Benjamin's first year

Last May...my baby girl was pregnant with Benjamin...but he wasn't due to be born until later in June...

But on May 30, 2009, at 8:54 a.m....
Lindsey and Donnie welcomed their precious baby boy into their arms...
Benjamin saw his mama and daddy for the first time...

his Mimi saw him for the first time through tears...
Donnie was in awe of his new baby son...
Their first family picture...how happy we all were...how happy we still are!
"Oh, my little man! Your Mimi is so incredibly happy...so incredibly thankful!"
pure sweetness...

Benjamin looked like a pilot as he was given a hearing test...
I've always loved this picture...my baby girl with her baby boy...

On June 2, Benjamin came home...
"Hi Benjamin!"
His Papa saw his little man for the first time...
Benjamin went to his first birthday party...
His mama and daddy just couldn't quit kissing their little man...
My guy and I... Papa and Mimi with their newest little grandson!
3 generations...

On June 13th, Benjamin met his cousin, Emerson, and his Uncle Gabe and Aunt Emily for the first time...
I was an extremely happy Mimi, holding both of my grandsons for the first time...
Benjamin went to church for his first time...We prayed for God to bless him, to protect him...
Donnie enjoyed resting with his little man on his chest...

July, 2009
Benjamin's Grandma and Grandpa from Montana came for a visit. I think this was in July... Aunt Heather and the future Uncle Bill came too.

Thalia came to visit and meet her cousin, Benjamin. She loved holding him...

I needed a picture with my newest grandson and my granddaughter!

August, 2009
In August, Lindsey, Donnie, and Benjamin stopped by Uncle Gabe, Aunt Emily, and Emerson's on their way to see us. They dressed the boys in some of their matching outfits. These baseball suits are from their Saddie...
These baby kimonos are from Lindsey's friend, the Kato's, from Tokyo...
Benjamin attended his first class reunion. It was Lindsey's 10 year high school reunion. Here she is with her friend, Tammy, and her family and her friend, Lindsey, and her family.
Papa was showing Benjamin how to hit the gong...

September, 2009
Emerson and his parents came up and spent the weekend... along with Benjamin and his family...this was for Labor Day weekend...

We had a photo shoot....actually we had several photo shoots...some of Benjamin just in his cloth diaper...
some in what his Uncle Gabe called 'his Amish outfit'...
Papa loved holding his little guy...
After a walk, both the boys were sacked out...which was a convenient time since we were eating dinner!

October, 2009
In October, Benjamin was loving to stand up...with a little assistance from his mama's legs!

I loved how he held his feet...Benjamin has many little friends he met in the "Mommy and Me" class... Benjamin and his friends all came in their Halloween costumes...he was a skeleton...
On another day, he was a burrito!
"Ahhh, come on! A burrito?"
Benjamin was happier being a skeleton!

November, 2009
November was a big month! Benjamin was one of 17 people at his Mimi and Papa's for Thanksgiving.
He met his Uncle Joshua for the first time...and got to hang out with his cousin, Emerson, again...
Benjamin and Emerson both met their Saddie for the first time...
Benjamin also met his cousin, Addison...
His Uncle Joshua just loves his little nephews...
as did Aunt Erica...
Playing 'boo-heady' with Saddie...
and just giving her a hug...
Benjamin met his Grammy for the first time, too....
He and his cousin just had a great time together!
Benjamin had had nothing except breast milk...but he was a little jealous watching his cousin eat out of that curved thing...so Benjamin's mama gave him some milk in a spoon... he wasn't too sure about getting it this way!
Cousin Thalia loved playing with her cousins. Benjamin was very fond of his friend, Sophie...Sophie the giraffe!
After watching the movie, Big, Benjamin wanted to be like Tom Hanks...and play a song on the piano...standing on it!
Papa was loving having his little man around...Benjamin was loving having his Papa around...
Even though it wasn't Christmas, it was just about December...so we took some Christmas pictures. I didn't think we'd see the grandkids at Christmas...
Grammy, Saddie, and their great-grandkids!
Benjamin also met his Aunt Patti for the first time...along with his cousins Liz and GRITS...

December, 2009
In December, we stopped to see Benjamin on our way to San Diego to see Uncle Joshua.
We celebrated Benjamin's first Christmas...even though it was a little early.
Benjamin loves to have books read to him...and he also was modeling his new Seattle Seahawks outfit...

We Texans, forgave him.

Benjamin is always happy...even when he doesn't feel well, he still smiles, still laughs, still chatters away...
He unwrapped his first gift...
and he unwrapped his second gift!

January, 2010
Towards the end of January, we met at Benjamin's cousin, Emerson's house. I had a meeting, so they came up so we could spend the weekend together. The boys had matching CHAMP outfits...
Uncle Gabe called this Benjamin's model pose... he does this all the time...
He was wondering what we were going to do for dinner...
So we all went to Applebees...no one would make a decision about where to go...so somehow we ended up here. Benjamin was very impressed with their balloons!
The boys had another chance to play together!
They also took their first bath together!
Benjamin wasn't too sure about a camera on him during his bath...actually, his bath was over, the water was drained...and it was time to get dried off...

This was January 30...and we didn't see the boys again until March...

March, 2010
Benjamin and Emerson took their parents to San Francisco...and to the aquarium. They also went to eat at Bubba Gumps!

Benjamin learned a lot from his cousin in March. Emerson whispered secrets to Benjamin...we never found out what it was all about...
Benjamin and his daddy...in March
Benjamin loved standing up next to Uncle Gabe's ottoman...

April, 2010
In April, we all met at Uncle Joshua, Aunt Erica, and cousin Thalia's. We arrived on April 3rd, and the next day was Easter Sunday...Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010

Mimi got sick, so not near as many pictures were taken...
On the way home from Uncle Joshua's, Benjamin modeled his new bicycle helmet...and his bicycle seat that is on the back of his daddy's bike...
Mimi also taught Benjamin how to "high five" as we drove from Uncle Joshua's...

May, 2010
In May, 2010, Emerson turned one year old first...on May 13. On May 22, Emerson had his birthday party. Benjamin wore his golfing cap...but Emerson wore his A's cap... They had a great time!

Benjamin met his Aunt Becky for the first time...

Benjamin rode his first horse...
He loved his cousin's birthday party...
Benjamin met his Uncle John for the first time...They rode the carousel together...Benjamin loved his daddy pushing him in the swing...Benjamin also got to ride his first train!The weekend after Emerson's party, we went down to celebrate Benjamin's first birthday... his 2nd cousin, Sami, came with Saddie...Saddie loved rocking her grandson...and giving him a bottle...and rocking him to sleep...
One year old... Benjamin was so excited to celebrate his one year birthday... and we were more than excited to celebrate it with him!