Ben is 1!

My baby is 1! Time if flying by. Don't ya just melt when he smiles. Ben was born by a planned c-section after an attempt at a VBAC. I have to admit it was so nice to just go in at 6:30 a.m. and he was born by 8:30 a.m.. I wasn't prepared for the first time that I would hear him cry. It was beautiful. We waited so long for this little angel and I guess I didn't realize how relieved I was to hear him. He was 6 pounds 12 ounces (two pounds less than jack, that is why a VBAC wouldn't work). I couldn't believe how small he was. He had some breathing issues so I wasn't able to have him until around 4:30 p.m.. It killed me. Every time I heard a cart being wheeled down the hallway I would get so excited that it might be my Ben. The nursery nurse was so nice and broke the rules. She brought him into me for just a split second at noon just so I could take a peak. She said, "I'm a mother too, and I thought you might want to hold him." I was so grateful to her. I love my hospital stays, but my favorite is the middle of the night when they bring your baby in. It is so quiet and peaceful and I get a chance to just stare and sing to my boys.
This is Ben at 5 months when he finally started gaining weight. I love his lips in this picture.
I love my beautiful little angel boy!
At 3 months Ben got RSV and I bought this hat for him to wear home from the hospital. At three months he only weighed 8 something pounds. So Tiny!
My newborn Benner. It took four years to get this little boy into our family and I just can't believe how blessed I feel to have him. From the moment I found out I was pregnant (actually, before I found out) I felt such a sweet, calming, happy spirit about him. He is that exact boy. He is usually so happy, and it doesn't take much to make him smile. He has almost 10 teeth, which he has earned all of them. He crawls everywhere and over everything. He loves music, books, balls, cars and Jack. I love that when you give him something that he really likes he has a little party in his head by tilting his head back, closing his eyes and bouncing his whole body. I am so grateful for this boy. I can't wait to watch him grow up, but I am so grateful that he is staying a baby a little bit longer than his brother did. He can say a few words, Mama, dada, duck and Jesus. What a little angle he is. He adds so much to our family. What a wonderful year it has been. Now, if I could only get him to sleep through the night!

5 YEARS OLD!

Today my Jack is five years old. Deep breath! I can't believe it! I know all parents say it, but I really can't believe how fast the time has gone by. This boys means so much to me. He knows me better than anyone. I still remember the day he was born. I was a week late, and HUGE! I went in at 6:30 to be induced. I ended up doing the labor by myself after they broke my water. It was nothing like they say it will be. I went from a 1 to a 10 in 3 hours. There was never a break between contractions, Never! He ended up scaring us to death by his heart rate dropping drastically and we had to have an emergency c-section. I had so many drugs in me that I didn't care that much when they showed him to me. It wasn't until later that night when the nurse brought him in to me that I realized just exactly how much I loved him. It was completely dark and the room was so calm and peaceful. He was so beautiful! We have been best buds ever since.
Jack at Williamsburg VA. Almost 3 years old
Frying Pan Farm Park VA.
Jack's first birthday. Doesn't he look like a skinny Ben? He was so big at one. He never really wanted to be a baby.
This is how it all began! I love this boy. I am so grateful for the blessings that he has brought into my life. I can't believe how much he has changed my life, and made me a better person. I love his little freckles and his four missing teeth (yes, I said four, all in the front). I love how we miss each other when we are apart. I love how the other day when some kids were being mean to him that he first put up his fists to fight ( thank goodness I saw this and was able to run fast), and then he put them all in a semi circle around him and had a meeting with them on what it means to be nice. I love that he really knows who he is. I love that after his birthday party he pulled one of the presents out and said, "I don't really like this, but I pretended to really like it." I love how much he loves to talk. We could sit for hours everyday and just talk about different things. I love how he loves to look things up on the internet or in books facts about animals or really anything. I love how he loves to say potty words, and tries to say them in a way that I might not notice. I love how funny he is. I could go on forever. I love this boy and I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven who is trusting this Big spirit to be in my care.

I'm a Soccer Mom!

Sorry the picture is blurry. Jack started his first year of soccer. It's been really fun, and he even scored a goal at his first game! I have been waiting for this since the day I was told I was having a boy. I love it!
He's pretty good at not giving up and keeps running and running, even if he doesn't know why!
He loves to go to practice. He always listens to his coach and does everything they say.
Grandma and Grandpa Elggren and Brennan came to his first game. It was really hot so Grandpa came up with this great idea to keep Ben cool. Too cute!

Jack's Prayers

We had an FHE on how we should pray for our families and those we love. Jack has really been trying to do this, but......I think he goes a little to the extreme! For example......

Bless Ben that he won't get any chubbier.

Bless Ben that he will grow up and be my age.

Bless Ben that he will get smarter like me.

Bless Mommy that she won't mess up dinner.

Bless Mommy that her tummy won't get any bigger.

Bless Daddy that he won't mess up the basement.

Bless Ben that he won't eat rubber or socks. (my favorite!)

Bless Daddy that his back won't itch. ( He had a sunburn like 4 months ago)

Bless Mommy that her cut will get better (My c-section was almost a year ago)

I'm thankful for Ben and all that he does for us. What?

We should probably get a little bit more specific.

He had a horrible dream the other night and when I came into comfort him he asked, " Mommy, why does Heavenly Father give me bad dreams when I pray that I won't have them?" It broke my heart. I told him that Heavenly Father doesn't give us the bad dreams, our minds just think them up. The next night, without even telling him what to say he said, " Heavenly Father please bless that if I have a bad dream that I will be able to get through it." I thought that was cute.