a wee little update

Here goes a quick --- much needed update.

The winter here in good ole' Washington was rough. When I say rough, I mean a bit cold and rainy. The wet cold truly does get you to the bone. Bennett didn't mind it so much though. As long as he got to go to paint in his robe...

and play "baball" {basketball}...

and catch a "bayball" {baseball}...

and go to the "pok" {park}...

and play with his new buddy, "Buzz."

He sure is growing!

In addition, we are thrilled that Bennett wants to be just like his mom and dad when he is all grown up.... Let me explain.

He never goes anywhere without a "balls" in hand.

Here he is drawing in his big boy chair, waiting for his lunch to be served.

Note how he carefully placed the ball right next to him so he would be ready to jump back up to play after he finished his beloved "raisnns" {raisins}.

Yes, he is like his dad in that way. So, you are probably asking how he is like his mama, right? Well, please take a second look at the photo.... Under the table, perhaps? At his little feet? Yes, there he is with "mams" tennis shoe....

Those little toes of his are hanging on for dear life. He honestly cannot get enough of shoes. He loves them - Just like his mama!! We are very proud parents. ;)

back home.

It's no surprise that so much has happened in the last 3 months. We packed up our little lives in Utah, said some sad goodbyes and moved to Whidbey Island, Washington. Yes, this is the very place I grew up, folks. It gets better - I live in the very house I grew up in {my parents live two hours away but kept the island home} and work part-time at the very elementary school I attended 14 years ago. Weird, right? That's what I thought. But -great, right? That's what I think! It has honestly been wonderful. The 'wonderfulness' came with some 'craziness'. I didn't realize how difficult it would be leaving dear friends and a place I called home. Moving to another state, with a curious {translation: a need to get into everything} little boy has been interesting. I think this picture sums it up...

Boxes, toys, and an unsnapped onesie. Love it.

Bennett is finally adjusting and seems to like it here.

His favorite place to play is his room.

With all of his toys.

The ball bin is his favorite.

He love love love love love love love loves his "dars" {cars} and "tuts" {trucks} and naturally has one in his hand about 80% of the time.

The other day I caught him loading his farm animals into the car and driving them around the house. He is such a crack up.

I am seriously obsessed with him.

He also loves to help mom cook.

He thinks its great to be close to his grandparents and cousins,

of course. ;)

Oh, and don't forget the Friday night football games. He can't get enough of it.

One of his favorite things to do is go to the "pak" {park}.

The castle park. The one mom used to go to.

He has grown so much. I am loving everyday with him. He has become such a good listener - all you have to do is calmly explain why he isn't supposed to be doing something and he will listen. Seriously! For awhile he was a wild child, but after a month of saying "NO!" every two seconds we realized WE were the ones that needed to do some adjusting... and it worked! He has turned into an angel child. Lucky? I think yes.

Although we truly miss our friends and family back in Utah, we are starting to feel at home here.

{and no, that's not our dog - it's Bennett's Aunt "Braee" a.k.a. Brandie}

oreos and milk mixed with pediasure.

Where to begin? Not sure.

Well, how about that our little man is on one of the most desirable diets in the universe. Ice cream, Oreos, donuts, butter, lard, {dot, dot, dot}. No, really. He is. Bennett has struggled gaining weight due to some gastrointestinal issues. For a 4 month period he had CDiff, he struggled to sleep (I mean really struggled - inconsolable screaming for upwards of an hour about 12 times a night), pooped 6-12 times a day and was up against some bad, bad gas!!! He's always been an excellent eater and we have always worked hard to give him a healthy, balanced diet. So, you can imagine my surprise when the doctor said. "Let's try a high fat diet and let's put him on an appetite stimulant. What kind of high fat foods does he like?" I replied, "avocados, meat, peanut butter; you know, the healthy ones / ONLY ones I give him." He asked, "Does he like ice cream? Oreos?" My response: "Well, ya! He loves them!" His response: "Then give them to him three times a day." We left and went directly to the store to gather some super junky, super fatty foods for our baby. Odd. Yes, odd. But, 6 days later the scales finally read a different number... He gained a pound and a half!!! Amazing, right? Who would have thought searching every shelf at Smith's for the highest fat content item would pay off so quickly. Yay for Bennett and yay for donuts. We called to tell our parents the great news and after my dad shared our excitement he seemed a bit hesitant and asked "So, when do you turn it off?" Good question. The good news is that Bennett honestly prefers avocados and blueberries {"bibis"}.

Bennett's gassy sleep issues came to an abrupt end about a month ago. Over night, they stopped. Weirdest/best thing that has ever happened to us. Miraculous. The doctor told us, "I''m not sure what he had but it is the worst case of it I'd ever seen." We're not sure what it was either, but we are so thrilled he's grown out of it. So he now loves to sleep in his own crib, so much so that he won't go to sleep anywhere else! Funny how that works, huh? The other night after our bedtime routine, Bennett immediately climbed off my lap. I was fully prepared to jump up and chase him since I was sure he was just trying to run away from bedtime. Instead, he walked over to his crib and said "up peez." I honestly cried. My baby is growing up. My baby finally sleeps. My baby talks in twos.

Bennett is the funniest person I know. In the last month his personality has come to life - full force! He is talking like crazy and is on the go - literally. He started walking and hasn't stopped since. He is more than just reckless. He is out. of. control! It's like he is in his own little world made of balls, sticks, rocks and "dars" {cars}. He has absolutely no time to think about the wall he might run into or the pavement he might stumble on. His face has been bruised, bloodied and scraped more than once - and he doesn't seem to mind one bit. He has a mind of his own and is more determined and curious than ever. I love him. And for this very reason, this crazy kid of mine may never play sports - because his mother just may not be able to watch!

Speaking of sports, Bennett LOVES "base" {baseball}. Bennett won't sit for longer than 45 seconds to watch a Disney movie --- not for the life of him! But don't you worry, he'll sit still and watch 5 innings of baseball! He is his Daddy's baby! I can't even watch one inning without needing a substantial break. On top of that, his favorite book in the whole wide world is titled, "Touch'n'Feel Baseball." He brings it to us 15 times a day and says either "bo" {book} or "base"? And don't forget about Daddy's baseball games... Bennett loves to point out the "ba" and steal Daddy's hat! Brandon is in heaven, folks.

This summer we've had fun swimming, visiting the zoo, playing with friends and family, visiting Washington, getting crazy in Vegas {you know us} and much much more. I wish I had time to post the details. One day...

This year has been full of surprises - some good and some not so good. In the end and through it all we find ourselves lucky to have each other and to have such wonderful family and friends.