Little Swim Team

We went to watch Kennedy and Colin's swim meet the other night. This was Ben's (and my) first time to watch. It was so exciting! And hot!! Bruce Pearl was there (one of Colin's heroes) and was autographing swimming caps for the kids who asked. Colin was so excited. Luckily, I had taken my big camera and got some great pictures--I feel like a paparazzi photographer now!

Oh, and their team won!! GO SAC!!

Ben's shirt says "Little Swim Team" and he is wearing his swimming trunks. It won't be long until he is out there with K&C.
Kennedy before the meet
Their coach writes their races on their arms!!
Colin with Jason
Coach Pearl and Colin
Colin finishing a race
Kennedy (second lane) finishing the backstroke
Big Swim Team
Ben with Kennedy's cap on
Colin swimming...you can see Pearl's autograph on his cap

Ben and Allie

Ben and Allie had a playdate earlier tonight. Of course, Benjamin is trying to teach Allie that a ball is the only toy a boy needs...
Mom, why do we have to sit in this chair every time we see each other??
Just relaxing...
Sorry the video is dark, but can you see the new trick??

Some summertime cousin time

We went to Nonny and G's for dinner last week and Ben got another peek at his new cousin, Addie. I had just changed her diaper and been re-christened, so she was a little fussy when we sat Ben beside her. He just looked and tried to climb off the couch. At least he didn't hit her with a ball!!!

Aunt Summer, who is that??

What is going on?? What is all that crying?? (There is almost 11 months difference between them--wow, what a difference)
Ben's idea, "I'll ask Aunt Amy, she will let me do anything..." :)

Grammy, Amy and I took the kids to the zoo on Friday. Mammaw and Pappaw got us season passes for Christmas--what a treat!! I had forgotten about the Honda Hoot being in town and we had to park and ride a school bus to the zoo entrance. I should have just dropped Kennedy and Colin off with Benjamin. As you can tell, I have 2 nannies for the summer :)

My first school bus ride

Here is a bunny we saw in one of the exhibits. He wouldn't come out for me to get a picture, but his name is Benjamin
Amy, Keke, and Colin petting the camel. Surprisingly, Ben's Mom wouldn't let him touch...
The animals in their cage...
If you look closely, you can see the huge gorilla in the background

Kennedy gave Benjamin some of her ice cream....Mommy had to stand in line to get some while Ben was screaming for more.

Kennedy and Ben on the giant tortoise

Riding the carousel

Strong Work!!

Let me preface this video by a comment that I know how strange this is...but I am going to post it anyway. And I know that it has taken me a month to get it posted, but the internet was cooperative this morning. Yes, Dad, I know it is lame. At work, we use the phrase "strong work" all the time to identify anything, good or bad, that we do. So when Benjamin started to clap on command, we were talking about it at work and someone said "that's some strong work." Hmmm, I wonder if I could teach him to clap when I say "strong work." A couple of days later, I had him clapping. So now, Benjamin is the unofficial mascot of the critical care unit I work in. I have been trying to get him to clap on video to congratulate Allison on getting accepted into CRNA school, but this will have to do :)

Happy Father's Day!!

A few pictures of the last 11 months....

July
Matt and Ben's first picture
Snuggling up at the hospital

Ben's first bath at home

Ahh, nap time for everyone...
August

September



October

December


February

March


May

Quick Update

The last couple of weeks have been very busy. All last week, Benjamin was not himself and not sleeping well. I decided to visit the pediatrician on Friday. Ears were clear but she said that he probably has allergies. Zyrtec, here we come. I worked last Saturday and Ben got progressively worse Saturday night into Sunday morning so I called in sick and we made our first trip to the ER with Benjamin early Sunday morning. Croup!! Where did my little bunny get the croup?? Tuesday, we were back at the pediatrician's office--not eating and upset tummy. This time, a viral infection with a very bad sore throat that causes GI symptoms too. AGHGHHH!!! What is a mommy to do?? She also said that he probably didn't have the actual croup, that it was probably a symptom of his allergies. So now it is the weekend again, I am off from work, and I am busy trying to get Benjamin back in the swing of things. Unfortunately, he had started sleeping with Matt and I when he was so stuffy he couldn't breathe....DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!! Now he likes our bed better than his!! Last night, I lounged in the floor next to his crib for about an hour while he walked laps around the crib, throwing all blankets, pacifiers, and woobies out into the floor onto me. After his marathon shouting match (he really only cried about 5 minutes) he slept really well. And so did his parents :) Needless to say, I came to update my blog and I haven't taken any pictures in 2 weeks so the only one I have is a few weeks old....I will try to catch up later:)
Ben and I a few weeks ago after church

The Water Boy

Amy and Fran have already posted pictures of the kids in the pool...so the pressure is on!! Amy's pictures of Ben are much better than mine because I was trying to keep him from jumping out of my arms into the pool :) He really enjoys the water. When I sat him down on the steps, he kept trying to pull away from me and lunge into the water---NO FEAR!!

He preferred being in the float because I didn't have to hold him.

If you will notice, a ball in his right hand

Almost ready for a haircut...
If you take me out of the water, I want to play ball!!
Let's go see Aunt Amy...she lets me eat anything!!
Kennedy is my buddy...
And Colin is too...
Daddy even got in the pool with me later that day
Always a Daddy's boy