Tubes

Oh what a week! I could easily get used to hanging with my boy each and everyday. It has been SO much fun. I don’t know if it’s because he’s gained wisdom with age or just that Mommy’s home to catch more of it, but Ben seems to get smarter and smarter each day. Just this week he’s shown us how he can point to things as we name them (fans, lights, Bailey, Mommy, Daddy, and balls). Ben loves balls. He’s been working on mimicking what we do so of course we play this game all the time. I’ve even caught him jumping in his bed after I put him down for bedtime. Silly kid!

Last week Ben got to play at Lucy’s one day and must have had so much fun because he took a 3 hour nap, which is unheard of for our little monster. We also had lunch with Daddy and visited his office and we tried out a Gymboree class. The verdict is still out if this is something we’ll continue, but it was fun to try.

Lucy took this picture while he played at her house. She has a pool, but he was more interested in waving to the park (which was empty). She even got him to keep his hat on the whole time.

Our biggest ‘event’ since his party last weekend is that my sweet boy had tubes put in today. I asked Dr. G for a list of ENT doctors at his 1 year exam last week and went ahead and got him an appt. They did a bunch of tests including a hearing exam with an audiologist. Poor baby had so much fluid behind his ear drums that on one ear there was NO response to one of the tests. His ENT doctor said it was an easy decision to put tubes in ASAP. Mommy’s a little upset with Dr. G that he didn’t have us do this sooner. We were basically waiting for the inevitable with another ear infection. So we scheduled it for today. We had to be at the hospital at 6 for a 7:30 appt. 1 1/2 hours with a one year old who couldn’t eat or drink = NO FUN! We had to stay in a pre op room and Ben was pretty fussy, tired and hungry. I don’t blame him at all. The actual procedure took 15 minutes, but it seemed like forever that my baby was away from me (yes I cried when they pried him took him from me. The first thing the doctor said was that it was a good idea to do that because he had a ton of fluid in both ears. Now that’s gone and hopefully it won’t play into his language development. He’s probably hearing things correctly for the first time and gets to see what it feels like to not have fluid in his ears. We were told to expect him to be fussy when it was done. He had just come out of anesthesia and was totally confused. Nothing could console him or make him better, broke my heart. He clung to me and wouldn’t let his sippy cup go, but wouldn’t drink from it. Daddy decided to come home instead of go to work and we all crashed on our bed. When he woke up, it was like nothing had happened. He was back to his adorable happy self. He scarfed his breakfast down and then got right to work playing.

Daddy tried to entertain Ben by blowing up a glove. How cute is he in his little gown!

Some more pictures from our week:

This weekend Jimmy (Daddy’s cousin) came to visit. Ben had lots of fun playing with the boys. At Mass this weekend Ben was a disaster! He was loud, fussy, tried to steal juice from one kid and a snack from another (while Mommy walked him around instead of listening to the priest). Then once we went back he guzzled water like he had never had any and then spit up his cheerios EVERYWHERE as we were getting up to take communion. Oh why can't they open the nursery for Saturday night services???

future rocker

Jimmy taught Ben lots of jokes!

loving the car Grandma and Grandpa got him

a little Bailey love before bedtime (in his new pj’s from Mayson)

Daddy put together his water table from Aunt Linda. I guess he thought it was something we crawl under.

loving his new pool from Grammy. He points to the crab’s eyes and says “ball”

you may have noticed from his tube pictures, but yesterday Daddy gave Ben a haircut! Until his ear plugs come in we are going to try to not wash his hair as often so Daddy cut it to help me out. The experience of Daddy cutting his hair was a crazy/memorable one. The things Daddy will do to save money. He looked so cute last night with his army short hair and his outfit from Rylee.

So excited for another week with my boy! Mommy’s even started cooking (gasp)!

Party like a Rock Star

On Sunday we celebrated sweet Ben’s first birthday with all his friends.  Yes it stressed me out getting ready for it and yes I’m sure there are things that I could have planned differently, but in the end my sweet boy had a good time (and was pooped)!

Here are a TON of pictures of the party thanks to Aunt Kristin:

 

Ben’s sweet friends came to celebrate with him!

young love

Mayson-hands down the calmest, most easy going baby

 

Ben showing Rylee how to play in the ball pit

 

Sweet Rylee

Haley came over to see Baby Ben

Addie and her gorgeous blue eyes

 

Ben was so happy to see Wyatt again so quickly

 

Austin and Ben-best school buddies

I think Wyatt may have a calling as a shoe salesman

 

 

It should come as no surprise that Ben LOVED his cake!

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(there are lots of pictures in this album)

After a quick bath, it was presents time.  Ben wasn’t too into them, but his sweet friends were more than happy to help out.  Ben was spoiled with so many gifts.  This child has so much!  Thank you to everyone!

Ben in a pile of presents!

 

Some more silly pictures from the big day

sometimes there just aren’t words…

 

Ben and Daddy making the exact same face

 

this is what happens when Aunt Tina and Aunt Kristin play with MY camera :)

 

This is our tradition picture.  They did the first one exactly a year ago. 

 

Ben was helping Daddy put together his super fun car that Grandma and Grandpa got him.

Today Ben had his 1 year well visit.  It’s probably a good thing Mommy forgot the dreaded MMR shot was at the 1 year so I only freaked for a few minutes. Ben is not a fan of Dr. G.  All’s good until Dr. G walks in and then we have one very unhappy baby.  I think he knows.  We’re slowing down on the height and weight (I know-shocking) and still off the charts in the noggin.

weight: 25.2 (75-90%)

height: 30.3 (75-80%)

head: 19.8 (over 100%)

We’re going to try no more bottles and just use the sippy cup.  He does well, but likes to play with sippy cups more than drink from them.  Poor baby STILL has fluid in one ear so if he gets a cold we’ll have ear infection #9578 for the year.  So…we have an appt with an ENT on Wednesday as a precaution. 

 

This past week has been non stop for me.  Between school ending, all the emotions of my baby turning one and planning a party and Grams coming (yay), our anniversary slipped in the priorities.   It’s not that it wasn’t important this year, but our baby takes priority over everything, including our anniversary.  Luckily we had Grams here to babysit and Daddy surprised me with tickets to Wicked!

6 years ago I married my best friend.  Ben, I hope one day you get to do the same.

Happy Birthday

Dear Ben,

Today is your first birthday!  This past year has been the fastest and greatest year of your mommy and daddy’s lives.  Never in a million years could we have predicted how awesome you are.  You have taught us so much this past year.  Because of you we are more patient.  Because of you we have learned what unconditional love is.  Because of you we have a new respect for our parents.  Because of you we have learned to live without much sleep.  Thank you for all that you do and all that you are.  We love everything about you from the heart birthmark on your leg to your forever growing hair.  We love the faces you make (even when you’re pooping).  We love that you love us more than anything.  We love you even when you’re screaming your head off that because the yummy you’re eating is all gone and you don’t understand why there’s no more.  We love how our family thinks you’re the best thing in the world (and we would have to agree). 

You are truly an amazing gift from God.  Thank you for this past year.  Each day we wake up and smile because WE get to be your parents.  We’re not sure why, but God chose us for this job and we are forever grateful.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

 

Our baby a year ago today

 

He still sleeps like this ALL the time!

Today I took the day off and Grams and I took Ben to the Aquarium.  I wanted to go to the zoo, but it’s just too hot. 

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He had a great time.  Ben might not ever remember that I took the day off for his bday, but I will.

His birthday party isn’t until Sunday, but I couldn’t let his actual day go by without a little celebration.  A quick stop to Dimples for cupcakes after the Aquarium was in order. 

I think he’s going to LOVE his cake on Sunday!

Happy Birthday Ben!  We love you!

Memorial Day fun with the Masons

Oh what a fun weekend! B decided to take a last minute trip and Hot Springs, Arkansas was our destination. Luckily he convinced Jonathan and Ashlee to join in the fun. We rented a house on Lake Hamilton. I’m not entirely sure what makes Hot Springs “just amazing”, but it was lots of fun. Relaxation, laughs and most importantly quality time with our favorite boy (and his buddy Wyatt).

Traveling with two babies requires lots of stuff. Luckily the house we rented came well equipped with many comforts of home: a crib, changing table, baby gates, child proofing gadgets, toys, movies and books. The owners have worked really hard to make it truly a home away from home (and we were one of their first guests).

The boys LOVED playing. The house had a car they could ride and Wyatt brought his walker. We were at ease that they could run and play without us having to worry so much.

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(there are lots of pictures in this album so click View Full Album)

Friday night we headed to Downtown Hot Springs to find someplace to eat. Because this is Ben’s baby book, I’ll leave out the memories from that night. LOTS of laughter. And-thank God Ben can’t read yet because after our adventure downtown we headed to Walmart and I cannot believe the shirts people wear. I don’t know how I would explain them to Ben if he could have read them.

Saturday the boys were on complete opposite schedules so it was a day of napping for the babies and moms while the big boys fished on our super cool boats (we tried to rent a boat but every marina was out since it was the holiday weekend-that’s what you get for booking a last minute trip). Once everyone had taken a few naps we headed to Garvan Woodland Gardens.

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After Garvan Gardens, we headed out for dinner on the lake. We had a great table and the boys cracked us up playing and then checking out two 8 year old girls who kept walking by to feed the fish off the deck.

Sunday brought pool time! This was Ben’s first time in a pool. He did better than we thought he would, but not nearly as well as Wyatt. The water was chilly and after he took a header, he stood the rest of the time and either ate grass on the other side or lapped the water into his mouth like a puppy. We have all summer to work on this.

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After pool time, B convinced me it was okay for Ben to sit in the boat with him. I must have gotten too much sun because I agreed. Sweet boy was sleepy, but liked being Gilligan.

that was the one and only time he’ll be without a life jacket

That evening we headed to dinner and then to the tower. The views were great and B enjoyed scaring me with Ben. That daddy, such a jokester!

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I love him, even when ruins a picture by being a jackass with his Gatorade

We finished the adventure with a trip to Scoops for ice cream. Ben got to taste ice cream not once, but every night in Hot Springs. He’s a big fan.

That night, once the babies were asleep, we played some good old fashion board games. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.

Jonathan does a killer “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle”

We left after breakfast on Monday. It was sad to say goodbye to our little home away from home. We ended our trip with a flat tire in the middle of East Texas. I was a nervous wreck while the boys changed the tire. So many huge semi’s flying by-too scary for me.

I’m looking forward to our next vacation, just a month away!

Grams flies in today for someone’s birthday. Hmmm, wonder who that could be!!!