Ben's One Year Update

Our baby is now one year old! 

He is so fun and is a very easy baby to parent and care for.

WHAT HAS HE BEEN UP TO LATELY?

*   He is 30 inches long and weighs 17.4 pounds

*   He has light brown hair and blue/ gray eyes

*   He has six teeth- four on top and two on bottom

*   He wears size 9 and 12 month clothes

*   He wears size 3 shoe

*   He wears size 3 diaper 

*   He still sucks his thumb when sleepy.

*   He is a happy child.  He is laid back and easy going.

*   He loves water.  When he hears the bath water running he will crawl as fast as he can to the bathroom and try to get in the tub.  He also loves the swimming pool.  If he finds any water he does his best to play in it.

*    He loves music.  He will clap and shake his body to the beat.  He also waves his arms when he hears music.

*   He is a little shy, especially around new people.

*   He is a daddy's boy!

*   He does not like to be told "no" and will get very upset when he hears it.

*   He is head strong and knows what he likes and doesn't like.

*   He plays very well by himself and doesn't mind being alone.

*   He puts everything in his mouth and chews on everything.

*   He is crazy about his brother and nobody can make him laugh or light up like Cruz can.

*   He finished nursing around his birthday and is now on whole milk.  He loves it and transitioned very easily.

*  He is also eating mostly solid foods now.  He loves to eat!  He will eat anything I give him.  Thankfully he is not a picky eater.  He feeds himself very well and prefers to feed himself.  He loves any type of bread.  He also loves all fruits.  If I put one thing on his tray he will put that one thing in his mouth.  If I put five things on his tray he will try to put all five in his mouth at the same time.  We cannot eat anything in front of him.  He will scream for a bite.

*   He is obsessed with getting Cruz's sippie cup.  Even if we give them the exact same cup he will throw his down and try to get Cruz's. 

*   He got his second haircut this month.

*   He is a climber

*   He loves to make a mess!  If he sees something in order he does his best to mess it up.  If we have toys stored in a bucket- he will dump them all out.  If has toys in his crib he will throw them all on the floor.  If he gets in the kitchen cabinets he pulls everything out.  He loves things messy (unlike the other three members of his family, haha)

*   He loves his new activity table he got for his birthday.

*   He likes to be pulled around in his wagon and pushed around while sitting in the Little Tikes car.

*   He still sleeps with a burp cloth but has become more picky about which ones he likes.  He now only wants one that has something soft like a minky dot fabric on it.  He likes to rub the soft part.  It is funny to watch him twist and turn it until he gets it like he wants it.  He also has started sleeping with a minky dot blanket that was Cruz's. 

*   He is starting to like stuffed animals too because they are soft.  He particularly likes a small monkey that he has.  He loves to rub the tail. 

*  Praise the Lord he is finally sleeping through the night!!!  He began around 11 months.  He now sleeps from around 8:00 p.m. until 6/6:30 a.m. (many mornings a little later).  He eats breakfast and then goes back down for a long morning nap sometime between 8 and 9:00.  He still takes an afternoon nap but usually for only about an hour. 

*   He loves to play with books.  He has a habit of pulling them all off the shelf in his room and just piling them up on the floor around him (again- making a big mess)

*   He loves balls and balloons

*   He LOVES to play in the dirt.  He likes to eat the dirt and any rocks he can find.

*   He waves hello and goodbye.  He says "hola".
*   He is a squealer and likes to make his presence known. 
*   He is not walking alone yet, but is cruising everywhere.  He likes to walk behind a few push toys he has. He doesn't like for us to hold his hands and him try to walk.  He will always sit down and try to crawl away. 

look at that devilish little grin! 

He is going to work us over.  I just know it!!! haha

It has been a fun year having him a part of our family.  He just adds a fun sweetness to the mix.  We look forward to watching him grow and develop and cannot wait to see how he changes over the next few months and years.  He is growing up way too fast for this mama's heart, but what a joy it is to watch him and experience life though his eyes.  We thank God for allowing us to be his parents and ask Him to give us the wisdom we need to lead and guide Ben in the right way.  

Happy 1st birthday, baby boy!!!

We love you to the moon and back!