Happy 1st Birthday, Benjamin!

Ben turned 1 year old yesterday!

So much has happened this past month. Ben learned to push to sitting, Ben learned to crawl, he learned to pull to standing, and I can now say Ben is officially cruising. We think Ben may have said his first word: "gat" for "cat." He's said it a few times, but not every time, so time will tell. Ben's also recently learned to pet the cats properly rather than grabbing two fistfuls of cat and pulling with all of his might.

Ben's birthday was a busy day. Grandpa Beaton and Nanny Jean phoned to wish Ben a happy birthday. Granny and Granddad Bloomfield came up to the house for cake, along with Uncle Tim, Aunt Jenn, and cousin Ian. Ben opened a number of presents, one of which was a pewter piggy bank inscribed with Ben's name and the date of Ben's 1st birthday from Granny and Granddad - I cried. I held it together when we sang happy birthday and had cake afterwards.

Later in the day Nic gave Ben his bath. Ben had a present for Daddy: a nice big crap in the tub. Nic had to evacuate the toys, remove the turd, drain the tub, then hose Ben down with the shower head. Apparently Ben thought this was hysterically funny. I came upstairs just as Nic was getting Ben out of the tub. We decided we'd let Ben crawl around in his birthday suit for a while (and he's becoming quite the crawler now!)... afterall, it is his birthday. He sure loves being naked. Then Ben peed on the landing... Nic noticed when he stepped in the puddle - he couldn't catch a break at all this evening. I love hardwood.

Then I had a cuddle with Ben, read him his bedtime story, and he went to sleep for the night shortly afterwards.

So that's been Ben's 1st birthday anniversary in a nutshell. And what can I say? He's a sweet kid and we love him dearly. I can't imagine our lives without him. It all sounds so cliche, but it's just so true. I look forward to what the years will bring (except for the teen years when he comes home late from a party and stops to puke on the front steps.)

Happy birthday, Ben! We all love you very, very much. Many hugs and kisses.

And here are a few pictures of the birthday boy: