Oh boy!

Nick is going to kill me. This bag has been the highlight of his day and has been filled with everything from books to toys to money to burp cloths! We are off to the grocery store....possibly with the bag?

What fever?

While Mommy shops...

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Ben dancing...

A little additional information: After a long day traveling home and a short nap, which I woke him up from at 5:35, Ben was a little difficult out to dinner tonight. Who knew that all he needed was a little dance therapy next to the table while we finished eating? We are all home and Ben's sleeping in his own bed as I type. I wish rest for both of us tonight!

Ben and Snickers

One more thing...

Daddy went home. We miss you already, Daddy! :(

Ft. Myers Day 2

After two trips down here in 2010 and a previous trip in Feb 2011, we finally got a warm day for the beach where Ben didn't need a sweatshirt!

Testing the waters with Nana

Looking for shells.

"Cheese!"

After a quick wardrobe change (after first going in his clothes) Ben (sort of) went in the ocean.

A kayak ride in the parking lot.

Playing outside on the driveway with sidewalk chalk and his remote car, Ben stole Mommy's chair...

and her water.

Ft. Myers Day 1

After making the trip from Orlando to Ft. Myers, we took Ben to Lakes Park where he and Nick took a ride on the train around the park. Well...it was sort of a train. Here they are before they embarked on their trip.

Twins for the day.

Family pictures

Post-nap swimming

Orlando with the Shields Family

We spent the weekend in Orlando with Brian and Aimee and family. Thanks for the visit guys!

This is not a posed picture by any means, but Brian and Nick have come a long way since their college days....at the park with three boys to follow around!

For whatever reason, Ben's love/hate relationship with slides switched to a love only relationship!

Dancing on the wiggly bridge...

Seesaw with...

Carter.

Lunchtime for all boys 3 and under.

A very warm Ben with his loving Godfather.

Ben trying to be a big boy.

Benjamin Robert Kray

Update (written)

No pictures lately, but I figured I can let you know what we are up to....

Ben is having a great time lately....talking constantly!! He repeats everything and I'm so happy that he punctuates his talking with words like "please" and "thank you" without prompting. He is (mostly) a happy boy loving everything from play dough and coloring to dancing around the family room and running in circles until he falls over (typical 2 year old stuff, right?).

Also, he is sporadically NOT taking naps....which is not ideal for me. However, on the days that he is not napping, he's laying in the crib talking, singing, and rolling around and generally happy for almost 2 hours. I'm not sure if this is a phase or the beginning of the end of naps. We'll see!

Ben has his first dentist appointment tomorrow which he actually seems a little excited about. We'll see if I can avoid the typical dentist freak-out that most 2 year olds experience!

In case you forgot, we are expecting another baby in July. :) We are over the halfway through and getting very excited. The baby is moving around like crazy and my growing belly does not let anyone that sees me forget he or she is coming! I'm loving going through the pregnancy with so many of my friends. There will be a lot of new babies in our lives this spring/summer!

I can't help, but to share...

Nick at Ben's exact age.

What to do...

With a sheet of bubble wrap we found while Ben was napping.

Ben in church

Cute Ben story....we were at church on Sunday and Nick's Dad was doing the readings. He had to sit up next to the altar for the entire mass so he couldn't sit with us. After driving to mass separately from Don, Ben noticed he was up there right away and kept quietly waving or pointing to him to make sure we all saw him sitting there. After one of the readings, while all was quiet in church and Don was making his way back to his seat, Ben said (in a voice a little louder than a talking voice) "Hi Papi!" with a friendly wave. It was so cute. I'm sure he got a collective "aww" from those around us.

Catching up...

For Christmas, Ben got this snowman kit that contains a hat and scarf to put on a snow man (among other things). The other day, I wasn't looking and next thing I knew, Ben was dressing himself. He was happy to pose for a picture.

And then pose next to his favorite toy.

On Friday, we took a trip to Kid City with Nick's Dad. I wasn't sure which picture I liked better. Ben had so much fun....and I think Don did too!

Also at Kid City was a train set where Ben could pop his head up in these glass boxes and watch the trains go by. He spent lots of time here.

We may be coming around with Ben's desire to have his picture taken. This was asked for and accompanied by a "cchhhheeeeeeeeeesssseeeee."

Showing off the awesome coffee mug that Ben painted for Daddy for his birthday!

He's such a little boy now. Definitely no longer a baby. He is talking a lot more and one of the funny things that he does now is whenever you walk into a room or something, he says "hello Mommy." He says it really matter of fact-ly. He also says "please" all the time ("help please" "up please" "open please") and "thank you Mommy" for everything (even when it's not necessary.....but I'm not going to correct him)! :) He gets stuck on the "thank you Mommy" and says it to other people....and then corrects himself when he remembers it's not Mommy. So cute. I want to bottle up his cute sayings and remember them forever!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Daddy's birthday celebration

Happy 30th birthday Nick!! Nick's birthday isn't until Thursday, but he's traveling this week for work so we celebrated a little early. Ben was very excited to put bows on Nick's present after helping me wrap it and was all set to help Nick blow out the candles.

Ben was happy to posed with Nick and his awesome new work bag. He works a lot so why shouldn't he think of us all day while at work? We are definitely thinking about him! Miss you Nick! See you Friday!

Train fun at home

Our camera was being funny so the flash was a little out of control....but Ben actually posed for a picture (with the promise to "see!" the picture afterwards).

Daddy built Ben an awesome track with Ben's new train set. Mommy is definitely not that creative. This one had three bridges and Ben was thrilled!