Ben's favorite things:

1) his "ba" (eternal favorite)
2) his train set
3) speeding FAST on his pedal-free Radio Flyer bike
4) cooking "pancakes" on his play stove
5) ordering blueberry pancakes at restaurants
6) kicking a ball on the patio
7) using a tool to do something (current favorite - tossing a lego under the couch and using a drumstick to fish it out, repeat. repeat.)

Ben is talking a lot these days - "crossing gate!" was a new word at the zoo today. He also is mastering commands - this weekend, when Jenna was in town "Jenna come! room!". or "Mommy make it" (grilled cheese sandwiches). Whenever we mention one of his favorite things - his babysitters Dani or Rosie, an airplane, or the pool, he will excitedly say "Now!"

A couple of weeks ago I took him to the doctor before our Honduras trip, and prepped Ben that he would need to get a shot (followed by a band-aid). When it came time for the nurse to give him the shot he just watched her put it quickly in his leg, and then said "band-aid" when she put the band-aid on, and that was it (no crying). He did talk about it a lot later that night and the next morning - "Doctor, band-aid" so we could tell he was still processing the experience.