Waiting for Baby Sister

We wanted to update post holidays and before Elizabeth joins our family next week. Ben had a wonderful Christmas shared with lots of friends and family. We made a special trip to the Christmas Train, which he loved. Ben also got to visit Santa, which I am not sure he loved quite as much, but didn’t cry. One of our favorite things this season was looking at the Christmas lights around town, which we are still discussing. Ben took right to presents and began to greet family with, “Presents?” after a couple of days of celebrating. Nice. He was thoroughly spoiled from all directions and is enjoying being in his playroom any time we are at home. Choo choos, horses, coloring and puzzles remain some of Ben’s favorites. He has also been very interested in letters and “reading” lately. This includes reading to the baby. We encouraged him to tell her about the pictures in the books since she couldn’t see them yet. He then proceeded to take the book and turn it to my belly so she could “see” what he was looking at. He was trying! After the holiday frenzy settled down, we began to have showers and get out all the baby gear in preparation for Sister. Ben was very interested in things that he recognized as “his”, but claims that he will share with Sister and will teach her how to use everything. He will call her “Lithbeth” when asked, but mostly refers to her as Ben’s Baby Sister. He is most excited about the car seat that appeared next to his recently. Since it was installed, he has asked to see Baby Sister and sit by her in the car every day. Not much longer, Ben! Then we will see what you really think. J For the next week we will have fun washing her tiny clothes and talking about where she will sleep and what toys will be her favorites. Every few months it seems that there is a physical or language explosion in Ben’s life. Ben is definitely much more agile than he used to be, but we have really noticed language taking off and it is so fun to hear grown up sounding phrases coming out of a toddler’s mouth. Some of the connections he makes continue to amaze us (correct or incorrect). It is enjoyable when inanimate objects take on feelings or Ben thinks he has made a joke. He will tell the highway, “bye, bye, see you later!” when we exit and then follow up that the highway is “sad” that we aren’t on it any more. His jokes include switching words that he knows aren’t correct and then waiting for you to challenge him. “The pig says quack, quack! (followed by giggles) – Are you sure? – No! The pig says oink, oink!” And he is still the mimic, but his role models are expanding which we are becoming more and more mindful of. He loves to say “Oh, man!!” like Swiper on Dora (a popular cartoon in our house for those of you without kids this age). We hope all is well with your family! We will update via email when Ben is officially a big brother and Elizabeth joins our family. We hope to have pictures and longer updates shortly after, but that is an ambitious mommy making promises prior to having to care for a newborn and an adjusting toddler. So we will do the best we can!