Toys R Ben

 Big changes in Ben's toy collection have occurred lately.  He has gone from tiny toys that blink and sing to teether toys to now big boy toys.  This weekend, his Grandpa, Omie and Great Grandmother, Oma, came down for a visit.  They bought him two new toys that are very fun and very exciting.  One he can sit and play the piano and flip the music book, then stand up and walk with it.  The other one is a baby laptop.  It entertains Ben beyond measure.....almost as much as this laptop.....which he goes after at each opportunity.  The hammer toy is a new LOUD toy.  He is learning to hammer....sometimes with the right hand...and sometimes with the left.  One new thing that Ben loves is his family album.  My mom gave this to him when he was a new baby.  She filled it with pictures of his 2 families.  We looked through it and told him who each was but he merely looked at it.  After my Dad and his most precious G passed away, I have taken this book out each day and showed him the pictures.  We usually go to the one of his B and G a few extra times.  Now, it is so interesting to watch how he now reacts to this picture.  He smiles and touches the picture.  My hope is that he remembers his G.  My hope is that when he looks at this picture he smiles like he used to.  Because the pictures have captured the smile that all of us remember and that I hold to as tight as I can.  Our Ben is changing so fast!  His toys are getting more advanced.  His actions are getting more mobile.  But one thing that has stayed the same is his precious spirit.  As much as I wish my Dad was down here watching these changes, I find peace in seeing how precious Ben is and how he is part my Dad too.  Because if Ben got anything from my Dad, it is his precious spirit!