Ben Goes GQ

Summer Ben

Dear Friends and Family -- and Ben,

We apologize sincerely for the lack of photos in this space for the last... oh, no, is it really about SIX MONTHS?  See, a few things happened:

1) I had minor surgery on my neck.  No worries -- I had a benign fatty tumor that was mainly a problem cosmetically.  Many people have helpfully shared that their DOGS had the same kind of tumors.  I strongly recommend to anyone in their early thirties who is feeling old: grow an ugly benign tumor on your neck and then have it removed.  You will feel like the sexiest thing in the universe (for a few days, anyway). 

2) We bought a house!!!!  In Evanston, IL.  But, before that, I was traumatized by having a different house fall through at the inspection.  That trauma curtailed my blogging activity last spring.  Sorry.  And then, buying the house in Evanston and moving in made us super busy.  And, it resulted in a messed up connection to our external hard drive where Noah stores our photos.  I was technologically PREVENTED from posting any photos (at least the ones on the hard drive) for several months.

3) We got pregnant again!!!!  And, Baby Bear sapped any energy that I might have had remaining after the move.  And now for the big reveal: Baby Bear is a BOY.  In April, Ben will become a proud big brother and we will kiss goodbye any hopes of low grocery bills for the next 18 years.

So, without further ado, here is an amazing collage photo created by Aunt Jessie's boyfriend:

 

And, here's a link to some more adorable photos of Ben from Summer 2010: http://picasaweb.google.com/alevybrown/Summer2010?feat=directlink

Enjoy!

A Good Day

Dear Ben,

You had such a lovely day today... a day full of friends and generosity.  After a really tough wake up (maybe because you had an interuppted sleep cycle), you finally calmed down, read books with your mama, played a little, and went back to sleep.  Then, we went into the city to meet up with three other little people and their Mamas -- 2 year old Evie, 7 month old Mack and 16 month old Melina. 

You had a hard time at first -- didn't want to share toys, refused to take your coat off, wanted everything that everyone else had.  But, you relaxed eventually and you even agreed that the baby was cute.  I was impressed with how well you took it when I was holding him.  I expected you to be jealous.  It's also worth noting that you repeatedly asked Melina for cheerios, by saying "Pease."  How lovely that you now know how to ask nicely, even to other kids.  Too bad that please doesn't work real well with other 1 year olds.

Later in the evening, when we met up with the group again -- plus dads and some other friends -- you again were sweet to baby Mack and allowed me to hold him and read to you both.  You even tickled his feet and patted his head very gently.  What a sweet guy you are.  You're giving me hope that it won't be HORRIBLE for you to adjust to Baby Bear this spring.  I hope it's not false hope, Sweet Pea. :)  I think you could quite enjoy a little brother or sister.

In between, Ezra and a new friend from the neighborhood, Daniel, came to play.  Last time Ezra was over, you two fought constantly, always demanding what the other one had.  You did a little bit of that today... but you're getting better at following my instructions to share and let others play with a toy for a while.  (We also had about 50 thousand toys out on the rug in the playroom.)  I think it may have helped to have Daniel around for a while: you felt like a host entertaining in your house.  You wanted to show off how good you are.

But -- it gets better.  You and Ezra weren't just NOT MEAN to each other.  By the end of your play date, the two of you (at Ezra's initiation) had each patted the other on the back (very nice), hugged and kissed.  You two loved Sarah and my delight at these actions.  You also swapped apples and sippy cups repeatedly.  But, how nice it was to see you two being friendly to one another.  You even said Ezra's name today.  I asked "Where's Ezra" when Ezra wandered into the next room, and you repeated, "Ez?"  How cute you both are.

Ben, I'm so encouraged to see you getting along with other kids.  And especially not minding when Mama plays with another baby. 

My love for you is absolutely boundless, Ben Bode Brown.  It fills me up and surrounds me, and I can't even comprehend how much I'm thrilled by you, Sweet Thing.

Love,
Mama

Mastery

Off -- with all its various meanings -- get off the chair, turn off the lights, take the sweater off.  Pronounced with a very definitive, long-lasting FFFFFF at the end.

Hop -- what bunnies do.

Up -- With a very pronounced PPP

Pop -- The sound bears make with their teeth in "The Blueberry Bears," the first half of "popcorn" (which he enjoys making and eating with his mama on weekday afternoons), and what the weazle does in the famous song -- often accentuated by the releasing of a scarf or crumpled paper.

Totally got the concept -- complete sounds will follow:

Haahhh -- as in Hot. 

Puh or Puhluh -- Please. 

Asah -- Outside.

Baff or Bah -- Bath

Bah -- Ball, and many, many other things

Cah -- Car and clock.  When we ask what time it is, you look at your wrist (where a wrist watch could be) and say "Cah."

Shirr or Shhhh -- Shirt.  You love to hear the song, "Ben wore his red shirt..." over and over again, and you grab and shake your shirt every time.

Sahh -- Sometimes "saahhk" -- Sock.  You love to pull 'em off.

Chiz -- Cheerios.

Pointing aggressively at corner cabinet, crying, and stamping your feet rapidly: "I want craisins."  But, Mama has figured out how to get you to calm down and ask nicely before receiving your favorite treat.

And many, many more that I can't even remember at the moment.  Ben Bode Brown, it is a pleasure to watch you tackle language and add new words to your repertoire just about every day. 

Photos to come -- once Dad ("Dah" as you know him) reconnects the Z-drive to the computer.  Right now, sweet thing, your photos are in a limbo that I can't reach.  Well, that or still on the camera. 

Love,
Mama

Our Bostonian

I shy away from the pronouncement that any young man is "all boy."  I like to think of Ben in particular as a compassionate and complex little man who is developing a wide variety of interests, skills and capacities -- including the more traditionally feminine qualities like empathy and affection. 

The kid didn't want to play on the toys at the playground today.  He wanted to be right up against the fence where he could see Western Ave (a busy street) across the field.  And, then he tried to keep up with each and every passing vehicle by exclaiming, "Cah!  Cah!"  Same for ALL the parked cars on the walk back to our car.  Thank goodness we didn't walk all the way to the park today.  Really, it sounds more like "cuh" than "cah," but so much more fun to pretend he can say the whole word, but just does so with a Boston accent.

So, to review: Mama.  Dada.  "Es" (for Yes). Obama (sometimes).  "All done," "more" and "eat" in baby sign language.  And now, "car." 

He also learned to kiss with a real smooch sound this week instead of just a gaping open baby mouth.  If I could only increase my odds at predicting whether he is going to land a kiss on my cheek or whether he's going to bite me (hard).

Photos to come soon.  Dada, get on that please. :)

Love,
Mama

Trucks

Dear Nana,

It's happened.  Ben loves the book you gave him, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!  Why does he love it?  For the bus.  And the red truck at the end. 

I was reading him a poetry book tonight as well... and in it, he found another red truck to point at.  No other pictures drew his attention.  For several weeks now, he's been asking us to read his Big Trucks On the Move board book with moving parts (except for the one random page that was clearly meant to have a circling cement mixer, but somehow got skipped).  We thought perhaps he just liked the interactivity.  But, nope.  It was the trucks.

We've got a truck man.  We love him anyway. :)

He is also getting steadier and steadier on his feet.  And, his climbing abilities are advancing by leaps and bounds.  He went over to his little table and chairs in the dining room today, pulled out a chair a little ways, climbed right up into it and maneuvered himself into a sitting position.  The kid went and sat down like a big boy at his table and chairs.  Then, when he was done sitting, he maneuvered himself right back down.  It takes some doing.  There's balancing and propping, carefully unfolding and unsticking little feet and legs -- but he's quite capable.  And, deleriously proud.

Love,
Mama

Sorry folks, photos are stuck in the camera at present!  But, I promise, he's still cute!

Rain Storm

Ben induced me to take him outside at 6:30 am this morning. We watched the rain storm from the front porch, and then puddle jumped together. How I love midwestern rainstorms. And how infrequently I see them at 6:30 am. Thanks, Ben.

Love,
Mama

July 2 -- New Tooth, First Steps!

July 2 is a big day for our family.  It's Uncle Joe's birthday!  (Happy 35th Uncle Joe!)  Mama & Daddy got engaged on July 2, 2005, while camping in Acadia National Park, Maine.  Mama and Daddy celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary today, on July 2, 2010.  (Well, that's because Mama forgot COMPLETELY about the actual wedding anniversary last week.  I had surgery, folks, it was a strange week.)  You cut another bottom tooth today.  I didn't even know it was coming, and then suddenly there it was.  But, most importantly:

Ben, today you took 3 distinct, clear, no-mistaking them, independent steps.  We were at Welles Park and you were wearing hard-soled shoes that we just decided to start using, even though I have been told that you'll learn to walk better/more quickly barefoot or in soft shoes.  But, you love shoes!  You're obsessed with them.  You keep sticking and unsticking the velcro.  You keep asking for them (in your little wordless way) and putting them next to your feet, and trying to put them on your feet.  You took a two hour nap this morning wearing these very same hard-soled sneakers. 

You had just gotten off the bouncy ship and you were holding the empty sand pail that a little girl generously lent you.  You were focused on the pail, and on the fountain nearby that was showering great umbrellas of water for kids to run through.  And, you had an audience.  Robyn, Paul and your buddy Evan, in town from Portland, were there, along with the many, many kids and parents filling the park.  And, I had just told Robyn all about how you weren't walking yet, and about how ridiculous I think the pressure is that I'm sensing even from sites like Baby Center -- which is supposed to be supportive of all us mamas, no? -- with their emails that seem to needle: "IS YOUR BABY WALKING YET?!  DOCUMENT THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASSION WITH OUR..." whatever the heck it is that they're shilling. 

But, I think it was mostly the shoes and the pail.  Your hands were occupied, your mind distracted.  You took three solid steps toward me (or perhaps toward the fountain).  And it looked like the most ordinary thing in the world, except that I had never seen you do it before.

Congratulations, baby.  Can't wait to see you do it again!

Love,
Mama

Wagner Farm

On the way back from the doctor this morning, I drove by Wagner Farm in Glenview, which I had learned about from our realtor during one of our many outings over the past year. I decided to stop, since Ben had been a real trouper over the weekend (trip to Wisconsin) and this morning what with having to get in and out of the carseat, which he hates. He LOVED it. We spent an hour and a half and he was totally interested and immersed the entire time. We got to see animals, climb on farm equipment, ring a dinner bell (very exciting if you are one -- even though I did the ringing), tour a 1920's farm house -- the tour guide was totally cool with Ben lunging onto the hand-made quilt on one of the beds to try to pull off the flowers -- and visit the indoor museum that featured such amazing things as a life-sized horse-drawn produce cart that you can climb on, a 1930's store and an old-fashioned type writer. You can touch just about everything. Ben did a lot of typing. ,

Ben's favorite part of the whole experience?  The chicken coop wire. He was really interested in the fencing around the vegetable garden, too.

Ben, I had such a lovely morning with you out on the farm.  I can't wait to go back again.

Love,
Mama

The Bromance Continues

2 months

1 year

Father's Day!

Today was Ben's second Father's Day. Continuing our (now) annual tradition, we started the day at a breakfast place of Dad's choosing. Last year was Over Easy in Ravenswood; this year, in keeping with our northern migration, we visited Walker Brothers' Pancake House in Wilmette. While Mom and Dad ate sugary treats, Ben got busy with some grapes and string cheese. As a treat, he even got a little jelly toast, joining yogurt and oatmeal in his arsenal of sticky things with which to paint himself and his surroundings.

Pancakes were followed by a walk around the soon-to-be new neighborhood and a stop at Egleston Park. Lots of smiles, especially when we got to try the very exciting new slide.

In good Midwestern fashion we finished the day back at home with brats boiled in beer. Ben took the opportunity to show off a new trick -- toasting. Note: Although the sharp-eyed viewer may (correctly) see that Ben is toasting with a shot glass, it was used for milk only -- the rule in this house is no booze until you're 3, and we're sticking to it!

We call the picture above "Bread head."

Happy Father's Day everybody!

Much love,
Noah

First Birthday

Happy Birthday, my beautiful, darling baby boy. I love you more than you could possibly know. You delight and tickle my sensibilities. I think you are so clever, so smart, so funny, so kind, so generous, so loaded with personality and endless potential. I enjoy every day with you (even the very challenging ones). How lucky I am to have such a loving, hilarious, life-changing, precious little you.

All my love,
Mama

Here are a few shots from your Hebrew Baby Naming and First Birthday party.

Taking the Plunge

Ben, last Sunday (a week ago) you turned 10 months old.  And, just a few days before you shocked me with your latest stunt: You climbed out of your exersaucer all by yourself.  I was sitting on the living room couch checking work email (trying to get in a few minutes before I needed to get back to playing with you), and I put you in the exersaucer so that you would stop trying to "help" me by pressing all the keys you can reach on the key board or pulling back my screen until it's flat on my knees. 

I looked up from my computer -- only to see you crawling toward me from NEXT TO YOUR EXERSAUCER, smiling from ear to ear.  I didn't even hear a noise when you climbed out.  I'm proud -- and terrified.  I know exactly how you must have done it, because this is how you operate whenever you're near an edge (bed, automan, arm of the couch): You leaned over the edge, folding your little body as far as it would go, then you reached with your little arms (which have a surprisingly long span) until they neared the floor.  The weight of your head pulled you further, and then you just slithered out, hands coming down first to meet the floor, body following.  You probably didn't even hit your head because you have amazing upper body strength and control, baby.  Although, this didn't help you when you face planted as you tried to climb over the automan the other night.  Thankfully, we've been able to grab you each time you've tried to launch yourself off the edge of our bed and the couch.

Dad and I took the plunge yesterday, too.  We came to terms on a house in Wilmette.  We're so excited to start this next adventure of home ownership with you, Mr. B.  I think you're going to love our new house.

Love,
Mom

The Budding Spin Master

Mama

Ben is now nearly 10 months old... and this week he has figured out that I am "Mama."  Now, instead of just crying once he hears me come in the back door from work (even though he was playing happily until I arrived) he now calls for me: "Mama, mama!"  I'm very impressed.

He's also learning the meaning of the word, "No."  When he goes to remove the speaker covers on the stereo in the kitchen, and I say "No," he now turns to look at me and pauses before deciding whether or not to listen to me direction (mostly, he stops, for now... but he never stops pushing buttons, no matter what).

He also took a ride in a wagon (with Daniel, our downstairs neighbor) for the first time, and showed off for Donna and Tom by demonstrating his tireless ability to pull himself up to standing -- and then stand on tippy toes.

I am totally thrilled right now by his huge, wide-mouthed smile that looks like a wedge from an orange and creates delicious little crinkles at the corners of his mouth.  Holding a stuffed animal (or telephone, or remote control, or sock) above him, and drawing it near then far is a foolproof way to produce this smile, along with a belly laugh.

(More photos once we get around to uploading them... all things in time.  Sorry!)

~Mama

Your Father's Son

Oh, Benny Boo, you're making me totally crazy.  This morning, you wanted to do gymnastics on your changing table instead of letting me just change your diaper.  I will spare your blog audience all the dirty details... but this diaper change involved a trip to the tub, followed by you naked except for a t-shirt standing in your crib crying -- and then peeing through the crib slats onto the rug in your room -- and onto your changing table and your Mama.  And then you laughed and laughed. 

Later in the morning, you found bread on the floor, discarded from your breakfast, and shoved it back in your mouth, smiling and laughing again.  What happened to my cute, cuddly, innocent little baby boy?

Love,
Mom

Stairs

It's finally warm in Chicago.  Ben had a playdate with our downstairs neighbor, Daniel, who is 18 months old this evening.  And, because it's warm out, they were able to play outside.  After getting his bearings and playing with several balls for a while, Ben amazed us all... by crawling over to the front steps and climbing them all. 

Congrats, Ben, on your good work!  I thought we would have to teach you to climb stairs... apparently, though, we just needed to provide them.

Love you,
Mom

Future scientist?

Ben had blood drawn at his 9 month doctor appointment on Friday.  He was so riveted by the colorful vials at first, then by watching the needle go into his arm and the blood come out that he never, ever even peeped.

Back at home, he's been experimenting with gravity like mad, most recently dropping (and throwing) his blocks to the floor, followed by his socks, for the comparison.

~Anne

Florida and Nine Months

You've now officially been out as long as you were in. Happy 9 month birthday, Ben! I started writing you a letter offline which I may post later.  But, for now, let me just tell you a few wonderful things that you're up to:

~Huge smiles and belly laughs. Yesterday, I got home from work relatively early and got down on my hands and knees and asked you to follow me into the kitchen. You thought it was HILarious to crawl after your mama. You even crawled right under me, through my legs at the end. You couldn't stop cracking up.  You later made a huge mess of dinner, and then pretended to feed me broccoli -- which you seem to think is the funniest thing to do yet.  (And, here, I feel like I am really seeing you assert your own little strange personality, your own idea of what would be fun to do -- let me feed my mama.  You're imitating me, sure, since I'm always trying to feed you.  But, this is certainly your own spin on the matter.  And, a sweetly generous and playful spin, at that.)

~Broccoli. You love to hold a chunk and suck on the stem, then the florets, then the stem. You manage to suck the florets right off and often swallow them nearly whole (I know because I see them come out the other end). So much for absorbing nutrients. You love broccoli second only to cheerios. (You also dig on asparagus and green beans.)

~Crawling, acrobatics on the bar that holds the kitchen table base together (I've found you hanging across it, folded in half on your tummy; yesterday, I saw your little legs fly forth as you slipped from standing to sitting -- all while keeping a firm grip on the bar; it looked like one of those moves where an ice skater threads his partner through his legs), pulling yourself to standing.

~You repeatedly turn on the CD player in the kitchen so that it plays your favorite CD (classic children's songs compiled by Mr. Hass). You are always trying to touch the stereo, but you've never managed to accidentally turn on the radio. You never accidentally eject the CDs. Somehow, you only and always manage to turn on your CD. And then you giggle and bounce when you hear the first line of "Teddy Bears' Picnic." (I am now going around with an endless chorus of "Here we go loop-de-loop" and other kids' songs in my mind.

~And today your dad noted that the sounds you make (you've been babbling incessantly) have changed in their tenor.  It sounds almost like you're saying words now.  We've heard "yum," "hi," and lots of "buh" and "vuh" sounds lately.  We can hardly wait to hear what's coming next.  And, it is thrilling to see how much you delight in the feel of sounds on your lips, tongue, mouth.  Particularly those fricative sounds like "puh," "fuh" and the others above.  We find ourselves immitating you just to re-discover how amazing it feels to make these sounds.

~Also, we think you are just absolutely beautiful, hilarious and brilliant.  We are devastatingly and totally in love with you.  Even when you continue to wake us up in the middle of the night.  Every night.  (You are doing us a wonderful favor by going to bed so nicely every night around 8:30 after a brief ritual... so thanks for that.)

These are photos of your first trip to Florida and the ocean.  I think you saw the ocean for only about five minutes total, as you slept in the Ergo during almost the entirety of our two walks on the beach.  You did enjoy when I dipped your toesies in the swimming pool at Great Grandpa's condo.  You squealed and laughed and flapped your arms.  (Shhh, don't tell, you're not officially allowed in the pool until you're three.)

You were so incredibly good on this trip.  I am knocking on wood as I note that over the course of four or five meals out, we never once had to get up and walk you around the restaurant.  The only time I did that was to introduce you to a few older ladies at Great Grandpa Brown's country club who had been making eyes at you during dinner.

First Romp in the Snow

Our reluctant angel...

Ben and Jacoby

Here are a few teaser photos of our recent weekend with Ben's second cousin Jacoby and family. Ben completely loved Jacoby. Some cute videos of the two of them to come soon.

Big Boy Food

This photo is from a post-Mom & Baby Yoga class lunch a few weeks back. Ben shows his early preference for real people food -- not all this mushy baby stuff.

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Levy

For my first Christmas, Mom and Dad took me to snowy Wisconsin to visit my Grandma and Grandpa in Milwaukee. They didn't have much snow, but they did have Santa! It was very thoughtful of him to take time out of his busy schedule to teach me about jingle bells.

Dad tried to get in on the action as well.  Nice try Dad -- Mom says you still can't have an iPod Touch when you have a perfectly good iPod at home.  Hey, what happened to Santa's boots?  Grandma Kate runs a pretty tight ship -- Santa or no Santa, you'll leave your shoes at the door!

It was great to see Aunt Sophia and Uncle Joe in from Cambridge. My Dad keeps saying that we're from Boston, but I wasn't born there and I've never lived there! That doesn't stop Dad from telling people he's raising me as a Red Sox and Patriots fan. [Just trying to put him on a good path until he is old enough to make his own decisions --Dad]

They even bought me some crazy winter gear from Paris.  Dad decided it would be fun to dress me up in everything all at once.  Thanks Dad!  Just wait till I'm old enough to flush your Blackberry down the toilet...

Grandma Kate and Grandpa Bill gave me a cool Tonka dump truck.  It makes all kinds of neat noises when I push the buttons on the steering wheel.  I bet Mom and Dad can't wait to take this home!

We got a chance to visit with Great Grandma Eldora for a little while.  She was looking very festive in her Christmas sweater.  

I didn't know Grandma Kate was a magician, but she managed to fit 27 people in her house for dinner on the day after Christmas!  The Woodwards, Hiltons and Murrays all came to 70th St., and it got pretty cozy.  I got to hang out with my cousins Thomas, Henry, Clare, Audrey and Eleanor and watch them open presents.  Mom says they'll give me presents to open just as soon as I stop trying to eat the wrapping paper.  But why would I ever do that???  Wrapping paper is so delicious, second only to Post-It Notes.

On Sunday Mom and Dad and Uncle Joe and Aunt Sophia took Grandma and Grandpa to brunch at the Pfister Hotel to celebrate their 40th anniversary.  We went out with a bunch of their friends called "Table 9."  I can't count yet, but I'm pretty sure that means there is something funny about the number 9.

Doing the rounds all morning left me exhausted, so it was a good thing Uncle Joe was there to help me get comfortable.

We posed with the rest of Table 9 in front of a big Christmas tree.  I had never seen one before!  The big guy to my left looked pretty familiar, but he promised me he had nothing to do with reindeers or sleighs.

We had such a good time with our family in Milwaukee.  Can't wait to see them all again soon!

--Much love, Noah

P.S.  In case you didn't get quite enough Ben, here is a cute video of him helping his grandparents sort things out.  Can you guess what he is playing with?

Mama

Oh, yeah.  He clearly said "Mama" last night, and has been repeating it over and over again today (mostly to his babysitter, but I know he's asking for me). 

I will note that when he says "Dada," which he's been saying for weeks, he says it joyfully, fully enunciating each syllable.  "Mama" on the other hand initially came out while he was crying.  Actually, not just initially.  The first several times he said it, he was either crying or whining.  I hope this doesn't say too much about his relationship with each of us.

Also -- when he first said "Dada," I completely believed that it was just a new sound he was learning.  No big deal.  But when he said "Mama," I just knew he was absolutely and only talking about me.  Ha!

I love you my little Mama's Boy.

~Mom

Ben Explores the World

Bedtime

Ben did not want to go to sleep tonight, wide awake when I first put him down, then while I tried to sing to him.  But I was tired, so eventually I lay down on the floor with him and he smiled and cooed and crawled around and nursed a little.  Noah came in and joined us on the floor.  Ben was delighted, crawling from one of us to the other and back. 

Noah's had a hard, long few weeks at work, burning the midnight oil, and he fell asleep and started to snore softly on the floor in Ben's room.  I rocked Ben a little and put him in his crib, expecting him to protest again.  He'd been wide awake just moments earlier.  I blew him a kiss and walked out of his room into the kitchen.  He squaked at first, but as I did a few dishes I heard... nothing. 

Peeking back into the bedroom, Noah is still fast asleep on the floor.  And, Ben flopped himself over onto his tummy and fell asleep, too, lulled into dreamland by the company of his exhausted dad.

All I Wanted for Christmas

On an early Saturday morning (like, 6:30 am) a week before Christmas, my fondest holiday wish was granted. My childhood friend Leigh and her husband Seth had a layover at O'Hare following their red-eye from Portland, OR. Leigh grew up in Wauwatosa, but her parents recently moved to North Carolina -- meaning that I no longer get to see her when she visits them. Noah and I love going to Portland, but our travel itinerary is limited at the moment. I had been really saddened at the thought that Leigh and Ben might not meet for... who knows how long. So, when Leigh returned my call on Thursday night and let slip that they were flying cross-country the next day, with a layover at O'Hare, we were all over it.

Leigh and Seth, we love you guys!