Happy One Year Birthday Benjamin!

Benjamin,
Happy 1st Birthday sweet baby boy!  How can you be a year old today... it seems like yesterday they placed you in my arms and you stole our hearts!  You are our pride and joy and we cannot be more proud and thankful to call your our son!  This last year has been full of so many firsts for you and for us... and we have loved every single minute!

A little about you:

Today at your 1st year check up you weighed in at 22# 11oz. and are 31" tall.   That falls in the 50% for weight and 76% for height.  The dr. said you are very advanced for your age and are doing excellent!  But we already knew that right!!!  You love to eat almost anything, but your favorites include blueberries, mac and cheese and chicken.  For the last 365 days you have loved and enjoyed momma's milk, with a little of formula in between, and now we are going to transition you to whole milk!  We think you will just drink it up and love it!  You are about to move up to size 5 diapers, because you have the most precious cubby legs and belly, and they seem to be more comfortable of you.  Still in 12-18 month clothes and 18-24 month PJ's.

As for sleep... you are still a great little sleeper.  You get that from the Overbeck side of the family.  Your top two teeth have caused a little bit of a sir in the sleep department but we are hopeful that is over and they will break through any day!  And yes we pray for that every night.

When it comes to playtime you are a joy to watch.  You are 100% all BOY!  Love dirt, sticks, leafs... anything really dirty or messy has your name all over it.  With Easter around the corner we gave your some plastic eggs and you love to pick them up and put them in your bucket as well as find secret hiding places for them around the house.  I'm sure a year from now we will still be finding your little treasure you have hidden around the house!  It is so fun to watch you learn and discover new things each day.  We are working on sorting and stacking and you love anything you can either bang or use it to make music with!  You are also learning new words everyday and have ~15 or so words in your vocabulary.  With the warmer weather lately we have started going to the park and you have learned to climb up the stairs and can go down the slides all on your own.  Momma is close by but you love the do your own thing!  You can be quite independent when you are in your element!

As for milestones…  we took another trip on the airplane this last month to visit Mommom and Poppop Baker for their 70th Wedding Anniversary and on the trip you decided to take off and haven't stopped since!  We were at dinner the first night and you saw a duck and took off running towards it!  You are very strong and your balance is awesome!  And with the new freedom you are all over the place and we love it!  Yes, it makes thing hard at times, but we love to see you be your own person.  (I will try to remember that the next time you want to go see the ducks and I say, no)  Other milestones include your first swimming lesson.  You were not the biggest fan but that is why we are taking the lessons... to get your more comfortable in the pool for the summer!

As we think back on the day you were born and all the days since we can't help but smile and beam with joy.  You made us a family of three and we are so thankful and blessed God choose us to be your parents.  We pray everyday that you will know him and love him and that he will guide and protect your steps.  

You stole our hearts a year ago today and if it is possible we love you more now than then... and will love you more tomorrow than today.  

Love, Momma and Daddy 

How old are you... ONE!

And today we had your 1st Birthday photos taken and here is a little sneaky peak!  We just Love Jen Mcdonald with Jen Loves Photography!  She is super talented and an wonderful friend!