Trick or Treat

Halloween was so much fun this year!  This was the first time we dressed Benjamin up for Halloween.  I know...those cute baby costumes are adorable but I just couldn't see spending a dime on something that he would wear for just a picture and then we would take it off and it would never been worn again.  I know...boooo!!! 

This year we got a hand-me-down Curious George costume from a gal I work with.  Perfect!  It was in GREAT condition and Ben is in love with George at the moment. 

During the week he and Grandma go to storytime at the local libraries.  They try to hit 1-3 a week.  It's good for them to get out of the house and with some kids.  Anywho...the theme has been Halloween and the kids were encouraged to dress up in their costumes.  Ben brought his - usually wore it a few minutes and then took it off because he was too hot but it got him excited for the BIG day.  We had been practicing saying "trick or treat" and "thank you" all week.  And it TOTALLY paid off.  He did GREAT!  And loved it!!  After every house, he'd say, "trick or treat more?!?!".   Grandma was nice enough to come over and hand out candy at our house so we both could go with Ben. 

Checking out the pumpkin

"Trick or Treat"

Just because

So today, for no reason at all, as I opened up this blog post, tears came streaming down my face.  I can't even begin to tell you how lucky I am to have this wonderful boy.  I wonder if every mother feels this way...I hope they do.  Don't get be wrong, life is not all sunshine and gum drops at our house.  There are plenty of time outs, tantrums and tears but I wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world.  I love mornings and night time the best.  My little monkey crawls out of his bed and stands next to me and pets my face and says "Momma, I awake".  I say, "I see that buddy.  Did you sleep good?"  He says, "Uh huh" and I ask "Did you have good dreams?  What did you dream about?"  He says the same thing every morning, "McQueen.  Chick.  The King. (pause) Want Chuggington.  (pause)  Need to make poops." 

At night, I love the snuggling in under the blanket to read a story (or 4) and sing songs.  The best is when he sings with me.  A.d.o.r.a.b.l.e!!!

I can't imagine what life would be without him. 

Big Boy Bed

We hit another milestone this week.....Benjamin learned how to crawl out of his crib while he was at Grandma's on Tuesday.  She heard him crying and there he was on the chair.  Poor guy was more startled than hurt.  That meant when I got to Grandma's it was time to break down her crib to the toddler bed which was no problem and instead of watching the movie that we picked up at the redbox we put together Ben's "new" bed.  Actually, it's a hand-me-down from Jack.  Ben was pretty excited about that.  While we were doing that I quick washed the big boy sheet and duvet cover so they would be ready for bed time.  He was not too sure about it at first but we read a few books in there and sang a couple of songs and he was good to go.  Boy does he look tiny in that big boy bed.   Here is the Duvet and here are the sheets  - we went with the blue stars.  Next we will be putting a train decal on the wall and hanging some pictues.

We attended the Children's Lighthouse  Music Festival fundraiser this past weekend.  There was a good turn out and was a lot of fun!  Ben loved the clown most of all.  He was a little shy of all the kids dancing and bopping around to the Teddy Bear Band but had fun none the less. 



Auntie Jojo turned my little man into a dragon. 
He loved it and was very sad when we had to wash it off for bed!!!
Can you see him saying "Cheese" in order to take this picture?
What a turkey!



Benjamin and Mo. 

3 weeks and counting :)

Ben has been diaper free (except for naps and over nights) for 3 whole weeks!!!

We even adventured out to the "great Minnesota get together"!  And it lived up to its name - It was GREAT!  We arrived around 10:30 and headed home around 8!  We hit just about every bathroom there (some twice) and had no accidents!!  By the way, Ben LOVES himself a corn dog!!  Just like his Momma!!!

We travel with the potty in the car as we have had to pull over a couple of times for peeps AND poops - which is super when you are on the freeway - but better that than in the pants....not complaining.

Naps he usually wakes up dry and most mornings he wakes up dry.  But I am not ready to give into just underwear for those just yet 

Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day!!

And the streak continues!!

Potty training has been going absolutely FANTASTIC!!  It has been 2 full weeks now and only a few accidents!  He is dry when he wakes up from his naps and is "almost" dry in the mornings.  We couldn't be more proud of our little guy! 

Some pics from our adventure to The Children's Museum.  He had a great time this time!  He loved the building playing with the instruments, playing with boats in the water area, driving the bus and playing in the Lego castle.   But what he LOVED the most was painting!  He didn't want to leave and when we finally did he wanted to go back! 

Admiring his creation

A Masterpiece!!









 

Our first outing - diaperless

Well.....Not really diaperless - I had 3 in the bag and 2 sets of clean shorts with.

We have officially been potty training for 7 full days and Ben has been doing S-U-P-E-R!!!

We ventured out tonight for the first time for a bit of shopping and dinner.  Ben made it without an accident and peeps on the big potty 3 times!!  WaaaaHooooo!!!

This is what I like to call......blackmail

Streaking is so ghetto

As you have been reading, potty training is in FULL swing at our house!  It's all about Peeps and Poops - all day - every day!!  Benjamin is so proud of himself!  He s-q-u-e-a-l-s with excitement when he is done. Sometimes he gets up to see what he has done before he is done and sprinkles the froggy potty and the floor and sometimes even the wall.  Thank GOD for wood floors and eggshell paint that can be wiped off!!!  When this happens the ever amusing "make more" is bellowed and the squealing commences as he is *again* finished. 

Unexpectedly, friends of ours pop over last night for a few minutes with their little girl, who is adorable in all her pink and ruffles, just after we ate spaghetti so Benjamin is covered from head to toe in sauce and noodles.  We clean him up as best as we can without a full fledged bath but he is still orange stained and despite wearing a bib, sauce is all over his shirt.  I love when he feels the need to wipe his hands on his BACK while covered in spaghetti sauce.  Note to self - next time we eat spaghetti - do it naked...not me....him....and by him, I mean BEN!  Sheesh...thought I should clarify...any who, our friends come over and there is Ben in his dirty shirt without pants showing off all the goods.....all I can do is shake my head and think to myself, if I didn't know us.....I would think that we are soooooo GHETTO............