You just go ahead and try to resist him.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!  Sorry, ladies, but this cutie is already taken.

 

Confession

Yesterday I stole something from Target.  

I got out to my car, loaded Ben (who had just fallen asleep, it's important to note) and his carseat into the back, and noticed a file box at the bottom of my cart.  A file box that had been at the bottom of my cart for most of my shopping, including the part where I paid for everything else.  I knew immediately that I had technically stolen this file box, but I also knew that in my heart I hadn't really stolen it.  Therefore, I convinced myself that it was okay to leave (did I mention my kid had just fallen asleep in the carseat?) and pay for my stolen goods the next time I was going back into Target anyway.

My squeaky-clean husband disapproved of that plan.  When I told him the story, he insisted that I go back last night and make amends, which I did (after much grumbling).  All the way to Target, I mentally rehearsed the amusing way I would recount this story to the clerk (the manager?  the security guard?  I didn't know how this thing would go down).  So I was a little taken aback when I walked in with my shameful file box... and went right up to the check-out counter with it, just like everyone else was doing with their merchandise.  It was a total let-down.  I did tell the clerk my story, though, but he really didn't care.  Maybe next time I need to steal something bigger, just to make it worth my while.

Now it's your turn.  Anything you need to confess to the dozen or so people who read this blog?  (And everyone can participate now!  I changed my settings, so you don't have to have a Google account to comment.)

Sneaking up on half a year

 

 My precious offspring, the reason you come to this blog, turned five months old last Tuesday.  At least a dozen times a day, I am struck by how much he has changed in five months.  Yes, I know that is an obvious, cliche thing to say, but for reals!  There is nothing quite like watching your baby figure out new things from one day to the next -- or even better, thinking back on what he was like as a newborn blob of baby and comparing that to the present.  Babies are amazing.

While Ben still doesn't have any particularly impressive skills (he's not speaking in complete sentences or walking... or even rolling over at this point... and he can only tell you the value of pi to the first five decimal places), he seems to become more and more aware of the world around him all the time.  Sometimes this is really funny.  Like the day he realized that Justin the Cat exists.

He really thinks Justin is cool and will squeal and wave his arms around when he's nearby.  He also likes to "pet" Justin, an act Justin will only tolerate for a few seconds because Ben ends up with fists full of cat hair.

 

One major part of growing up is, of course, growing.  I noticed yesterday that my arms look stronger from carrying that kid around because that kid is much bigger and totally over his initial runthood.  And he can fit into some clothing we have been excited to put on him:

This whole process of growing up has also reinforced that I don't really know what I'm doing as a parent.  And when I finally figure something out, Ben changes and forces me to figure him out all over again.  I'm slowly getting better about being okay with my cluelessness, and I'm really trying to enjoy even the areas of motherhood that I find the most frustrating.  And if that doesn't work, I cheer myself up by taking silly pictures of my child.

Practice

Can you tell what major step toward big-boyhood is just around the corner?

He found his giggle box

Sometimes Ben thinks I'm funny:


And sometimes he thinks Daniel is funny:

Where has Ben been?

In general, Ben and I are homebodies.  I am quite content to stay holed up in my house for days, and, let's face it, Ben is pretty much stuck going (or not going) where I go.  But in the past couple of months, we have taken a break from our home-staying to travel all over the known universe. Or at least all over the country.

We started with a little jaunt to Daniel's parents' for Thanksgiving.

 

This was the first time we violated Ben's parole, taking him across the Colorado state line into (as you can see) New Mexico.

And then we hit up the Lone Star state.  This was our first road trip with a baby, and oh my did we ever learn a lot.  So we were much better prepared for all the miles we clocked on our Christmas journey.  An epic journey that included:

Kansas!  (My apologies for this terrible photo.  If you look at the sign on the overpass, you can confirm that we really did go to Kansas.)

And Oklahoma!  This is where the state-line picture thing fell apart because we crossed over into OK after dark.  But this picture with my great-aunt and uncle and their Tulsa license plate is a suitable substitute, no?

And then came Arkansas!

And Tennessee!  That would be the University if TN section of a Cracker Barrel, since we crossed this state line in the middle of a bridge over the Mississippi River.

And then Virginia!  Woot, woot!

And Kentucky!  (Yes, a gas station was the best we could do this time.)

And finally, Ohio!  Yay, buckeyes!  You are so very yummy :)

In case you lost track, Ben has been to 10 different states (when you count Colorado, which is not pictured here since it is his place of residence).  I have no idea how many road miles the little guy has traveled.  I do know that waaaay too many hours of his life have been spent in a car seat.  And just to keep things interesting, we threw in two separate journeys by plane:

Ben is a good traveling buddy, but I am super relieved to have our trips behind us and to revel in my homebodiness for a little while.  Many thanks to all of you who chauffeured us and gave us places to stay along the way.  We would love to return the favor and have you stay at our place sometime.  We'll be here :)

This one's for the lurkers

Then (September 2009):

And Now (Christmas 2009):

Look for more pictures of baby Ben and cousin Cale (along with all manner of other exciting subjects) in the near future.  We got back Saturday night from 3 1/2 weeks of travels, so there is much to show and tell!  But first I need to unpack and take down my Christmas tree.

During said travels, several of you told me that you read this blog, so I am demanding (or politely requesting, if you would prefer) that you give up your blog lurker status and comment on this post.  Please :)  Don't make me call you out by name.