Knitted Baby Quilt

Today I finished knitting the baby quilt for our newborn. If it's a boy, the quilt will stay as is. If it's a girl, I will add a simple flower in the center of each colored block. (A special thanks to my Aunt Susan for supplying all the super-soft cotton chenille yarn from their line, Crystal Palace.)

Lego tower

Benji has begun to take real pride in a job well done. We always clap for him when we say, "Good job," and now he claps from himself and others when something is good. (He has even clapped for us when we've gone to the bathroom - obviously, he is a very affirming guy!) Here is a block tower he built two days ago all by himself:

Like father, like son...

Our computer area as been partitioned off by a baby gate since Benji could crawl, so we decided it was time to give him a little bit more freedom. Now he LOVES sitting at the computer and typing on the keyboard.

Yes, that is a mouse, not a telephone. But don't try to convince Benji of that!
I promise, he really isn't drunk. Maybe he worked too hard!
Another one of his famous poses. Some kids smile at the camera - Benji isn't so boring ... he has a variety of expressions to give!

Which one is Benji?

Can you find Benji among all his stuffed animals? He now insists on each and every one joining him for his sleep times. (And yes, that is his beloved green blankie in the corner - he likes to hang it on the wall hook.)

Lessons from bedtime

For the first year and a half of Benji's life, I basically gloried in and embraced his dependence on me as his mother. He needed me to go to sleep, to get nutrition, to be comforted, and to feel secure. As he nears his second birthday (and the birth of our second baby approaches), I have been more focused on his independence - praising him for using the big boy potty, going to sleep on his own in his own bed, and feeding himself.

Last night Benji must have felt unusually insecure because he wanted me to stay with him while he fell asleep, whereas normally he's perfectly content to let me go to the living room while he goes to sleep on his own in his room. It was so sweet for him to fall asleep with his head in my lap. While I was sitting there, stroking his hair, I was thinking, "Don't grow up too fast. And Laurel, don't push him to grow up too fast. He is still such a little guy." No, I don't want to have to sit there with him every night to go to sleep (like before), but on a occasion, it can be one of the sweetest moments in a mother's life. I want Benji to always feel the freedom to need me, whatever his age . . . and I want to make myself available to always be there for him.