Ben started off more attached to daddy, but the first week Bob went back to work in December, he became more attached to mommy. I am so amazed at how well the transition went overall and how adaptive Ben was to his new environment.
Ben loves to do about everything...play in the snow, sled, play in the bath, put on different clothes, draw and color, build with his blocks and leggos, push his cars thru leggo bridges, play with his garbage and other big trucks, put simple jigsaw puzzles together, take things apart and put them back together, look thru books and have mommy and daddy read books to him or tell him the names of things, listen to musical toys, push buttons on anything, pretend to play the piano, help mommy unload the dishwasher, mimick just about everything mommy and daddy do, etc. etc. He doesn't care for watching cartoons, though, and generally finds TV boring unless there's singing and dancing he can try to mimick or real-life planes and trucks wizzing by. That doesn't bother me...we only have one TV --in the basement-- and I only watch it while working out or on a cold friday or saturday evening with my hubbie.
Like I said, Ben is highly visual. Just one example: he nibbled away at a piece of bread the other day during lunch to shape it like the boat he plays with in the bath and then pretended like it was floating around. Though his drawn shapes look pretty darn messy to me, our caseworker who visited the other day was impressed with the circles he was drawing with his left hand and said he has very good fine motor skills for a 3-yr-old. He uses both hands well right now...don't know which hand he'll end up using. He mimicks body movements and facial expressions hilariously well for his age and if he doesn't do something creative or kinesthetic when he grows up, I'll be surprised. She was also surprised at how much English he has picked up. He uses many phrases and words now, such as "I need go potty," "there you go," "come on," "give me," "mommy sick" and "Ben Shan Shan--mommy go bye bye," counts to 10 unprompted, knows shapes and is learning letters, colors, the difference between left and right, etc.
Relatively speaking, for 3-yr-olds, Ben isn't a picky eater...he'll eat most things, excluding bland meats, things that are too spicy with hot peppers, and raw tomatoes. One problem though is that if he has potato chips or french fries to go with a sandwich or chicken fingers, he'll fill up on the potatoes so I have to make sure he doesn't have access to all of the potatoes until he finishes eating the protein. He also plays a tiring dinner game sometimes, where he says he's finished eating, pushes his plate away, and asks to get down... and then once we get him down from the table, he starts whining that he wants to eat again. He can keep doing this and dinner can take a while...We had to limit it and really take it away after a few times...He's getting a little better with it.
Ben is all about getting attention, making sure our eyes are always on him, and staying glued to us. He has stopped crying when I use the washroom or take a shower. He is so full of love and gives Bob and I a million kissies a day. As with any toddler, he has his occasional control issues and stubborn moments and needs a time out. Time-outs have been very effective so far....Knock on wood! He doesn't throw temper-tantrums...knock on wood again! :o)
Nice and cozy: The fire is keeping us warm this cold winter. We were attempting to get a good picture of all 3 of us:
The doggies are becoming more tolerant of each another; I guess they are allies now that Ben is home. :o) 
We visited the Christmas and Chicago landmarks train display at the Chicago Botanical Garden a day before they closed it. Here Ben and Cousin Isabel watch a train go by.
Aunt Monica, Isabel, Grandma Schmid, Ben, and Grandpa Schmid.
Ben likes to line things up, like orange slices; and, if he had it his way, he would exist on oranges, macadamia nuts, chocolate, french fries, and milk....I limit the chocolate and french fries. But he's not picky, so I'm able to feed him a balanced diet, thankfully. 
We are learning the alphabet and numbers. He can repeat 1-10 and the alphabet and can count to 5 and say A-D without prompts so far. He is also picking up English words and phrases quickly. 
This was the day daddy took him sledding.
Our little comedian with his pants pulled up over his little round belly. Ben photographs a lot older than he really looks in real life; but I think this pic shows how young and adorable he really looks.
With Uncle Dan
Ben puts his puzzles together once again, though they are a bit challenging for him right now:
Miss Susan is so happy that the beautiful sweater she made Ben fits him so well: 
Next day, New Year's Day, at the Museum of Science and Industry! Ben loved the Big Idea kids section; here, he is pouring water & making wheels turn:
Pushing a truck down ramps; Ben loves Uncle Dan, who came with us! : 
Eating in the cafe:
On an old trolley near the miniature trains:
At home resting from the overload of stimuli!!! :
Grandpa shows Ben how to push his beautiful new Polar Express train, or is he playing?
Choo choo:
Ben Shan Shan tries on daddy's new hat:
Christmas morning at home with Ben Shan Shan and our furry babies. Mickey plays with his new rabbit:
Later, Bob's family. Here, Uncle Michael and Isabel:
and Aunt Monica:
Isabel and Ben play with Ben's Polar Express set:
Books from Isabel and Grandma and Grandpa Schmid that Ben will enjoy when he gets old enough to understand them:
Car transport truck from Uncle Dan...Ben loves to load his many matchbox cars on it:
A book from Monica's brother and fam that Ben loves:
A learning and music board from Grandma and Grandpa Schmid that Ben loves to play with:
Isabel looks at the fruit set from Ben for her kitchen:
Grandma and Grandpa also gave Ben and daddy a fighter pilot set that only daddy will play with until Ben gets old enough to join him:
Saturday after Xmas...Xmas celebration with Great Uncle Terry, Great Aunt Donna, and seconds cousins Steve and Dave. Here, with mommy and baaba:
Uncle Dan, our sweetie, Grandma Schmid, and Cousin Isabel: 
Dave, Ben, Terry, Donna:
