Ben has really been growing up the past few weeks. First he's been napping longer, and at a time that's more consistent with other kids his age (starts at 12:30 instead of 10:30, and naps often for 2 1/2 hours!).

We're pretty convinced he understands everything we say, as we'll be talking in the car and he'll pipe up from the backseat with "Grandpa?" or "taxi?" or some other word we mentioned.

One of the cutest things he does now is take his baby doll or his special sheep (Ba) and ask it "Night, Night?, Yeah?" or "Milk? Yeah?" and then proceed to give it a bottle. The past two days Ben has apparently learned Mommy's other alias, and has shouted "Megan!" as he is going up the stairs for his bath, when he wants me to come too.

Ben is a big helper, and some of his favorite things are using the dust buster vacuum all over the house, and helping "cook" from the confines of his new learning tower where he can reach the countertop. Almost every night he demands pancakes since those are made in one of his favorite books, and Mommy often complies with making pancakes together in the morning. We also just started swim class on Fridays at the rec center and Ben LOVES the water. We're looking forward to our trip to Honduras for lots of "Agua" time.