redo 4 month pictures

Meeting a friend

This weekend, Benjamin got to meet a new friend, Athena. Athena's mommy, Sherry, and I have been friends for a few years now. We found out we were pregnant within days of each, and Benjamin and Athena are a week apart (Athena being a week older). Here's a picture of their first meeting. Poor, sweet Athena had just fallen asleep in her car seat when she got to our house, so a photo session wasn't her idea of fun. :-)

1 year ago

One year ago tomorrow, I found out I was pregnant with Benjamin. To say the least, it was a very big surprise. I remember looking at the positive pregnancy test, then looking at my almost six month old, who wasn't even sitting up yet, and thinking, "You've got to be kidding me!"

It didn't seem fair. I was wanting a break from being pregnant, from nusing, from the baby phase. I was still nursing. I was just getting on top of having two kids, how would I manage three? But the over riding emotion that I had was fear. I didn't know how I was going to be able to do it. I doubted God's plan for our family. Rather than being joyful at the huge gift we had been given, I was sad.

I took a pregnancy test on Tuesday. It looked kinda positive, but not for sure positive. The next morning, it looked even more positive. Curtis thought it was just a messed up test. So I did the next logical thing.... I called my best friend Christi to see what she thought. Being the ever encouraging friend, she assured me that it was probably negative. But just to be on the safe side, I took it over to her house to have her check it out. :-) I even called the 1-800 number on the back of the pregnancy test box. Jose, the assistant who answered the phone said, "Any vertical line should be read as a positive." Thanks Jose!

So, On Wednesday (the 13th) I took another test. Positive. The next morning, I took another test. Positive. I took a total of eight tests (over the course of three days), almost hoping that one would be negative. All positive.

After the first for sure positive test, I called Christi crying. She was supposed to be the next one pregnant, not me. I was so upset. I didn't want to be pregnant, and I didn't want another baby at that point.

Looking back, I am ashamed at how sinful I was. Of course my reaction was human. But it wasn't the reaction of someone who believes that every child is a precious gift. It was the reaction of someone who doubted her Savior.

All these emotions continued for the first trimester. When I was about 15-16 weeks pregnant, I was diagnosed with post partum depression (PPD). The doctor thinks that I had PPD from when I had Micah, and then the pregnancy sent me into a further depression. It was a really tough time for me personally, for me as a mom, and for Curtis and I. But with the help of Curtis, my family, and my church family, I was able to come out on the other end of things.

Through all of this, I have learned so much. When I think back to how I was feeling a year ago, it brings tears to my eyes. I look at my beautiful son, and praise God that His plans are so much bigger than mine. The thought that there was a time when I didn't want him seems so far, and so long ago. I am so thankful for Benjamin, and for how God used him to continue to sanctify me.

1st Aggie shirt

"Future 12th Man..... as soon as I can stand"

Jesus Loves Me

Tonight, I was singing to Benjamin, and he decided to join in. So adorable, I had to share (even though you're going to have to listen to my not so great singing voice too). "Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise." Matt. 21:16

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Baptism Video

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Blue eyes

Sweet Feet

I don't know why I'm so intrigued by Benjamin's feet. Ever since the first time I held him, I've loved his little feet! I remember looking at his sweet toes for the first time in the hospital. The way he crosses them reminds me of his brother and sister when they were little. He also crosses his feet when he nurses. It's just so sweet!

So today while he was napping, I took pictures of his feet.

happy boy

baptism gown

All three of my babies have worn the same gown when they were baptized. And each time, I have their Aunt Shannon take pictures of them in the gown, Benjamin was baptized this past Sunday, and here are his baptism pictures.

Awwww!

I love this picture! Until this picture, I had never had professional pictures taken of any of the kids as baby babies. When Benjamin was born, he was dubbed our most beautiful baby. Then, he went through his "funny baby stage". But now, look how cute!

Bouncy Seat

All three kids have used this bouncy seat, and all three have loved it! I put Benjamin in the bouncy seat this evening, and he was crying. As you can see from the video, he's not sure how he feels about being put in the seat. But he was won over by the musical fun, and is still there now!

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Benjamin made this face not because of being put down, but because his brother and sister were screaming.

Lots of happy faces in the bouncy seat.

In awe of the musical fun!

2 month picture

2 months

On the 18th, Benjamin turned 2 months! I have yet to take a great picture for the two month page in his album, but will work on that this weekend.

At his check up he weighed in at 12 lbs and 6 ozs and measured 23 1/4 inches. He is in the 65th percentile in both height and weight, making his our smallest baby thus far (though not that far from where Elizabeth was at this age).

Fun/Random things about Benjamin
He smiles a lot now.
He can see things at a distance.
He sleeps through the night! Yay!
He crosses his feet when he sleeps or eats, just like his sister and brother.
His eye are still blue, and it looks like they will stay that way.
He cries when Micah cries.

Benjamin has been a delight! To think that this time last year I wasn't even pregnant is so strange. Already it feels as if he has been in our lives for as long as I can remember.

I love my sister

Perfecting the Smile

10 things

Sherry, I'm stealing this from you!

10 things I love about Benjamin.
1. His BLOND hair.
2. The face he makes right before he starts screaming.
3. The sweet noises he makes when nursing.
4. How he likes to snuggle.
5. Sometimes, he just wants ME!
6. His "old man forehead."
7. Tiny baby feet, that loved to be kissed when he's eating.
8. How I'm one of the only people who can make him smile.
9. His funny shaped head.
10. The way he feels in my arms.

Health Update

On Wednesday, Benjamin had a follow up with the pediatrician. Everything looked great, and Benjamin was given a clean bill of health. The doctor said that he came through the whole meningitis thing pretty much unscathed, and we just had to wait for the results from a hearing test.

Today was the day for the hearing screening. As the doctor was checking Benjamin out before the screening, he noticed some fluid in Ben's ear. The audiologist did a pressure test, and it turns out that Benjamin had a lot of fluid on both his ears, which is fairly abnormal for a baby his age. Upon further checking, the ENT determined that Benjamin also has an ear infection. We were unable to do the hearing test today, due to all the fluid. He is back on antibiotics, and we're already starting to look at the possibility of tubes.

the ENT doesn't think that the ear problems are related to the meningitis, it's just something else that we're going to have to deal with. Thankfully, it's nothing major, and his long term prognosis is still great!

Please keep him in your prayers as we travel this weekend. He's been pretty cranky the past few days (for obvious reasons!) and isn't sleeping well. Thanks!

1 month

And what a month it has been. I'm still waiting for my feet to hit the ground, and for the kids to adjust to the new baby. It seems like just when we are getting close to normal, something happens/changes. It's been a busy month!

But what a good month it has been! It's so strange to think that this time a month ago, we were still in the hospital after having him. It feels like Benjamin has been part of our lives for so much longer than a month.

He is the sweetest baby, and such a good eater and sleeper! He can sleep almost anywhere, unless it's too quiet, which is a good thing. He doesn't mind being toted around from one place to another, and when he learns to sleep in his car seat, life will be a lot better! The sound of running water can always calm him down. He has grown to love the swing, and will often take his naps in the swing. Benjamin is quite fond of his pacy, at least most of the time. It's one of the ways we get him to calm down to go to sleep.

In these pictures, I think Benjamin looks like a Who (from Dr. Suess). Curtis thinks he looks like a Smurf. So, we affectionately call these his Who-Smurf pictures. Either way, he sure is a cutie!

Daddy and Benjamin

Benjamin and Micah

Introducing....

Benjamin's belly button!! His umbilical cord fell out last night, giving us our first peak at his belly button. This morning when we showed Elizabeth, she said, "Oh look!! The leaf fell out of his belly button!" Funny!

Brother and Sister