charley {one month}.

here we are, back to the blue chair pictures (doesn't it seem like we were just doing them with Bentley?)!

one month old, Charley. 

so so sweet you are, little boy! I keep waiting for you to realize you are out of the womb & not happy about it like babies often do. But so far, you like it here with us! So much so, you smile! We bounce & you nurse (and yay we made it through mastitis), & we change your diapers (which you hate). and then I hold you while you sleep & stare at my answered prayer. Another chance at being a mom to a newborn. 

one month has gone so quickly! yet we have enjoyed a lot of full days as well. 

28 months.

a little under the weather today. his pumpkin jammies are his favorite!

this last month seems like it has revealed some huge personality traits in bentley,
so i thought i would bring back the "months" post!

i meant to weigh him...but forgot.
and i don't know how tall he is either, but tall enough that EVERYONE who sees him says, woah, he is so tall.

:: he had one REALLY long eye brow. i'm talking like 4 times longer than the rest. i finally trimmed it.
::there is a scary sign (nobbies billboard with zombies) on the route to grace. it's right past the 42nd street exit & he notices it EVERY time. he covers his eyes, "no like it! scary! scary" i have tried to distract him, it blows my mind how he can glance up at just the right second.  every.time.
::he can do a perfect somersault.
::loves micky mouse.
::almost done nursing, we went all last weekend & he was to busy. now that we are home, he has more free time to remember. but he has just about outgrown it.
::he attends puggles at church (awana for 2 year olds). caroline helps in his class. she said that he will shorten his friends names. matthew becomes "math", paxton, "pax", & so on.
::he is a backseat driver. "GO MOM". he know knows that we have to wait for a green light, or the car in front of us to go before we can continue on. when dad is driving, he is usually saying "slow down! be careful!" oh my.
::he snores.
::he can count to 11!
::follows rules, espically those set by other people. he was very concerned that another little boy was not obeying his babysitter. he said "go get him!" to her (because the boy had gone further up the bleachers than he was supposed to).
::LOVES babies.
::can throw & catch a ball very well.
::(still) loves to read books.
::we are working on memory game, played the correct way! (previously we have played it where all the cards are face up)
::when asked what he is doing, a usual reply is "oh, just hanging out".
::loves socks on his hands as gloves.
::when he coughs, he immediately throws his hands up, above his head "mom, remember this?"


so much personality in our little guy.
i love how his brain works.
he was made perfectly for our family.

2 years + 2 months.

26 months.
(just last night i was talking to a mom & we were joking about how long you can go calculating your child's age by months. if it was up to me, at least until they are 4. each year offers such a wide range of development! I'm one to want to know specifics.)

bentley von,

i have to record all of your antics somewhere.
i'm sure i will leave some out, but i will try my best to remember. someday we will love to laugh & remember your two year old self.
you have begun to ask "why". i thought you were to young for this question! but there is no one to tell you, so you continue to ask "why" about everything. and then some.
you work in the word "actually" as much as possible. 
your phrases, your aunt andrea just commented the other day & said "he could just say 'there'" but instead...you usually say "way ober dare". i think its for dramatic effect.
you love the cool side of the pillow, asking me to "flip it" often before falling asleep.
speaking of falling asleep, we still do what we always have-lay & talk & sing & pray (and repeat) until you finally doze off. i do the same thing for you at nap time, & have often wished you would just lay by yourself. but just yesterday, as your little arms were wrapped around my neck & you were singing "jesus loves me, jesus loves mom, jesus loves dad" i knew that it was a moment that i would have missed out on if i hadn't taken that time to cuddle with you until you were asleep.
your favorite songs right now are this is the day, do you know the muffin man, jesus loves me (complete with hand actions/sign language) & blue, blue blue (a made up song of whatever colors he thinks of. sometimes sang to the tune of this is the day, but not always.)
you love to dance. especially the hotdog dance on micky mouse.
and the "ooh baby, baby" song (by usher) is also a favorite.
you are preparing to start Puggles, the AWANA program for 2 year olds.
Dad is kind of sad because it feels like an early send off to kindergarten (once a week, for an hour & a half) but somehow we will manage.
i am hoping you love it.
i think you will.
you are so friendly to other kids & babies, kind of shy to adults you are meeting for the first time.
but i have learned a new trick!
preping you.
before we went to a work event with dad, we talked about all the people you were going to see & how they would all know you, they were nice, & would want to say hi.
and you loved it & did great saying hi & giving high fives.
you even looked up at me & smiled, "people nice!"
you are addicted to popsicles.
i make them with apple juice.
you are finally liking to drink milk in a cup or bottle.
but milk from the farm.
you love going to pick it up (real or pretend, you drive there often in your cozy coup too.)
you eat best with your dad.
you are still nursing, but maybe only 2-3 times a day.
you are fully potty trained! you might not care, but we will be showing these stats to your wife someday, she will be impressed. 
you do a great job going potty, & it only took you a few weeks to fully catch on.
you kind of did it yourself via the positive peer pressure i was telling you. you would ask "lane gage go potty?" yep. so then off you would go!
you love shoes. i think you are soon going to grow out of your size 8, so maybe a pair of crocs is up next? you think those are about the coolest things you have ever seen.
but your cowboy boots are pretty awesome too, oh & your rain boots...whatever you are in the mood for.
you love puzzles, memory game, & reading.
you still love to talk, talk, talk. "mom talk" is one of the most common phrases around here.
if we have run out of conversation, the rodeo is always a good filler. 
and recently, you have an owie that seems to mysteriously flare up when we are driving in the car. "mom owie hurt" so we hold hands.
kissing your injuries always makes them feel better.
you don't like to say "sorry".
you love to workout at Grace.
you are my little helper.
you wake up so cheerful, even if you are woken up, its one of my favorite parts of the day!
you love to go to wal-mart or trader joes.
you love your relatives & you are always thinking of them & talking about them.

i could go on & on, detailing out every thing about you & your personality.
you are STILL such a joy to us, bentley von.
i love the priviledge of being apart of your life,
watching, molding, training you.
trying our best.
praying over you for all the gaps we know we can't fill.

love you forever,
mom

two.

 a letter to my two year old.

dear bentley von,

today we celebrated your SECOND birthday! it was a really fun day-starting off with you getting your new bike (which you have been asking about for months!) and doughnuts (which were also a request). we had a fun lunch party with some family & hung out here at home. we stayed inside for most of the day because it is so sweltering hot! it was fun to sit & talk about memories of when you were born. the stress of not knowing how long it would take, and the pure joy & relief of when you were born. i'm sure i say this every time, but i can remember so clearly your dad saying "it's a BOY!" and all i thought was "i don't even care." not that i didn't care about you, but just knowing YOU, our baby was safe & sound & out in the world, that was all i needed to know. 

this past year you have grown so much. you are talking up a storm! a new phrase is "stop doing that" (which is corrected into PLEASE stop doing that). you assign descriptive colors to things. i think usually it is just a shot in the dark, but sometimes you are right. (sit in the black chair-you mean blue.) you are good at playing toys, but have more fun if dad is doing it with you. you are clingy to me, and a terrible eater. you always say you want strawberries, but then usually don't. you are still working on using your potty chair & prefer to be naked. you say "no like it" if you don't like something-and you always have an opinion on if you like or dislike things. you always ask to use your body wash in the bath & still like to be all wrapped up like a "bath baby" when you are all done. you are sweet & observant. i had made a birthday banner for you & when you saw it you said "mom, WOW!" you tell me that i am pretty. you ALWAYS want to go somewhere. you will suggest options like "grandmas?" or "wal-mart?"

you are such a joy, bentley von kliewer! we are so thankful to have you in our family. i know god is going to use you for something special. we are so glad you are ours. you aren't my tiny baby anymore, but the little boy your are becoming is something that i can be proud of.

i love you, mom

23 months.

you are getting to big for this.
no time for photo shoots.
the buttons on your onesie are snug.
you have places to go & people to see.
your legs are tan & scratched up.
i'm shocked that the bottom of your feet are so clean.

you have been adding "ie" or "s" to the end of words (birdie, buggie, phonie. popsicle-ie.  shakes, snacks, mickeys {micky mouse jammies}).
you ask for strawberries for every snack.
we have been out, so i have felt bad saying we don't have any!
but we got more.
and today...you asked for crackers.
figures.

you give real kisses & hugs.
you don't like saying good-bye.
your eyes get red rimmed & you try not to cry.
but we remind you that we will be able to come back/ our friends will come back over to our house.

you love to talk about e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
you hear e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
even things you shouldn't hear.
like people saying gosh.
and now you do too.
but we don't allow it.
so we work on saying oh boy instead.

you are friendly, saying "hi lady" to wal-mart employees.
you get awkward.
you have go-to jokes to break the silence.
"weed whackar!" weed whacker.  it's hilarious every time you say it.

you smash bugs.
you run really fast.
you say "mom watch" so you can show me something new.
or something you have done a million times.

you are growing so fast.
in a way, it's ok.
because every month
you give us a look into who you really are.
and who you are becoming.
and it is amazing.

22 months.

bentley von kliewer.

twenty-two months.

you know your name!

bent bon kleeber!

you are at a wonderful age...

even though with each passing month it just becomes more bitter sweet.

i never want you to grow up,

but you just get sweeter & cuter & smarter with each passing month.

so maybe i will let you.

you said to me on our walk the other day,

"bird eat grass!"

wow. that is a lot of words strung together!

last night you were saying,

"mom, watch jump!" (as you jumped off your overturned toy tub)

"dad, look ready!" (as you got your toys ready to play with)

we are amazed as we watch you transform from a baby into a boy.

"elmo's wowld" your favorite show.

"ipeam" {ice cream} also a newly found fave.

playing in the sandbox. not quite your fave...yet. 

you keep your shoes on. and don't want to much sand on your hands.

watching & talking to the neighbor dogs. 

your favorite.

your aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas & cousins. 

all your favorite. 

actually, you are very friendly & polite to everyone.

pastor tschetter said as we were leaving church & you were giving hugs to everyone "wow, is he always this friendly?" yep. just about!

and your aunt andrea just complemented you on your manners! as she handed you an orange slice, you would say "thank you!" every time without being prompted. 

we are so proud of you, bentley.

you are everything & MORE we could want in our son.

you are caring & loving. 

helping mom by running my phone to me whenever it goes off. "text!"

always looking out for babies.

there was a crying baby in the nursery & bentley went up to the mom & said "deejew" (feed you. aka nurse.) 

you also know when your new baby cousin needs to eat. at the slightest sound, you are already running the boppy pillow over to andrea. 

just recently, things (mostly ants) have been scaring you.  

so we talk about who made you? "GOD!"

and what did God make you to be? "BRAVE!" 

still working, at your own pace, at using the potty.

still waking up with your arms wrapped around my neck.

if you aren't ready to wake up, you mumble "nuggle nuggle" {snuggle snuggle}.

if you aren't ready to go to bed, you yell for dad to come lay (and talk & pray & sing) with us. "dada! shAWN! SHAWNEEE!"

you are a puzzle master.

and love to color.

 

you are a master of identifying animals. 

you are in constant need of a snack.

toast + butter & honey, please!

you have an enthusiastic "YEAH!" as a reply to most any question asked.

and i hope that never changes.

 

i never want to forget...

my 19th month old.
and how...

you (IT NEVER FAILS) pop down the tabs in a cup (JUST LIKE YOUR DAD). i swear, we didn't teach him this. and he has been doing it for quite some time. it just melts my heart every time i observe him diligently working on a cup.

how you love our little family. at any given point he will point to da-da, momma, & buh! it makes you so happy.

you are silly. always coming up with a joke. especially with your toys.

you still sleep with your arms around my neck. totally snuggled.

you clean. if there is a spill, you are the first to run for a towel to wipe it up!

you love other people. always wondering about daret (darrin), mare-mare, & Aa! (and we can't go far with out seeing a baby & having to stop & say hi or wave.)

you love coins. you feel so special & proud when you get some pennies to play with. and then you stash them all over the house.

you know where on/off switches to toys are. and i didn't know they existed.

you are sloooowly working on potty training! you know how to sign if you have to poop, & just today you told me you were going to pee! awesome! and you get a prize. 3 chocolate chips. HA!

you love going to dads basketball games. (i opened up Yahoo the other day & there were 2 nba players. it was a close up, you could just see their jerseys. B says, bakeeball! how did he know?)

you will sit quietly while i groom you (nails, ears, nose) IF you can inspect what i have done after.

you have mastered your animal puzzle. you know all the names of the animals & where they go. naturally, you like to joke & put the wrong pieces in the wrong spot. and then you laugh so hard.

you always want to watch elmo on the computer. but you only like a video for about 15 seconds. you just like to browse.

you currently are lifting weights. you remembered you hadn't for a while. so you got out your 3 lb weight.

you are obsessed with being UP on the kitchen counter.

you still love to read books!

you are such a joy, little bentley!
it is so fun being your mom.
i'm so glad you are mine.

14 months.

:: loves to give kisses::
will trick you, and turn it into a giant raspberry.

::wants whatever we have::
i literally just had to get up so B could have MY chair. it seemed important to him.
a pop cup is a treasured item.
or my water bottle.
and cell phones are awesome.
or just food in general, he is getting better at trying a lot of things (but it is always better off your plate).

::walking tornado::
bathroom drawer.
linen closet.
end table drawers.
toy box.
book shelf.
kitchen cabinets.
NOTHING IS SAFE!
we finally got child proof locks for the trash can/ cleaning supplies, that is saving us from some bad messes.

::games:
hide & seek. he hides, you seek(hint: a favorite spot is on the far side of the bed).
he shoots hoops with his mini basketball hoop!
drives his tractor.
drives his car.
reads books.
eats books.

::adventures::
loves to go outside! will run to the door as soon as he hears the word mentioned.
crawled up onto the kitchen table today...

::independent::
goes into his room to play toys or read books.
gets very frustrated that he isn't strong enough to lift dads free weights (and moms hand weights are way to girly).
likes to help push the stroller on walks.      

we love our bentley!
such a daily joy to live with.

(these are some pictures from today, it's no blue chair, but documentation nontheless.)

crawled onto the table!

i secretly observed him from the doorway. and yes, the vibrate is on.

shooting hoops with dad! he HAS to have his own ball.