Birthday Pictures

If you read the post below, you will get the story. Due to computer issues, I am only now able to post photos.

Happy birthday to you!

Easy rider!

Not sure if he was pointing to the animals, but at least it looks that way.

Ben is 2!

Well, it is official. My little man is now the big 2! I can hardly believe it has been that long, but it's true. Sadly, I'll have to post photos later. I tried to get ahead and dumped all of the pictures on my computer. Unfortunately, my computer and the wireless internet have a love/hate relationship so it is not cooperating. I guess I will have to use my words to paint a picture.

His actual birthday didn't go so well. It was a school day so I made him go to nursery. That sounds terrible, but they make me pay regardless and it's only one day a week. He's been having a good time there lately, but this week he was a little sad. He is now officially in the toddler room. He has been there before, but never for all day. Plus, I suspect he knew something was up. He is rather astute like that. Anyway, so when I picked him up, he was refusing his fruit and looking like someone had taken his toy. When we got home, he got to talk to Joe and was happy to play. So far so good.

The plan was to do cake and presents with Minh and Brooke from next door and have Joe's family on Skype. That was the plan... Minh and Brooke were late because of a last minute phone call. Skype REFUSED to cooperate. Ben did not like his birthday cake. Oh, well...on to presents! So he opened up a few and played happily. Then I brought down his big gift, a shiny red plastic motorcycle that he can scoot around on. Epic fail! Despite that it is quite wide, I think he felt unstable on it. Between that and the fact that he had only a 45-minute nap at school, he was in a foul mood. Eventually, I put the bike in the other room while he screamed bloody murder. At some point, I got him to calm down and watch tv and eat some crackers. However, when I put him to bed, more high pitched screaming. The kind of screams where you know that is hurting the person who is doing it.

On a funny note, I actually took a 15-second video of the screaming for Joe. I wasn't trying to get sympathy. I was trying to make him feel better. He had been feeling sad about missing Ben's birthday. I wanted him to know that he missed nothing.

Yesterday, I took Ben to a wildlife park. I had already deicided that we would do that instead of a party. When we got up, it was cloudy and a bit wet. We went anyway and the rain managed to hold off almost the whole time. To be honest, Ben was more interested in playing with the stones along the path, but I think he had a good time. It was a small park so we were able to most of the animals. They also had a few play areas, but it was too wet for him to properly enjoy. Just about the time we were done, the sky opened up. I put him in the car with some snacks and headed home, all before nap time. Success!

Summer Update

I hadn't realized how long it had been until I signed in. I knew it had been a while, but no clue how long. Sorry to all my loyal readers! (all 2 of you.)

The truth of it is that I (and the Howells in general) have been very busy. Here's a generic rundown of everything you missed:

• Joe's squadron had a dining out in the Tower of London. Amazing!
• Summer ball
• Vacation to Ireland with me, Joe, Ben, and Liz. Visited Dublin and the Dingle Peninsula
• Trip to Edinburgh, Scotland with friends
• Joe wrapped up his Master's degree
• I've been working on 2 more classes toward mine
• Fourth of July BBQ at our house
• Numerous BBQs at other houses
• Ben entered the terrible twos a few months early
• Joe deployed overseas

I bet you are tired just reading that! I haven't meant to neglect you. I simply haven't had any other choice. Overall, we are doing well. When I get a chance, I will fill in some details. Unfortunately, I have to go write a paper...due in 2 weeks...that I haven't started...

Summer Plans

Time is ticking away here as it always does. I realized today that in a little over a month, Joe will be headed on his 3-month, all-expenses-paid vacation (Afghanistan). Normally, I would have a pit in my stomach about that much time alone with B-bear. However, summertime makes it easier to keep him entertained and makes me feel more positive all around. Plus, I have my two classes to keep me distracted (usually I just stay up late watching trashy TV). Hopefully, Joe will get to come back for a few days in August, which should be right around Ben's birthday. (My baby is going to be 2! How did that happen? Was I there?) Then Mama Anna will rescue me for a few weeks and we will accompany her back to Florida for about a month. I'm a bit gutted about missing September in England because it is so beautiful. However, September in Florida is nice too and we will be back for October, which is the last bit of loveliness before the ash cloud of winter sets in.

So, really, I just need to make it through July. I predict a haze of Lean Cuisine, trips to the Mothers' Gym on base, living at the local playgrounds, and lots of Ben's favorite...ice cream. There is a store in town with a giant ice cream cone out front. He shouts "ice cream!" everytime we go by. Even when they are closed, the store is dark, and the cone is inside, he still sees it and shouts. Ben has incredible eyesight. He spots planes far away, high up in the sky. Planes you would never notice if you did not have an enthusiastic toddler screaming "airplane" and pointing. Joe said he wishes some of the other guys in his squadron could spot planes so well.

Spring has sprung here in England. The weather is warmer and flowers are blooming. The birds are eating from the feeders. Hooray! Winter is over!

This is good because my little guy wants to be outside all of the time. We spend a lot of time in our courtyard. It is times like now when I desperately wish we had a yard. It would be a fine space if it did not double as a parking space for the Camry. Most of our outdoor time is spent like this: Ben throws the ball on the hood of the car, it rolls under the car, Ben cries for me to get it, I crawl under the car or fish it out with a broom, repeat.

Sometimes, he likes to help me water the plants. Mainly this consists of him taking the watering can to the patch of dirt with no plants and dumping it out. Not very productive, but he does get quite excited.

Joe and I have been pretty busy lately. I wrapped up my first class at the end of April, and Joe is finishing his last two classes. Between school, work, etc., there hasn't been a lot of free time. This weekend is a three-day weekend so we are trying to make up for lost time. Friday, we ate junk food and watched a movie. Yesterday, we went to the Eel Day celebration. We watched a group of people carry a paper mache eel from the cathedral to the river. There was food stalls and a band. The whole thing was pretty silly, but it was a great excuse to get out and about.

On our way back, we discovered a new park. It had a giant swing, and spinning see-saw, and a zip line. Despite my cries that we would break th

e equipment, Joe and I played on everything. (It was fine.) It was so much fun! Ben did not enjoy it, but his parents sure did.

Mothering Sunday

It is Mother's Day today in the UK and for me it is an especially bittersweet one. Ben gave me a lovely card and mug this morning. Lorre and I (and all the other mums) received beautiful flower poseys at church. Rumors are that even my dear hubby Joe has something special planned for me and his mom. However, Joe is gone and since Mother's Day is a family day, it is a little sad when the whole family is not here.

But the primary reason for the sadness is that this Mother's Day I am mother to one, not two children. A week ago, I lost the baby. (lost...as though I did something wrong.) Saturday, I noticed some bleeding, but thought it was the same early pregnancy spotting I had with Ben. When I began cramping, I joked to Joe that it doesn't seem fair that a pregnant girl should feel like she was getting her period. Jokes became concerns, which led to a middle of the night ER run. The doctor said that he could not yet confirm if the baby was okay. Sunday morning brought a lot more blood and I knew the baby was gone.

It is amazing how something like this affects you. Initially, I felt very pragmatic about it. Yes, it is very sad, but these things happen all the time. Nothing I could have done. I also felt relief. I was terrified of juggling two babies. How would I carry them around? Would Ben be a hateful, jealous older brother? Would I resent them? A few days after I found out about the pregnancy, I had a mini breakdown. There was anger and shouting, which then gave way to sobbing and shaking. Not my finest moment I assure you. However, I truly believe that every mother has had a similar episode, and if you haven't yet, your day will surely come.

Slowly, I began to feel stunned. My pregnancy never really felt real to me anyway. So much so that I almost felt like I was pretending to be pregnant. Had I imagined the phone call from the doctor? I knew that over 40 weeks of pregnancy, it would materialize, but it had not happened yet. And now, something that never seemed real to begin with was no longer there. Wrap your head around that one.

Then came the sadness. Did God take her away because he did not think I could handle her? (Yes, I was hoping for a girl.) Was this an awful case of "be careful what you wish for?" I didn't really want her to go away. I was just scared. I would love her. Bring her back! It was awful to realize that I will never get to know her. Never throw her a princess tea party. The happy family portrait in my head of two adults and two children went POOF.

Then my Facebook friend posted her ultrasound. The fetus is just starting to look like a teeny tiny baby. This woman has a child a few months younger than Ben, a gorgeous husband, and very confident parenting skills. Crushing blow delivered.

I laid in my bed and cried and cried. Part of me thought I should talk to someone for comfort, but I knew everything that would be said. Not your fault. It will be okay. Part of God's plan. And all the other things that sound reassuring. But I knew none of it would help. None of those sayings would bring her back. Come October, there will be no speedy trip to the hospital. No bundle of joy to bring home. No tiny red dress in our Christmas card this year.

I let the tears flow until I felt exhausted enough to sleep. When I awoke, I felt better and have felt better since. It is bittersweet, but I will be okay. Our family will grow one day, but even if it doesn't, I love my boys (dog included) and that is enough for me.

February

Greetings everyone! Well, things are going nicely here in sleepy Ely. (It is especially sleepy today. All three of my boys are napping. :) The last few days have been warmer than usual so I feel spring must be on its way.

Joe's parents, Joe Sr. and Lorre, arrive tomorrow for another visit. They are going to be staying for six weeks. I know that sounds like a long time to have your in-laws visit, but when you have to fly across the ocean, you need to make it count. Plus, my Joe will be in Vegas for three of those weeks so I am thrilled to have some help! (Yes, democracy must be defended on the Strip too.) I know Ben will really enjoy time with them and that warms my heart.

Speaking of Ben, he is growing and changing so much everyday. I feel like all of a sudden he is doing "big boy" things. He has discovered Thomas the Train and loves him! He's had a Thomas push train for a long time and then he got a Thomas the Train book. Without having ever seen the TV show, Ben thinks Thomas is the coolest thing on earth. Well, the second coolest I guess because his real love is Ely Cathedral. I am not making that up. Every time he sees it, he gets very excited and points to it. It doesn't matter if we are outside, in the car, or in the living room. He says "OOOH!" and points. As far as Ben is concerned, the Cathedral is a rock star.

Baby 2 is growing too. I had my first OB appointment the other day. He/She is just a teeny tiny sprout. The ultrasound said I was six weeks along and that the due date is October 18, 2010. I was a little bummed because the first due date is my mom and Kim's (my sis-in-law) birthday. To be honest though, I am much happier to have another month. There will be so many changes and I need a lot of time to prepare.

Westminster

Since I am avoiding my schoolwork, I figured I would use the free time to update you on what is going on in the world of the Howells. It is currently raining and has been all day. Although that meant that B and I (and Bastian) were stuck in the house all day, it also means that Joe didn't have to do his night sortie. Yay for a husband at home and a dinner of fish and chips! (Last night, Joe made pancakes for dinner. I could get used to this treatment.)

Last Saturday, the family packed up and headed off to London. After many tries, we finally saw Westminster Abbey!! For those of you who don't know, this is the large cathedral right next to Parliament and Big Ben. The monarchs are crowned there as well. It is very famous, and as a result, I think every famous person on earth is buried there. Joe and I have tried to see it many times on past trips to London, but it was always closed. As an added bonus, we ran into our friend Jimmy and his wife Jen as we got off the tube in London. (Sometimes, the world is a mighty small place.) We all saw the Abbey together and then headed to Bodeans for BBQ. Yummy!

Big Week

Yes, I know this picture is from Christmas and it is currently February. To be fair, we have had some camera issues lately. The old camera died, so we bought a new one. Only that one had a cracked screen when Joe brought it home from Austria. So we ordered a new screen from a Chinese man in Chicago. However, when Joe tried to install it, he shocked himself...twice. After the second time, the camera stopped working. You would think I was making this up...

In other news, it has been a very big week for the Howells. On Monday, I ran off the road and into a ditch. The road was very icy and had no grit. Fortunately, the ditch (which is very deep) was muddy and the mud kept the car from going all the way in. Even though it was a rural road, there were several people to help me as soon as the car stopped. Once Ben and I were out, a lovely man pulled out my stuck car. All was well, including the car. Considering how deep the ditch was, it could have been FAR worse. When we were stuck the rear of the car was in the air about two feet. Someone got Benjamin out just fine, but I was further down. I was afraid that if I got out, the weight would shift and the car would flip or roll on me. Turns out that the mud was very thick and the car did not budge. Phew!

On Tuesday, Joe had lunch with the Queen. Yes, the Queen of England. She visits his base once every few years and he was lucky enough to be invited to the luncheon. (I was not.) They did not chat, but I think they smiled at each other. That night I agonized over what to make for dinner. What do you make for your husband when he's had a lunch "fit for a Queen?" (We had tuna steaks and salad. Joe complained there was no bread.)

On Wednesday, we received some very unexpected news. I had gone to the base for some lab work for a procedure I was having. (An IUD--5 year birth control.) I had been home for about 10 minutes when the phone rang. "Mrs. Howell, our lab work shows your pregnant." Needless to say, I was very surprised. Baby 2 is on the way!

It is still very early on in the pregnancy. I think maybe a month or so. Such a change from last time when I found out 4 months in! I believe the littlest squirt will be here at the end of September, but I'm not sure yet. Stay tuned. Maybe by the time we get a camera that works, I will have a bump to post!

Happy New Year!

These last two months have felt like an extended vacation. We traveled back to the US, hosted family, celebrated Christmas, and are about to ring in the New Year with good friends. As a result, my waistline has bloomed and Ben has developed a taste for diet coke. Next week will force us back to reality, and I have to admit that I am not looking forward to it. Joe will be back to work full-time and have the added responsiblity of being a flight scheduler. In addition to my domestic duties, I will be working part-time and starting my Masters. Add in several TDYs, a dreary winter, and an upcoming deployment and you'll see why I'm not too excited about 2010.

However, I am currently in Salisbury drinking tea and listen to my husband sing karaoke. Ben is happily running around. Life is good and I can pretend it will stay that way.

Back in the USA

On Thursday, Benjamin and I flew back to the States. After a really hectic month, it is great to be have a break. I was really dreading the flight, but Ben was a star. We also got very lucky. The flight to Orlando was full, except for the seat next to me. Plus, we had a bulkhead seat. That meant I had three places to move the B-man when he got antsy. (which was about every 10 mintues!) There were several families on board, but I think I got hooked up because I was flying by myself. Thank you Virgin Atlantic!

We spent Thursday and Friday night at a resort in Orlando. That was just what I needed after such a stressful time. My mom and I spent the morning at the spa and then we all headed to the pool. Ben didn't love the pool, but he did like floating on my lap in the lazy river.

Unfortunately, it was during this time that we got some bad news. Joe's grandmother, Maxine Howell, had to be hospitalized with a punctured bowel and passed away shortly after. We are all saddened by the news. I just feel really grateful that it happened now so Benjamin and I can attend the service. Joe will not be able to come, but I am happy we can.

Now for some happy news. We took Ben to London on Wednesday on our way to the airport. No more helmet!! He had reached the goal we set of 10 mm of asymmetry. (I think 6 or less is classified as "normal.") They said we could keep it on another few weeks if we wanted, but we did not need to bring him back for another appointment. Joe and I think his head looks remarkably better. If we weren't going to be seeing all of our friends and family, I might have left it on a little longer. He is so handsome without it. It is also really nice not to deal with it anymore. Hooray!

Life with B

Well, Joe made us coffee around 8:30 pm. He and Bastian are passed out in bed. I am wide awake. So I thought I'd catch you up on what is going on in our lives.

As you know, things have been very busy around here, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Joe is nearly done with his paper and Ben is over his virus. Hooray!

We're starting to notice that Benjamin is becoming more and more fun. He is starting to enjoy being outside more, which is nice for me. Case in point, yesterday I grabbed a coffee and cake to go and headed for the park. He ran around while I enjoyed my snack. To be fair, he enjoyed the snack also. He also enjoyed chasing the ducks the other day. Very cute.

There are so many cute, funny stories and I am feel like I am going to forget all of them. So here goes. In my effort to remember my little boy as he is right now, I am going to list as many recent memories as I can. Enjoy!

• He learned to climb the stairs and loves to do so. Everytime he is quiet, I get scared.




• He loves for me to carry him. I fear I will throw out my back one day soon.




• He LOVES cats. Gee, wonder where he gets that...




• He really likes it when Bastian's tail hits him in the face.




• He does this little half-step march in place thing when he gets excited. It's like a little jig. Today, he did it because he was upset though. I guess it is for big emotions.




• He enjoys watching me and Joe cook.




• He is always handing me clumps of dirt/fur from the floor. I guess it's his subtle way of telling me to clean up.




• The other day I started to sing "If you're happy and you know it" and he started to pat my head. (verse 2 is "pat mom's head.")




• He can High 5!




• He loves it when Joe makes silly noises.




• He laughed at a cartoon the other day. I was holding him while he was watching it and then all of a sudden, he started giggling.




• And last, but not least, my favorite recent memory. (I'm still laughing.) The other day, I undressed him in the bathroom right before I gave him a bath. Just as I took off his diaper, he ran out to the hallway and peed on the floor. While he was peeing, you could tell that he was really freaked out by it. As if to say, What is coming out of my body and why is it doing that? Then, he stepped in his pee, slipped and fell down. Obviously, he wasn't hurt, but it was pretty funny.

Autumn Update

I know I am really behind on this. Usually, if I don't write anything for a while, it is because nothing is going on. However, our family is so busy right now, I barely have time for the basics.

Ben is growing like a weed. He's officially walking now and wants to do nothing else. It is so wonderful to see him move on his own now. He is a very sweet boy and frequently comes over to me just to give me a hug. And even though he doesn't need me to walk him around anymore (Hooray!), he still takes my hand sometimes to make sure I am with him. He also likes to play peekaboo with the doors in the house. The other day he actually combined the two. He took my hand and we walked into his room. He went to hide behind his curtain even though I was still attached. I had to laugh when I said, "Where is Benjamin?" since I was still holding his hand.

However, Ben is sick right now. I suspect another ear infection, which would be his third one since January. So frustrating!

Joe is busy too. He has been working a lot on his Masters class. The point of the class is to do all the research for his thesis, a task he is not very excited about. He has also volunteered to be a tour guide for the cathedral, which is also no easy task. There is a class every week and a test at the end. I'm actually quite jealous because he's getting to learn all of the history behind it. Last week, I was able to go with him. We got to walk around the cathedral with the architect of the cathedral and her husband who is also a scholar of the building. They pointed out so many neat things. It was like having a private tour.

I'm not sure how I've managed to fill up my calendar, but it feels as though I don't get a lot of free time. Ben and I are always doing something or visiting someone. I thought the pace of life would slow down once I stopped working. I actually think I was less busy then.

September

Well, time does seem to pass quickly. Ben is now 13 months-old and has become quite the little explorer. He still prefers to hold my hand while he walks, but he is also doing a lot of "cruising." I suspect when he gets more confident he'll finally let go. He seems to have inherited my wimpy tendenancies. I suspect teaching him to ride a bike one day will be tricky.

Otherwise, life continues and manages to remain quite busy. Here are some of the highlights:

1. We shaved Bastian. I'm pretty sure he hates us. He really does look better with hair, but it was all matted and dirty from him being carsick.

2. Joe is taking a Masters class. I haven't actually seen him study or anything, but that's what he says.

3. Ben's new trick is barking like the dog. Whenever he hears the dog, he starts saying "Wuh Wuh." It took us awhile to realize what this was. He also uses it for other animals, like horses.

4. I'm taking Ben to a new class called Tumble Tots. It's supposed to be a fun way to help with their motor skills. They have all kinds of apparatuses for them to climb on. It is nice because he can climb and walk over everything and I don't have to tell him no. It was also nice because it wore him out.

Ben's Check-Up at 12 Months

Last Monday was Ben's 12-month well-baby check-up. 12-months is a rough one. There were five different shots and a finger prick to test for anemia. The latter was especially not fun. He was very upset so he was bleeding faster than normal. A bandaid wasn't enough so they made him a little gauze mitten. He was not a fan of either one!

He has grown a lot, but he hasn't gained much weight it seems. He weighed 20 lb and 7 oz, just 3 oz more than when I brought him to the doctor at the end of March. I didn't catch his height, but the tech said that he was in the 85th percentile for height and the 30th for weight. The pediatrician wasn't worried though since his overall growth curve is normal. Besides, Ben does not look skinny. I almost wonder if their scale is right because he even has a little tummy.

Later on that evening, Ben made some more news. He took his first steps! Joe and I sat across from each other and made him walk back and forth to us. He still can't go too far but he's getting braver (and steadier) every day. He is also getting more skilled and pulling himself up and cruising around. For example, this weekend we stayed at a cabin. I was in the kitchen and Joe was playing with Benjamin in the living room. I heard a noise and turned to see Ben standing there. He had pulled himself up onto the coffee table, walked along the sofa and another table, and was holding onto the wall in the kitchen. I was very surprised! I was even more surprised when he did it a few more times.

Ben's Check-Up

Yesterday, we made another trip to London for Ben's helmet. It looks like there has been a lot of progress made. He is now down to 15 mm of asymmetry. (Originally, he was at 22. Last appointment he was at 19.) Joe and I thought it looked much more rounded, but we thought that we were just being optimistic. It looks like he'll probably stop wearing it about the same time we head to the States so that is great news.

The trip to London was long and tiring, but it was also our best one yet. Ben was very well behaved on the train to London. After his appointment, we went to Joe's friend Henry's house in a neighborhood called Fulham. Fulham is a fun area and is only about three or four tube stops from the clinic. Ben took a nap and his lovely parents got to relax. When he got up, we had dinner at Bodeen's, a tasty BBQ place. Proper BBQ. Yummy!

Our little detour also meant that we were able to get on a later train back to Ely. Usually, we are on the 5 or 6 pm train with all of the other commuters. It is amazing the number of people who commute between London, Cambridge, and even further out. But our train had only a few people so we had room to spread out. We even had room to let Ben play on the floor for a while. It was fairly late when we got back last night, but the joy of that is that Benjamin slept an hour later this morning. All around, best visit to London so far and only two more to go!

* Disclaimer: This picture is actually from our trip to Paris. It was quite hot and around his bed time so his helmet was off. He loves to hold onto the handles in the tube also. So cute!

Ben's First Birthday

Benjamin had his first birthday on Monday.  Joe was off from work so we did our best to make it a special day for him.  I decided against a birthday party, but I know he still really enjoyed everything we did.  I ordered two big balloons from the party store and put them on either side of his high chair like a cool throne.  (One was a number one.  The other was a rocket ship.)  He thoroughly enjoyed looking at them.  His friend Brooke came over and we all ate pizza.  Then came the moment we were all waiting for.  I gave him his "remote control" cake and stood back.  At first, he poked at it with his index finger.  But then he dove right in!  Ben got the cake everywhere, but he really seemed to like it.

After a few minutes, he got frustrated with the stickiness of the cake.  I cleaned him up as best as I could.  Time for presents!  Joe and I got him a Little People farm, as well as blocks, books, and a few odds and ends.  Ben and Brooke loved the farm!  It was so neat to watch him figure out his new toys.  He also throughly enjoyed the Duplo (big Lego) blocks his grandparents sent him.  Actually, I think Joe was pretty excited about them too.  He has enjoyed showing Ben how to take them apart and put them back together.    

Big Week for the B-Bear

No...he still isn't walking so don't get that excited. However, he has had a lot of big things this week. Ben really is growing up. Joe and I went to visit our friends the other day. They just had a baby (or rather she did) so we brought them some food and a baby gift. I had forgotten just how tiny they are and how newborns know absolutely nothing. It made me realize how far we had come.

So anyway, on Monday Benjamin said his first word. It was "dog." To be honest, I think he said it a week prior, but it did not register until later. But this time I had a witness and the dog wasn't even Bastian. I also think he may have said "kitty", but since I have no witnessess I won't count it. I told Joe about it and, of course, he did not believe me. Joe claimed he did not know what the word dog meant. So he asked Ben where the dog was. Benjamin looked under the table at the dog. I love that boy.

He is also getting in his first molar. That will be tooth #9. Fortunately, he hasn't been too fussy. The only reason I noticed it is because he had his mouth open screaming. Apparently, getting one's diaper changed is very stressing. Maybe he could just learn to use the toilet then.

Lastly, he is officially pulling up on things now. He pulled up using the tub in the bathroom this morning. I tried not to get too excited, but then he has done it several more times in different locations. It wasn't just a fluke!! I have also gotten a bit more relaxed on the tough love policy. The truth is that if I walk him around more often, his confidence grows and he starts to test the boundaries. However, if he gets into an uncomfortable position, he just screams and gives up. I would much rather would leave him and see what he comes up with. Unfortunately, what he has come up with is me. It is actually kind of clever. One day, he'll let go. But today, he pulled up and I think I had something to do with that progression.

On a different note, I bought Bastian a dog treat from the market. He acts like he is sorely neglected so I thought this would cheer him up. At the market, they sell all kinds of pig parts for dogs to chew on. I thought I was doing a nice thing. What a mistake! I wasn't planning on it coming inside, but it started pouring so the dog (and the pig hoof) came inside. The hallway stunk for the longest time! It smells like what you think a dried pig's hoof would smell like...only six times worse. Poor Bastian really loves it. I feel so bad for kicking him out all the time. I'm just glad I did not get the entire leg (yes, that is an option).

Here is a video of Ben. He's crying because he can't get down from the stool. I think you just click the play button icon on the picture.

New car seat

Big day for the B-man. No, he's not walking yet. However, he's still pretty pleased. Today, I installed his new car seat, facing forward. I had been wanting to do this for a while, but I waited until I got my car back. As you can tell from the picture, he looks pretty happy. Maybe this means the end of screaming everytime I put him in the car seat. To be fair, he had outgrown the other car seat. He looked a bit like a turtle with a shell that is too small.

Updates

Our family is always doing so much that I feel like a lot gets left out. So I'm going to give you some recent highlights:

1. Ben's helmet is apparently working. At his last appointment, he was down to 19 mm of assymetry. (He started at 22 mm. Normal is 0-10 mm.) The best part of the day was the BBQ restaurant we went to beforehand. Nothing fancy, but the food was great. Turns out, Ben likes brisket and spicy beans.

2. I got a new kitchen island for my birthday. We had seen it at this fancy furniture store called Habitat. (Think Crate and Barrel at UK prices.) Joe and I both really liked it, but it was way too expensive. However, the last time we went, the price was down 30%...just enough to be in the affordable range. As luck would have it, the RAF owed Joe a large sum of money. So half of that money went to my island and half went to paying off our plane tickets home. Everybody wins!

3. Joe got a bike seat for the B-man. He LOVES it. Apparently, the other day, he actually fell asleep in it. Every time he takes him for a ride, I think Joe is a hero.

4. My computer has found the internet again! But the dishwasher is being funny...

5. Ben is working hard at being mobile. He leans forward like a baby who crawls, but he still won't. He gets on his tummy and yet he cannot go forward. He is also trying very hard to stand up somehow. I'm trying the "tough love" approach by trying to help less. Yesterday, we spent a lot of time in the grass. We would be walking around and I would let go of his hands to see what he would do. Mostly, he sits down because he doesn't want to fall. He wants it so bad and unfortunately there is nothing I can do for him.

6. Ben's new trick: sharing...sort of. He is always offering me his food or his toy, but of course he does not let go.

Well, now the bells are tolling, which means it is late. I must go pick up the B-bear from school. :)