Of Bess and Ben.

I would like to post more pictures of Ben (as requested), but he is not very photogenic. I keep trying for the perfect “cute” picture of him and it just hasn’t happened. He is so skinny and his face, although cute in real life, is so odd looking in pictures.  (Humm…) My sweet guy.

He really is - despite his not being very photogenic, he is the sweetest baby.  In fact he is so sweet and mild tempered that it worries me. Crazy, right! We worry when they act up and we worry when they don’t act up at all.

When will we learn that children are children and they are all different? Unique (and precious) just the way God made them.

Speaking of…

The other morning I woke up to him cooing “mama” and “dada” – ahhh, my heart! I love it. It made my day.

He also seems to be signing already. (It is probably just my wishful thinking, but he seems to be signing “more”. Just in case you are wondering, the answer is “yes” this is very early to sign.)

Another interesting tidbit is that he is suffering from his first cold. Did you catch that, his first cold. In fact his first illness of any kind. Usually, we (baby and I) would have suffered thorough multiple ear infections and several colds by now…amazing.

Has it really been six months? Here he is at about 4 months.

P.S. This sling (the Peanut Shell) would be number one on my must have baby item list. Number two would be the matching nursing cover. I love them, love them, love them!

Here is a picture of Aaron at Camp Tejas Christian Camp.

He is the skinny kid in the back – the only kid standing up.

My guess is that he is grossed out and wondering why in the world he is supposed to be rolling around in the mud.  

I have to confess that when I look at this picture I can't help wondering why this is considered fun. I wonder who decided that boys like mud? I don't really know many that do. My boys like to be clean.

"Like why?"

The girls at camp got a better deal. They got to play in a pool full of bubbles.

I was watching Band of Brothers with Mark again recently. This picture reminds me of that...sigh.

Aaron is ten today. Where have the years gone?

How we love him. Thank you Lord for these precious years may we never take them for granted.

Bless him, Lord, and grow him up into you...

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. –Colossians 1:3, 9-12 

Why is it that the minute I sit down at the computer I have five kids vying for my attention?

Bethany - asking me crazy questions pertaining to Aaron’s birthday.  “What day is it? When will Nana and Granddad and Aunt Kel be here?  How will we have cake if we are going to the movie (Prince Caspian) tomorrow? (We are going to have cake tonight.) How will we go to dinner tomorrow if the movie is late? Will you hold Bess and Ben? (No, I’m going to stay home and you guys are going to go.)  When will Dad be home?  Is he on his way?  Can I have a brownie?" Etc., etc., etc., etc., over and over again.

Caleb - asking to read to me and then reading from Phonics Pathways as though it is a fun and exciting book to read from and not a phonics primer and now reading from the Animal Antics phonics readers. Asking, “Why is the Hot Dog still hot if he is in the water?”  (I don’t know because I wasn’t listening. I sure hope he was reading the words right.)

Bess - asking for everything under the sun, pulling the labels off the salt and pepper shakers, coloring all over my prayer notes, and wanting to sit on my lap.

Ben – asking for…well, not really, more like crying for…me (that’s my cue, gotta go, free time is over - sigh).        

And,

Aaron – Okay, so Aaron is the only one who isn’t here.

My poor brain is so tired I can barely focus let alone write anything…so trying to divide my attention between all these little ones and type…well, it’s just too much for me.  I give up. (This is happening every time I sit down.)

Sigh.

Now, Caleb is making some kind of strange noise…mmaammmammmammman…to get my attention and Beth and Bess are racing around the room. I think my brain is now going to explode.

Children are a blessing from the Lord.