The Show Must Go On

Okay folks. My best efforts to keep up with this blog have completely failed. My resolution was to write MORE entries, not less, and here we are in April and you have been completely without Benji updates or stories. Benji is a superstar! He is doing just great! If you haven't seen him walk, you missed it. He's running now. And if you haven't heard his little words, you missed it, because he is babbling in complete sentences. And if you wanted to read him a story, well, you missed that for now, too, because he squirms away from you and turns pages at his own pace without other distractions or interference. Too many changes to recount, which is why I need to get back on the blogging wagon. My only excuse for not blogging is that I have been rehearsing every evening for my latest return to the stage - - shameless plug coming your way - The Producers, The Arlington Players, April 9-24th. Given the choice between blogging and cleaning my kitchen, the kitchen wins. Or sleep wins. Or watching the Caps game wins. But I can do better, I know.

Since our last posting, Benji has survived his first and second snowstorm, power outage included. The house was cold enough that we all decided to wear hats inside. Ben kept snatching his hat off of his head, but then when the late afternoon hit and we were still without heat, even Ben changed his mind and stopped tugging at it. If he could have spoken, he would have said "It's cold Mom and Dad. What's up with that?" We got tired of the snow and ended up driving to Atlanta, another first for Ben. He was a great travel companion. He tired out just as we crossed into Georgia, but I can totally understand after 8 hours of sitting in the car. Other adventures have included trips to the museums downtown, lots of playtime in the backyard, and our newest activity on the agenda, Ballet class. It is really a movement/exercise class, but primarily ballet and barre work and balance. Ben runs around and points to the mirror saying "me" while I get in a good workout. Love it. And I almost forgot to mention our biggest adventure of all - we caught and handily spread a stomach virus to all of our family and friends. I won't go into details but just know that finally, after 16 months, all of my pre-pregnancy clothing fits again thanks to whatever wiped us out for 3 days. I think there are family members who are still afraid to visit again..... I'm gonna just blame Benji for it.

I am finding it harder to keep track of Ben's achievements. I spend every single day with him and I don't readily make note of what has changed. He has taken care of the big stuff - sitting, walking, crawling. The other stuff, like learning to use a fork, taking something off a shelf and putting it back, coloring, completing a puzzle, identifying the letter "b", happens without warning, and before we have time to celebrate, he is doing something else. And by the time I have re-kid-proofed an area or found the perfect activity for his new developmental phase, he is beyond it, reaching for something else, asking for something else, ready for whatever I will find next time around. And if I don't have everything ready when Ben is ready, ah well, we just improvise and make it work. This season with Ben has been all about keeping the show going. Each day learning to roll with the changes and keep it somewhat presentable. (Well, the kitchen is not exactly what I would call presentable.....) I guess even when I'm not in the theater I need to remember that the show must go on. What a show you are Benji! What a show!

The attached video is Benji playing with my dear friend Kelly. Kelly introduced us to music class and every week, Benji seeks her out for hugs and laughter. There are few people who can make Ben squeal this much. Enjoy. More pictures and videos are coming soon.