Training Wheels, Shmaining Wheels

After a year of riding his Strider bike (a two wheel bike without pedals), Nathan and I decided Benjamin was ready for a pedal bike. Before buying him his own, however, we thought it would be a good idea to test him out on Cousin Weston's two wheeler. I figured it would take a couple days and many, many falls to teach Ben how to pedal and balance the bike, but I was wrong. A few words of instruction and five minutes later the boy was off and riding.

What impressed me the most about this experience was not that he picked it up so fast (though I am quite proud of that), but rather the quiet determination and persistence that I saw in my first born son. He listened to Nathan's simple instructions and for the next hour practiced his new found skill until he had it down. Each time he fell, he simply brushed himself off and got right back on the bike to try again. What an amazing little boy we have.

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Benjamin's Second Christmas

Christmas was a little different this year from last. Last year was exciting because it was Benjamin's first Christmas . Even though he was only four months old and had no idea what was going on, it was a big deal to us (okay, to me). I made Nathan take a picture of Benjamin and I standing next to his first Christmas tree, we (I) picked out special Christmas pajamas for him, we each bought him special gifts and even wrapped them, knowing full well we would also be the ones un wrapping them. We stuffed his stocking full, sat him on Santa's lap, took him to Winter Wonderland, and sang him Christmas carols (okay, I sang them). It was a magical holiday. This year was still exciting I guess, but in a different way.. Though he still doesn't get what is happening, he does understand the word toy . And I think after yesterday, he understands present as well! He helped unwrap most of his gifts and it was fun seeing his face light up at a gift he particularly enjoyed (such as the ...

Bad Dreams and Dog Poop

Yes, you read correctly... dog poop. I've been waiting for it to happen, and today it finally did. Benjamin and I were exploring outside this morning (it finally stopped raining so we could do that again!) and I turned my back for a minute to throw a stick for Sadie. When I turned back around, I noticed that Benjamin was intently inspecting something on the ground. Not just inspecting, but probing. WITH HIS HANDS. I bent down to take a closer look and realized that my son was playing with dog poop. Dog poop . Disgusting. I whisked him up and into the house, zombie style (arms straight out in front of him) and thoroughly scrubbed his hands with my favorite "Kitchen Lemon" anti-bacterial, hopefully anti-dog poop, until his hands (and arms) smelled like a citrus grove. As he sits next to me while I write this, eating a granoloa bar, I have to reassure myself that the anti-bacterial soap did it's job (as did the hot water and vigorous scrubbing for a full sixty seconds...

Perfect Date

We strolled hand in hand, peeking in store windows and walking through the shops of downtown SLO, looking for the perfect Christmas gifts for friends and family. Christmas spirit was obviously in the air, made apparent by the smiles given to us by fellow shoppers and even those driving by on the busy streets. The way the passerby's would grin and nudge their companions as they pointed us out made me glow with pride. "They must see how lucky I am to have him, how much in love we are," I thought to myself as I held his hand tighter. We meandered our way through the crowded sidewalks, stopping to smell all the soaps in "Bath & Body Works" (yes, he indulged me and even let me buy a few!) and peeking in the "Apple Store" to drool over the latest and greatest technology. Then, at his suggestion, we stopped for lunch at "Pizza Solo" and shared a delightful meal while people watching on the promenade. Finally, we lugged all our purchases back to ...

A Journey to Love

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