Proud Mama

I just had a "proud parent" day today. Benjamin has always observed the world cautiously, and only contributes when he feels totally comfortable. We recognized this early on. As a baby, he was pretty clingy and preferred to just study things and people from a distance. His first birthday was classic; he was in tears during his entire birthday song from being the center of attention, and he needed lots of consoling from me (and ignoring from everyone else) before he would be talked into demolishing his cake. His nursery teachers always assumed he knew how to talk, but had never heard a word out of his mouth. I remember the nursery leader's excitement the first time she heard him speak, when he asked her, "Can I please have my paper?" It was if she knew she had made it onto his list of VIPs or something.
Well today, Benjamin gave the scripture during Primary, and recited the first Article of Faith all by himself. In front of the entire Primary. Confidently and flawlessly. We've come a long way, ladies and gentlemen!

Here's his practice round with us. I'm proud of my big boy!

So I felt the baby move for the first time yesterday morning! This pregnancy thing is sort of beginning to feel real. I'm well into the awkward in-between phase where my normal clothes don't fit and I just feel slightly poochy, but maternity clothes look absolutely ridiculous on me. Ah, well. Much better than the last few months when I'll be feeling huge. I have my ultrasound appointment set up for February 23, and I'm CROSSING MY FINGERS that we'll find out the gender a little before week 36 this time! But we already know it's another boy. :)