Bennett video

I am trying to work through our rather large backlog of Luke and Bennett videos. Here is the most recent tape with a few highlights of Bennett. Mom, don't worry, we are not letting him do the pool jump (you will see).
(Bennett early 2010)
Bennett June 2010
Jumping

Don't stare

Kurt is out of town and already I am exhausted. Our therapist typically comes on Tuesdays and she cancelled today (what's new) so we headed to Costco to pick up a few necessities. Costco typically is very do-able with both kids because they have double wide carts so I can fit both kids. We get a smoothie and go about our business. Other grocery stores carts fit just one kid so we have stalk other moms that have the 'car' carts with the cute little steering wheels and two seats. (By the way, I feel like I am driving a semi-truck when I do snag the car cart. There must be a better way).

So Luke wasn't doing so well at Costco at was doing "the grunt". I wish I knew how to describe this so those of you who haven't had the pleasure of hearing it. It is LOUD and continuous. Did I mention loud? Uhhhhhhhhhhghhhhhhhhhwhhhhhhhhhhhh uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Anyway, I KNOW it is a weird. I KNOW he is loud. I KNOW you don't know what to think. But PLEASE DO NOT stare. Especially the lady who did the triple take with her eyes popping out of her head. It just makes me feel worse. It is uncomfortable for me because unless he is doing his hand flaps it's not immediately obvious that Luke has special needs. I do know from personal experience that sometimes people look just out of instinct when they hear a weird sound. I totally understand that. But continuing to stare like a 6 year old is a bit uncalled for. I have never had so many people look at me. Yuck. Just had to vent.

Picture above taken by Luke's teacher at school on Monday. Super cute picture. This is the last week of school and I am dreading it being over. Luke loves everything about school, the classroom, the gym, the playground, the bus and his teachers. It is also better for him to have all those activities. Summer is tough to fill up all that available time. We are going to Montana for the 4th of July (and a few days before) and EEU summer camp is in July. August is empty so I am working to fill it up. We have a 2nd therapist that will come 2x/week and I am super excited to try swim lessons. I've always wanted to take Luke to swim lessons but always had a terrible image in my head of paying $2/minute for someone to try and teach Luke to swim without understanding his needs (and me standing the corner saying "he doesn't understand what you are saying, he doens't know words, he can't talk". Get this! His pre-school teacher for the past two years is a swim teacher! Who knew??! She totally 'gets' Luke and he totally loves her! I am excited to try it (I will be standing in the corner but this time I'll be holding Bennett trying to prevent him from jumping into the pool fully clothed!).

Bennett's words

Fast forward to May because I am so excited....Words, words, words! Bennett is talking and it is the most exciting thing I have ever heard. I am certain that everyone is exciting when their child says their first words. I am also certain however that Kurt and I likely appreciate it a bit more. He has been saying 'Luge' (Luke) for quite a while (I think it was his official first word once I realized what he was saying) and 'mama' but it wasn't until March that I really knew for sure he was saying words. He started slow and now is adding words on a regular basis. My favorite this week is 'choo choo' for train. It's more of a high pitched 'too too'. I am determined to get it on video. He changed 'Luge' to "ga-ga" (unsure why). Elmo is 'La La' (from LaLa LaLa LaLa LaLa Elmo's World). Dada, NaNa (Nena), shoes (sues) and how could I forget NO! nonononononono.
Other favorite things lately with the boys... Luke cuddling in the morning before we get him ready for school. He sucks his thumb and puts his head on my shoulder and snuggles down. Sometimes when I say we have to get ready for school and stand up he keeps his legs bent so his legs won't hit the floor in an attempt to extend the cuddle. He digs me. I can tell.
Bennett gives hugs all the time and the best thing now is that he pats your back during the hug. He obviuosly got that from us giving him hugs but to see and feel him doing it is the cuttest thing ever. Will try and video or photo that as well!

Fair weather blogger - Christmas in May

It has been 5 months since I posted! That's an eternity to a 5 year and 21 month old! 1/4 of Bennett's lift has been ignored. Terrible terrible mother. Well...not quite. I've been mothering but just not writing about it.
I giggled when I saw my last post about the Grinch. Turns out the Grinch did steal our Christmas. Above is Christmas Eve, the day before we began our blizzard adventure. Thankfully we celebrated our small family Christmas before we left. The next day...yes, Christmas (tickets were much cheaper) we pummeled by weather on our way to Norfork. Christmas day was spent in the Denver airport (yes, the entire day) and night in a hotel nearby. Our Christmas dinner was the last 2 turkey sandwiches the airport had to sell. Bennett and Luke didn't seem to mind. The next day we made it to Omaha but with roads closed to Norfolk we spent another day and night in a hotel. This time we were smart and picked a hotel with a shuttle (we had no car), restaurants and a pool. I made a trip to Walmart to buy swim diapers for the boys and something for Kurt and I to wear to swim. Not too many options at the Walmart in Council Bluffs, Iowa in December. Kurt wore basketball shorts that were 10 sizes too big and I wore a sports bra and boxer shorts that I pinned shut with the airplane 'wings' the boys got from United. Great visual huh? Yes, we looked like quite a classy bunch.

Our delayed Christmas with Lori, Paul, Megan, Emily, Rich and Gail was quite nice...even if we only got a few days with them. However if Kurt's parents decided to move to a warmer climate, I wouldn't be too upset! :)


Thankfully Luke was healthy after his Thanksgiving strep throat. Bennett loved opening presents (tearing the paper) and impressing everyone with his climbing skills. I was a bit terrified and impressed at the same time. Emily and Bennett had a good time together and I look forward to seeing them play together this fall when they come to visit.