tid bits about Ben

Ben is 3 years old and (almost) 3 months.  Already!

He is just as much fun as he has ever been.  Maybe even more!  He is the happiest three year old I have ever known.  And so well behaved!  Not perfect by-any-means, but as close as you can get being human and three.
Ben is still such a mama's boy and wants to "nuggle" on the couch when he gets up from his nap every afternoon.  A nap that he still very much requires and that is proven to us when he misses his nap and starts having melt-downs at 3 in the afternoon.

He is so healthy now.  His eating issues are a thing of the past and at times I don't even remember just how bad they were for so long. He is no longer on any medications on a regular basis which seemed impossible for a long time.  No appetite enhancers, no reflux, no asthma. Well actually he does still go on his inhaled steroids the second we see a cold coming on but it's not an every day medicine any more!
Just like his big brother, the main staple in his diet is milk.  He LOVES milk!  He sure does like a slice of cold pizza when it's available too.

He gets leg pains A LOT!  Which stinks but since Chris and I both had them a lot as children it's not overly surprising. It is a very common thing to wake up to Ben crying or complaining that his legs hurt and needing some medicine and a leg massage. 

He is so funny, he loves the idea of super heroes but really knows nothing about them and has no real interest in learning about them.  His favorite shows are Deigo the Animal Rescuer and Curious George. He has borrowed every "farm animal movie" from the library numerous times and watches them for a few minutes at a time.  He also has borrowed Toy Story Three from the library a bunch of times and from the Red Box a couple times too. I have tried to buy it but it must be really popular because each time it is sold out.  With all this being said, Ben isn't a huge tv watcher and would chose to play almost all the time.

Ben recently went and had his first teeth cleaning.  We had tried 6 months ago or so but he just wasn't ready so instead of making it a bad experience we decided to wait a while and try again.  This time he was ready and did wonderful!  There are concerns with his two top Two year molars (not the bottom) even though they aren't even all the way in.  The dentist thinks that Ben may have been really sick when they were forming under his gums as an infant and the teeth didn't "form" right.  I don't really understand it but we go to a pediatric dentist on Monday so hopefully I can understand it better.

Ben just moved up another leven in swimming lessons and is doing really good!  He has started jumping off the diving board with out a bubble and swimming to the side of the pool.  He can't do it all on his own so someone still has to be right there to assist but I don't think he's too far off.  He is the youngest in his swim class and fits in perfectly, even excels at some things which is great.  He just loves the water and swimming!
Ben still loves anything and everything farm animal!  So imagine his excitement a couple weeks ago when we happened to stop at our local feed store for guinea pig food and there were two baby goats.  Then, to top it off, it happened to be time for the baby goats to have their bottles and the owner asked if we wanted to feed this adorable two week old kid!  Oh Ben was in his glory!

Being outside is at the top of Ben's favorite things list!  It doesn't even matter where as long as it's out in the fresh air.  I couldn't help thanking God for this happy boy, warm sunshine, and blue skies at this very moment a couple weeks ago.  Does it even get better then this???

Since Ben blessed us with his very first belly laugh at a few weeks old he has gotten the hiccups every time he really laughs.  EVERY SINGLE TIME!  I don't know why but here we are three years later and he still gets the hiccups every time he has a good belly laugh.  Some times he gets a little grumpy with me after for "making me laugh and giving me the hiccups!" but what can I do?  I just love his laugh, it is priceless and beautiful, and can cure a bad day just about every time!

Ben also loves to tell stories and I love to listen!  Most of the time they are made up and bizarre but I never tire of hearing them.  Sometimes after he tells me one he asks, "did you like that story?  Was it a long one?"

The thing that tops the list of things I love about Ben though is when he, out of the blue, gives me a big hug and says, "You're my best friend and I love you sooooo much!"