17 months

Ok, so it's been a long while since I last blogged. We'll do the pictures first, then the wordy update of what Benton has been up to after that.

My beautiful blue eyed boy grows more precious to me every day. I have spent many hours in prayer lately thanking God for his sweet life. He sure knows how to make a bad day much better.
We have been enjoying this wonderful west Texas weather by spending loads of time outside. I don't get to say that very often, but it has been gorgeous!
What a personality Benton is growing! Lately he has been making this face after doing something naughty. I don't have a great poker face, and sometimes it's pretty tough to hold back a smile. He also has developed a talent for a fake cry. He will hang his head and try his hardest at tears. Pretty comical as well.
Smart boy has started to use sentences to communicate. His first was "Bye bye Poppa." Strangely enough this was Clara's first sentence as well. One of my favorite things Benton says right now is to yell "I Benton" in a loud voice. You also tell me when you're hungry, thirsty, need a snack, or would like to go outside. It is the sweetest thing when you tell me "please help mommy."
Benton still loves books, but also enjoys playing with his toy gears, building towers with blocks, climbing his fort and sliding, and playing with balls.
His G.G.'s taught him to count to 10. He usually skips one, then says fwo, free, fror, fi, si, sese, ate, ni, te. Then he claps for himself. I will hear him say "free" then slide, roll, or throw something.
Shapes he recognizes and says include square, circle, oval, kite, triangle, stars, hearts, and the moon. He has got the color purple down. Benton also likes to point out the letter "y" in books he looks at.
I am amazed at his memory and capacity to learn. Many times a day he asks "Momma?" to which I reply "mommy loves you." He then follows asking the same of GG, Daddy, Fred, Clara, Honey, Poppa, Nana, and G-Daddy, and Jesus. PooPoo is also thrown in there, but I'm not sure who he's referring to on that one.
A new talent he's developed recently is spitting, much to my dismay. I haven't been very successful in getting rid of it yet.
These little hands love to explore. In the last few days you've grabbed rocks, sticks, grass, a butterfly, worm, walking stick, and Fred's poop. We frequently wash hands around here.

New signs learned are crocodile, butterfly, bear, eagle, gorilla, monkey, dog, camel, penguin, horse, mouse, bird, fish, and tree. I am in awe of how quickly you absorb new animals. In the past few weeks you have added elk, deer, tigers, rooster, chicken, turkey, turtle, owl, wolf, camel, cheetah, rhino, hippo, otter, walrus, peacock, fox, bee, worm, manatee, seahorse, plus more that I can't think of right now. You learn new words daily, too many to document here.

I love my Benton Blayne!