Catching Up

So many things have happened in the last few weeks and I realized that I have been shirking my blogging duties in not sharing them!  One of which is that we now have a 4 and a half month old who is growing and changing every day.  His little personality is not so little anymore, in fact I think it may be bigger than he is!  Though he is trying to catch up and has grown another 2 inches since his last doctor's visit.  He continues to be in the 97% in height (27 inches now!) and has grown so much that his weight (15 lb. 14 oz.) can't keep up and is now in the 70%.  These stats are a little interesting to clothe.  He often wears a 3 or 6 month onesie with 9 month pants because his little legs just stretch on forever.  His ankles, or cankles as we call them since his calves disappear into his feet, frequently peek out of his pants which just never seem to be long enough!

Beyond growing, our little guy has become such a little character.  He LOVES to be around people and can summon energy and smiles from some hidden reserve even when he is sleepy and overdue for a nap.  Likewise, he resists naps or bedtime if people are over because he knows we are having fun and he wants to be a part of it all!  He talks and coos and screeches and giggles for anyone who will listen.  Every day he seems to discover another octave or tone to try out and practices every chance he gets. :)  In fact, this last week he had his first cold and discovered that he could use the phlegm in the back of his throat to his advantage and create a fun gurgling sound when he talked.  Watching him discover new things is just so much fun!  He gets this serious contemplative look on his face as he watches us eat or do something, holds a toy, listens to a new sound or tries to grab at something.  But the best thing in the world is the way his smiles cracks his mouth open into a grin that spreads across his faces and makes his eyes sparkle.  And all I have to do to be granted one of these million dollar smiles is just catch his attention, or kiss and snuggle his neck, sing to him, dance with him, use a funny voice....pretty much just pay him any attention.  What a joy and what a delight he is in our lives!  We have been blessed with such a wonderful kid!  I can't imagine a better experience than being his mom and am so grateful that God created this exceptional little boy for our home and our family.

Here are some professional photos taken of Ben and our family threesome just before he turned 4 months.  Our friend, John Crozier, is an incredible photographer with an eye for the perfect shot and we were so excited to have Ben captured on film with his artistic touch!