The Hannig Home

At times, Luke gets overwhelmed with love for Ben and just wants to squeeze him and kiss him and squeeze him and kiss him.  In the tub last night he was feeling that way and squeezed and kissed Ben and said, I like this little Benny boy.  His belly is fat and his legs are really chubby. Oh Ben, you are so stinkin' cute and we love those rolls!  Below was last night, just out of the tub. He insists on wearing that yellow vest around with nothing else on.  He will not love me for posting this picture on my blog, but he is a baby so I think it's okay.  Look at those legs and belly!

Yesterday we endured Ben's 18 month appointment.  I say endured  because it was an almost-2-hour appointment with 2 little boys, needles, and limited space to run.  The appointment started out normal and fine (normal includes Ben screaming the entire time he was weighed and measured).  The doctor came in shortly after the nurse left.  Just as we were getting into her examination of Ben, Luke claims he has to go potty.  I ignore it.  He claims he HAS to go potty.  I tell him to hold it a little longer.  He's screaming it now.  Dr. Vick says, go ahead.  I'm guessing Ben won't stay with me ( she was correct ) so I will go check if there is another patient waiting to see me.   We traipse down to the nearest restroom - Ben in only his diaper - and Luke goes potty (he DID have to go).  We head back to the room and Ben takes off running down the hall right at another one of the doctors who is back in the 'doctor area.'  I run after him and Luke thinks its all so funny

Luke pooped today.  Ben came in to check it out and as he was peering in the toilet Luke said to him, That was a pretty nice one Ben, don't you think? This didn't even phase me at first, because I hear this kind of conversation daily.  But when I really thought about it, I realized it is quite funny.

My baby Ben is 18 months old already.  I think I blinked and 18 months just happened.  Even though I was working full-time when Lukey was a baby, I was able to give him one-on-one attention as a mom.  But with Ben I am sharing time with both boys, and it seems to make the time go even faster.  Paul and I don't get too much one on one time with just Ben.  Each of Benny's "stages" have to share attention with Luke's happenings and stages.  This is neither good nor bad, it just is.  I just wish I could spend more time in each stage (i.e., slow time!). I remember when Luke was in the womb (!) I was journaling for him and dedicated an entry to speak about the 2008 election.  I told him what a monumental election it was because for the first time in history a black man could become president of the United States of America.  And that is what happened.  Today, 4 years later, I am sitting by the computer (instead of having a pen in hand) and journaling about the 2012

A few "posts" ago I talked about Ben's love for his brother Luke.  Well, Luke loves his brother, Ben, equally as much.  Yesterday Luke informed me that Ben had a big booger coming out of his nose.  I said to Luke, somewhat kidding deep down but still in a serious voice, Why don't you go get a Kleenex and wipe his nose for him?   In my head I was thinking, it'll never happen.   Okay, Mom!   And off he runs to get a Kleenex.  He ran back, beckoned for Benny, and gently wiped his nose. Got it, Mom! And he brings me the proof. Benny actually let him wipe his nose.  He stood still and let Luke do it.  Now why doesn't he let me? ***** Last night Luke headed to the bathroom to go potty one last time before bed.  I was wiping the kitchen counter off and just watched his little 3 1/2 year old body doing his recently potty trained thing.  When he was finished I saw him trying to get some toilet paper off the roll.  He finally got a little piece off the roll