I think back to that cold January night 5 years ago when Dave and I headed to the hospital to get things moving. Ben was late and I don't think he had any intention of making an entrance until he was good and ready. But what was supposed to be a normal birth, turned pretty scary at the end. After trying many different ways to get Ben out, his heart beat suddenly dropped dramatically. For a few scary minutes, we were helpless as doctors made decisions, and we were whisked away to surgery. I loved him so much already, and couldn't imagine that something might be going wrong. In this amazing age of medicine, they had him out in minutes. I heard him cry, I saw his face, I knew he would be ok. Looking back, I think in typical Ben style, he was keeping us on ours toes from the get-go.
This little boy has been a blessing in so many ways. He is so tender-hearted and loving, mischeivious, rough, funny, smart and has a huge imagination. He is fearless in almost everything, except being up high. He supplies me with one-liners daily, and occasionally raises my blood pressure to very dangerous levels. He is confident in himself, and loves to give hugs. As of yesterday he wants to marry me, but I'm already taken. He has colored our walls, flushed legos, peed all over the floor, thrown our china teacups across the kitchen, spilled countless boxes of cereal, and thrown the occasional freaky tantrum. He's also comforted me when I'm crying, tenderly held baby Kate and whispered that he loved her, taken care of animals, written me countless notes and drawings, given us hundreds of kisses and suprised us with his take- charge personality.
This is the kid who climbed under the table at Burger King and came up chewing gum. The kid who loves to talk about bodily functions and free Wi-Fi. The kid who spilled rice krispies and instead of cleaning it up made a snow angel.
He loves to sing and do sign language, but only to "God songs" . He loves gymnastics and baseball. In many ways, he is an "old" soul, and has been from the beginning. He asks hundreds of questions, mostly about heaven and angels. And he already is pretty sure he's right about a lot of things. I can't believe he's 5. This has been a wild ride. Watching him go from a cuddle bug to a rough little wrestler. A chubby baby to a lean scooter- riding machine. A baby to a boy.
So, today I will hold him as much as I can, because I know all to soon he'll be too big, too cool, too busy to sit with his mom and snuggle. I'll take anything I can get! Happy Birthday Ben, I love you!
Here he is at 6 months..Already too cool for his own good :)
Oh those kissable cheeks get me every time...
5 years old!
