15 months

What a joy Benton is to Hunter and me! We are so proud to be his parents. 15 months seems so grown up in my eyes. Toddlerhood is so rewarding, but exhausting. I love how we can interact with each other at this stage. Though he goes hard all day, my favorite time spent with him is at bedtime when we rock, cluddle, and sing. Benton loves to wrestle, play peek, hide and seek, and cars. He is a little chatterbox with many, many roars mixed in. I hear about his Nana and G-Daddy, Honey and Poppa, Daddy, and Clara often.

Here are some things Benton does at 15 months:

-He frequently tests his limits. He will hold food over the edge of his high chair, touch something off limits, or go places he knows he is not allowed just to see how mom will react. Usually, but of course not always, he follows directions and smiles when I say "thank you for listening to your momma!"

-Constantly runs around the house carrying his toys. Favorites include his trucks, shoes, animals from Noah's ark, and plastic silverware from "his" drawer in the kitchen.

-Loves to talk on one of the many old cell phones donated to him. He usually calls Clara to says hello.

-Speaking of his cousin, Benton loves to run for her hugs and kisses when they see each other. It is incredibly cute to watch them play. Clara is so sweet to share with Benton. He is definitely still learning.

-This boy can eat! He usually has a banana with cereal for breakfast, cheese with a veggie for lunch, and whatever we're having for dinner. Some of your favorites are chicken spaghetti, cheeseburger pie, and your pasta pickups. You are not a picky eater, and I've switched you to regular peas, sweet potatoes, avacodoes, carrots, and green beans instead of the baby food. I figure if you'll still eat your veggies I'd better serve them to you.

-Just this last month Benton switched from two naps to one. He usually sleeps from somewhere around noon to three or four in the afternoon. He still sleeps twelve hours a night. I need the rest too.
Benton is adding new words to his vocabulary daily. Some new words I can remember include juice, water, Jesus, Bible, Clara, down, help, GG, Chase, baby, up, the numbers nine and six (not like counting he just likes to say them),uh oh, plus some more I can't think of.

I think I'm about out of animal sounds I can think of to teach him. He knows the donkey (e ah), elephant (including flapping his arm like a trunk), lizard (sticks out his tongue),bird, horse, cow, sheep, dog, cat, frog, lion (his personal favorite), fish, pig, duck, snake, and goat. He loves to read books about animals and I'll hear him making the noises when he sees the animals.
A new tooth just came in on the bottom, giving you four top teeth and four bottom teeth. You were a little cranky, but one dose of Motrin got you over the hump and you were fine 15 minutes later.

You become more independent by the minute. I am proud of the way you are learning to dealing with your frustrations with your words, not just screaming. It's hard being a little boy who doesn't always get to pick everything!
Speaking of tough, not 5 seconds after this picture was taken you took a spill on the rocks in our driveway. After just a few tears and a hug from mom, you were on your way. However, your forehead has yet another bruise.
Here is my little man looking at the camera and telling me cheese. You probably could have guessed that without me writing it out. Love that toothy grinned, blue eyed, adorable little boy. I sure am glad to be your momma!