Enough of the walker already!  I’m ready to be free!  I think my videographer did a good job of capturing how happy I am to be walking on my own.  To Infinity, and Beyond!

(Ed. Note: And no kneecaps required!)

Sometimes I like to pretend I’m king.  I sit on my throne with my dust-mop scepter, and mete out justice as I see fit!

You there!  Bring me some Cheerios!  Or I’ll clean the floor with this here dust-mop!

Daddy gets to play with me on Thursday afternoons.  Last Thursday, he took me to the park with swings!

These swings are really easy to ride.  After we were done swinging and going on the slide, I walked all the way back to the parking lot holding on to Daddy’s hand and the stroller. (Ed. Note: about 200 yards!)

It seems that gone are the days of cold and rain, and it actually gets quite hot here in the backyard!  I’ve not experienced this before.  How hot does it get, anyway?

To help beat the heat, Mommy put me in my nice light Hawaiian shorts and my nice shady hat.

Also, Daddy put up the gate to make a safe place for me to play on the back deck.

Mommy also broke out my sandals, which I’m modeling here, for your viewing pleasure.

Very cool!

(Ed. Note: Thanks, Luciana, for the Brazillian sandals (complete with national flags!))

I heard that Grandpa is coming to visit and to race his car.  I thought I could show him a thing or two as I’ve been practicing for the last month.  Check out these qualifying laps!

(Ed. Note: Perhaps Ben is showing Grandpa a thing or two not to do!)

Sometimes I like to play with the BBB.  M&D will bounce me up and down on it, which is really fun!  And then I can roll it all around the house!

You know those guys that go around entertaining school kids by ripping phone books in half?  Well, I’m starting my training!  And I know M&D won’t be needing this phone book because, well, in case it isn’t obvious already – phone books are soooooo last century.

Welcome to the digital age, M&D!

Well, I’m finally getting good enough at this walking thing to start letting go sometimes.  Have a look!

(Ed. Note: For those of you readers who apparently equate the blogging of the event with the truth of the occurance of the event (you know who you are!), it is now true that Ben is walking.  )

Just call me Quail.  Ben Quail.

(Ed. Note: Quantum of Cuteness, anyone?)

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!)