The chicken dance

Bennett learned "the chicken dance" when we were in Guam. It is not so much a dance as just imitating a chicken flapping his wings. But there is an Alison Krauss song called "Cluck Old Hen"- a very bluegrassy tune- that Chris used to always imagine an old Chinese friend of ours performing a chicken dance to. Weird, you may think. It is kind of weird, but if you knew this guy like I do, it is a really funny picture. Anyway, now that Bennett does the chicken, we have sort of transferred the song and dance to him.

So I realized I haven't posted any video in a long time. So here is Bennett flapping his wings- not the to actual song, but from a clip we took in Guam.



Bennett is quickly becoming a rather willful toddler. He has started screaming very loudly if he doesn't get what he wants right away (things like being held up to switch the lights on and off, wearing shoes in the house and wanting to eat at any and all times during the day)- though he also quickly forgets what he was upset about and moves on. He is definitely NOT like his melancholy brother who never forgets anything and often stews about it for a long time.

He has discovered the slide in the past few days, as we have been going outside more. Even though there is plenty of snow still on the ground, it was a little warmer the past 2 days.
Bennett LOVES the slide and has learned how to climb up and go down by himself. The problem is that he is so enthusiastic he just sort of hurls himself down the slide, often just standing and leaning forward and down on his knees- which often means he just tumbles down. Today he finally "got it"- that sitting on your bottom first makes it much easier (or sliding on your tummy). It is funny to observe how different he and Austin are. I think Austin slid on his stomach for months before trying to sit. And even then it took him awhile to be stable. In a matter of 2 days, Bennett has become an expert slider and even lands on his feet and stands right up as he finishes. He seems to have no fear - yet anyway. I think fear is often a maturing a bit at his age. But he also seems more fearless than his cautious brother. Another funny thing about Bennett is that he does not like eggs or bananas...two foods I refused to eat as a child. So funny- can tastes be hereditary?

I finally talked to Chris and he is doing well. He hasn't been able to SKYPE or talk to the boys yet...the time difference is a little hard to coordinate and he doesn't have good internet access. But absence is definitely making the heart grow fonder for all of us I think...Austin even admitted to missing Daddy yesterday and today.