Happy Birthday Matt

Aunt Whit and her new niece. Addie was born Thursday evening. I think she's a keeper!!
I don't think there is anything more content and peaceful than a sleeping baby...
Ben's Nanny Squad...Courtney, Kelsey, and Lisa (and Doug, too) came in Monday afternoon to help out. We appreciate them so much. He learned to point where he wanted to go and of course, he was promptly taken there. He has really been sad today...Mommy doesn't always go when he grunts and points :) Kelsey even jogged down the road with Ben in the stroller. You could hear him squealing as she ran.
I had planned a surprise cookout for Matt's 30th birthday and here are a few pictures from the party.

MaMaw Betty, Aunt Pearl, Nonny and Benjamin
Not quite 30 candles, but one of Matt's favorites, chocolate cake

The notorious pedal boat made it's maiden voyage on Sunday afternoon. Pappy & Jason put it in the pond..Matt swears his legs were sore the next day!!
Uncle Jason, why is the boat leaning??

He caught one!!

Rascally rabbit

Benjamin is returning to the "oral fixation" stage...everything in the mouth...wait, I don't know if he moved out of that stage!!

Chewing on his socks...

With Uncle Randy at Elizabeth's wedding Saturday night. My pictures of the bride and groom weren't clear because I took the small camera :(

Can I have a bite?
Uncle Jason giving Ben a carrot stick. Where are the little white doughnuts that Aunt Amy gives me???
Jason, Amy, Kennedy, and Colin

Daddy's boy
The family
Jen, we are so glad you are home!!

Cousins and friends

This is a picture of Benjamin eating a pancake. Grammy says I am cruel just giving a pancake without syrup, but he is still taking a nap after eating his breakfast. I don't think syrup would go well with a nap :) He really did like the pancake, even dry!!
Kennedy and Colin were playing tickle tackle the other day and Benjamin had to join in on the fun
Ben rarely crawls around things..he usually just climbs over them.
Mammaw and Pappaw bought a pedal boat for the pond...I guess I know what we will be doing this summer..some leg shaping and toning

Mark and Jenn brought Allie over last night for a play date. She and Ben really played well together. Ben would crawl away and she would chase him...already leading the ladies on, watch out girls!! Of course, Matt and Mark disappeared with fishing poles and came back smelling of fish. Enjoy it now, boys. Once Ben gets a little older, he will be with you!!

Jenn and I used to put the kids in the recliner and take their picture...a little harder now. They both tried to jump off the chair...so much for that
Allie and Ben--first playdate-Aug. 27th
What is going on, Mom??
Hey Allie, can you say ball?? I have lots of toys but all I play with is a ball..
I was putting up a baby gate going into the laundry room and Benjamin overturned the box and was crawling on it...with a ball, of course.

Happy Mother's Day

For those who may not know, my mom (Grammy), and Matt's mom (Nonny), keep Benjamin while I work. Matt and I are so fortunate to have wonderful mothers!! Thank you for everything you do for us!! We love you both!!


Before it all began!!! This is a picture from May 20th, 2007. What a difference a year makes!!!!
Grammy and Ben--November
Nonny and Ben--December

Professional pictures

The internet was really fast this afternoon, sorry there are soooo many pictures but it is hard to decide which ones to share!! The picture studio "gives" you a CD with all the pictures--here are a few of the 102 pictures of Benjamin. He got really excited and tried to jump off the props a few times, so you will see my arms close by in some of the shots!!

Clapping, almost done!!





I think I can get away from all these bright lights....
Let me stop for a quick shot


Hey mom, are you close by?? This thing is moving...

Oh, what a fake cry!!!





When Ben and I left home to get in the car, he had a death grip on his ball, so it travelled with us. Obviously making an appearance in some of the pictures is his little soccer ball. This is the way he crawls at home, ball in hand...




Checking out the construction of the rocker



One of the first pictures they took of Ben...I didn't notice the blocks spelled out "DAD" until Susan pointed it out. DUH!!! I was too busy trying to keep him from having a concussion from leaping off into the floor after his ball. This isn't really correct though, he calls Matt "da"...but needless to say, a really cute pic. Wait a minute, it's mother's day, not father's day!!!