Ben has learned to say “hi” and wave.  Today we went out to BRU and the grocery store.  Ben said hi to everyone he saw.  If they said hi to him, he didn’t say hi until they walked away but otherwise he was calling out hi to people all over the store.  The “hi” itself is adorable but he adds in a little royalty-style wave.  It is adorable.  When I put him to bed tonight I tried to cuddle him and rock him but instead he sat up on my lap in the dark and practiced his wave and “hi.”  Every couple of hi’s he would giggle to himself out of joy over his new trick. 

Ben has been developing a few tricks lately.  If you “shhh” him, he will point at you and “shhh” you back (while laughing, of course).  He can also tell you what a snake says and a sheep says.  He is developing quite a sense of humor.  This morning he came walking into the living room wearing Wes’s hat on his head and half over his face.  You could tell by his smile that he knew he was being funny.  Most of his words aren’t intelligible by anyone other than Sam and me, but he has a number of them that he is saying:

Balloon

Done

Down

Daddy

Shoes

Socks

Hi

Pop Pop

Book

Water

Notice any significant omissions from that list?  That’s right, still no “mama.”  He is not big on using signs other than the one for water but if I force him, he will sign “more” and tonight he signed “shoes” for the first time.  He also gave kisses on request for the first time today.  Big open mouthed kisses right on the lips.  :)