A Week of Firsts

Benjamin turned 2 weeks this past Sunday! We are having so much fun with our little man. He is such a good baby and even let mama sleep 4 hours straight the past 3 nights! :) The 3rd week of his life was filled with many firsts...

First trip to Kincaids for a burger with mommy and daddy.

Chilling out at his first Super Bowl party.

Taking a bottle for the first time. He did awesome! They both did. :)

His first play date with Cousin Luke and Aunt Amanda. Here he is looking sharp right before they arrived!

Luke is so good with the "baby." He loves to kiss his head and make sure Ben has his pacifier. Amanda and I looked away for one second and found Luke kissing Ben on the lips. Whoops! We know they are going to be such great pals and get into tons of trouble together! It is going to be so fun to watch our sons grow up together - what a blessing for Amanda and I to share!!

Day 13

13 days of being blessed by Ben!

I love how sweet he looks when he sleeps. This little guy melts my heart.

Hank loves his brother. I was really nervous about how these two were going to get along and Hank has done great! I think they are going to be great pals! I promise we were only outside for a minute to get this shot. Please don't call CPS for my lack of bundling. :) I had to document Ben's first snow!

He is Here!!!

Benjamin is here and turned 1 week old yesterday!! He couldn't be more precious. I am one tired (but happy) mama so this post is just going to be pictures. I will write his birth story later when my brain comes back!

Can't wait to see this little man grow into his Daddy's Army shirt!

It's a rough life being cute.

Love this picture - he was only a few hours old.

Daddy and Ben enjoying some man time.

My sweet family.

Special shout out to my mom who has been a rock star! She stayed with us all last week and is coming again today. I would have gone nuts without her... Love you mom!!

Let the Countdown Begin...

The countdown has officially begun... as of today I am 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant! Benjamin could decide at any moment to make his big debut. I am experiencing every different type of emotion with this pregnancy coming to an end. I feel so blessed to have had such a healthy pregnancy and can't wait to meet my little man!

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year..."

What a fun time of the year!! Will and I have been super busy with work, holiday fun, and getting ready for precious Benjamin's arrival. A few months ago Amanda and I decided to get domestic and make stockings from scratch. We stole the idea from the Knochel women and are pretty proud of the final result! Each year a new decal is added representing something big that happened that year. Guess I will have one more stocking to add next year... We decided to take one last mini "babymoon" at the Gaylord before our life is turned upside down. It was so much fun to relax, watch Army lose against Navy :(, eat a yummy dinner, and see the ICE show. One of our first dates was going to the Gaylord so it was extra special to return married and pregnant! Amazing how life can change in just 3 short years!

My pictures from the holidays are a little out of order... This year Will and I spent Christmas Eve with Will's side and Christmas day with my side. Over at my parents house Luke was just precious as ever. He became very fixated on a few things.... His holiday pj's and Elmo houseshoes.

His new snack trap Uncle Grant gave him and his Elmo houseshoes.

Playing on boxes. His mom's new hat and did I mention his Elmo houseshoes. Will and I before church on Christmas Eve. I sure am getting big - 35 weeks pregnant.

Update on Ben's room: Grant finished the mural! Grant is so talented and it looks amazing in the room. I can't wait for Benjamin to see it!

Ben's Room

Benjamin's room is close to being finished! It turned out so precious and I have my mother to thank. She came to Fort Worth for one day and put her touch of gold on Ben's future room. There is still some "polishing" that has to be done but overall it is pretty complete.

My brother Grant is an incredible artist. He is going to create a one of a kind piece on the blank canvas behind the crib.

My mom had these adorable letters made in Mckinney!

I love how we incorporated some of Will's Army hats into the room! Lots of reading will take place in the little corner.

Finally, tons of storage for all of Benjamin's stuff. It is amazing how much stuff you need for something so small!

I have hit the 33 week mark! Crazy how fast (and slow) it is going! Benjamin is around 19 inches long and about 5 pounds. He will be here before we know it!

He is Loved

This past weekend Ben was showered with love! A few of my mom's friends, my childhood best friend and her precious mother hosted a shindig that will go down in the books. This shower was something out of a magazine and the thought behind each detail did not go unnoticed! When I got married the love I felt from others was unreal. Now that love is being given to my child and it is overwhelming. How blessed I am. How blessed Ben is.

The very creative diaper cake Beth made for Ben! There is a wine bottle in the middle of it that I will enjoy in a few months! :)

The hostesses: Trish, Steph, Beth, Catherine and Traci. Incredible women and wonderful examples of mothers, wives and friends!

Aunt Amanda already loving on Ben!

Memaw, Aunt Amanda, Tula and GA (Great Aunt). I think these women have some spoiling in their future!

Ben's Tula and Miss E

Stephanie, Lily and Elizabeth.

The Larkin's were my surprise guests! I just love these precious friends!

On another note, I am officially 28 1/2 weeks pregnant. Ben is growing and so am I! Will insists on Hank being in every pregnancy picture...