Today I got to spend some more time learning how to use the “mouse”.  I see M&D grabbing this all the time, and I can see why!  It has these buttons and a turning wheel and a red light!  Mommys and Daddys have all the best toys!

(Ed. Note: Ben is also showing off his curly locks!)

Well, I’m keeping up on my job as washing machine inspector.  I tell ya, though, there something fishy going on.  The washing machine keeps shrinking!  I used to be able to look right in there without even leaning over!

Mommy has promoted me, too.  Not only do I get to inspect,  I get to help move clothes from the washer to the dryer!  It won’t be long before I’m chief dryer inspector, too!

(Ed Note: And we can’t wait to promote you to chief clothes folder as well, Ben!)

The other day, my friend Taylor was over for playgroup.  I thought we’d make a break for it so I could show him my room, but we got caught before I could bust open the gate.  Sheesh!  Thanks for bustin’ me while I’m trying to impress my friends, Mom!

My first balloon!  Who knew that such “up” thingys existed!  Everything up until now has been a “down” thingy!  Daddy got me my first balloon on our trip to the grocery store.  I wonder if this is how airplanes fly?  Are they full of balloons?

(Ed. Note: 98 more balloons, and you can be a German pop star, Ben!)

Here I am inspecting one of Mommy’s lemon trees.  Maybe one day I’ll have a “green thumb” like Mommy.

But first I’ll have to find out what that really means, since I’ve never seen any green on either of her thumbs!

All I know is that when I get to go in the back yard, I usually end up with brown hands, but never green thumbs!

After the M&M Encounter, M&D decided that I should get to try out my new teeth on something they call an “apple”.  That say it is “healthier”.  I’m not sure what that means, but I can say that that it doesn’t taste as good as the M&Ms.  But it does pose an additional biting challenge for my teeth – so I’m game!

Check out my bottom chompers!

I’m new at this conducting thing – maybe that’s why M&D don’t respond to my direction as well as I would like.

(Ed Note: I definitely think it explains the hair-doo, though.)

Today, I met Nicholas Pieper.  Right when we laid eyes on each other, we knew that there was going to be stiff competition for attention given to the cutest baby…  You can really sense the oncoming smackdown here:

And then the words came: “Ben, Nicholas!  Look over here!”, and the race was on!

Who’s cuter?

I’m learning to drink from a sippy cup these days.  It’s a little tricky to “get the hang of” (Ed. Note: groan…), but I think I’m making progress.  Daddy says he thinks I might be drinking more than I’m spilling now, which is saying something since this is a sippy cup after all.  What it’s saying, I’m not sure yet.

I’m learning to climb stairs these days.  And I have to do it on the front steps so that I can show off my cool Hawaiian duds to all the neighbors! (Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Scherba!)  What with all this practice, I’ll be ready to climb stairs in Hawaii (Mommy?  Daddy?).