Food, a plea for donations, and a week of fun

This week was amazing in terms of Bennett eating foods that he normally wouldn't eat! 

• Chicken is one of those hit or miss foods.  Normally it's a miss.  But on Sunday we roasted a chicken and Bennett kept asking for more that night and he ate it later in the week as leftovers as well
• Wednesday, after months of offering and Bennett refusing, he ate broccoli!  And he kept asking for more.
• Thursday he ate scrambled egg, after rejecting it on previous attempts.  He tried a bite and although he didn’t spit it out, based on his facial expression I don’t think he liked it. He later piled it on top of his toast and ate a lot of it that way. After the toast ran out he tried another plain bite and spit it out.

Since we have amazing friends who also have great appreciation for Boston Children's Hospital, we've decided to form a team!  Please consider donating to Bennett or to any of the other team members (especially Fiona).  If you want, you are also more than welcome to join our team and walk with us.  The more the merrier!  (But be forewarned, if Bennett walks the route, which we hope he will, we will be moving at a snails pace- or maybe even slower!)

And now for the photos!

Ever since last week's giggle-fest video where we played with the puppet and the doll, Bennett has been playing with them a bit more.  On this occassion we were reading to the doll. 

And here's a video of us reading.  Towards the middle I try to get Bennett to say "horse".  He refuses.  For some reason, this is one animal he only makes sounds for- he won't say the name.

One night he decided to draw/write in this notebook that had been on the table.  All of a sudden we heard, "B-E-N..."  He then kind of trailed off a bit into indistinguishable letters.  We tried to get him to do it again on video with less than stellar results.  Apparently at school, every time they write his name on something they spell it out, which is where he's picked this up.  I think we need to work on letters a bit more at home, now that he pretty much has all of his colors.

Saturday was a busy day.  We had skating in the morning.  Chris realized he distracts Bennett way too much, so he can't watch anywhere near him.  Instead he came down to my end of the rink and watched the adult class.  He did happen to see when Bennett fell and hit his face on the ice (good thing he was wearing a helmet).  Luckily Bennett is fine, although I think the teachers were a bit worried.

After nap we had friends come over so that we could pass along some outgrown clothes and a few toys.  Jack is 14 months old, so this works out well to pass things along.  Not too much time between Bennett outgrowing things and Jack needing them.  And who doesn't like free clothes!  Bennett also did well sharing his toys.  We weren't sure how he would do- the last time other kids were over he was a bit possessive.  And lately Bennett likes to say that everything is "mine".

When Jack and his parents left Bennett played with the rice bin and then playdough.  Plus he colored with markers.  Wow, three of his favorite things!

Sunday was another jam-packed day.  We started off at Sturbridge, getting there right when they opened.  A lamb had been born this week, but I think they must have been keeping all of the ewes and the lamb somewhere away from the public, because all we could find were the rams.

Before we went into the village we looked through the visitor center.  Here's an early potty chair, complete with chamber pot.  Later when we were on the farm, the interpreter mentioned that babies would start sitting on the potty even before they could sit up on their own (high back, high sides on the chairs to keep them upright).  Washing and changing diapers is too much work!

Since it was St. Patrick's Day there was extra music, dancers, etc.  We listened to this group for a while, but then Bennett wanted to keep moving.

Bennett was eager to try this out.  He walked behind it on his own, but then needed Daddy's help to reach the opening.

The stilts were out at the schoolhouse.  When Bennett saw Mummy using the stilts he wanted a try.  In a couple of years I imagine he'll be using them all on his own.

  

After Sturbridge we headed off to Alexander's 6th birthday party.  We were later than anticipated since it took us longer to get there than we thought, but after acclimating to a new place, Bennett had fun playing lightsabers with the older boys.  They had the "real" lightsabers, and Bennett used a foam one.  He also tried out the hula hoop.  Playing with new toys is lots of fun!

Then we headed home, exhausted with just enough time for some books and toys before dinner and bed.