Speaking of Milestones. . .guess who is pacifier free and in a toddler bed

So I am really really slacking here but Ben has been taking some leaps and bounds in terms of growing up.  I have been ready to have him give up his pacifier for some time now but he and his daddy were not.  I mentally prepared him starting 10 days in advance that once it was August he wouldn't get his pepe anymore to sleep.  Every day I shortened the count down.  Then it was August 1 and we headed to Green Bay for the Family Night at Lambeau but I was sticking to it and that was when he was giving it up.  We were prepared for drama and screaming and no sleeping, this is Ben we are talking about.  But it ended up being mostly a non-event.  We had a box of toys from rummage sales this summer and the first week every morning he got a new action figure or something and he gave them up no problem.
Oh and we lost dirty doggy. Two weeks ago.  He has been tolerating a new doggy but it isn't the same at all but he isn't up nights toiling over it.  At last that dirty thing is gone.  It hasn't turned up either.  Where did it go?! We have no clue.  It hasn't shown up yet.
He has been pepe free at daycare for months now so I guess we could have figured it would have gone as easy but you never know.  Since that went so well we decided to transition him out of the crib as well.  Nana got him a toddler bed to sleep in in Clintonville and he LOVED it.  We have the darn convertible crib and since we pulled the trigger and got Jimmy a separate one we might as well take advantage.  Lo and behold, Ben is no longer in a crib.  But he has it in his head he is a "big boy" now so napping has gone by the wayside.  HE sleeps at night no problem and still calls for us in the morning to get him up and out of it, he won't get out on his own unless it is nap time.  Success.

Potty training.  Not so much.  We have had bags of M&Ms sitting in the bathroom for months now as incentinve, bribing him with toys and treats and adventures but the kid is not interested in going  to the bathroom in the toilet.  Word on the street is that no kindergartners show up to school their first day in diapers so it will happen before then.  Here's hoping.
Because Jimmy has dominated posts here I thought I'd add a Ben montage..

 This flower is the first flower that Ben has picked for me.  Sooooooooo sweet.

 He is obsessed with his daddy. 

 Loves to help in the garden, especially picking tomatoes.  Don't let him see a tomato plant or he will pick every last one or sit and stare at them until they ripen.  Literally, can't get him in the house.

 I can't take credit for this last one, my neighbor took this of the kiddos and her dog Mocha playing in our back yard.  But it actually captures a Ben smile which I am seeing is rather elusive.