Ben Playing

Here is a video of Ben on his play mat. He is just starting to have enough arm control to hit a toy. He is smiling some, so I tried to illicit a smile for the video, but didn't get much.

Happy Birthday Mama D

Ode to my father

My dad was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. I watched football with him every Sunday and/or Monday night during the season. He loved everything about football except for one announcer - John Madden. My dad couldn't stand him. He would even mute the TV.
In case you missed it, John Madden has retired. I have to laugh because my dad couldn't stand all the qualities of John that the news is hailing him for (the use of the telestrator for one). If my dad was still here, I know today would be a day to celebrate. So, I will enjoy my lunch date today in his honor and celebrate John Madden's retirement for him.

Me and my dad. Oh, the 80s.

Who Knew?

Who knew I could get so excited about seeing a dirty diaper? Yesterday, Ben was fussy all day long. That was the first day in his young life that he obviously didn't feel just right. I have been so blessed to have such a happy baby, but yesterday, he was somehow traded in for a 'I need to be held or I will scream' baby. So, hold him I did. I even tried to hold him in my sling carrier, but he couldn't be fooled. However, at 7:00pm I changed a dirty diaper - the first in 12 hours and he seemed to feel better. Last night he slept extremely well, so I am hoping things are moving through his system well again and today will be a better day.

I tried everything yesterday. He was content in his swing for a short time. I put the shirt I had been wearing over him as a blanket. Did it help? Who knows and who cares. He slept for a little bit without needing to be held.

This is his latest trick. He will only hold up his head this long for about 10 seconds per day and I managed to get a picture of it!
He is just so cute.

This is Daddy's way of manipulating him to lift his head. Ryan lets Ben gnaw on his thumb and then slowly lifts Ben's head until he can look eye-to-eye. Shameless.

Mommy & Ben

This picture is blurry, but ah....

Last one... I just love that he insists on having his arms under his head when he sleeps. Sometimes, he has rolled himself over because he has an arm under and then will push up and flop over. Just a taste for us of what is to come, I guess.

He is Risen Indeed

Happy Easter! Our family celebrated this morning with a breakfast at church and then Ryan preached. Ben thinks dad did a fabulous job :)

This is what Ben thinks about tummy time, whether he is on his mat or on mommy's chest. These were taken during two different awake times.

And just some pictures for fun.

Good Morning

Ben decided to start his morning at 5:30am. WooHoo. Here are some pictures from his morning.

GRRRR - all wrapped up after my bath.


What are these? Shorts or koolots? Who lets these people dress me?
(Come on, who remembers koolots?)

Very Good Friday

*I have heard that I haven't blogged enough pictures recently. Read on and hopefully you will be satisfied. And, we will definitely get a picture of our family on Easter Sunday, so check back for that too.*

This Good Friday is extra special for us because Ben is one month old today! There are moments that feel like I was in the hospital giving birth to him only a few days ago. Then, there are moments that I feel like he has always been a part of our family. Either way, I don't know what I would do without him now.

Today, our little family attended a Good Friday service with all the staff of World Impact. Ben laid in the sling carrier the whole service and did great. The service was even more meaningful for us this year as we look at Ben and pray that one day he also understands his need for a Savior and Jesus' sacrifice for him on the cross. It is also more humbling to know that in our imperfection and inexperience, God still chose to give us the wonderful gift of our son. There are so many days that I don't think I am doing anything right. Then other days I feel like it went perfectly and I am figuring this out! Motherhood has been an exciting adventure for me so far. Ryan and I often find ourselves looking at Ben and saying, "He is just so perfect."

In this past month, Ben has:

• gained 2 pounds and 3 ounces
• gotten 3 1/4 inches longer
• obtained some little fat rolls :)
• gotten his first haircut
• been visited by Mama-D, Grammy and Papa Tom and can't wait for Grandpa and Nana to come in a couple of weeks
• seen Kansas snow, Kansas high winds and gorgeous Kansas spring sun
• moved from the cradle to his crib
• started taking baths in this big tub
• gained much head and neck control
• started accompanying mom each Monday for grocery shopping at Wal-Mart
• gone on two lunch dates with Mom and Dad (one was today!)
• attended church once
• started to maintain eye contact with mom and dad and even some visitors
• explored all the different ways he can change his facial expression
• started to grab things with his long fingers and hold on
• smiled...maybe...we are counting it! We have both seen it.
  
• brought much joy to our lives!

And now, the pictures:

I can't believe how much he has grown. He is really getting more personality.

Mama-D brought Ben this baseball Easter basket when he was born. You might remember me blogging the 3 day old picture already. We decided to take a comparison picture, but we couldn't even fit him down in it!

Are we done taking pictures yet? I am starting to get cross-eyed.

I just thought he looked so sweet in his white shirt and blue jeans.

He loves to have his hands under his chin. We find him like this often. He also tries to keep his hands like this when I burp him on my shoulder. That creates quite a problem if he spits up while being burped. Makes quite a mess.

How cool is this frame? Ben's Great Uncle Rick and Great Aunt Marsha sent this! Look close - it has his name, birthday and how much he weighed when he was born. Now, I have to pick among all my pictures to put in the frame.