40 weeks young.

This month marks a pretty big milestone. Ben has officially spent the same amount of time outside of his mommy as he has inside! I waited a week or so after his 9 month birthday because he was a week or so late (or at least that's how I'm justifying taking this long to write this month's post!)

I'm a very blessed momma. I seriously have the most relaxed and amiable little guy imaginable. I think all that grace and patience finally paid off!! Ben is such a sweet heart. He's definitely a momma's boy at the moment but he loves daddy time. He's still just as serious as ever but once he gets over his initial shyness, he can be a real goofball. Now that he's getting a little bigger (okay, a lot bigger), he is now more able bodied and can do more than even a few weeks ago. Climbing Mount Mommy is a regular activity, as well as wiping runny noses and messy mouths on my clean clothes. The nice weather has also helped with his energy level tremendously. We have been taking many walks and exploring the parks with cousins and neighbors alike. One day recently, we were sitting on the porch swing out front and heard the neighbors play this tragedy of a pop song. Ben thought it was hilarious when it got stuck in my head and I sang the one line I knew to him during bath time. So I took a video.

Adding to his list of new tricks include: mastering finger foods, playing the keyboard, sleeping for 12 hours most nights (hallelujah!), taking baths in the big tub, getting up on hands and knees, pulling himself up to standing, spinning in circles, and clapping his hands! The last one is a particular favorite. My mom has been singing this hand clapping song since he was born and now if he hears us sing it, he will clap along! He'll also do it when he gets excited or his clothes come off (read: excited). And of course, I took video of him doing it in his favorite place, the bathtub. Thank goodness for smartphones or this kid's entire childhood would be poorly documented.

(Yes, he has bubble mutton chops. I know you're jealous.)

For such a young guy, he's been having a lot of first time experiences. When it got pretty hot out (70s in March? OK!), Aaron and I did a little landscaping to clean up what was left of our garden. The neighbor kids helped, and so did Ben. He loved playing and eating the grass, but oh how he hated wearing his hat. Sorry, white boy, you need it. 

Ben graduated to the big boy bathtub! He loves crawling around and swimming in the bubbles. This picture is a little blurry but he was never still long enough to get a good one. Let's just say he enjoyed himself.

And finally, this upcoming weekend will be another milestone: Mommy's first night away. Yup. Me and the band are playing a show in PA and will be spending the night. So little Ben is going to have a sleepover with Daddy and will be a really good boy (fingers crossed). I started training him to use a bottle and he's taken to it quite well. He prefers to shake it as hard as he can and make a mess, of course, but really, what more can you ask from a little boy?