Milestones!!

The next tooth has arrived!!! Ben’s first top tooth has surfaced and he loves to show it off. It came through about 2 weeks ago. He now smiles a little bigger with his top lip moving back as if to say, “look up here at my new tooth”.

He’s still walking with one hand of support from a “big person”. However, his pace while walking has quickened. I’m pretty sure when he decides to let go a marathon will begin!!! Over the last month, he has enjoyed walking between 2 adults or sometimes even just the couch and an adult. Within the last week he has begun to test out his balance before starting his walk. He will stand and balance for about 10 to 15 seconds before walking. However, he still lunges towards his target after 3 or 4 steps. But time is ticking away before he sprints out of our reach.

I think we have an official first word. The second grade classroom down the hall from my room has a fish tank. He has enjoyed walking down the hallway to visit the fish/play in the fish tank on a daily basis. Recently, he walked out of my room with Jill and announced “fish” while sprinting toward the second grade classroom. He will say “fish, ish, ish” the whole way there. He is very gentle and patient at the fish tank. He will stick his hands in the top of the tank, resting them on the edge, and will wait for the fish to come up to him. When they swim by his fingers, he will just look at them as they pass by. We are all waiting for the day he decides to “go fishing” and close the hand. (can’t wait to see that reaction.) Fish are slippery . . . right, so they should just go right through??!!

He has recently started pointing at things too. He loves to point at everything. Many times he will point and smile in delight. Other times he reaches out in pointing waiting for us to point back.

We have enjoyed the spring-like weather which has given us a chance to walk the neighborhood and explore the yard as well. We even had a chance last Thursday to take the bike carriage for a fast test drive around the neighborhood. He seemed to enjoy ridding along behind Aaron, especially the bumps during which he would change his jabbering/singing as he bounced over them.

Be sure to check out the new pictures in the photo gallery of visits with friends, playing Rock Band with dad, tunneling through the living room on a rainy afternoon, and walking around in the backyard.

Here’s a link for a video Amanda took of Ben walking while we were visiting with them. Ben walking at the Wallace’s