Benners at ONE Year

One-year stats: 

 24 lbs, 3 oz. (86 percentile)

32 inches (99 percentile)

teeth count: 5

clothes size: 18 months

diaper size: 4

shoe size: 6

walking:  not quite

words: mama, dada, and lots of babbles

bottles:  working on none

Ben had his one-year wellness check in May.  For the most part, all things are great - he is perfectly healthy and developmentally right on track.

We did start to notice a rash on Ben's ankle and by the crease in his knee.  It didn't seem to bother him as he never itched it or messed with it, but it also wouldn't go away.  I tried aquaphor, thick lotion, diaper cream.. nothing helped (or hurt) it.  The doctor looked at it and said it looked like a form of excema.  I also explained how there will be times when he gets a rash on his face after eating.. we can't really narrow it down to which foods are causing it and it's not all the time (ie salsa and ketchup have brought on the rash, but not every time he eats those things).  The doctor said how these skin conditions seemed to come together and that it was likely a skin sensitivity to high-acidity foods - like tomatoes, not an allergy or a problem when ingested.  He doesn't seem to be bothered and it goes away within a couple hours.  She said we could put aquaphor on his face before eating those foods so they wouldn't make much contact with his skin.. but if it doesn't seem to bother him, then it wasn't much to be concerned about.  As far as the other rashes, she gave us a strong cream to use sparingly for those times when it just won't go away.  We'll see how it goes!

Ben hasn't quite figured out the whole walking thing.  He stands a lot, walks around furniture, and even takes a couple steps.. but that's where he draws the line.  He does most of his practicing in the evenings when we are getting settled down for bed.  I really think he'd be walking right now if we weren't always so busy and active.  Crawling is quick and he can't take any chances of missing anything throughout the day..

He has found his voice and is often whining (eeh.. eeh..) for and about everything!  It can get real old real fast!  We remember the other kids doing that, but Ben seems louder and more often (which is probably because there are others around!). 

Ben is a good little eater, always willing to try new things and generally easy to please.  He loves fruit snacks and bedtime popcorn surprise (popcorn mixed with a surprise, usually a handful of M&M's).

He is a master crawler, so crazy fast.  And stairs?  No problem!  He can't wait to get to them at his grandparents' houses.  

He loves to go.  Go for walks, go for car rides, go to the park, just go.  

Shoes.  Shoes.  Shoes.  Ben LOVES his shoes.  He can't wait to get them on in the morning and so quickly figured out which were his and would proudly bring them to someone to help him put them on.  

Ben gives the best hugs.  He wraps his chubby little arms so tight around my neck and squeezes tight.  And usually follows with a big "mm-ah" - slobbery smooth.

Ben likes to dance and we often catch him jamming to a tune in the car.  He follows Rudy and Avery's lead very well.  

Ben is a happy, happy little guy.  He loves to laugh and be silly.  He plays peek-a-boo whenever he can, or "where's Ben?" as he is finding behind his hands.  He loves to pretend like something is gone and laugh when he finds it.. like his belly or his toy train or stuffed animal.  He is such a joke-ster :)

Rudy and Avery are his world.  He is SO persistent to be right in there with them, objecting loudly and strongly if he isn't included in whatever activity they are doing.  It can definitely get difficult at times, but he isn't letting anything hold him back - even his age!  Rudy and Avery take good care of him though.  It melts my heart the way they can be so kind and gentle with him or play at his level just to make him happy.  It really is the sweetest thing.  We'll see how long that lasts!