Five Months Old

Dear Ben,
This has been a month of firsts for you! First ride on a boat (exhausting), first taste of rice cereal (disgusting), and first consistent stretch of sleeping through the night (3 weeks and counting)! Some other firsts:

First roll over

(confusing)


first time in a pool
(miserable)


first unassisted sitting

(curious)

(exciting)

(and wobbly)

It was also your first time to go to daycare, which was a first that I wasn't in much of a hurry to reach! However, all good things, like maternity leave, must come to an end, so off to the real world we went! We were so fortunate to have received a recommendation for a wonderful woman who keeps babies and toddlers in her home. Ms. Patsey has loved you from the moment she laid eyes on you and has made the transition worlds easier than I thought it would be. (The 17 pictures I have of you on display in my office help too!) Still, I'm watching the clock closely and can't wait to scoop you up at the end of the day. Weekends have never been so cherished or seemed so short!

People always comment on your good nature and have sometimes started saying that you look like me. You sort of have stinky feet though, which you certainly didn't get from me! And we don't know why your hair sometimes looks auburn, but we do know that it's outta control most of the time!

Your love for the activity mat is starting to fade as you get more mobile and enjoy the perspective standing in the jumperoo provides. Bathtime is still your favorite; there's nothing better than a wet washcloth and cup to play with at the end of the day. Fortunately, you've made peace with the carseat...most of the time. You still like to sing, say your vowels, and cackle at Daddy.

Ben, you're just so cute and sweet, it's hard to even put it in words. We love you more every day!
Mommy and Daddy

Happy Father's Day! Part Two

We made a last-minute decision to spend Father's Day weekend with my parents in Nashville, which turned out well for everyone as we got to celebrate with my dad, they got to see Ben, and we had free babysitters for a date night!

Having spent his whole life surrounded by girls (one younger sister and then two daughters), my Dad has really enjoyed adding Tyler and Michael to our family. Suddenly he has gun range companions and people to sit with in Die Hard 18 while Mom, Jess and I watch the latest Julia Roberts/Kate Hudson/Reese Witherspoon movie in the next theater.

As fun (and sometimes disturbing) as that relationship has been to watch, seeing my Dad getting to know Ben has provided some of my all-time favorite moments. Maybe because the surprise of learning we were pregnant - while Tyler was in school and I had just changed jobs - took some getting used to for him, or maybe because it offers a glimpse of the way he was with Jess and me as babies, or maybe it's just the happiness you feel watching someone fall in love. Whatever the reason, I'm overjoyed to be able to share in this experience with my Dad, who has seen me through quite a few experiences over the years. :) Love you Dad!

Not to be left out, Ben also has a wonderful Papa (and Nana) who we can not wait to see again in just a few weeks! Miss and love you guys!

Happy Father's Day! Part One

After soliciting some man-advice from my brother-in-law and a few other guys on the merits of charcoal vs. gas grills (thanks, by the way), Ben and I decided a charcoal grill would make a good first Father's Day gift for Tyler. You see, for Tyler, it's not so much about convenience as it is the experience. He just loves grilling while hanging out on the back porch with us or talking on the phone to his BFFs across the country. Besides, isn't it just part of the Dad Handbook to have a nice grill?!

Mommy's got her Father's Day informants; I've got mine.
I've know Bear since I was born, so I always listen to what he has to say.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Yeah, it's a grill. Picked it out myself.

If you look behind me to the right, you'll see the grill is in the assembly process.

Don't worry Mom; Dad and I have this under control.

An official member of the Dad Club

Zoe and me watching Mommy fixing the fixins' in the kitchen.

So the grill arrived the Saturday before Father's Day, and we didn't waste any time putting it to use that night, and the next night and then that Wednesday...a good purchase indeed!

Speaking of investments, we always joke that Tyler was a good long-term investment for me. Apparently, someday he is going to run out of classes to take and degrees to earn and the 25 years of education he's endured will start to pay off! But really, I'm already quite happy with my ROI. (What? I took economics. I know things.) Tyler is the hardest-working person I know (Really. It's exhausting.) and somehow still makes me, and now Ben, his priority.

One of the first memories is him showing off a handful of pictures in class of his niece, Kianna, who had been born over the summer. He was so enamored with that little baby and proud of his sister; and I knew then that he'd make a good dad. Seeing him rolling around the floor with all our nieces and nephews over the years only solidified that feeling. And then Ben was born, and Tyler morphed from "Fun Uncle T" to a father. From his 200+ picture screensaver, to bringing in extra money by working two jobs, to the way he watches Ben sleep from the doorway and can't wait to pick him up in the morning, Tyler has accepted this new title in the way he does everything - with a fervor that I admire and love.

The shirt says it all.

On an unrelated note, here I am showing off a couple of my Grandma's latest creations.


PS - As I look through these pictures, I have to wonder, what did people do with their babies before Bumbo seats were invented?!

Summer in the South

During the Alabama summers, there are only two places to be: inside or in water. This week, we tried both, neither of which proved too successful. On Sunday afternoon, we joined the hoardes of people at the mall to escape the sweltering heat. I may have mentioned before that Ben inherently hates shopping..the kid somehow knows the difference between sun- and florescent light even underneath the shade of his carseat! But know who hates it more? That'd be Tyler. After a temper tantrum at Gymboree, I decided that shopping wasn't a great way for my baby to pass the time. Ben was ready to go too! :)

So, if you can't beat the heat...buy a pool! We thought it was safe to assume that since Ben is such a big fan of the bath tub, an $8 baby pool would be a natural hit. Not so much. After 20 mintues of slathering on sunblock, and wrestling with the swim diaper and bathing suit, we only managed to get a few cute shots in between fussing. Oh well, we will try again soon. Ben's got to learn how to survive summers in the South sooner or later! And if swimming doesn't come naturally, the threat of shopping will probably warm him up to the idea!

Mommy may be smiling, but I know better.

Well this isn't so bad...I love to swim! What? I'm not touching the water?
That sounds about right.

Well, at least somebody enjoyed it!

Ode to my Feet

Ben's Special Day

This past Sunday, June 1, was Ben's dedication at our church. Our pastor prayed that Ben would grow up to love Jesus and live in a way that reflects God's special call on his life. He also prayed for wisdom and guidance for Tyler and me and all the other influencial people in Ben's life. We feel so humbled and fortunate that God has granted us the opportunity to raise His child, and it's a job that we know we can't do without His help.

Making the event even more special, was having my family in town to celebrate. We had a wonderful weekend, and enjoyed spending time together before Jess and Michael headed out west.

My first overalls! Daddy says they're girly, but Mommy ensures me that they're just summery. (Daddy would probably say that's a girly thing to say.)

I'm so excited to wear my new bubble that Grandma smocked for me!

Pastor Chris Hodges dedicating me and my friends to Jesus.

Mommy and Daddy praying that they do a good job with me.

(They'll need all the help they can get!)

The Prentice (Mom and Dad)/Crandall (Grandma and Grandpa)/Isle (Uncle and Aunt) families

I love my Aunt Jess and Uncle Michael. Miss you guys already!

P.S. Jess, you're tagged! See post below. :)