Puzzle pieces

One of the things that continues to amaze me is the process of learning that Ben visibly goes through every day. It's like his universe is a giant puzzle just dumped from the box. He picks up each piece, examines it, tests it out, puts it down and later revisits it again. Sometimes the pieces fit and he moves on, other times he keeps turning and turning, working at it until he makes a match.

I've said it before but it is almost like you can see the wheels turning in his mind.

His hands, oh does he stare at them. Front and back. Fingers flex and curl. Reach and grab for something. Miss. Try again. He doesn't know his strength. His is trying to sharpen his hand/eye coordination, which means some times he can lift a toy, other times he completely misses it.

And just because something happens once or twice doesn't mean it has been mastered. You may not see it again for weeks. I mentioned our eating adventures. A dinner full of carrots and wide-open mouth doesn't mean tomorrow when we try our oatmeal that we won't be back to square one...

It's all just amazing. So very simple, yet fascinating to watch it unfold.

More things Ben loves

His hands. He seems to be more interested in them everytime he finds them, whether first thing in the morning or five seconds after that. He catches a glipse of them while he is flailing around and then everything slows down...he looks at his palm. Then he turns it over and looks at the top. He wiggles his fingers. His eyes widen. Flips back to the palm. Every time. Seemingly 100x a day.

Screaming, as seen in previous video. And laughing, talking to himself (and eventually me) in his crib in the morning.

Touching everything. My face. Stella. Stuffed animals. Rain.

Noises, sounds, rattles, music.

Shoulder (power) naps at 4:30.

Books and reading (finally).

People, attention, prodding, tickling, smiles.