BIG Helper

Wade is getting a crash course in home improvements these days. He's played more with drills, screw drivers and hammers than should be legally allowed for a child his age, but he's having so much being a part of the many projects around the house. We make very frequent trips to Home Depot and he now must carry something like daddy....
As Nonna and Grandpa Greg bring in lumber for his new bedroom playhouse, he must carry his fair share....

And he's even well equipped with safety gear. You never know when you'll need a hard hat walking around this place...

I'd like to name this picture "How many Benich men does it take to figure out how to lay tile?"....

Even Monkey Night Night and Orwell are here to help...

I do realize Wade is wearing his pajamas in every one of these pictures. I guess we wear them a lot around the house?? He likes to have his "feet in" and gets mad when I try to change him into regular clothes. When I do make him put on clothes he assumes we're going "bye bye" and insists on at least going into the garage to play :) Gotta love zipper footie PJs!!!

Music Class

After a summer and fall hiatus, Wade and I made it back to The Music Class. We originally started music when Wade was only 6 months old and it has remained one of his favorite activities. He used to just sit there in awe of the "big kids" running around the room laughing and singing along with the songs. Well, he's now that kid. In this most recent class, Wade and Avery were the oldest kids in a class of crawling babies. So I had my hands full trying to contain my maniac from stampeding the little ones on the fun songs. Add that to pregnancy, and I was pooped after every class!!! But it was all worth seeing Wade enjoy the songs, instruments, being silly crawling around like a cat, and seeing our friends. Sarah & Avery and Alison & Hayes joined us this session and we looked forward to getting together with them each week. We have to take another break this next session to fit in swimming lessons, but we may try to sneak in a few classes!

Wade is 23 months!

Our little conductor is already 23 months and will soon be a big 2 year old!!! I have enjoyed every single month with Wade, but Beau and I both agree that this month of development has been especially fun. We're able to enjoy him so much as a person with his own sense of humor, likes, dislikes, and moods....instead of just as our son that we love unconditionally.

He's grown much more attached to family members, friends, and toys. His heartbreaks if I don't have the right toy with us, or his turtle to cuddle with, or the right books to read at bed time. When Daddy leaves for a run, he's devastated and cries by the door until he comes back. It's so sweet, but so sad! He's also giving out a lot more kisses. Most of them still go to the dogs, his stuffed animals, and the baby in mommy's tummy...but he's more open to the idea of kissing people. Avery got her first real kiss the other day at school, Aunt Nicci got a full blown nose licking, Nonna got some butterfly kisses, and G.G. even got a modified head butt! Progress!

His language has really picked up and I feel like he's talking so much more these days. It may be that I can just now understand more of what he's saying?? But he'll repeat everything you say, call his trains by their name, tell you exactly what he wants to play or eat, and what he wants from you. I used to wake-up to sweet baby babble in the monitor each morning with a soft "mama?" when he was really ready for me to get him. Now I hear orders being barked, "MAMA down", "MAMA trains", "Oh no! Night night down. MAMA!!!". And if I take too long he gives up on me and moves on to "DADDDY!!".

He's exceptionally interested in talking about his lovely body functions. He wants to tell me all about his toots, burps, poops, pee pee, etc. I appreciate the language development, but I'm still not used to having every toot announced, laughed at, and then repeated because he gets a kick out of it. "Toot! Ha ha Funny!"


Even though we are light years away from actually potty training, he is having a blast practicing. Every diaper change must also include a naked sprint to the bathroom, a quick sit on his potty, and then a 10 minute hand washing. I'm no dummy. I realize this "game" has less to do with the potty and much more to do with the splashfest. I go along with it though, because any practice is better than no practice, right? Or am I just training my toddler to become a future streaker or nudist colony resident?

Wade wants to do everything like a big boy. Gone are the days of cutting up his food into toddler appropriate sizes....no no no. He wants to eat everything in whole. The phrase I hear most everyday is "I try". It's so adorable to see him take interest in something (from eating an apple whole to putting the marker caps on himself) and give me this very serious look and say "I try Mama". I graciously step aside and let him give it a try all by himself, then just make a mental note to go back and recheck the markers later :)

My iphone (and Beau's too!) has become Wade's personal entertainment device and he couldn't be happier. He wants to play his games, watch his tv shows, and his new favorite is to scroll through my pictures and videos. He has no problem sliding and selecting exactly what he wants. It blows my mind that he can do what he does on there. But I'm still very fearful he's going to break it, so I invested in the ultra tough Otterbox to try and protect it. I don't think I can stomach having to purchase a 3rd iphone....

We are madly in love with this little boy. He's growing up more and more everyday and while I'd love to freeze him and keep him exactly the way he is, I'm excited to see him grow up. With every new step he takes towards independence, it gives me hope that I can handle a newborn with a helpful big brother!

Celie Crawford's Baptism

Beau was so honored to be asked to be Celie's Godfather and takes his "role" very seriously. Now keep in mind, his version of "Godfather" may not be exactly what the Episcopal church has in mind (...think more along the lines of Al Pacino protecting his mafia family at all costs). BUT, there is no doubt he will love, guide, and protect Celie throughout her life (and so will I!). He may even call up Mandy and Chris and make sure they're taking her to church every week.

Her baptism was the Sunday after all the snow, but luckily everyone important was still able to make it. It was a close call, but everyone made it! Celie was a perfect angel and had no complaints about the water and being passed around. What a perfect princess!

The Godparents standing by to recite their vows...

Miss Celie, calm as a cucumber (I wouldn't normally dare to take pictures in church, but the baptism takes place in the back and I was right there. I couldn't resist! Sorry God)

The Crawford Family (Wade idolizes Mason on the left, but he calls him "P-dah". No clue why)

Amanda (Chris & Mandy's friend), Rachelle (Mandy's sister-in-law), Mandy & Chris, and Beau. In their Episcopal church you have 2 Godmothers if you're a girl, and 2 Godfathers if you're a boy. The more love the better!!!

"the Dom" and Celie

After the baptism, they had a lovely brunch at Mandy's dad and stepmom's house. It so cute to see all the pink touches. There is no way Celie WON'T be a girlie girl.

WAVERY Valentine's

Move over Brangelina and TomCat, the hottest new Hollywood mashup couple is WAVERY! That's right, Wade + Avery = WAVERY. They've been going strong for almost 2 years now and the love affair is still strong. It hasn't been a relationship free of scandal, just last month there were reports of Avery kissing and hugging on another boy at school. Luckily, Wade was forgiving and they were able to move past it.
To celebrate their 2nd Valentines Day together, they dined at their favorite spot Tijuana Joe's. Of course all 4 parents were on hand to chaperone these crazy toddlers! Over cheese dip and quesadillas, they gazed into each other's eyes and rekindled their love and commitment to one another....

Wade gives Avery a teddy bear to cuddle with since crib cohabitating is strictly prohibited until marriage...

I think she likes it!!!
Wade is proud of his romantic gesture...
After dinner, they decided to forgo their individual seat to enjoy this booth as a couple. And even though there was no ABC intern to sprinkle rose petals everywhere, we did sprinkle their sweet treat of choice - M&M's - to share. (if you don't watch The Bachelor, you won't get my joke). Things got a little crazy when they started dancing in the booth...

Ironically, I think Wade learned this move from his Daddy. (here we are leaving our wedding, Beau rockin' out as our guests cheered us on)...Avery really letting loose...

Wade would like to thank Avery for a lovely evening together!!!

Snow hits Georgia!

A winter wonderland in Georgia!
The news was hyping it up, and even though I didn't visit the grocery store, I'm certain everything was wiped out in preparation. I did happen to be at Chic-Fil-A that day and pick-up some extra nuggets. I figured we could survive for weeks on those...

We were excited to get Wade out in the snow and see what he thought. But I should've known better. This kid doesn't quite like winter attire. But somehow I did manage to get him in a ski jacket, lined pants, rain boots, and the only hat he will wear (made for a 6month old). I thought I had succeeded, until he just stood there like the little brother in A Christmas Story.
So then the clothes started coming off...

First we lost the hat...

This allowed him to at least be a spectator for the snowball fight...

Then we lost the boots and jackets and added regular running shoes and a very lightweight fleece...

But with the snow coming down like rain, he didn't last long before his fingers were completely frozen!

The next morning, the snow had stopped, and everything was beautifully covered in about 3 inches!

We waited until the sun was shining and little warmer to venture out. This way Wade could survive for more than 5 minutes in his hoodie. Our neighbors made a very professional snowman, complete with a real snowman kit....

Then Mommy and Wade took a try at our (ghetto) snowman. Not quite the same quality and symmetry, but it worked.

Actually, I think it scared Wade and he would only give it a high five

Luckily, Orwell (who can barely see anyway) didn't notice the scary snowman and came to take a picture with me!

Wade did really enjoy sledding down little hills. We'd slide down to the bottom and before we even stopped, he'd chant "AGAIN AGAIN". Beau got some video but no pictures to share!