For the love of tractors!

Ben has had some great experiences this summer because of the field across the road. For the second time he was able to watch the tractors come and hay the field. They mowed one day, and the next day came back with a fleet of four tractors to bale and cart off the hay. While they worked, this is what Ben did....



Originally he was singing a running commentary all about the tractors and what they were doing. Unfortunately I didn't get on the ball in time to record that. Alex was in the next room and none too happy that I took a moment to record his brother before "rescuing" him! Today I recorded the following explanation of what the tractors did from Ben:



He was talking with a silly voice, and some of it I can't even tell what he was saying! The first thing he says is, "The Case tractor baling hay, and the other Case tractor put it on the Ford." He later mentions that there was a John Deere with a hay rake. It was a very exciting thing. It happened several days ago now, but he can still remember what kind of tractors there were and what they did!

The latest and the greatest

I have been chasing the elusive smile... Alex has started smiling a couple of times a day, but there I can't figure out what causes him to do so (sadly, he doesn't seem to be smiling at me directly), so I haven't been able to capture it on film (well, disk... it's not like the digital camera actually uses film!!!). This was almost a smile!

Now this was one of those adorable sleepy smiles that infants do as they're drifting off. Alex does that fairly often. I would title this, "Life is good."

I wish I had caught this on film!!! Ben was reading to "Toledo" (the frog I bought at FAO Schwartz ages ago [Remember, Mariah?] and named after El Greco's "The View of Toledo," which I had hunted down at the Met that same trip to NYC), who he has taken quite a liking to. Ben hasn't been much of a stuffed animal kid. When he goes to sleep he takes a book or (guess!) a tractor with him. And he often ends up sleeping on top of them! I try to tell him stuffed animals make better sleeping companions, but he's not interested. He has suddenly become interested in playing with Toledo, though. On this ocassion he set him on his bed, and said, "Okay, Toledo, I'll read to you." He pulled out a book and started to summarize the first page! I, of course, started taking video right when Ben stopped narrating. But I got this cute picture!

Alex enjoying bathtime. He's gazing at the skylight. He loves windows -- so did Ben!

I love this one!!

We got a visit from Darcy and Ramazan on the 13th! They spent the afternoon/evening with us. We also got to see Lynn and Tim Thomas, who just visited for a few hours in the afternoon. It was great to see all of them. Everyone brought gifts with which to spoil Ben (he's going to think his birthday lasts for months!). Unfortunately I missed the boat and didn't get a picture of the boys with Lynn and Tim, but they posed nicely with the Gungors! Ben adores Ramazan. They are so cute together!

Brotherly love. :)

Still trying to catch that smile!!!

Now, once upon a time, I had a Mr. Potato Head. Ben got one last year from my friend Jess. There is an ancient (haha) photo of me wearing my Mr. Potato Head's glasses. This idea was all Ben's own. I have my dad on assignment to try to find the photo of me to post next to this one!

Fun things Ben has said lately

Recently I returned home from rehearsal. Ben told me, "I tried calling you at Amy's house!" I told him, "I wasn't at Amy's, I was at rehearsal." So he informed me, "I want to go to rehearsal too. On the stage, so I can sing John Deere to you."

Last night I was mentioning that we have a lot of Daddy Long Legs hanging out around the house. Ben asked, "But where's Mommy Long Legs?"

He has also taken to telling both Andy and I that we are his friends. He will say things like, "Thanks for being my friend, Mommy." It's good to have a friend. :)

Bonfire!

We spent the weekend of the 6th at my parents' house so we could go to my Uncle Rusty and Aunt Linda's big retirement/going away bash. It was Alex's first big trip. He did great in the car, but our nights were not well rested at all (then again, they aren't always well rested at home at this juncture, either!). He was really funny when we got to Mom and Dad's. He was wide awake (and ready to eat), and just looked all over when we went in the house, like he was checking out the new surroundings. It was really neat to see. He got to meet his great grandparents, my Aunt Mary Ann and cousins Meg and Erin, all of my mom's siblings, my friend Chrissie and her son Drew, and a bunch of our crazy Canadian friends. We all got to meet my parents British friends Mike and Doty, who came down from their vacation at the lake for the party at my uncle's. The weather was less than desirable, but we all layered up and had a nice time. The bonfire was impressive, Ben got to ride a tractor -- a good time had by all!

Alex admires his grandma.

Ben rides the John Deere with Uncle Rusty. He was one heck of a happy boy!!!

This photo is cool and kind of freaky... Ben in silhouette before the raging inferno my uncle created. Looks like something out of Firestarter...

Alex hanging out by the bonfire... He even got to nurse by firelight!

Ben and I as the fire dies down.

He had to say good night to the tractor!!

Labor Day Trip to Farmland Animal Park

On Labor Day we went to Farmland Animal Park. Ben is still talking about it... Albeit, the only thing he talks about is the tractors! Forget about the chickens, turkeys, pigs, emus, lamas, horses -- he's all about the machines. Oh well -- a good time was had by all.

Ewww....

This was discovered on our deck. If it comes into my house, I will scream bloody murder.

So In Love

There is no question how much Ben loves his baby brother...


As soon as I put Alex down on the boppy to take his photo, Ben had to be right there, trying to get as close to him as possible, asking me to take their picture. He's such a good big brother!

Alex is starting to show some signs of reflux, something that both Andy and I find frightening, since Jake also had reflux, and if may have had something to do with when he stopped breathing. The last two nights there have been stretches where Alex has just cried nonstop, and nothing either of us does is able to assuage it. If I nurse him he will stop crying, but it only seems to make the situation worse afterward. He hasn't been able to sleep in his crib, either. As soon as I lay him down on his back he spits up and starts crying. The funny thing is, he has no trouble during the day. I'm hoping that the last two nights have something to do with something I ate and it just happened to hit him at night. His next doctor's appointment is next Monday, so hopefully we can get some expert advice on easing his discomfort.