Stuff Benjamin is learning

I haven't had a lot of time to post but Benjamin is learning and changing every day. He discovered his hand...it is so neat to see him stare at it and realize it belongs to him! He can grasp at toys with more purpose now. His favorite thing to do is grab my finger and start gnawing. He pulls it to him when he wants and then pushes it away when he's had enough. He grins and laughs a lot. His personality is emerging as a happy, easy-going little guy. He is now looking us in the eye instead of at our hairline (highest point of contrast). He realizes the eyes communicate!
His new favorite game is standing up. He does this, supported, for minutes at a time. His head is hardly wobbly anymore and he lifts up his torso and head during tummy time. He also makes crawling motions with his legs and occasionally moves his elbows forward a centimeter or two! He'll be crawling before long!
He's talkative in the evenings and can say compound syllablle "words" now. Favorite sounds are "ow" and "oh." Also "guh." When he's really upset he cries "Maa" so I guess he's learning a few consonants.
It's a lot of fun, but I also am starting to hate any minute without him. We're praying about cutting down my hours significantly next year.