Living Life Large

It is definitely past due for us to check in, so here is an update on how the littlest Norsworthy is doing.....

Ben is a pro at being 8 months and will soon graduate to 9 months in a week!  As he has grown, we have suspected that our son is no meek and calm child.....no, Ben Logan Norsworthy lives life large.  Some personalities are considered introverted or extroverted, sanguine or melancholy.....well, our son's personality is VERY.  He is either VERY happy, or VERY excited, or VERY frustrated....you get the point.  I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise, considering who his mother is, but even I am worn out by this little guy!  The struggle has been that when he is fussy or frustrated, he tends to shriek/scream - somewhat akin to a fighter jet taking off.  We have tried several ways to discipline this wonderful new behavior, but are coming up short to find something that works.  Oh the challenge of a strong personality!  But when he is happy, wow, what a delight he can be.  His laugh goes all the way down to his toes and back, his smile cracks his whole face open, and the faces he makes when he is playing with you or anticipating something you are about to do......absolutely irresistible.

Another thing we are discovering about Ben - he is an adrenaline junkie!  He may grow up to be one of those people who can't get enough of roller coasters and sky diving (oh this momma is going to have a hard time).  As a little infant he would get startled so easily and cry--we had to walk on eggshells around him to not be too noisy.  Now he LOVES to be startled, surprised and will giggle and laugh and wait with anticipation for more!  Yesterday I had a small paper bag that I was shaking open and he startled and then laughed so loud I of course had to do it again.  What makes anything fun is to have a build up of anticipation for him.  So we will count: 1....2....3!  I did that with the bag and on "3" I shook it really hard and it made a huge crackle sound.  He had this look of shock and almost fear but laughed this deep belly laugh like: "that totally scared me and I LOVED IT!!!!!  DO IT AGAIN!!"  What a character!

Other new things:

He is working on more teeth - I see bulging on his top gums, so hopefully those don't take as long as the last ones to show their faces....I mean enamel. :)

He is trying new foods, and for the most part liking them all.....broccoli is still getting poor reviews, even when hidden in things.

He is a master sitter, but not so interested in crawling.  When cheered on like he is running a touchdown, he can manage a bit of a scooch, but that is all the effort he is willing to put out.

His hands are ALWAYS going!  He has finally started using some of the signs back to me that I have been modeling for months!  He will sign "milk" and "all done", though they are very similar in that he uses both hands and they open and close and twist back and forth (which is a combination of the two signs), but there are slight variances that help me distinguish the two.  It is such a thrill to have him respond to me like that, expressing his desires in something other than a fussing cry!  We are working on many other signs and hopefully he will learn them quickly, which I think will help with his frustration level.  

He is getting bigger and bigger, and so is my backache!  I am pretty sure he is at least 23 pounds (we will find out for sure next week), which is quite a load to carry.  He spends more time in the high chair, on the floor, or on the couch now, since my worn out body can't handle holding him as much (especially when he drops his toy for the 5th time and I have to bend down and pick it up while holding him....again).  John unfortunately hurt his back and has had to only play with him while sitting or lying down, which makes things a little challenging, so we are praying for a quick recovery for Daddy so he can get back in the game soon!

He has gotten even more snuggly, if that is possible!  When he is in play mode, he just wants to play, but when he starts slowing down, he loves to be held, hold onto our necks or have full hugs and just snuggle.  Yesterday he woke from a nap with what I think was tooth pain, crying huge crocodile tears.  I picked him up and held him while sitting on the couch and he pressed his little body into mine, rested his head on my shoulder and held on tight, sniffling and sighing.  Oh my mommy heart was melting!  That moment when Mommy is the answer, and that is all he wants--my love bucket overfloweth! 

He LOVES his Daddy and his grandparents.  When we are walking around the house and I have to go into our bedroom for something (which is where John works) he starts flapping his arms and kicking his legs, because he knows who is on the other side of that door!  He leans in as we come through the door and breaks into a huge grin when he sees John.  The same thing happens when we walk up to Grandpa and Grandma's door.  He also is fascinated by computers and gadgets--anything with buttons, cords and lights.  Every morning he gets such a thrill out of watching John turn on his computer, or me making coffee with my Keurig machine.  This morning I helped him push the button and he watched as it started brewing, then he looked up at me with this wide eyed grin, like: "Did you SEE that?!  Isn't that AMAZING?!"  I love the way he responds to the world around him!

You may think by all these glowing reports that we have a perfectly wonderful child that never has a bad day.  Don't worry, we have those.....the days where Ben gets yogurt in his eye and screams bloody murder....the days when mommy is so tired she spills and drops everything and manages to splash salad dressing all over the dining room wall and floor (doesn't clean up well, in case you were wondering).....and the days when you think you have made it to the end of a fairly decent day and Ben poops in his bathtub.  Yes, we have those days and what do you do with them?  Laugh, sigh with relief that they are over, and maybe eat a little chocolate.  We are so grateful for our little boy, for he teaches us the full meaning of patience tested, and joy overflowing!

"Norsworthy Men are in the HOUSE!!!"

Ben can now eat pieces of food all by himself.  This video is of his first attempt going solo without any help from Mom.

This video shows Ben doing his most frequently used sign - the "I want/More/I like this" sign (he is working on getting it approved to the ASL committee).

And the last is just an normal bathtime--nothing over the top, but we thought Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles might enjoy seeing normal life around our house....plus who doesn't love little squidgy baby bodies?!