18 Month Portraits

There's not much to say on this post except...

Pictures are worth a thousand words.  Fall is here, my baby is growing into a big boy, and these pictures pull at my heartstrings. 

Bentley didn't cooperate completely for very long, but I couldn't blame him considering that I scheduled pictures for the day after Halloween, which means less sleep...in Bentley terms, that is never a good thing.  As a matter of fact, he fell asleep in the car at 6:45 that evening and didn't budge until the next morning.  While we didn't get many family shots, he showed no interest in some of things I thought he like, and I forgot to a get a shot with his Bunny, most of the pictures turned out SO good! 

Without further ado...

Thank you so much to our friend Sean Harrison for the wonderful pictures of my little man!  You are helping us save these memories forever, and I truly cherish them.

Fall back and have a great week!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my Mouse to yours!

Mickey Mouse, in case you couldn't tell :)

We had a blast on Halloween.  Bentley was SO funny about his costume.  Up until that very night, he never would wear anything on his head.  We've been practicing the mouse ears a little at a time, but he always ends up taking them off.  So, I honestly thought we were going to have an earless mouse, not to mention a gloveless mouse.  Much to my surprise, Bentley knew what he had to do to get the job done, to be a believable Mickey Mouse, and to get the ooooo's and ahhhhh's that he got on Halloween night.

He put on his outfit, sat very still for me to paint his nose, and happily put on his hat and gloves (a.k.a. "hans").  As soon as Daniel got home, I turned on the fireplace (since that always gets my little pyromaniac's attention) and told him to smile with Jack (the skeleton pumpkin).  He did one better...he put his arms around Jack and said "hug."  Thus began our perfect Halloween night.

Bentley posing with Jack

Bentley got a couple more pictures at home...

Before heading to see Taylor and Terry, who worked with me at Challenger the last few years.  Taylor and Bentley have a very serious relationship...she thinks he's adorable, and he's smitten with her.  Too cute!

Taylor and Bentley...I mean Mickey :)

"running"

This one kills me!!  It's like he's saying, "Come and get me!"

After leaving Terry's, we headed to Arab to see all the grandparents.  Bentley decided to mix things up a bit on the way. 

...changing from Mickey Mouse into a mummy.

First, we went to see Nana Reg and Mimommy.  Luckily, we got there just in time to see Ruby Cate (a fairy) and Charlie (a policeman).  Oh, and Nana was still dressed up from school as a cowgirl.

BTW...here's the back view of Mickey's costume, tail and all!

This is the only picture of all three kiddos together.  Bentley wasn't cooperating very well (in case you didn't notice).

Nana and her grand babies

Ruby, Charlie, and Bentley ran laps around the couch, and they all thought it was HILARIOUS!  The funniest part to me...Mickey Mouse is carrying a hot dog.
Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggety dog!

Next, we headed to Grumpy's for dinner with Nana Kay and Papaw.  Bentley LOVES spaghetti ("ghetti").

After a yummy dinner, we went to see Granddaddy ("dananny") and Mimi.  Another moment of good timing...we got there in time to see Russ, Cyndel, Coen, Reese. 

Coen was Batman

Reese was a Jack-o-Lantern.

The big boys played and played!

Reese is smiling more and more...this time at Granddaddy.

Finally, we had two more stops.  We went to see Adrienne (a student teacher that's working with me some) and Mrs. Jenn Jenn (an assistant in my classroom).  Bentley loved both places.  Adrienne had her fireplace and candles burning, so Bentley was in awe.  He also got his first Tootsie Roll there.  At Jenn Jenn's Bentley was already an hour past bedtime and delirious.  Not mean and cranky delirious...so funny you can't stop laughing delirious!  He played and played with Jenn Jenn, and he talked to her dogs and met a gerbil that Bentley called a "bunny."  He had the BEST TIME!

I changed him into his pajamas before we left because I knew he'd fall asleep on the way home.  He said goodnight to the moon, I recited Ollie (our bedtime book), and he talked himself to sleep.  It was exhausting but SO much fun!  I love that he can actually experience more and understand where we are going and who we are going to see.  I love to see his reaction and talk to him about what we've done.  He makes connections so well, and he remembers EVERYTHING!  It is absolutely precious!

Pumpkin Patch Playtime

It's been a couple of weeks since we went to the Lyon Family Farm Pumpkin Patch, but I am just now getting a chance to post our pictures.  I won't bore you with a play-by-play, but I'll get right to the good stuff...pictures!

To let you know, though, we went to the Pumpkin Patch on Sunday.  Sounds like a great idea, right?  Not so much...Lyon Family Farms happens to be the ONLY patch near us that is open on Sunday, so there were a GAZILLION people there.  We waited in line at admissions for half an hour before even getting in, but when we did it was worth it.  :)

"uh oh"

Mommy helped ride the horsie.

I wish I could bottle up that laughter for a day we really need it!

"bunny"

Not a big fan of the corn crib.  He's not afraid of hardly anything, but I don't think he liked the way it felt on his feet.

Concerned...other kids are playing in the corn.

"ride ride slide"

Farmer Bentley

So cute walking along the hay.

My two best guys!  Aren't they cute?!?

Silly goose!

So, this is what happens when you try to get a posed picture with props.

Ooooo, a bumpy "punkin"

Found a pecan.  a.k.a a "decan"

Trying to find his pocket.  He already had a pecan in his pocket, and he was trying to put this one in there with it.  I was laughing SO hard!

Overall, the pumpkin patch was great.  It's a wonderful family tradition that we will carry on each year.  Bentley had a great time, and I know he will like it more and more as he can understand and do more.

Happy Fall!

18 Months Old...Already

Okay...there is something special about this milestone.  18 months...a year and a half...

Where does time go? 

This has to be the MOST FUN EVER!  Bentley is absolutely hilarious.  He makes me laugh, but not just laugh.  I laugh out loud, cackle, belly laugh, laugh so hard that I cry.  If laughter makes you live longer, I should have a few extra years by now.  So of the things he does are just a little silly and expected at this age.  But some of the stuff he says and things he does are far beyond that. 

For example, we taught him to say, "Hola."  We go to the same Mexican restaurant almost every Monday night, and they always greet Bentley with, "Hola, mi amigo!"  So, we decided to have him return the greeting.  So, this past Monday, he learned to say "hola" on the way to eat.  Of course, when asked to say it to the waiter, he wouldn't.  But...as soon as the waiter walked away, in his loudest, sweetest voice, Bentley blurts out, "Holaaaaaaaa, ahhhhhjuuuuu?"  Translation..."Hola, where are you?"  Yes, he thinks the waiter's name is Hola.  Daniel and I burst out laughing.  Moments like that should be bottled for future use.  A dreary day when things are not going just right could really use an Hola Moment.

Bentley is growing like a weed.  Though I haven't checked his height in a while, he is now officially more than 20 pounds.  Thank Heavens!  We've been waiting six long months to say that, but about a week or two ago, I weighed him before his bath (stark naked, I might add), and he was 20.4 pounds.  We did a happy dance :)

He is currently working on getting three molars in, so he's still slobbering like a crazy person.  I'm ready to take a break from teething, but I hope he gets them all soon.  I know it will make eating a bit easier for my little guy.

Bentley is so stinkin' smart, too.  He understands everything we say and will repeat almost anything.  He uses tons of words on a regular basis, and relates certain things to certain people.  It's so sweet to see him make a connection.  If you mention Granddaddy, Bentley automatically says, "mamowa."  Both of his Granddaddy's ride him on the lawnmower.  If he  sees animal print, he says, "Mimi" because his Mimi wears a lot of animal print.  If you mention Nana, Bentley calls a kitty (sticking his tongue in and out trying to say kitty kitty) because both of his Nana's have cats.  He associates all babies with Reese, names all close family members and friends, names most foods he eats, and is starting to identify colors. 

Well, I can no longer make a list of words Bentley says because I'd have to list a gazillion words  So we'll settle for this...There are a few things he has done lately that absolutely take the cake for cutest, sweetest, most adorable things I've ever seen. 

1. He has discovered candy corn, otherwise known as "canny."  So, every time he catches a glimpse of the candy dish, he says "bite bite," incessantly.  This particular time it was right before dinner, so I said, "No, baby, you can't eat candy before dinner."  He stood there for a second, then looked at me with the sweetest face.  In the sweetest voice he could muster, I hear, "Pleeeee," as he swipes his hand across his chest in an attempt to say please in sign language.  So, needless to say, Bentley had candy before dinner.  That was the first time he used the word "please" without being prompted...SO SWEET!
2. One morning I got Bentley ready for school, and it was extra chilly outside.  I decided he needed his jacket, so when we got downstairs where I stood him in the chair by the pub table to put his jacket on.  On the table there were multiple random things, such as the camera, a magazine, wipes, and my bible.  Bentley looked at everything for a second, then said, "Book," as he pointed to the bible.  I said, "Yes, that is a book.  It's called the bible."  He said, "bible."  I said, "Yes, it tells you stories about Jesus." He said, "Sesus."  I said, "Yes, Jesus loves you."  He said, "Sesus...Lu Yoouuuu."  SO PRECIOUS!
3. Finally, I am still "Mama" on most occasions, but more and more I am becoming, "Mommy."  I am so excited.  I want to be Mommy, and Bentley is making it happen.  When we get home in the afternoons, and I unload the car before getting Bentley out, I always hear him in the car, "Mommy!  Mommy!"  It's the sweetest sound!  Ahhh...

Bentley is going to day care, now.  He started about two weeks ago, and he seems to love it.  The good thing about him...I think he makes the best of his situation.  So far, he has loved all of his child care situations.  He loved staying with Cyndel and Coen, he loved MeeMaw's Place, he loved staying home with me in the summer, he loved Ashley, Ella, and Molly, and now he loves Great Day.  As a matter of fact, he only really cried the first day.  He whined a couple of days after that, and then he has gone to his teacher willingly everyday with a smile on his face.  As a matter of fact, this morning when I put the car in park, he said, "Patti, bite bite."  I said, "Yes, baby, you are going to see Ms. Patti, and she will feed you breakfast."  He totally gets it.  He is having a little trouble transitioning into their schedule.  He was taking two naps a day with his first one being around 10:00.  Now, they have all their toddlers on the same schedule napping around 12:30.  His teachers said it's been hard for him to wait that long to sleep.  They've even found him laying in the floor asleep or nearly asleep a few times.  Bless is little heart!  Maybe he will get used to it soon.

Bentley's Favorite Things:

• Bunny - Still, yes, he LOVES Bunny
• Story time at bedtime - He likes to pick out his story, and each book as a keyword...Goodnight Moon-Fire ("Bya"); On the Night You Were Born-Dancing Bears ("Danin Bea"); I'll Love You Forever-Baby ("Baby"); Time For Bed-Ella ("LaLa")
• The lawnmower...or anything that could be portrayed as a lawnmower (play or real)
• Playing outside - I never even get to come inside when we get home.  We play outside until it's time for dinner.
• Driving Daddy's car - When Daniel gets home, Bentley gets to get in the driver's seat and drive for a while.
• Vacuum Cleaner and Brooms - Bentley loves to clean.  I hope he keeps that love for the long haul.
• Food - Bentley is getting better and better about trying new foods.  He still loves all of his previous favorites, and he's learning to like more and more things.  Some of his most favorite things are fruit of almost any kind, spaghetti, hot dogs, pizza, and he's learning to like bread.  He loves almost any kind of cereal, but he usually eats fruit loops ("dooloops") or apple jacks ("a jacks" even though he can say apple perfectly) on the way to school every morning.

Some of My Favorite Moments:

• Getting Bentley up in the mornings-He usually stays in his bed for a couple of minutes talking to his Bunny, naming the stars on his sheet, saying "Hi" to the nightlight, telling me it's "dark" (which it is still dark when he gets up), and I tell him what his day entails. 
• Driving to Arab-Though it is mighty early (6:35 to be exact), Bentley and I have some good conversations on the way to school.  He usually calls roll and wants to know what all of his family members are doing.  He names someone, and I tell him what they are doing at that moment.  When he calls our Nana, I never know who he's talking about, so I try to clarify.  "Nana Papaw or Nana Granddaddy?"  Sometimes he tells me which one...so funny!  He also plays a mean game of hide and seek in the car.  He covers his head with his blanket or Bunny and says, "Ahhhhhjuuuuu?"  He also gives me a play by play of his Bunny.  "Bunny hat," "Bunny hug," "Bunny bite bite," as Bunny eats his fruit loops. 
• Picking him up from school-Bentley is always eager to talk about school.  I can't wait until he's able to really communicate what he does.  Usually, it goes a little like this:
• "Did you have fun at school?
• "Cool"
• "Did you play?"
• "Pay"
• "Did you play with your friends?"
• "Pends"
• "Are you ready to go home?"
• "Daddy"
• "Yes, you'll see Daddy."
• "Mamowa
• ~End of Conversation~
• Bedtime-I love those last few moments before Bentley goes to sleep.  You know the ones...story time, his night night prayers, and his night night song.  Then, I kiss him one last time, lay him down, and tell him that I love him, so I know that he hears it one more time before he goes to sleep.  Lately, he looks back up and says, "Mommy."  That's that...that is my favorite moment.

Now for the moment you've all been waiting for...pictures!  There's not many, but we will go to the pumpkin patch soon, have Halloween pictures, and have his 18 month pictures made.  So, there is more to come.

Enjoy!

Dinner with friends...aren't they sweet?

Payton Elizabeth

Marlee Mae

Brinlee Tru

Apparently, he finished mowing the kitchen so he was sweeping up his clippings.

Mommy's Big Helper Boy

Mowing...again

Introducing...Jack.  Just so you know, all jack-o-lanterns are named "Jack" now.

Karington turned 2, so we went to her Bama party to celebrate.

She thought Bentley needed a little make-up.

Great fun...I was exhausted after the party because I spent most of it helping him up the slide.

Bentley and Coen went down the slide together lots!

Have a great weekend!