Happy Birthday Benny!

**A disclaimer: This is the FOURTH time I have tried to post this. I apologize for the layout and lack of spacing. I'm a bit frustrated and after a LOT of time, and cutting and pasting, this is the best you're going to get. Hopefully I fix it before I have the 2010 book printed!

On April 30, 2010 my little baby turned 1!

Here's my birthday tribute to him...a bit late, but still so full of love!

Dear Benny, My sweet, sweet Benny! My Benny Bud, my Benners, my Chunky Monkey, my Baby Chunk, my Baby Monk....so many names for such a little guy! Wow, I can't believe it's already been a year! I feel like I've known you forever, raised you forever, loved you forever...Yet at the same time, that year went by way too fast!Is it really possible that I have known you a year, raised you a year, loved you a year?

You were such an easy birth. You came "flying" out compared to your sister and brother. I thank you for this! The labor was perfect, the delivery was perfect, and you were perfect. Okay so you were bruised, but you were still perfect. It was a fast delivery, but it must have been bumpy! Your dad said it must have been like you were on a log ride. The nurses couldn't believe your bruises. Your lip was bruised, your ear lobe, your head, and even your little butt had a bruise!

And then...

Things were rough for awhile. My heart broke for you. We are so thankful that everything ended up being okay. And on the plus side, it did help to expedite naming you! I couldn't stand the thought of you in the special care nursery with no other name than "Baby Boy Manar." Did you know you are the only child I was fully responsible for naming? Your dad and I worked together on Abbie & Will. Your name was all me. I remember the week before you were born, I was getting ready to take a nap, and it hit me...you would be Benjamin Allen Manar. I think I knew in my heart from that moment on that would be your name. That didn't stop me though from considering a few others. A name is a big commitment. I wanted it to be just as perfect as you. The night you were born I sat and wrote your name, along with Ryan, Lucas, and Drew. Over and Over. You're definitely a Ben! And speaking of your name....We have SOO many songs we sing to you. These aren't' going to do much for our blog readers, but for memory sake here they are. Bennie & The Jets of course. Memaw doesn't like this song at all. I like it though, Elton John or Beastie Boys! Then there is the song on our Leap Frog refrigerator "radio" to the tune of Any-OO. Benny Benny Boo. Boo Boo Boo. Everybody Benny Boo. Benny Boo to letter B. We have a song that your dad started for Abbie. We have similar versions for you and Will. Yours is: He's my Benny, Benny. He's my Buddy. He's my Benny Bud, He's my Benny Bud, He's my Benny Bud.(Pat butt and repeat until your asleep) And finally, Abbie has a song for you. It's to the tune "Oh My Darling" Benny Buddy, Benny Buddy. Benny Buddy, Genny Gud. (We have no idea what Genny Gud means, but she insists these are the words)

A week after you were born you came home! We were all in awe over you. So in love with you!

And here you are now. This was taken the morning of your birthday. You always wake up with a smile! Ben, what do I say to you? There isn't enough room on this blog to explain to you how much I love you. How your little smile makes my day. How my heart giggles when you wrinkle up your little nose. How sometimes I just want to squeeze you! That I can kiss you, and kiss you, and kiss you, and it's still not enough. Those cheeks. Oh, how I love those cheeks. Those smooth, round, soft chubby cheeks just beg for mommy kisses. And those thighs! They are the cutest, fattest, tannest thighs I have ever seen. So, what are you up to at a year old? You are an army crawling, sometimes "normal" crawling professional. You have no desire to walk. If I try to hold your hands and help you walk, you plop right down. You pull up on everything, but you still aren't cruising the furniture. I'm pretty sure you want to stay a baby. You also refuse to eat table foods. I swear I'm going to be pureeing your food forever! You gag and choke or you simply swat the silverware. You will not feed yourself. You throw the food on the floor. You will not hold your own bottle or a sippy cup. To the floor they go as well. I'll let you stay a baby a little while longer, but I'm not sure future girlfriends will find your dependence on your mother endearing. You say momma, dadda, dog, uh oh, Nona, boo, bye bye (when you wave), you bark, and you do an interesting meow. Mostly you bark. A Lot! You are always looking for our neighbor's dog. And you play a lot of Peek-a-boo! You love to play with your Silly Town toys. You love to shoot hoops. You love to clap for yourself. You love baths. You hate diaper changes. The funny thing is, bath or diaper changes, you are really interested in what you have down there. Boys! I tell you! You adore your brother and sister. And you know what? We adore you!You're a joy Benny Boo. An absolute joy. I love you Benny Buddy. Happy One Year!