20 months!!!

Oh boy... two weeks late for this one! This has been a challenging month with a day care change, the holidays AND illnesses. Ben finally made the switch from Bright Horizons to a new Montessori School near our house. He misses his teachers, Miss Jackie and Miss Mia, at the old school, but loves the independence that the new school gives him. He's already learning to count, say the alphabet, and sing songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. He also has learned how to empty our bathroom trash all by himself and helps clean up when he makes a mess (BONUS!!!). He's also doing a great job using utensils to eat things like yogurt.

Ben's vocabulary keeps expanding. He loves singing - in addition to T.T.L.S., he sings Jingle Bells and Happy Birthday. His walking has gotten a lot better since the switch to Montessori - they have lots of steps and a playground full of mulch, which is more challenging that at home and at his old day care. He's still pretty cautious (i.e., not a climber), so we haven't had too many falls yet.

This month we got to visit with our friends Darren and Marion! We spent the morning with them at the Desert Botanical Gardens and the evening at our favorite Celiac-friendly restaurant, Beckett's Table. Nonna came to visit for Christmas, but unfortunately we spent most of Christmas Day in the emergency room with Ben. He tested positive for RSV, but we tried to make the best of the situation at the ER. Ben got presents (courtesy of the Phoenix Fire Department), blew lots of bubbles with mom and dad, and danced with one of the nurses in the hallway once his meds started kicking in. We did Christmas, take two, on December 26th with presents and Christmas dinner :). Craig and I came down with RSV AND sinus infections a few days later, so we're really limping in to the New Year.