13 (1/2) months

It would seem that updating right on the 10th of every month is not my strong point.  Lately we've been too busy playing.  Life with Benton right now is a complete joy.  This might be my favorite stage we've gone through together.  He plays hard, eats anything, and sleeps like a champ.  Our days are filled with laughter, kisses for mom, dancing, and reading books.

I've never seen so much energy expanded during the day.  This boy doesn't stop from the moment I get him out of bed to when he hits his crib.  With all that busyness, thankfully he sleeps 12-14 hours and night and naps 3-5 hours each day!  He loves our morning walks where he comments when he hears dogs, birds, airplanes, or cars driving by.  Benton occupies himself outside with his cozy coupe car, rocks, sticks, dirt, and grass, his slide, swingset or anything he can find to climb.  He's definitely all boy! 
I get this smile many times a day.  Things that get a smile include Fred, bananas, cheese, milk, his blanket, toothbrush, and his Daddy.  He still has two bottom teeth and four top teeth.
Benton seems to be learning new things everyday.  This morning he has been telling me what sound the lion makes followed by clapping for himself.  Yesterday he started saying outside and walking to the backdoor.  He's taking 5 or 6 steps when you let go of him.  His preferred mode of transportation is still his peg leg crawl.
I am amazed at how well he communicates.  He signs please, more, milk, all finished, dog, bird, airplane, food, ball, and fish plus he recognizes many more.  He says Momma, Daddy, Nana, G-Daddy, Honey, Poppa, outside, up, and night night, I love you, hello, bye, ball, and thank you. (Plus maybe some more I can't think of)!  When we get ready for bed and tell him to say our prayers, he fold his hands together.  After the prayer he adds "amen!"  I am one proud momma.  Benton knows the sounds for the bird (eet), cow (mmm), dog (uff), sheep (aaah), duck (ack), cat (mmm), and lion (aar).  He is a great listener, and very compliant.  Not that he doesn't test, but he usually will find something else when told "That's a NO Benton!"
He knows where his head, ears, shoulders, tummy, and toes are.  He will stick out his tongue and lift his arms on command.  He dances and gives kisses unprompted.  He laughs when he toots thanks to his daddy.  We have many bumps, bruises, scrapes, and stains but not many tears or fits.  I love him more and more everyday.  Our days together seem to fly by.  I am so thankful God has blessed us with our Benton Blayne.