to share. Despite having a stuffy nose the past two days, Benjamin has been in a great mood. He's quick to smile and laugh and we're having a lot of fun. Whenever I pull out the camera he comes right towards me and smiles when I tell him to give me a "happy face." He is such a happy baby (most of the time) and we're so glad!

"Happy Face"

Reading a book in the glider in his room

Trying on mom's hat today (Yes- it has been one of "those days" where I'm wearing a hat because my shower was 2 seconds long and I didn't have time to wash my hair and Benjamin is still in his pajamas after lunch)

Waving at the Camera (ok, so apparently yesterday was one of "those days" too because Benjamin was in his pajamas until he took a bath after dinner. At least he's not in the same pajamas today, I've been known to do that too)

Like Father, Like Son...

When Jonathan got home from studying at school today Benjamin was down for a nap so Jonathan decided to play a video game until Benjamin woke up. Well... Benjamin woke up and wanted to get right in on the action!



As soon as Benjamin got the controller all to himself, he was as happy as could be...

Until we turned off the video game. You can tell he is not very happy with us!



And yes, that is my messy living room in the pictures. But in my defense, Benjamin had a doctors appointment this morning so I was still working when Jonathan got home. I hadn't had time to pick up Benjamin's regularly scheduled throwing of the toys all over the room.

In other news, Benjamin had his 15 month check up this morning. He is looking very healthy and developing very well. He is now 22 1/2 pounds and 32.2 inches tall- basically he's long and lean :) He spent most of the appointment sitting in the doctor's lap while see examined him and asked me questions about his development. She was surprised at how friendly and sociable he is for a 15 month old!

Just Another Diaper Change at the Gibson house...

Aren't toddlers so much fun!

Park and Nap Time

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that we had to walk to the park after dinner and let Benjamin play for a little while. He is definitely learning to love the slides- he can now go down them by himself and even knows how to "scoot" to get himself going.

This morning Benjamin slept in until 8:30 so I couldn't get him down for his normal nap at 10am. When he does something out of the ordinary like this, I'm not quite sure when to put him down or to try for two naps or just one. Today Benjamin made it easy and let me know he was ready for his nap...

How Can You Not Love This Face?

He definitely got his mama's eyes. Those are going to be heartbreakers one day! Maybe it's a good thing we're not having a little girl next- all her friends will want to come over just to see her handsome older brother : )

Benjamin is learning to be so defiant. He's definitely testing limits. I try really hard not to laugh and encourage it, but it's too darn funny sometimes and his face is just too cute. Lately he's starting running away before, during, and after diaper changes. Like he can't sit still for one minute to get a clean bum. Whenever we say, "Benjamin- time for a clean bum" He'll look at us, smile, and run to one of two corners in the living room. Then he'll stand there and laugh at you while you say, "Benjamin come here" or "Let's get a clean bum and then you can go play." We're trying to teach him to listen to his parents, but it's too funny and his laugh is captivating. You really can't help but laugh right along with him.

The best part is when he decides he's had enough in the MIDDLE of a diaper change. So he'll flip over and run off down the hall with a bare bum hanging out from under his shirt. That's when I really start laughing and I can't even pretend to be serious. He loves it. Luckily he hasn't figured out how to take his clothes off on his own yet. Then we'd be seeing a lot more naked butt around here, I'm sure!

Well... this new baby is a tricky little guy...

Yes, I said guy.

As in dude, hombre, lad, gent, nino, bloke, chap . . .

Boy.

We had the ultrasound today at the doctor's office (the one we did before was at a different place that only checks gender). The technician said she was 100% sure it was a boy and not a girl. And she has been doing this for a long time (she was actually the technician who did my ultrasound with Benjamin almost 2 years ago). She said little girls don't have packages like this little boy does.

So, naturally, we're a little shocked and surprised, but still excited.

Here's the only ultrasound picture that wasn't too dark when I scanned it. This is our little boy's face

What next? The great name debate. We easily agreed on a girl name, but a boy name is another story. Hopefully he'll have a name before his first birthday :)

Another Park Adventure

This time Dad was able to come with us. We decided to go to a different park that is a little closer, but it doesn't have the smaller kids play area like the first park does. But, Benjamin still had a fun time. It was cooler yesterday, but Benjamin was all bundled up and enjoyed it. He had more fun playing in the dirt than going down the slides. And unfortunately there weren't any swings at this park for him to play on. We still had fun though and Benjamin didn't want to leave!