Last Saturday Jed took care of Benjamin all morning, while I was at a Relief Society stake conference. So from 8am to 3:30pm, Benjamin had the time of his life with his Daddy! Jed took him to the golf range and they hit a bucket of balls. Benny would hand Jed a ball, Jed would place it on the ground and say, “Should I hit it now?”, and Benjamin would either say “Go ahead” or “Not quite yet.” Once Jed hit a bad shot and the rest of the time Benjamin kept repeating, “That was a bad shot, Daddy.”
After the range, they went on a bike ride and played at the park. After they got home, they played in the sandbox and with his bigwheel for a while. Then Jed set up two camp chairs on our back porch, and they enjoyed lounging together. Benjamin went and got his bigwheel and carried it up to the porch and positioned it just below his campchair. Then he sat in his campchair and rested his feet on his bigwheel. He sat there, resting his feet, and with his hand on his cup of water in the armrest, and then said to Jed, “Give me a snack, Daddy.” Hahaha! He’s never said that to either of us before, and Jed thought it was hilarious, like he was Benjamin’s butler or something.
The other day I said to Benjamin, “Would you like to color while I make dinner?” He answered, “No, YOU color, Mommy. And I will make dinner.” Then he continued, “I’ll make ham. A ham sandwich. Is that yummy Mommy?” (asking me if I would like that) Then he said, “Eggs and ham. Eggs with cheese on them. YUMMMMM! And YOU color, Mommy. I will make dinner.”
Last Sunday was a special day because our friend, Barbara, got baptized! After the service, we had her and some other friends over for dinner. After dinner we all took a big group picture, requested by the missionaries since one of them was about to get transferred.
At one point during dinner, Benny was standing in the kitchen with my friend's little girl. We heard him say to her, “The Holy Ghost speaks to our hearts.” Then he said, “The Holy Ghost makes us feel happy.” How cute is that?
Earlier that same evening, Benny was playing with the other little girl, Caitlyn, who is about 4. They were laying down on his bed next to each other and Caitlyn was ‘reading’ books to Benny. They had the blanket pulled up and everything. It was pretty cute. Later on, we were all standing in the hall outside his room and we heard him call, “I want my Mommy.” Then, “I want my Daddy. Daddy, hold me!” Jed went over and said, “Why do you want me to hold you?” Benjamin was lying on his bed under the blanket, and Caitlyn was standing next to bed. Benjamin said, “That girl put me to bed!” We couldn’t stop laughing! It's cute how little girls are so motherly. I’m sure Caitlyn finished the book, then stood up and tucked the blanket around Benjamin and said, “Okay, it’s time to go to sleep now. Remember, don’t get out of bed.” Just like she’s seen her mommy do it. That is so funny!
Last night I had a memorable Mommy moment. I got Benny out of his bath and layed him down to put his diaper on, but he pleaded that I cuddle him in the towel. So I picked him up again and sat down in the glider in Eliza’ room and cuddled and rocked him, like a little baby. (He LOVES being held in his towel – with his feet covered (that part is very important to him). It’s his favorite part of his bath.) Then he looked up and asked me, “Sing some songs.” So I sang ‘I am a Child of God’, ‘A Childs Prayer’, ‘Army of Helaman’…. And he started to sing along with me. I absolutely loved this moment of cuddling my little boy and bonding together. I was so thankful that I had resisted the urge to put his diaper and PJs on and pop him in bed without delay. It was already past his bedtime…. But instead, I forced myself to relax and indulge in keeping him up a little longer. It was totally worth it. As I looked down at him in my arms, now a little boy, I just felt so much love for him. He is such a sweetheart, with a tender and loving little spirit. Tender is a good word for him. He always says, “I love you, Mommy” throughout the day. And at other times when I say, “I love you, Benjamin” he will reply, “Oh, thank you, Mommy!” or “I love you too, Mommy.” And he will flash me the sweetest little smile. He is so pure and sweet.
Like brother, like sister. And, I guess, like Father, like daughter... as well as like Mother like daughter. Yep, we are a complete family of thumb-suckers. Of course, Jed and I broke the habit a while back.... :) Anyway, we knew she would discover that thumb eventually. :)
Today we planted some basil seeds in his planter. He has been checking up on his dirt in his planter multiple times this afternoon. He'll crouch down and examine it, and then exclaim, "A seed grow, Mom! A seed grow!" I feel bad saying, "Not yet... not for a while..." Today while we were eating lunch, he climbed out of his chair once, with a piece of pear in each hand, and said to me, "These grow." He was headed to his planter, and I immediately knew he wanted to plant his bites of pear in the dirt. "Uhhhh, I don't think so..."
