Graduation Day 2010

Last Monday was a bittersweet day. It was the day my firstborn child graduated... from his Mommy and Me class.

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Before you laugh, consider this: Benjamin has been attending this school for more than half of his life! He first started in the fall of 2008 when he was barely six months old, and now, at the ripe old age of 2 years and 4 months, he's received his diploma and is ready to take on the world.
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After the commencement ceremony, fellow Emerson grad CJ told Benjamin, "You look like Obama." No, it wasn't Benjamin's oratory skills or his calm, unflappable demeanor that led CJ to make such a prouncement; it was Benjamin's collared shirt and tie.
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Benjamin and Nolan took a few moments to visit the playground one last time. A bright yellow schoolbus pulled alongside the fence, and the two boys ran over to get a closer look. As I watched them, I wondered at how quickly the last two years had sped by, and reflected on what exciting new adventures might lay ahead for Benjamin as he continues to grow up.
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I just hope that he doesn't do it too quickly!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Part 2

This Halloween was one of the busiest I can remember. In addition to the neighborhood Halloween parties we'd already attended, we had several other spooky-themed events on the books, including an outing to a local pumpkin patch with our Emerson class. While Benjamin and BFF Nolan clambered all over the pumpkins, I couldn't help but think back to the previous year when we had visited this same patch...

What a difference a year makes, eh? I marveled at how much my little boy had grown. Back then, he was a chubby baby who could barely sit up.

Now, he's an intrepid little boy who is brave enough to venture into a faux cemetery.

Ok, maybe he's not that brave.

The Halloween festivities continued at class the following week, when the kids got dressed up in their costumes to go "trick-or-treating" through the other classrooms. We visited English language classes, a seniors knitting class, and a figure drawing class where, thankfully, the figure model wore a costume of his own - a pair of flesh-colored briefs. Though I was tempted to, I did not take a picture of him.

As he strolled through the halls wearing his punk outfit, blue mohawk, and devil-may-care expression, Benjamin looked like a miniature juvenile delinquent.

After trick-or-treating, the kids wrapped up the morning at a Halloween carnival set up by the teacher. One of the carnival games involved bobbing for powdered donuts. It took Benjamin a while to figure out how it worked, but as soon as he did, he was hooked.

He could not get enough of the sugary goodness! After bobbing successfully for his first donut, he went back for seconds. When I wouldn't let him have another one, he scoured the ground for crumbs the other kids may have dropped, but the slim pickings led him to make a face that - minus the powdered sugar residue - would have rivaled Henry Rollins' most vicious yell. Again, a far cry (no pun intended) from Emerson class one year ago:

Stay tuned for more on Halloween 2009!

Benjamin: My Own Prenatal Exercise Program

Remember how I was complaining a month or so ago that my belly was growing faster during this pregnancy than it did during my last one? Well, I may have spoken too soon, because it seems like the blossoming of my bump has taken a breather. A visit to my OB confirmed my weight gain has slowed, but not for want of trying. As my hubby, my friends, or my Boo will attest, I've developed a near-uncontrollable craving for McDonald's. In a typical week, I'll inhale a Sausage McMuffin with Egg Combo at least two or three times. Or, if it's after 10:30 am, I'll have the Two Cheeseburger Combo instead. Oh, man, the very mention of those gastronomical goodies is making me salivate and reach for my car keys. But I won't. I may be unable to stop myself from swinging through a drive-through when I'm already on the road, but I won't allow myself to leave home to make a special trip just to get Mickey D's. Not yet, anyway. With four months of pregnancy left, anything is possible!
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So in what crazy, upside-down world does pigging out on fast food not equal blowing up like a whale? In a crazy, upside-down world where you have to take care of one of these:
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The Boo definitely keeps me on my toes. In fact, I've noticed that many women going through pregnancy with a toddler in tow seem to remain fairly un-pregnant-looking in all areas other than the tummy area. But I'm not going to kid myself here - at the end of my last pregnancy, I puffed up to the point where Vince felt the need to point out that my feet looked like Fiona's. You know, Fiona, right? She's Shrek's wife.


Although Benjamin's been trying his toddler best to drive me insane, I've been fortunate enough to get help from others. My amazing best friend Deb has, true to Deb form, been over to run Boo interference so I can get things done. My thoughtful father- and mother-in-law have also come by to hang out with their little grandson. Benjamin gets a fun visit, I get a much-needed break, and the Boo-watchers get so completely worn out that they sleep really well that night. Everyone wins!!
An additional diversion has come in the form of our Emerson Mommy and Me class, which had been on hiatus for the summer break. It's a nice chance for me to sit and chat with other moms (many of whom are pregnant with their second kids) going through the same trying toddler times that I am, while Benjamin works out all that extra energy on the playground. Here, you can see him hanging out with two of his best gals, Kayla and Presley.

Since the kids are older now, they get to engaged in some more intellectual activities such as storytime.

Their creative sides are also nurtured during arts and crafts.

But boys will be boys, and Benjamin's favorite part of class remains the part where he gets to play in the sandbox and get himself thoroughly filthy. And because it seems that sandbox sand was specifically engineered to adhere to sticky, sweaty little toddler feet...

...My lovely floors get to get all filthy, too. But luckily, the Boo is learning to clean up after himself.

There's hope yet!

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree

When I first found out I was pregnant with Benjamin, I used to daydream about what traits he'd inherit. I was hoping he's get Vince's calm temperament, analytical abilities, and resourcefulness, but not his long list of food aversions. From me, I was hoping he'd inherit a love for singing and the arts, but not neurotic need for constant order. So far, it seems like he is mellow like Vince, but with a loud voice like mine, AND he likes to eat carrots, which is one of the many foods on Vince's "Will Not Eat" list. Benjamin also seems to be developing into something of an artist, too. So far so good!

At class on Friday, the kids got a chance to try painting. I use the term "painting" very loosely, because it wasn't actual paint that they were using; it was chocolate and vanilla pudding.

At first, Benjamin obliged me by using his paintbrush to dutifully smear the pudding onto his paper.

Before long, however, he realized that his paint was actually a delicious dessert, and he started using his paintbrush as an eating utensil.

After a few minutes, he ditched the brush and just used his hand to scoop chocolate pudding into his mouth. I suppose that that would be Vince's resourcefulness coming through in him.

Choking back laughter, I told Benjamin that he was making a mess, at which point, he stopped using his hands and resumed eating with his paintbrush again. Perhaps he thought that his messiness could be overlooked if he were using an eating utensil like a civilized individual!

Courvoisier 4

Every Friday afternoon, Benjamin and I go to the Emerson Adult School for our weekly parent education class where Benjamin loves hanging with the lads, among them CJ, Avery, and Luc.

Recently, Benjamin's homeslice Nolan also joined the class.

All the little lads love hanging out and doing lad-like things like playing in the sandbox, climbing the jungle gym, or piling on to the see-saw. By the time class is over, their clothes are filthy, they have dirt beneath they're fingernails, and they're often sporting a fresh bruise or scrape. As they say, boys will be boys!

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At the last class, however, Benjamin seemed distracted by another classmate who was not just another one of the boys.

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Her name was Olive, she was new in class, and she had pigtails and beautiful blue eyes. It's no wonder that Benjamin was smitten!

Benjamin was so smitten by Olive that he had trouble finishing his snack because he couldn't stop staring at her. At the time I thought it was really cute, but now that I'm looking at the pictures, he seems like a bit of a baby stalker.

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Thankfully, Olive wasn't put-off by the little dude making goo-goo eyes at her. She even offered Benjamin a drink from her cup. If Benjamin has any chance of developing a friendship, though, he'd be wise to get acquainted with another lady - Miss Emily Post. The Boo's table manners leave something to be desired.

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I wonder where he learned them from?

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Girls, Girls, Girls!

I love my new job as a stay-at-home mom, but I miss the camaraderie I enjoyed at my old one. Lucky for me, one of the perks of my new job is that I have the freedom to take extended lunch breaks when I want to - or rather, when my boss (Benjamin) allows me to.
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One of the interesting things about my old job is that I worked in a department that was almost entirely made up of women. Even more interesting is the fact that we all got along. Sure, we had our less-than-peachy moments, but for the most part, we were one big, happy sorority-- I mean, family. And even though I've flown the coop, I always feel welcome back to the nest. As a new mom whose parents live on the other side of the world (cue violins), it's a comforting thing to have this group of caring women in my life. I consider them to be my second family.

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One day last week, we stopped by the office for a visit. As luck would have it, there was a lunch meeting scheduled for that day, so not only did we get to see friends, but we got a meal to boot. Score! The only way the visit could have been improved is if cocktails were served, but alas, the company isn't quite that cool. Still, it was nice to be able to eat a meal in peace while my friends took turns playing with Benjamin. As I chowed down on chicken, salad, bread, blueberry pie, cherry pie, and yet more bread, I realized how lucky we were to know these fabulous ladies.

As we left, I started thinking about the other women who have become a part of Benjamin's life. There's Auntie Deb, AKA Auntie Poppins. If you live on the Westside and a glass in your cupboard suddenly cracks, it's probably because she just greeted Benjamin with one of her ear-piercing shrieks of delight.

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Auntie Yvonne has also been known to emit a similar Boo-induced squeal. She and Auntie Deb routinely fight over who gets to babysit Benjamin when Vince and I need a break, and they often end up babysitting together.

And lest you think that Benjamin hangs out with only older women, let's not forget about Lucy. Lucy's Benjamin's oldest friend. They met when he was just four weeks old.

There's Berry, who lives just around the corner from us. The other day, she and Boo reenacted that famous scene from Romeo and Juliet. I captured the moment on film, much to the chagrin of Berry's Dad Keith who had just gotten out of bed - and had the hair to prove it!

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Finally, there's Gemma, Benjamin's gal pal from our Friday class. Last week, Gemma surprised Benjamin with a flying tackle followed by a exuberant hug. Benjamin didn't know what to make of it, so he just lay there with a pained look on his face. Silly boy! One day he'll look back and realize how lucky he was!

Male Bonding 2

As Benjamin's gotten older, he seems to have traded in some of his more baby-like traits for those of a boy. Don't get me wrong: he still cries, drools, and poops with the best of 'em. But we're starting to see signs that we have a rambunctious, mischievious little man on our hands. He yells. He destoys things. He likes eating red meat chopped up into tiny, bite-sized pieces. He's becoming a Real Man. And to go along with his budding manliness, Benjamin's developed a posse of pretty close male buds.

There's Nolan, his numero uno partner in crime. Nolan's a little older than B, so he's taught him a thing or two about some of the important things in a man's life like eating solids, and standing up for himself. Well, actually, he's just taught him about standing up. Period.

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Then there's Luc, Benjamin's Friday afternoon class buddy. They're a bit closer in age, and they have a great time hanging out. Literally.

And recently, Benjamin made a new guy friend, Brayden. They enjoy looking cool together on the playground.

Even though he has all these great guys to hang out with, Benjamin's favorite bud is still Vince. Maybe it's because Daddy has the most to teach him. He's able to show him how to fearlessly go down a slide, how to bounce on a teeter-totter, and how to ride atop his shoulders to get a better view of the world.

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Maybe Benjamin's old man will even teach him how to pee standing up. That'll be the day!