The Tatafu Family: December 2010

I can hardly keep up with this kid anymore! Now that Benjamin is walking like a pro, he is everywhere. His personal favorite things to do include; opening kitchen drawers, climbing into kitchen drawers, pulling everything out of kitchen drawers, walking away with contents of kitchen drawers and hiding them, running over whenever mommy opens the fridge and climbing on in, taking heater vent covers off and dropping anything he can find into them, whimpering everytime he trips so that mommy will say "Are you ok?", running over to the basement and front doors whenever someone looks as if they might be headed that way and then throwing a huge fit when not given the opportunity to either go outside or play on the staircase. In other words, finding lots of funny ways to drive mommy nuts!
On the other hand, he has found many extra irresistible things to start doing to balance the scales, these include; constantly pointing at things and asking "eh?", dancing to anything that could possibly be or turn into a beat, finding every opportunity to come up to me, lay his head on me and give me a big hug (which includes pats from each hand), big sweet open mouthed (but only for mommy, everyone else is offered the cheek) kisses in multiples, fetching his blanket through the crib bars from outside it and wandering around holding the softness to his cheek, laughing whenever one of us comes into view from another room, excitedly running away laughing when we come closer, listening very carefully to us when he's told "no no" about something we don't want him to touch and then asking/affirming "no no" by waving his arm back and forth at the same something and grunting in a serious way at it and looking back to us for assurance, driving cars all over the house with engine noises, imitating me clearing my throat, asking for his milk with a sign, and then continually surprising us by adding signs like "more" "bath" "please" when we think he's totally forgotten us teaching him them, getting excited and then waiting patiently when I start putting on his jacket and shoes... Oh the list could go ON and ON!
So, because his pros outweigh his cons, I guess I'll keep him around!

Benji loves the Snow! We took him outiside after our first big snowfall, all decked out in his snow gear and he couldn't get enough. He couldn't walk in it very well but he really enjoyed sitting in it and sweeping it around with his mittens...that is until they got snow in them!

Benj and his 2nd cousin Jared

This year for Thanksgiving we planned on making it to 3 dinners, we went to my Aunt Tammy's for the 1st one, then stopped by the Tongan side for the 2nd, and were exhausted at that point and were running too late to make it to the Harward side.

Benji, me, and his 2nd cousin Elias

Maddy playing with Benji, I believe she is being his puppy.

We had a great day though and on the weekend got to spend time with my sister Jana from AZ and her family. Benjamin just adores his older cousin Maddy, who is 5, and she adores him right back. It is so fun to watch them interact. She loves to play with him and read to him, and he gives her lots of hugs and sometimes even wants her to hold him!

Also, we cut Benji's hair about a week ago and we just can't get enough of how cute he is! His short hair makes him look like a big toddler and has really brought out the light in his hair even more so!
I have been busy with Christmas shopping and planning a lot of homemade gifts this year, so as I finish them I will post them! Have a great December!