Update

Ben's current word and "trick" list:

Words:

• Mama
  
• Da (for dada)


• Crash


• Hot (usually he blows, as if something is hot, instead of actually say the word)

Question/Answer:

• What does a sheep say? Ba


• How big is Ben? So big! Ben's arms go up in the air and he smiles huge!
  
• How old are you? He puts up his little hand, but usually his attempt at putting up one finger ends up being his thumb and forefinger pinched together
  
• Where is your ear? He usually sticks his finger in his ear.

Favorite activities:

• Hugging mommy


• Playing peek-a-boo and any kind of chasing or hiding games with Daddy


• Reading


• Eating bananas


• Turning the TV on and off


• Going up and down stairs


• Digging through cupboards and pulling out all the rubbermaid and tupperware containers


• Digging through drawers and pulling out every ziploc baggy and throwing them on the floor


• Walking, walking, and more walking


• Dancing with mommy around the kitchen
  

Other news:

• Brant and I are headed to Maui in June. We can't wait!


• We've been on a search for a new daycare arrangement for next fall and think we've found our match. Whew - what a relief!


• Grandpa Anderson passed away last Tuesday. The memorial service is this Friday. We are all doing pretty well with it, but perhaps the most difficult part is the closeness to losing Dad.
  

Don't get the wrong idea from the pictures below! Ben is usually fully dressed, I promise! One day we were waiting for pants to finish in the dryer. And, well, who can resist a baby's bottom?! You know you've got a big boy when he excitely walks himself to the bathtub!

Where is the break in Spring Break?

I'm not complaining, I'm really not. I will certainly enjoy my week off work for the pure and simple sake that I won't be at work. However, I'm wishing for some peace and quiet and unfortunately, I'm not sure that will happen. Between looking for new daycare arrangements for next school year, moving furniture from my dad's house to our house which is requiring way more work than I expected, reorganizing (AGAIN!) due to the move, going to a variety of appointments we can never seem to fit in, and having Brant out of town for three days this week, I'm wondering where the days of leisurely shopping and lunch dates went? What about curling up with a good book? How about baking cookies or trying a new recipe? I know, whoa is me. Dad's gently used furniture does look nice, appointments will finally be taken care of, I'm lucky to have some time to make daycare calls and visits, and not making cookies means not eating cookies which means not feeling guilty about indulging.

I am looking forward to a week of beautiful spring weather. The temperature is suppose to be in the 70's tomorrow. Knowing that friends and family are taking their Spring Break in warmer climates, this makes me feel a little less envious. I'm looking forward to taking Ben on a long walk and maybe even taking his new scooter outside. At least there is some spring in Spring Break!

Birthday Recap

Big Week!

It has been and will be a big week in the Ausenhus household. After several weeks of small steps in sets of 3-4 at a time, Ben has started to let go more and more. He is now up and walking more and more every day. Uncle Nick came over last week and Ben was walking between the two of us, to his toys, and back to us. He'll probably think that cheering will follow everything he does soon, but it such a cool thing to watch him learn to do.

Ben has also been saying mama and dada for awhile, but this weekend, we realized that he is trying to say, "Crash!" Seems strange, but every time we knock over a tower or he runs his trucks into something, Brant and I say, "Crash!" Apparently Ben has caught on to this and is now saying his own version whenever his towers fall or he runs his toys into something. Love it!

This Friday is the big day! Ben will turn one! With all the new steps and a new word, I find myself marveling at how quickly this past year has gone by. It makes me feel a little nostalgic. Although I'm thrilled at how Ben is developing, a little piece of me feels sad at how quickly this is all happening. With thoughts and questions of weaning from his bottles to buying new front-facing car seats today, I think we are on the brink of a new stage of childhood and parenthood.