family

We don't have many pictures of us together because we don't have anyone to take them for us. Luckily Ben is getting handy with the timer on our camera so we can get a few family pictures. This will be our Easter 2008 picture eventually when we forget that we actually took it the week after. I love boys in ties.

look how far we've come

Banks on his original birthday, a little less than 3 lbs 14 oz

First birthday, in his new forward facing car seat.

I wish I had a picture of Banks in his original "car bed" to compare to this one of him in his big boy car seat. Everyone has told us that this year has gone by so fast. But for me I think of every little milestone and what it has taken to get where we are and I barely remember having a baby that could fit in our hands. Since his original stay in the NICU Banks has grown bigger, and learned so much that he has gone from being not off the charts developmentally to a normal, giggling, shouting little 1 year old. It was hard to get him here, but now that he is, you would never know that he started this life too small to be in a regular car seat. We all love our little Banksy so much and I can't imagine life without him. Happy Birthday little baby. You are a miracle.

birthday boy

yummy sailboat cake. thanks martha.

he got a bubble blower for the bathtub.

this is what our car rides are always like now. lots of screaming. now it will be even louder because banks is facing forward.

money shmoney

Today I took Benson out for a mini date to the library and to Walmart for ice cream. While we were deliberating about what kind of ice cream to get I said to him, "I think I want some candy bar ice cream. Does that sound good?" And he said, "No, Mommy, it's too expensive." While this made me giggle quite a bit, I'm a little nervous that I'm ruining the boy. I guess I've said that a lot more than I recall.

Some of my other favorite things about Benson lately are his many opinions. I can put on an outfit now and ask if he likes it and he will give me a definite yes or no, and usually what is good or bad about it. It's so hilarious to hear his thoughts on it! Ha. He also knows exactly what he likes to listen to on the radio. If there is ever a rapish r&b song he says, "I like this one!" and if I try to turn the station he will make me turn it back. Some of his favorites are "the Soldier Boy" song and the "Uh Oh" song (I don't know what they are called). I think I'm going to have to blame this one on Uncle Steve. It must be in his blood.

mohawks

I put the boys' hair into mohawks in the bathtub the other day and Benson has been asking for mohawks ever since. I just thought I should warn all of you that if you start to see mohawks in upcoming pictures it's because Benson thinks they are really cool.

easter

Benson collecting eggs in the sea of rocks called our backyard

Banks was so excited this is the only time he sat still long enough for a picture

Benson pretty much lived on cloud 9 yesterday. He got to dye eggs, then take a 20 minute nap only to wake up and discover that the Easter Bunny had left him a basket full of candy eggs and also hid eggs all over the yard. He was seriously so excited. These are sadly the only pictures we have from the event, but we have some lovely video footage of it all. We need a live-in camera crew, I swear. Anyway then today after church we let the chickens into their new yard to hang out for a while and enjoy the sun. Both the children and the chickens thought it was great.

while we are being domestic...

we should try this recipe for homemade pitas. Actually I already made them for dinner with hummus and chicken salad. They are super easy and sooo much better than the store-bought ones.

Ps. I forgot to mention that if you have kids you should definitely have them watch the pitas in the oven. Actually husbands should watch too. And don't miss out on the action yourself. It's pretty cool.