Ben is 1!

Ben really likes the balloons.
He likes to smile too.
His sister wanted in on the photo shoot.
Did I mention Ben likes playing with the balloons?
So does his sister.

We already had a birthday party. But every day is a party with these two.

Today is just a special kind of party.
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Happy birthday, sweet Ben!

You've kept me on my toes this year, but you've blessed me so much. You've reminded me that babies are little people who don't fit into by-the-book formulas. You do things that remind me of Cate, and then I think about how God really knew what He was doing. We don't share any DNA with you, but Our Father knit us together. To be a family. This family.

We couldn't have planned a better addition one year ago. You make us laugh harder and love more deeply, even while you're trying to climb the stairs or taste test anything in your path. I think you're going to be a climber. People often comment on how happy you are. Indeed. But you're also loud and on the move, constantly. When you want to eat or sleep, you want it right then and make it known. But you still manage to go with the flow of everyone else.

Your story -- which I happily claim as part of my story -- reminds me that God cares about the details of our lives. Your smile brings joy into any room. And you draw in strangers wherever we are with your giggles and grin.

Now that you're 1, you have a bottle radar. It's only been a couple of days, but you're drinking your milk out of sippy cups, which until this week you seemed to think were only for water or juice. And it's soy milk. You were spitting up curdled whole milk.

This week you've started a funny gurgling sound and an "O" expression with your mouth. You'll say "nigh-night" when you want to go to bed or realize I'm putting you to bed. Speaking of bed, you went a week or two without morning naps, but then you took two naps the last couple of days. I'll just consider it a transition. And realize, once again, that we aren't made to follow formulas.

You like to follow your sister, who adores you and protects you. And you crawl like a champ. Seriously fast. I guess that's why you aren't too interested in walking. You do pull up and cruise around tables, chairs, laps and toys. But when you really want to get somewhere, you're moving on your hands and knees.

We've gotten here. We've gotten to a year. And, buddy, I have to admit that I'm glad. I'm excited to see what you'll do as a toddler. I'm certain you'll make messes and love every moment of doing so. But I'm also certain you'll pull us into your world, where joy abounds. And there's no other place I'd rather be.

I love you, sweet boy.
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Want to read about his growth? You can ... 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months,9 months, 10 months and 11 months.