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!

Trip to Maryland!

This last weekend we traveled to Maryland to celebrate my grandparents 70th Wedding Anniversary! It was a fast trip, only 5 days, but we packed a lot of fun into our adventure!  Here is a quick photo recap.  Happy Wednesday!

Happy 11 Months Benjamin!

Happy 11 Months sweet baby boy!  I can't believe we are just 31 days away from your 1st birthday!  I know this next month will go by super fast so we have to remember to breath in every minute!  They are precious and move to quickly… and next thing we know you will be one years old!

A little about you:

We don't have an official weight for you put thinking 24 pounds or so.  You have not had an appetite the last few weeks because your top two teeth are coming through and they are NOT fun.  But when you do feel like eating you have discovered a few new things this last month and have really enjoyed them… tacos, chips, ego waffles, macaroni & cheese, and you LOVE the fruit & veggie little squeezable pouches and can feed yourself.  You still take 3 bottles of mom's milk a day, but we are transiting to formula because my pumping days will quickly be over.  You take formula just fine, but I know you still prefer momma's milk more!  You are still in size 4 diapers and wear 12-18 month clothes!  Can't wait for warmer weather to break out all your spring and summer clothes!!

Sleep… we had a little rough patch while Daddy was traveling a few weeks back, but I'm happy to say you are back to a normal sleep routine.  And I thank you greatly for that… this momma can't wait up at 6am to start the day… Very grateful that you sleep till 8-8:30.  As for naps… you are trying to kick your morning nap… somedays are more successful than others, but we are trending to just one nap in the afternoon around 1-2 and you sleep for about 2 hours or so.

Playtime is your favorite thing to do these days… you are exploring and learning new things every minute and we love to watch you figure out your toys and play with them in new ways.  You love to take your blocks out of the buckets and put them back in, you love to push your tractor and trains around (sometimes you push them sideways, but you are getting the hang of it), you love to sit on your scooter (haven't learned to push with your feet yet, but you sit so tall and proud you can climb in and out), you absolutely love your basketball hoop and love to make baskets with daddy!  Your love for books is growing and we have about 5 books we ready every night and sometimes before nap time.  You also love it when we unload the dishwasher and are a great helper when unloading the silverware!  You also LOVE your soccer ball and are really good at rolling it back and forth.  You also have become quite the indian giver… you give something away then a few minute later you take it back!  It is quite funny!  You also love to have your feet tickled and love to tickle other peoples feet as well.

As for milestones…  I hate to say this but you have entered into the fit throwing stage!  You hate to be told "No" and will sometimes melt right there on the floor like the world is ending or something.   We try hard to distract you but you are one determined little man at time!  We also took you to your first music class this last month with your friends and you really enjoyed it!  Your favorite part was playing with the drum!  I think I see a little music man in our future!  The the biggest milestone yet happen just a few days after you turned 10 months… you took your forest steps!  You are still very hesitant to walk more than 6-7 steps so we will keep encouraging you and building your confidence each day!  You also are babbling all sorts of new words!  Ball, milk, toes, night night, bye bye, wow… they are all in Benjamin language, but momma and daddy can make them out!

You are the joy of our lives and we love you so much!!  Happy 11 Months baby boy!!  We love you so much, Momma and Daddy!

My Little Valentine!

To get into the Valentine's Day spirit I dressed Ben up and captured a few "sweet" photos of my little love!

Hope you have a sweet Valentine's Day with those your love!

Ben's First Steps!

I'd have to say this might be the most proud moment of parenthood thus far... and to be able to capture his first steps, falls, joys, and cheers of Benjamin's first steps are priceless!  Hope these precious moments bring smiles to your face as well!

First steps were taken on Tuesday, February 11, 2014... 10 Months and 2 days or 44 weeks old!

 

Happy 10 Months Benjamin!

Benjamin,

Happy 10 Months sweet baby boy!  I can't believe we are just 2 short months away from your 1st birthday!  We will savor every second and enjoy every moment before that big milestone!  We have found our little routine in our crazy world this second month with me staying home.  I love our special morning time together cuddling in bed watching morning TV... and I think it you enjoy it too!

A little about you:

We don't know your official weight, but daddy weighed you after bath last week and the scale said 24.5 pounds... and I don't doubt it!  You have had quite the appetite of late, beside last week when you had a little stomach bug, and eat everything in sight!  Speaking on food, we have transitioned you to more table food and you are doing really well.  Everyday we make more progress at getting more food in your tummy than on the floor!  Yes, that is right... you make a HUGE mess, but that's ok!!  You still love your Earth's Best pureed baby food and have a jar of veggies with each meal.  You are down to 3 bottles a day taking about 20 oz of mommas milk.  You are filling in your size 12-18 month clothes perfectly and I love dressing you in your cute little clothes!

As for sleeping... I hate to say, in fear I will jinx myself, but you are a fantastic sleeper!  You still take 2 naps a day and sleep 11 1/2 to 12 hours each night.  I will say that you did not sleep well the first night we traveled to see Grandma and Grandpa Ingram in Dallas this last weekend, but other than that you are a good little sleeper and for that we are extremely thankful!  Momma and Daddy love to sleep too!  As for schedule we are still on the same schedule as last month.

As for playtime you are learning and exploring new toys and things everyday!  You really have discovered your books this last month and love to turn the pages and read them on the floor.  You also really enjoy pushing your walkers and tractor around everywhere... well anything that moves for that mater!  Stools, your highchair, the trash can... you get the point!  You also love love love when daddy comes home... you often go and sit at the garage door and wait for his arrival!  You light up when he walks through the door and it brings such joy to my heart to see you to playing together.  

When it comes to milestones this last month we have reached a few... you have discovered every cabenit in the house and love to open them... daddy is putting the childproof locks on the doors this week so I apologize now that we are ruining your fun... but it has to be done!  You love to wave and say "baaaa byyyyeee" when it is time to go!  When we say "Soooo Biggg" you raise your arms up high!  One of the funnest things you do is when you hear clapping or someone say "good job" or "yeah" you clap!!!  It is the sweetest thing!  And last but certinly not least you are standing on your own and have taken a step or two on your own.  We think you just need a little more confidence before you take off on your own!  Maybe just a few more weeks.

You are the joy of our lives and we love you so much!!  Happy 10 Months baby boy!!  We love you so much, Momma and Daddy!