Benny George

Perhaps you’ve noticed that I’ve been pretty smitten by the youngest little guy in our house, but Ben also has a good hold of my heart and has been extra sweet lately.   First of all, look at those eyelashes, I mean how is it even possible to have those kind of big blues and such luscious lashes.  Another thing that is so totally Ben is his cowlick right in the very front and center of his hairline.  I have always loved it, and he has always hated it.  He’s tried everything to get rid of his “swirly”, from cutting it, spending a half-hour in the bathroom wetting and shellacking it.  Sometimes he’ll have temporary success and come out beaming, but it’s always back. 

He’s been sick a lot lately, he has a definite vulnerability to coughs, he’s had a virus, a sinus infection and croup all in the last month or so.  He’s had to be homebound a lot and it’s nearly killed my active, social little guy.   The good news is he’s the easiest person in the world to please, one little game or book or anything like that sends him into fits of pure joy.  He’s always been one of my kids who expresses himself with his entire body.  He literally smiles from his head to his toes. 

On day 3 of confinement, he was past contagiousness but I kept him home from school because he was still coughing so much, I took him and Josh to lunch.  There was one of those indoor playgrounds and they both wanted to go play.  I asked Ben to please stay right with Josh.  He did.  I watched him walk into the little room and notice a bench where they were supposed to take their shoes off and store them.  He hoisted Josh up on the bench and focused very hard on getting his shoes off.  He got them off and then stayed right with him as they played.  It was one of the scenes I’ll always remember.

Nate decided he was ready to move downstairs on Saturday.  I think Ben was a little sad at first to lose his roommate, but in typical Ben fashion – he went with it and ultimately was so excited he was begging for bedtime.  He started working really hard.  I could tell he was tired, but he kept right on working – taking Nate’s stuff downstairs and helping me find the right place for his things.   It was so gratifying to see him work so hard with such a good attitude.  His middle name is for my paternal Grandpa who would love Ben.  My maternal Grandpa would love him too,  Ben reminds me a lot of him.  He inherited lots of traits they both had:  competent, independent, cheerful, hard working, and scrappy.

Bren and I brought fortune cookies home for the kids the other night.  Anna’s fortune said something like, “You would be wise to keep your eyes wide open this week.”  Not surprisingly, both girls were totally creeped out.  Sweet Ben said, “maybe you should keep your eyes open so you can see Jesus.” 

I love that boy.  We all do.  We love Ben!