September 07, 2008
Off to Squam!
Me and Ben, Lake Merritt, photo by Bethany, Canon Rebel Xti
Dear Ben,
Hello adorable boy! I miss you already in anticipation of my week away at Squam. (Insert little heartache for mama) The good news is that you have a rotating roster of your favorite people that will be here to play with you and care for you. You are going to have so much fun! But for those moments when you're wondering, where the heck are mama and dada? I just wanted to tell you that we will be back very soon and at that very moment that you are thinking that question, we are thinking about how much we love you.
I will be teaching my first class Ben! I have never taught before and I am excited and nervous... Jen and Jonatha will be with me though, so how bad can it go? A bit of advice, if you are doing something scary for the first time, it's a good idea to have a coupla pals with you. Just sayin.
I will be going to something like girl camp, complete with art classes and bonfires and music and lots of laughter. It is going to be the life-shifting, creative-sparking kind of fun... my favorite kind. I will show you lots of photos when I come home.
And you won't believe this, but Dada is going to be in the Venice Biennale this year! He will be going to Venice, Italy and will be honored for some of his amazing art projects. This is a big deal for him and a big celebration of all of the work he's done over the years. Go dada!
Did I mention how adorable you are these days? You have some new obsessions worth noting: bikes.
You call them "butts." You talk about butts constantly. Mama butt. Dada butt. Ben butt. And the ball love affair is a constant. You would sleep in a sea of balls if you could. Today at the toy store, you picked out a ball that you wouldn't let go of. It was huge and bright lavender and had pink butterflies all over it. It was funny to watch myself pick up the more boyish, blue soccer style ball and offer that one up, and of course you were like Whatevs mom! This one is way better. And you were right.
Oh, another obsession: Elmo.
Yep. I said it.
We hesitated for a long time to bring him into our home, but I found a used dvd and couldn't resist. I think I had some sick curiosity if every kid was crazy for Elmo or if you would be immune to his high pitched voice. Within minutes of watching that show you were already saying "Elmo." It was a little scary. Then you talked about him constantly for weeks. Every time you got up, Elmo! At the park you would try to leave and go home to watch, you guessed it, Elmo! When you were getting your diaper changed, you would ask the inevitable question: Elmo? You were way obsessed.
So we took Elmo away for a while and you were VERY very upset. Every time we said no Elmo, you would cry and cry and cry... We told you that Elmo was on vacation. And even though you eventually made peace with it, weeks later you still talked about him. You'd wake up from a nap and shake your head and say, "No Elmo, No Elmo." We were even hiking once in the woods and you pointed up a hill and asked, "Elmo?"
Anyway, we totally cracked Ben. We couldn't stand it anymore and now Elmo is back from vacation. And you are deliriously happy again. Your little red friend is back! We even ordered a set of dvds. (This is one of those moments Ben when you think you're going to be one kind of parent and you end up another kind.) Seriously dude, whatever brings you that much joy, who am I to stand in the way of it?
Anyway, thank goodness you still like guitars too.
Oh, and one more thing Ben. You are totally a ladies man. When you see the girls at the park you walk right up to them and try to give them a hug, or you try to back up into them and sit on their lap. You need to work on your approach, but I think you've got a good chance. You're a very handsome little dude.
Anyway Ben, mama is way tired and has to pack.
I love you to the moon and back my love.
I love you more than you love Elmo.
And I know you know that that's a whole heck of a lot.
Andrea, he's GORGEOUS! I used to check your blog daily, but fell out of the habit. My, how Mr. Ben has grown over the past year or so since I've been here...
What a little man! Congratulations and your posts make my biological clock start ticking REALLY loudly. :)
Posted by: Amy Williams at September 11, 2008 05:32 PMCongratulations on all the good stuff going on.
I love the picture of his shoes and knees. Really a good thing to capture. My son is a little older than Ben so I can report back that the Elmo obsession does go away (only to be replaced by Darth Vader, at least in our house).
Posted by: kimberly/tippytoes at September 10, 2008 09:07 AMWhat is it about Elmo? Before I had Pete, two weeks younger than Ben, I swore there would be no Elmo, or TV ever (ha). But somehow Elmo found us anyway, and Ernie, and the Cookie "Monsta." Oh well, as long it's not the purple dinosaur who will not be named, I am ok with it.
Posted by: Kate at September 9, 2008 04:57 PMVenice Bienale ! wow ! congratulations to Dada!
Posted by: m at September 9, 2008 04:26 AMi hope you have a wonderful week. i'm sure your class will be fabulous. that's fantastic news about your husband and Venice. congratulations to him! i was lucky enough to be in Venice at Biennale time years ago. it sounds like you'll both have weeks that are good for the soul.
Posted by: amy at September 8, 2008 06:41 PMOh, Ben! He and Thomas could totally cruise the playgrounds together for the ladies. They could pack a snifter of...milk?
Elmo does seem to have this forcefield around him that kids can't resist. He is awfully cute, though, and I love your attitude about it. Maybe he can have a stuffed Elmo?
Have SO MUCH FUN at Squam. I'm hoping that it will be a raging success and that I will be going next year. Let's put it this way: I am going next year, even if I have to eat beans and rice all summer to get there!
Posted by: Sam at September 8, 2008 02:32 PMtoo cute!!! Great post!
Posted by: Michelle B at September 8, 2008 02:16 PMhave a great trip, mama. big boy ben will be so happy to see you when the times of your return comes. and next year i hope to squam it and see what it is like to learn to fly again. enjoy. :)
Posted by: mamie at September 8, 2008 12:01 PMElmo is just a retooled Grover and as a 38 year old mama I love them both! Go Ben... show us your Elmo love!
Posted by: jacqueline at September 8, 2008 11:17 AMMy kids watched Barney once and loved it. I never let them watch it again. They still occasionally put an Elmo DVD in. They were mesmerized by him, so easy:)
Good luck with your class and all of the wonderful things going on with your family right now. It is all well deserved.
Posted by: Nonie at September 8, 2008 09:49 AMGood luck at "girl camp" and have a fabulously outrageous time. What is IT about Elmo? I feel your red, furry monster pain. I decided there are worse things than Sesame Street. If only Electric Company was still around. Right?
'Been dropping by here for awhile, and couldn't resist finally commenting.. Ben is just that cute! But, also, wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for such a quality blog. Always inspiring and great food for thought. There's always a nugget in there for all of us to consider, reflect, learn from. Thanks for sharing.
So wish I could be attending Squam this year. Best of luck with your first teaching experience. It can't be anything but great!
This is so so stinking sweet!
Posted by: Nicole at September 8, 2008 08:08 AMLove this post and have a GREAT time this week. I can't wait to hear how it goes :).
Posted by: Ali at September 8, 2008 08:04 AMsuch a sweet letter! sounds like a big week for all three of you!
i can't wait to hear how your first workshop goes! i'm sure it will be brilliant and i so wish i could take it!
incredible pictures too!
Posted by: vivienne at September 8, 2008 07:41 AMAwww... He's SOOOO cute!! I WANT one!
I love the picture of Ben with the guitar. What a stunner!
x
Posted by: katie at September 8, 2008 06:51 AMHave a wonderful time teaching your first workshop. I remember trying to keep my kids away from Barney...it did not work. Everyone gets seduced by the purple dinosaur and Elmo...there are no words. I even love Elmo. Although, Oscar is my all time favorite.
Posted by: Lu at September 8, 2008 06:38 AMWhat wonderful pictures. I love the messed-up hair. Elmo's not so bad. How about Thomas the Tank Engine? I mean the original books, of course, they are adorable.
Oh, I wish I could go to Squam. I hope you do it again!
Posted by: Laura at September 8, 2008 05:28 AMHe needs some competition, maybe?
Posted by: jfrancis at September 8, 2008 04:54 AMout of lurkdom...your boy is delicious. those little sneakers kinda kill me.
my girl became obsessed with the red man about this age and had a soft lovey of elmo that was and still is her favorite stuffed animal.
as long as you can keep barney out of your house, you're golden.
im excited to take your class at SAW - i'll be the shy girl in the back.
Posted by: kristen at September 8, 2008 04:15 AMout of lurkdom...your boy is deliciuos. those little sneakers kinda kill me.
my girl became obsessed with the red man about this age and had a soft lovey of elmo that was and still is her favorite stuffed animal.
as long as you can keep barney out of your house, you're golden.
im excited to take your class at SAW - i'll be the shy girl in the back.
Posted by: kristen at September 8, 2008 04:14 AMAck! Those shoes crossed and the skinned knee? Could Ben be anymore "boy"!?
And so adorable!
Good luck this week, God bless the lot of you.
Posted by: Shelley Noble at September 8, 2008 01:02 AMHelllOO future ladies man! *ONE* *CUTE* *KID*
Posted by: Braidwood at September 7, 2008 11:21 PMHelllOO future ladies man! *ONE* *CUTE* *KID*
Posted by: Braidwood at September 7, 2008 11:21 PMI thought the same thing: no Elmo, no Dora, etc. It's strange how some of these things have such a strong appeal!! Anyhoo, now I love Elmo. It's practically the only tv my daughter can watch without crying (at "scary" things that happen). I watch them too and laugh at Mr. Noodle. Love Mr. Noodle.
Have fun at camp!!
Posted by: simone Najar at September 7, 2008 09:30 PM