The Most Amazing Year

I don't even know where to begin. This year has been amazing. I bore a life. A tiny human being. Something I created. God granted me the power, the gift, to create life and bring it into this world. What an amazing gift. Thank you, Lord. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for everything he has blessed me with. I'm telling you, if you don't believe there is a God, give birth.

A year ago I was sitting in a hospital room, staring at this new life before me. I'd dreamed about that day for years! I couldn't stop looking at him. I kept kissing him and touching him and holding him. I'm still kissing him and touching him and holding him! J.R. and I are still to this day commenting on how awesome he is and how blessed we are. I just love him SO much. I can't imagine my life without him.

Each night at bedtime, we listen to a lullaby CD. Most recently our favorite is Jim Brickman's Disney CD. My favorite song is one Wayne Brady sings. Tonight I listened to it, as Ben lay asleep in my lap. I cried and cried.

From the moment I saw you From the moment I looked into your eyes

There was something about you I knew, I knew

That you were once in a lifetime A treasure near impossible to find

And I know how lucky I am to have you

Cause I've seen rainbows that could take your breath away

The beauty of the setting sun, that ends a perfect day

And when it comes to shooting stars I have seen a few

But I've never seen anything as beautiful as you

I love you, Ben. No matter what happens, I will always, always love you.

A Birthday and a Bike Race

We had Ben's first birthday party yesterday. It was great. J.R's whole family came up and my mom and Ron came down. We also had some of our closest friends there as well. We really had a good time. Ben didn't make too much of a mess with his cake. He did take the frosting and squish it between his fingers though. He received some great gifts too...some cool toys like drums and a popper, great books and a ton of clothes. He really made out well. I made a scrapbook of his first year. I think it came out pretty good, although I don't think its entirely representative of his first year. I'll keep working on it. Everyone at the party really enjoyed it though.

Everyone was impressed with his new walking skills...boy is he getting good! The last few days he's spent more time on his feet than on his knees. If he's walking and falls, he gets right back up and walks again. He crawled for a bit today, then realized he'd rather walk, so he got up and walked! So cute.


Today was the Philadelphia Pro Cycling Tour Race. We live so close to the race route, that we braved the 92 degree temperature and hung out for a while. To keep with the "year ago today" thing, we never made it to the race last year. Instead I spent the day on the couch having contractions, tired of them being so far apart, and wondering when I could go to the hospital. As I sat on the couch, I could hear the helicopters over head (They follow the bikers. One films it for live TV.) Today, we watched the bikers climb the 17 degree hill, saw them come around a bend, and even saw a small crash. It was really fun to shout and cheer on the racers. Such a cool thing to be apart of. The streets around here are crazy...lots of people out, lots of people drinking. The three of us just wondered for about 1 1/2 hours, then Ben decided he wanted to nap, so he fell asleep right in his stroller. We spent the rest of the day in the air conditioned house.

A Year Ago Today...

Ben's first birthday party is tomorrow! I can't believe a year has gone by. I'm totally in "what happened a year ago today" mode. Yesterday was the Thursday of the first week of Day One at school. The surealness of one year hit me hard. Last year on the Thursday of the first week of Day One, I left my office a little early because I had a doctor's appointment. So I waddled downstairs with the brand new yearbook camera so I could take some pictures of the new freshmen, and grab an ice cream. I figured I'd take the yearbook camera home then bring it back the next day. I never did take any pictures, just talked to a bunch of coworkers then said "see you tomorrow" as I left. Yeah, right. Let's just say the brand new yearbook camera was broken in over the summer by taking lots of pictures of Ben! Like this one...

It was a year ago today that I called my boss and told him I'd come in a little late because I wasn't feeling well. I had started having what I thought to be indigestion discomfort the night before and had slept in a chair. I wanted to take my time and thought I'd feel better after a shower. My boss told me "I don't know if you realize this or not, but you're having a baby in a couple of days." So, I stayed home. Later, the director of a daycare I was checking out told me I was having labor pains, as I was rubbing my hips. I was in denial for a while, but the second time she said it, I really started to think she could be right. I sent J.R. a text on my way home telling him I was in labor. I still have have his response saved on my phone, "Do you want me to come home?" I spent the rest of the weekend uncomfortable on the couch.

I hope Ben is feeling well for his party. I picked him up from daycare this afternoon because he threw up 4 times. The doctor said his throat is a little swollen; there is mucus in it that is keeping all his food from going down, and when he coughs, he throws up. Poor little guy. The 19 pound 15.8 ounce critter is walking like crazy though. The past three nights he's been on his feet more than on his knees. I just watched the video from my last post, and I can't believe how much better he is already. The video just looks so... I don't know, just old I guess. I'm almost wondering how I thought that was so great, because he's doing SO great now!

Taking a Walk

Ben is walking more and more now! It's really fun to watch him. He very carefully plans his steps, and his balance is quite good. Here's some video we took of him in the kitchen tonight.

Party Animal

Ben was quite the party animal this past weekend. On Saturday, we went to the zoo with his friends Nora and Koby. It was great to see them again. Sunday we went to Koby's first birthday party. The kids really got to play with each other. The last time they played together Ben and Koby couldn't sit up by themselves and they didn't interact like they can now. It was also cute to see the three of them walking, or trying to walk around. Saturday night we drove up to New Jersey and went to a graduation party for one of my (former) students. Ben was dragging me across the dance floor, loving the music and staring at all the dancers. We were rocking a bit and he was having a great time. Monday J.R. took Ben down to the River to watch a Navy Seals demonstration. It was fun that they got to spend some daddy/son time together. A cool part was Ben Franklin stopped by and J.R. took his picture with our little Ben. It was a great picture; too bad I deleted by accident before I downloaded it to the computer. Boy was I upset. I guess we are going to have to stalk B.F. to get his picture again!

Two weeks

Ok, it's been a while. In the past two weeks...I worked a lovely Graduation Gala at school, my students graduated, I spent my first Mother's Day trying to get Ben's 103 degree fever down while he beat a double ear infection, Ben has three new teeth coming in, we got rid of lots of stuff at a yard sale, we visited with Grandma and Grandpa, I took J.R. to the Emergency Room because he had the stomach flu, daycare ticked me off, Ben had lots of good days at daycare, and we are in the middle of doing 10 loads of laundry because the electricity was off in the basement and common areas.

Ok, update over, here are the pictures....
Here's my sickie with his juice
I'm not sure if there is a sick Ben in this picture with me, or if it's an alien baby
Ben riding his new toy Grandma bought for him

These slippers were made for walking

Ben has been taking a few free steps lately. He will definitely take a falling step or two to get to something he wants, mostly mommy or daddy. Tonight, he really got into walking with daddy holding his hands. It was great. (Should I be encouraging this?)