Finding time and focus to blog has become harder and harder with Benjamin home and summer in full swing. But I'd still like to be sure and capture the milestones. We've had a super busy past few weeks and even off schedule a few days for naps but Benjamin has handled it like a champ.
Let's see, had our 6 month post placement visit and actually did a joint one at our house with 2 other families. Was great to catch up and see how much the boys have progressed. Tried to camp over the Fourth of July but I ended up with what must have been food poisoning on night one so we headed home the next morning. Benjamin didn't see his first fireworks (was already asleep) but Fred and I were able to catch the finale just standing on our side deck. The following week was the Fisher Fair. Took Benjamin over one night for a fair hotdog and ride on the kiddo car go round. Of course he chose to ride in the fire engine : ) That week his school also had an open house that I took him to with bounce house, fire engine and food. He warmed up after a while and we did get him in that bounce hose!!
The weekend brought about an over night and grandma and grandpas, Shedd Aquarium with grandma and grandpa, over night with grammy and pops, and then a family reunion (grandma's family) on the farm full with hay ride (though we blew a tire that cut it short). More fun to follow during the week with a trip to Starved Rock to meet up with friends for the day. And finally this past weekend another road trip to Sppingfield to check out the zoo and have lunch. Phew it's been a slam packed July with one more weekend to try out camping again!!
On the development and transition front things are still progressing each and every day. Language contines to grow, wanting to do stuff himself, asking about people and where they are, knowing something will occur tomorrow or later and repeating it back to us a hundred times, meltdowns even little ones occurring daily, and understanding consequences including if you eat your carrots you can have ice cream. Unfortunately carrots still seems to be about the only veggie we're eating these days. We'll beside corn on the cob, he loves this Midwest fresh treat.
Benjamin enjoys playing with the alphabet magnets on the fridge and brings us letters to tell him what they are. I've specifically pointed out a few key letters...
O is for Ollie
R is for Riley
M is for Mommy
D is for Daddy
B is for Benjamin
...And now he's not only able to find them on his own in the magnets but he's also started pointing out these letters in books, on signs and when seen on pieces of mail. His little brain just amazes me!!!! He sings ABCs and the Farmer in Dell regularly in the car and even showcased his talents with both sets of grandparents.
School of course has again brought us some new words this past month including "No way" and "Not cool." Our little sponge : ) School continues to bring Bemjamin tears while he waits for us to pick him up after lunch. Poor kid doesn't want to nap there and knows mommy and daddy are coming to rescue him before he has to lay on a cot. I understand he's had past trauma with losing a mommy and daddy and sure he's wondering if we'll even be coming back to get him. We continue to tell him mommy and daddy always come back. We read Llama Llama Misses Mommy. We give extra hugs and wave to him in the window when we leave. But no luck. So decided we'd try a new approach, bribery with candy. And sure enough for 2 weeks now we've shown up with him sitting on a chair holding his paper waiting for us no crying. Way to go little man!!!!
So much fun stuff happening. It's been the roller coaster ride of a lifetime and we know there's much more to come. Many ups and many downs, but I wouldn't want to be on this ride with anyone else....my 2 favorite guys.
