A Perfect Ten {One Month Old}

Our Benny Bear, Benny Baby, is one month old.

He has been an easy baby.  So far he just eats, sleeps, and grunts occasionally.  

We got our first smile at 3 weeks old and he is doing a little cooing for us.

I am enjoying all of the squishiness and Mike sometimes has to tell me that its time for bed, to stop talking to him late at night.  

I love seeing you stretch when you wake up, smile after your milk, and seeing your rolls grow, 

 We went to the doctor this week and you are a perfect 10 pounds.

Weight: 10 lbs (50%)

Length: 21 inches (25%)

Head circum: (75%)

All of that body kills me.

 Sissy can't get enough and had to join in for the photo shoot.

 Even the back of his head is cute!

 Get it, boy!

 This is a yawn... 

It just doesn't grow old to hold this sweet baby and hear that living, breathing sweetness just across the room at night.  And to feel that increasingly chubby body against me.

Little man, it has been so fun to have you.  We are so glad to have you as part of our family!!!

Adventures with Daddy

In case you haven't heard, we have a creek behind our new house.

It is Mike's most favorite part of our new house.

He takes the kids on regular adventures back there.

 One weekend they walked it around to the main road.  They found animal tracks so Peter made it into a mystery (he's been listening to too much Nate the Great & "Jack and Annie", as Lily calls it)... the mystery of the animal tracks.  Here is his puzzled face.

 They've been to Busch Gardens a few times with friends.

Today's big news... they captured (then released) a cray fish and a tad pole.

Memorial Day Weekend 2014

Paw and his oysters

 Uncle Henry and Aunt Barbara were there to meet Baby Benjamin

It was the inaugural weekend for the new boat...

 The little man joined us on the dock a few times.

Pictures of Three

These are all from early on b/c I am so behind on blogging.  And I miss it so much!!  

There is a new computer coming my way (that's been the hold up) but it will probably take me equally as long to learn to use it.

I asked the kids to do the same pose as the baby.

 I walked downstairs at the end of two weeks of being mostly upstairs in my room, plopped the baby down and saw this.  It felt surreal.  Wow, we made it to three.  That was crazy but we have three kids.

 And just because he is so stinkin' perfect.  Sometimes its hard to stop looking at him.

 Peter's first time holding the baby- maybe two weeks in.  I bribed him to watch an episode of Wild Kratts.  He has told us he is still "getting used to the baby".  Its taken some patience but I think he will come around with time.  He is always my wild card and keeps me guessing.  (God is always faithful to give me moments to see His great work in Peter.)  He is already doing better.  We are trying to not draw attention to it.  He is intrigued when he stops thinking about it.

Then three on the couch watching Wild Kratts. 

This girl though thinks he's her baby.

Lily's Preschool Graduation

Lily graduated from preschool!  

It was 6 days after the baby was born.

(You can see Peter's here- always fun to look back!)

Here are the pictures to tell the story...

Getting her diploma from the much loved Mrs. Notley

 her cute class:

Kate, Kevork, Lily, Logan, Luke, Maria, Natalie, Hunter, Hayden, Joel, Grayson, Grace, Asher

 I love this of her waving to her Pete.  This child was made to be a middle child.  She is so thoughtful and loving.  She looks up to, loves her big bro, and is so thoughtful and caring about him.

 one of Lily's favorite pals, Kate

 Petey getting in with the girlies.

Knar, Natalie, Lily, Peter

 Both sets of grandparents joined us... we are blessed!

Meeting our Littlest Man

Labor was long and rough... 14 long hours.

The highlights included two epidurals, shaking for 4+ hours, "spinning the baby" which was killer on the hips and really, the whole body while shaking, and plenty more rough details that I'll leave out.  Mike and my mom were wonderful, patient, and helpful labor coaches.   He finally arrived at the late hour of 8:29 PM, much later that I'd ever expected.  My latest-in-the-day arriving baby shortened our vacation recovery time at the hospital.  ;)

But he is oh so precious and perfect.

All cleaned up and oh my, such a handsome little man!!

 He came out smacking his lips.  PTL!

 I forgot how intense and brutal those first few days and week are.  It's been rough on mama's body in the best of ways but so good on the heart.