Ben's 1st Birthday

 Happy 1st Birthday Ben!

September 3, 2012

 Your birthday landed on Labor Day this year. We celebrated as soon as you woke up with balloons & birthday donuts! We sang happy birthday to you and your big brother helped you blow out your first birthday candle.

 Opening your first gift from mommy, daddy, and Luke

 So much fun riding your new motorcycle

Luke was just as excited as you were, he wanted to drive it and when we told asked him to give you a turn

on your new motorcycle, he said "hop on Ben!"  

 With a little help from Big Brother

Hot Shot!

After your birthday party was over, you began to open gifts from family and friends. This was a hit, your new four-wheeler from Bop & Nannie!

Ben, we had so much fun celebrating your 1st birthday and hope that one day you will look back and realize just how special it was for us as a family. It is hard to believe that just one year ago you joined our family. You fit so perfectly and we fell in love with you the second we laid our eyes on you. With each day our love for you grows. Ben, your personality is developing more and more each day and we love to see it shine. You have the sweetest smile that lights up all of our lives, you have a mischievous laugh, are full of hugs and kisses, are very laid back when it comes to sharing with your brother, and yet you have a little temper that shines when you don't get exactly what you want. We see this happen when someone goes outside and you want to go, when we close the baby gates, and when we take away things you should not have. You have started to really miss Luke when he is not around. The other night I gave you a bath alone because Luke was still playing outside with the "big kids". When it was time for your "naked party", you literally ran all over the upstairs looking for Luke. (The boys always bath together and after they are done, Luke picks which room they have a naked party and that is where they both get their lotion & pj's on, after they run around for a few minutes, of course!) It made me kind of sad because Ben was wandering aimlessly looking in every room for Luke, but it also made me smile knowing how much he loves his big brother already.

At one year old, this is what Ben is up to:

-you are 100% done with formula!

-you do get one bottle of whole milk at night, otherwise you are drinking exclusively from the sippy cup

-you love to read touch and feel books

-your wearing size 4 diapers

-mostly wearing 12-18 month clothing

-your hair is really starting to curl up in the back

-you are wearing a size 5 shoe

-LOVE to play outside at all hours of the day

-water is one of your favorite things to play in

-you are saying: mama, dada, baa-baa (bottle), bye bye, nigh nigh, pretty, uh-oh, hot, and making lots of animal sounds

-we have taken down the gate to upstairs, but left the downstairs one on. you are going up and down like a champ, I have a feeling the other gate will be down soon

-you are a great little eater and let us know you are done eating by throwing everything off your tray

-you are a very social little boy, waving to everyone we see out and about

-you are jabbering all the time

-your 12 month stats are as follows: 31 inches long in the 87th percentile and 24lbs in the 78th percentile

Sweet Ben, thank you for an amazing 12 months,  we love you with all our hearts and we can't wait to see what you will learn this next month!

1st Birthday traditional "Smash Cake"

 Happy 1st Birthday Ben! We hope you enjoyed your chocolate baseball cake from Yummy's!

 "I got a lil taste, I think I will have more!"

 "This is good, why did you wait so long to give this to me!"

 Luke thinks Ben is pretty silly rubbing frosting all over his head!

Time for a bath:)

Ben, you loved your cake and made us all laugh as you rubbed frosting all over your face and hair!

Birthday fun with family

 What a fun weekend for Sean & I to celebrate our two little boys birthdays!

 Nannie & Bop with their two little All-Stars!

 So thankful to have Great Grandparents with us to celebrate Ben's 1st Birthday and Luke turning 3!

 "Hi, I am ONE year old today!"

All ready for cake!

Uncle Mitch & Kolbi celebrating with us! 

Big weekend

This past weekend we had the greatest joy celebrating our boys all weekend long! We could not have asked for a better weekend spent with our two little bundles of joy, and most importantly making each of their birthdays very special. As a mommy to these two sweet boys, I couldn't help but find myself smiling throughout the weekend as I was reminded of how wonderfully blessed we are, the laughter that fills our home because of these two sweeties, the energy of my two toddlers that makes us keep going, and never ending stories being told by Luke! All providing so much joy to our lives and melts my heart.

We found ourselves revisiting "a year ago now, this..." throughout much of the weekend. It amazes me how we can remember every small detail of each day, September 4, 2009 and September 3, 2011. What amazes me, is how each of their personalities, fit their entrance to this world!

As we celebrated the boys birthdays, it reminded me of how fast time is actually going, and these two little boys remind me to "slow down" my days as much as I canl!  How is it possible that these two boys can teach us so much is such a short time? We learn from them daily, and in so many small gestures & words they speak to us so clearly.

Luke & Ben, we can not share with you enough just how much you mean to us. We had the most wonderful time celebrating all weekend long, you make us smile & laugh everyday! We love you!

We are so thankful to our family & so many amazing friends for sharing in our boys birthday celebration Monday. It meant so much to us to have you here with us to celebrate & be apart of the amazing memories of Ben's 1st Birthday and Luke turning 3. Nothing can beat watching a child celebrate their first birthday and take part in the tradition of the "smash cake"! As many saw, Ben thoroughly enjoyed his cake, and even more so, enjoyed rubbing it all over like baby lotion!!! (pictures to come)

I have so much to share on the special weekend and the birthday party, along with milestones at 1 year & 3 years...all future posts.

Luke & Ben ready for Sunday brunch at Cedar Ridge Winery

Our little "all-stars" getting geared up for the birthday party!

Birthday Month is here!

September is a big month for our family, it is the month that we will celebrate our two little sweethearts! It is the month that we celebrate becoming parents, it is one in which we give thanks and remember all the details of September 4, 2009 and September 3, 2011.

We will celebrate both boys birthdays this Monday with many family & friends, more details after the party!

This past week we have been with our daily schedules, prepping for the party, and sneaking in a family day out! Monday, we spent a few hours with the boys at Monkey Joe's, a venue filled with games and bounce houses. The boys had a blast & my cheeks hurt from smiling the entire time as I watched the bounce and play together. Wednesday night our neighborhood had a block party and it was a huge turnout. It was fun to meet many of the newer neighbors and watch the kids of all ages play together. Ben had fun, as all the little girls were wanting their turn holding him and watching him, I have a big pool of neighbors for babysitting in years to come:) Thursday evening was Luke's preschool orientation! How is it possible he is starting preschool??? Luke made himself right at home, running around like crazy, making friends, and not wanting to sit still. I feel like I should warn his teachers, but I am sure they will learn soon enough how outgoing and busy our little Luke is:)! He starts this Tuesday, on his birthday! He was excited to see that two girls from Mrs. A's are in his class, along with two others he knows. It will be a big day for Luke as he starts preschool on his 3rd birthday!!!!

Last night we enjoyed Family Night out at Regina high school with some good friends of ours. What can beat a Friday night filled with kids carnival, Friday prep football, and the kids running crazy?? They had a blast rolling down the hill, eating popcorn, and cheering on Regina & Solon!

We are going to enjoy the day today watching Iowa Football & getting ready for the big party!

I'm still in awe that we are celebrating our boys birthdays this coming week...they fill our lives with the most joy we could have ever imagined!

 Happy Birthday month Boys!!!

 such a big boy

 Playing at Monkey Joe's

 Ben's 1st bike ride (he wasn't digging the helmet)

 It might be a little big!

 Summer isn't complete without eating popsicles with friends on the porch

(Luke, Big Ben, & Little Ben)

This is what happens when Luke goes without a nap!!!

4:30pm and passed out on the chair