Dear Bennett,

**Warning** Gross shit ahead.  

You are a sick little dude right now. You got over the cold from hell (for all of us) and then you may have had an allergic reaction to coconut. You had a pretty awful looking rash all over your neck, ears, chest and back.  In fact by the time your appointment came in the morning, your ears were puffy. Dr. Kahn wants to test you when you are two to find out for sure. Since I braved the trip to Kaiser, you must have picked up some nasty little bug there. Last night we were reading in bed, and you got a look on your face and puked with a force that managed to get onto every article of linen on my bed. 

Awww yeah. 

Then all over the floor. Sweet. 

Check the date my love. Dad wasn't home either. You are crying your face off in the hall in a diaper, while I am not even sure where to start. I briefly considered calling the Rainbow Crew. They do say, Like It Never Happened..... Anyway. I managed to get you cleaned up, and the bedroom cleaned up. You are out here tearing around like you didn't just puke your guts up and were't almost asleep 15 minutes ago. So I let you get  crazy for a bit. We get some new jammies and back off to bed. I made the mistake of giving you some milk because your dinner was gone. Well just as I put you in your crib, there ya go again  This time i managed to get out out onto the hardwood for easy peasy clean up thankfully. Your little body was twisting up in my arms and it made me so sad. You didn't cry or anything. That would have slayed me. You seemed happy everything was out of your system. I just put you in your bed and you quickly went to sleep. Although a couple hours later around 1:30 or so, you threw up again in your sleep. 

Dude, you are gross, sleeping face down in it. Luckily I was sleeping with an eye open (for this exact fear that you would drown in your own vomit) and awoke when I heard you stirring. You slept all scrunched up like you tummy was hurting pretty bad. But you slept in this morning a little, and slammed a sippy of pedilyte when you got up.  About an hour after your second sippy of pedilyte you yaked again. Though you have been drinking fluids in small increments and chasing Gracie back and forth, I am still a little worried. You have never been sick like this. I know a lot of parents have a lot of experience and knowitall when it comes to sick kids. I certainly don't. This is they sickest you have ever been. The past couple weeks have been terrible for you. I can't wait until you feel better. 

With all that said, there really is nothing more lovely than cleaning out chunks of chicken out of the washing machine. I really mean it. 

Dear Bennett, 

I know you don't feel good. You are getting the remaining 8 teeth all at the same time right now. Upper and lower molars, incisors and those little bastards next to your adorable bottom teeth. Teething can suck it. Stop screaming and running into walls. I have a cold, and I can't get my work done. I love you. 

Stop screaming. Seriously. 

Please. 

Happy Birthday Ben.

Dear Bennett, 


You are 1. Right this minute you are 1. Can you believe it? We have a party planned, and so many people are coming to celebrate with us. We are so proud of you. You came into this world with the strangest cry, showing us a little personality we would soon fall in love with. You made me a mother, my husband a father and us, a family. Every day that goes by, you are bigger stronger and more fun. You are who you are, even now. You are funny, and you know what it takes to make us laugh. You are sweet, a big time flirt and you would prefer to be carried all over the house. You are minutes from your first steps, and an expert cruiser. You have two lovely teeth, it seems we have both worked hard for. I would do anything to make you happy. I act like madman in public to make you laugh. I forgo showers for cuddles and parties for playtime. 


They say, time flies. They aren't kidding. I still feel like it was yesterday I was anxiously awaiting your arrival. Now you are here. You have your days, where you completely wear me out. Parenting is certainly not for the faint of heart. Why, just yesterday, you crapped all over my blanket. Thank you son. 


I'll take that shitty blanket every day of the week for you, my boy. You are the love of my life. 




Exactly one year ago today, I held you for the first time. I looked into your Daddy's teary eyes and I knew our lives were changed forever. Looking at your teeny face, taking you all in. 


And I thought I loved you then. 

Ben's First Trip to the Zoo.

Dear Bennett, 


Sooo, we randomly decided to take a last minute trip over the local zoo over here in Santa Ana. We didn't even put you into anything cute. This zoo is a teeny one. Monkeys galore and all, but no big time animals. We thought it would be fun just to get out and walk around, and it was! You actually thought the monkeys were pretty cool. You got to see spider monkey's get fed bananas. You all have a lot in common when bananas are involved, We took some goofy pictures, mainly to embarrass you later in life. 

See? That's pretty embarrassing :)

Your Dad being pretty entertained by a camel. 

You have an uncanny love for the sun.

That's better Mama.

I'm a HORSE not a PONY. 

No more hanging out with uncle Will apparently. 

You are so cool kid. We love you :)

Hey Bennett!!


Your Momma sucks at this. I can't even get around to checking my email (Your dad shrieked seeing I had over 1400 emails not even looked at.... ), let alone write about our day to day. Dad is still staying out most of the week and comes home when he can. He starts his DREAM job on April 16th. Hopefully we will be getting the opportunity to look at houses in the coming months. I'm confident God has the perfect house waiting for us. Part of being human is being patient. That is part of the struggle. And looking back, having patience has been nothing but kind to us.


And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience: and experience: hope: Romans 5: 3,4


It's difficult, but we'll get there. I have faith in that. But i still have my moments of I WANT WHAT I WANT, WHEN I WANT IT.  


Heh. Anyway. 


You should know, you love bananas. Your crazy for them. You eat banana flavored rice puff and suck on your fingers. I really can't believe your already 8 months old. You are on the verge of crawling. We got you on the video camera doing planks and rocking. You can army crawl backwards.

How can you stand it? 

You still love your jumper and now have mastered spinning. The first time i saw you do it, i was afraid you were going to puke. But you thought it was the best thing ever. 

Please disregard how lame Dad and I sound.  We are so proud of you. I have never been so in love with anything in my life. Even if you have more laundry that your dad and I combined. 


Lots of love and smooches. 

Dear Bennett,

We went for a pretty awesome walk today. You are on the VERGE of laughing! I cant wait to hear it. We walked over to CVS so I could look at nail polish. You were really not interested. The cashier commented how alert you were. You had the most sour look on your face. You were very displeased with what CVS had to offer. I should wait until you discover candy then I suppose this will change.

We then went to the Kid's Consignment place. You loved the air conditioning, and promptly (finally!) passed out. It was short lived. I found some more straight jackets for you, ie the Summer Infant Swaddle Me. Unfortunately it is the only way you will sleep at night, since you love to punch yourself in the face and wake yourself up.   Your also wearing jeans for the first time today. You look pretty ridiculous. Baby jeans sag, and they are giant wide leg raver jeans. I would have thought they were the BEST circa 96. I'll have some explaining to do about the 90's. They weren't exactly pretty.

You also love to listen to Adele. You love Set Fire to the Rain so much, sometimes its the only thing that keeps you from being a total fuss-ass. You can listen to this song OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Your Aunt Jackie was a witness this phenomenon. I just think you have fantastic taste in music. I did play Jason Aldean while I was pregnant like it was my job. *Swoon.*

Anyway, just wanted to fill you in my love.
Your Momma.